TechMunch

Nintendo, the company behind the ever popular DS handheld system and the casual gaming console, the Wii, has taken a hit in profits lately and it's not because of the usual suspects. No, it's not Sony or Microsoft - it's Apple.

The company has seen profits drop from $3.03 billion to $2.48 billion as of late. While Sony and its PlayStation 3 system was responsible for the previous drops, this time around it's Apple with the iPod Touch/iPhone, and the more recent iPad.

Satoru Iwata, president of Nintendo, informed his employees to treat Apple as the company's most significant threat from now on. This is due to Apple's easy methods for customers to purchase digital game downloads from the iTunes App Store.

The digital downloads are much easier for customers to check stuff out and buy it immediately, versus the old way of going to a physical store and buying a cartridge/card/disc. Even if it's not that, the DSi will require a Wi-Fi signal to get digital downloads versus the iPhone or iPad 3G, where just a cell signal can get downloadable content.

Nintendo will need to change delivery methods to have a fighting chance against the App Store.

While some hardcore gamers don't see casual gaming on the iDevices or even the Wii sometimes as 'real gaming', it's hard to deny that casual gaming attracts a much bigger audience. Apple has just made a huge impact on how it all reaches the mainstream.