Since the App Store made its debut with tons of wonderful games, analysts have been wondering just how long it will take before Apple’s phone starts eating away at the sales of systems like the PSP and DS. While I admit that the iPhone has great potential for gaming, I don’t necessarily think that it’s going to greatly affect either of the two major portable gaming platforms. Of course, neither does Nintendo president Satoru Iwata.

Apparently he actually owns an iPhone and loves it. We all know that as president of Nintendo, he’s not going to admit that the iPhone has greater gaming potential, but he does make a very valid point. “When I look carefully at the iPhone’s users vs. the users of our Nintendo DS, I understand there are some overlaps. And if you ask ‘Is the overlap too big?,’ my answer is no, not so much.”

I tend to agree with him on this point, as many of my DS (and PSP)-owning friends don’t have an iPhone, and are plenty happy with their current console. As an owner of all three, I think that there is room for each in a gamer’s life. Personally, I love not needing to keep my DS with me all the time, since I have the iPhone to keep me entertained for short bursts. I still grab one of my other games if I know I’m going to have a lot of downtime though.

[via DS Fanboy]