The new forecast calls for 12 million portable game console sales.

The Nintendo DS set a sales record, selling more units than any portable game console ever has in the month of November.

The Gamestick, developed by British firm Playjam, is a portable games console based on Google Android's mobile operating system.

Given Nintendo's strong history with portable game consoles, it seems unlikely that it, at least, will be abandoning the platform any time soon.

Ever since the company launched its original black-and-white portable gaming console in 1989, Nintendo has striven to shrink each successive iteration of the Game Boy.

Returning from a holiday in Florida this summer the batteries on Noel Daly's children's portable games consoles ran out one hour into the eight-hour flight.