For how long do you think Nintendo will support the DS?

[coltyhuxx]

The DS has been out for three years now. (Maybe only a year or so younger than CAG!!) I use it more than any other console that I have and the graphics and sound keep improving (along with little surprises like huge amounts of compressed FMV and voice acting). I was just curious as to the speculations of how long Nintendo will support the little console. Another two years? Three... four... more? They supported the Gameboy for so damn long.

I wonder if their next console will follow a dual screen design. It will be interesting to see what innovation they decide to bring to the (gamers) table.

Updated thought: Could you imagine if they made, and what they could do with a 128mb version of Chronotrigger?

[Kendro]

I think it will be a while before we even hear of a DS successor. It is also hard to believe that the system is going to be 4 years old this fall because it still feels so fresh and new. I don't think it will be a stretch to say the DS might have Game Boy longevity (8+ years).

I think the graphics are more than adequate so the only improvement I would like to see are higher quality 2D graphics (Street Fighter III quality) rather than the current SNES quality sprites.

[SL4IN]

nintendo will continue to support the ds for a while to come. If you look at the lifespans of their other handhelds, the general support time is usually 6-8 years.

[cdietschrun]

Until it stops printing money?

[Xevious]

"ME LOVE U LONG TIME"
-Hooker from 'Full Metal Jacket'

[crunchewy]

I'd like slightly larger displays, but with much less bezel, and the gap between the top and bottom displays thus reduced drastically (and without making the DS any bigger or smaller.) Digital volume controls (I hate the volume slider). GBA games fit entirely inside. 802.11g or n, so that downloads for download play would go much faster, and so that it wouldn't slow down 802.11g/n networks. There's a variety of ways that the DS could be improved without making an entirely new handheld platform.

[mrlokievil]

I wouldn't be surprised if they came out with a new gameboy that can also play ds games sometime in the near future. Nintendo seems to support their older handhelds well after a new comes out.

[lokizz]

i think it has a few years or more left. the real question is how long until a new version of the ds comes out? i know its a stretch to think it could happen but itd be cool if they came out with a portable way to play gamecube games.

[jkam]

I'd say a few more years...I wouldn't be surprised to see a slimmer non GBA playing DS either.

[DarkKnightCecil]

I doubt a successor is in the immediate future but I'll say we will almost definately have news of it's successor (if not released) by 2012

[DQT]

Updated thought: Could you imagine if they made, and what they could do with a 128mb version of Chronotrigger?

Take my money.

[phattsoe]

yeah, i don't think they're in any rush to have a new handheld (since they're still selling like hotcakes). i like the whole backwards-compatibility they seem to be doing for at least 1 gen prior, so it should be safe to buy titles for a while. the lite sure helped pick up sales. there could be more improvements, but hell, if it ain't broke, i don't think they'd mess with it. i agree with kendro - gb-style longevity.

[maigoyume]

once it stops printing money is a good guess :)

[Ruahrc]

I'd like slightly larger displays, but with much less bezel, and the gap between the top and bottom displays thus reduced drastically (and without making the DS any bigger or smaller.) Digital volume controls (I hate the volume slider). GBA games fit entirely inside. 802.11g or n, so that downloads for download play would go much faster, and so that it wouldn't slow down 802.11g/n networks. There's a variety of ways that the DS could be improved without making an entirely new handheld platform.

The thing about the screens though is that some games are coded with the screen gap in mind. For example, Zelda PH some scenes are rendered across both screens, and there is a small gap in between the rendered scenes so that lines are continuous across both displays. It's kind of hard to describe but look at the pictures of a different product showing the same concept:

http://www.matrox.com/graphics/media/common/th2go/Digital/media/TH2Go_ecransbezel_without.jpg

http://www.matrox.com/graphics/media/common/th2go/Digital/media/TH2Go_ecransbezel_with.jpg

If you change the gap between screens then the pre-adjusted renderings will not match up. I don't know how many DS games have used this technique.

But yeah a new DS would be pretty cool, although what I would really like to see are some more DS-Wii interactions. Nintendo did okay with interfacing the GBA to the Gamecube, they need some great titles that feature DS connectivity for the Wii too. That would really make me want to get a wii.

Ruahrc

[phattsoe]

But yeah a new DS would be pretty cool, although what I would really like to see are some more DS-Wii interactions. Nintendo did okay with interfacing the GBA to the Gamecube, they need some great titles that feature DS connectivity for the Wii too. That would really make me want to get a wii.

Ruahrc

yeah, that's something i was waiting on too. i though that pokemon controlling would get the ball rolling, but it doesn't seem like it. demo downloads are still coming, right? still, we can only hope for more...

[CombatCraig]

I know they were talking about brining a new one out one the sales for the Lite drop

This article (http://www.nintendowiifanboy.com/2008/01/28/nintendo-shifts-more-developers-to-the-wii-less-to-the-ds/) was kind of interesting

[Masterkyo]

DS is 3 years old & it still SOLD OUT most place. Lots peoples can't get the wii & they pickup the DS instead. Possible new Nintendo Handle in 2012.

[Alphant]

2014.

Because forever (http://kotaku.com/gaming/nintendo-ds/nintendo-want-ds-to-live-forever-330573.php)is only 7 years

[laaj]

It already stopped. With Pokemon, Mario, and Zelda out they won't develope any major titles for a while. GB, GBC, and GBA all had long periods where Nintendo did nothing except for publishing few 3rd party titles.

[DarkKnightCecil]

Not at all true laaj,
even though the main Pokemon is out, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon 2 is coming out very soon (Q2) and there is going to be a 3rd entry in that series for sure in the next year or so.

Also, the GBA had 2 Zelda games (mind the fact that one was just a remake) so why can't the DS have a couple of Zelda titles?

Finally, believe me, there WILL be more Mario titles coming, wether or not if it's a spin-off, sports title, a new platformer, remake, etc.

[dmaul1114]

2 or 3 more years at least.

We may get another revision of it (especially if Sony puts out a PSP successor), but it's still selling so well they'd be silly to put out a new one before it's sales decrease dramatically.

[slidecage]

theres been talk a long time about a new gameboy. funny thing is go back 20 years and look at the first gameboy and then the ds . Shocking what 20 years did. Just think what another 20 will bring

LOL i still remember staying up all night playing pong and though it was so cool

and adventure on atari 2600 I loved tha game

I would say expect a new handheld in 2010


2010 the year nintendo makes contact (rip off of the movie LOL)

[RAMSTORIA]

id say it depends on what sony does. if sony releases a psp2, we may see nintendo counter sooner than expected.

but generally speaking, id say at least another 3 years for the ds (assuming sony doesnt pump something out in the next year or two)

[dmaul1114]

If sony pumps out something new in the next year or two, they may just counter with a revised DS with bigger screens or some other added features.

I doubt they'd feel too compelled to put out a more powerful handheld since they beat the PSP so soundly with a way less powerful machine and are doing the same in the console war with the Wii.

[laaj]

Many people are posting about bigger screens but how will that work. Black borders like GBA games on DS? Problem with that is developers won't use it because they want to tap the huge number of standard screen DS owners. Another option is just to make the pixels larger which will make everything uglier.