Dude, what the Hell? This better not be true (DS & GB related).

[Chris in Cali]

http://money.cnn.com/2005/02/28/commentary/game_over/column_gaming/index.htm

New Game Boy to be announced. Inside the above link:

-New Game Boy to be released before end of 2005
-$99 price point
-SP price drop to $49
-Announcement as early as March 10

EDIT: http://news.spong.com/detail/news.asp?prid=8385 (don't now how reliabe Sprong is, I've never heard of it.)

[scdoanintendo]

This seems very unlikely and at $99. BS IMO, maybe in holiday of season of 2006 but not 2005.

[Weedy649]

eh, i think that would be a dumb move, especially since they havent sold as many DSes as they can, if they announced March 10th that another one were to come out then they would be shooting sales in the foot. Besides this is cnn, what the hell do they know about games

[jkam]

I would be pretty happy if the next gameboy was closer to a psp in graphics and the size of an sp. It does seem a little weird that they would release this SO QUICKLY right after the DS.

As for the DS being a completely different system comment....Does anyone feel that it is that much different than a gameboy??? I think it is obviously a little different but not by leaps and bounds.

I think no matter what happens, the next 2 years are going to be incredibly intresting to say the least in the video game industry.

[PsyClerk]

Maybe this is why Nintendo insisted the DS was NOT the next GameBoy.

[guessed]

This is speculation only, and from a guy who expected the Japanese PSP to miss it's December launch (and US release to be pushed back to November '05 Link (http://www.cnet.com.au/games/portable/0,39029689,40001683,00.htm)). I wouldn't put too much stock into this. (Although he did nail the PSTwo release).

[Weedy649]

Maybe this is why Nintendo insisted the DS was NOT the next GameBoy.

I know that but to launch within a year of each other doesnt make sense. Nintendo doesnt cram their game releases, they spread them out through the year to try and prevent droughts so why would they release the next game boy when the best DS titles are supposed to be coming out? Thats competing with themselves and others.(think ubisoft releasing beyond good and evil and prince a persia in the 4th Q with 1000 other games)

[Chris in Cali]

It' just seems like Nintendo needs to actually put some games out for the DS before they decide that we should drop another $100-$150 on another handheld.

[jkam]

It' just seems like Nintendo needs to actually put some games out for the DS before they decide that we should drop another $100-$150 on another handheld.

It is still a bit early...Titles will start to arrive but I have to admit it does seem like there are NO games for the system. I think the only game I am looking foward to RIGHT now is Castlevania....which should be amazing.

[Kaijufan]

I can't wait for E3 to see if this is true.

[Chris in Cali]

It' just seems like Nintendo needs to actually put some games out for the DS before they decide that we should drop another $100-$150 on another handheld.

It is still a bit early...Titles will start to arrive but I have to admit it does seem like there are NO games for the system. I think the only game I am looking foward to RIGHT now is Castlevania....which should be amazing.

I'm thinking that all the games that have been announced for the DS are pretty much the games that will be the entire DS's life cycle, that's why Nintendo's holding out on them for so long. Giving us one or two games a month. If all this is true, I'm throwing all my support over to Sony, or any other company because this is bullshit.

[Pure Apathy]

I hope this is true, I didn't like the DS at all.

[dafoomie]

Unless the DS has the ability to play these new Gameboy games, I'm going to be very disappointed. I'll probably be selling my DS, because if that happens, it'll be doomed.

Now, if it can play these new Gameboy games, it'll still be useful, even if DS is shitcanned. This'll be the only way that current DS owners aren't getting screwed over by this whole thing.

[epobirs]

Seeing as the article is riddled with inaccuracies (DS games on flash? No, the save area is flash, you idiot) I find it very hard to accept its veracity. This move would put Nintendo in the position of supporting three handheld platforms simultaneously. Unlikely, to say the least.

I'd be much more inclined to believe a price drop on the DS than a new GameBoy appearing this year. There was a time when GBA titles were scarce and publishers kept producing GBC games instead since that is where the numbers were with the compatible GBA only contributing to that base.

[Chris in Cali]

Unless the DS has the ability to play these new Gameboy games, I'm going to be very disappointed. I'll probably be selling my DS, because if that happens, it'll be doomed.

Now, if it can play these new Gameboy games, it'll still be useful, even if DS is shitcanned. This'll be the only way that current DS owners aren't getting screwed over by this whole thing.

If the DS could play the new Gameboy games, then why would Nintendo release a new Gameboy?

[Chris in Cali]

This move would put Nintendo in the position of supporting three handheld platforms simultaneously. Unlikely, to say the least.


The thing is that the GBA would be pretty close to dead by then, so support would pretty much be for the DS, and GBE or whatever it will be called.

[phatbunbao]

i doubt they will release it that soon and if they do im sure its not going to have many substantial improvements over the sp. it will probably still be a 2d system. but who cares im gettin a psp

[Strell]

This is the whole third pillar thing. Nintendo never once said the DS was the next Gameboy. If it was, they would have marketed it as Gameboy DS, not Nintendo DS.

This was their plan all along - to release a successor to the GBA to compete directly with the PSP. Nintendo wants you to own all three. The DS can't be replicated, so it's meant to be an entirely different platform and separate from both the GB line and the console line. They've never once contradicted that or said otherwise. And yes - it plays GBA games, because they need more of a selling point on the DS. Let's face it, it's been out since November and barely has 10 games. So that's pretty negligable.

People whine too much. DS < PSP graphics, then when a new system comes out to directly compete with the PSP, they bitch some more...

Wow.

[Gameboy415]

What if the rumors that the next gameboy is supposed to be a portable gamecube (or equivalent) are true?

Maybe it'd be able to play gamecube discs instead of old gameboy/GBA games, thus leaving a market for the DS/Gba?

A fanboy can dream........*sigh*

[epobirs]

This move would put Nintendo in the position of supporting three handheld platforms simultaneously. Unlikely, to say the least.


The thing is that the GBA would be pretty close to dead by then, so support would pretty much be for the DS, and GBE or whatever it will be called.

Have you looked at the number for sales of GBA hardware and software sales. That system is nowhere near dead. The decrease in the cost of mask ROM capacity will let the better developers extract a lot more from the system than has been seen previously. Kingdom Hearts is a good example. That, combined with a lower average price for new games, will easily get another strong year from the platform. I'd expect mid 2006 to be the soonest for a new GameBoy with features designed in conjunction with that of their next platform. I think they still believe strongly in the connectivity idea and will try again with stronger execution. Wireless handheld/console communications would be a big step.

[javeryh]

I guarantee that it will be a pokemon looking SP and not a true new gameboy. Cosmetic change at the most...

[Chris in Cali]

My guess of what this next gameboy will be..

Slighty better than Dreamcast level graphics.

Same desing as the GBA sp, but with a backlight, stereo speakers, four face buttons, and a larger screen.

Complete compatability with GB/GBC/GBA games.

Connectivity to the Nintendo Revolution.

A real Zelda title, and not the Four-Swords spin-off that the DS gets.

[dafoomie]

This is the whole third pillar thing. Nintendo never once said the DS was the next Gameboy. If it was, they would have marketed it as Gameboy DS, not Nintendo DS.

This was their plan all along - to release a successor to the GBA to compete directly with the DS. Nintendo wants you to own all three. The DS can't be replicated, so it's meant to be an entirely different platform and separate from both the GB line and the console line. They've never once contradicted that or said otherwise. And yes - it plays GBA games, because they need more of a selling point on the DS. Let's face it, it's been out since November and barely has 10 games. So that's pretty negligable.

People whine too much. DS < PSP graphics, then when a new system comes out to directly compete with the PSP, they bitch some more...

Wow.
We whine too much? Nintendo makes a shortsighted move with the DS, people who bought them get screwed because it either won't be supported for long, or won't be supported a lot, and won't even be Nintendo's primary handheld system, and you're telling me that we whine too much? You've got a lot of balls.

If I get screwed by this whole thing, it'll be the last time. Nintendo will never get any of my money again. Nintendo can not sustain two completely separate handheld systems, effectively competing with itself, and complete against the PSP. Why the hell would I buy both Nintendo systems when I can just buy one PSP? This has to be the worst business strategy I've ever heard of.

[PsyClerk]

If I get screwed by this whole thing, it'll be the last time. Nintendo will never get any of my money again. Nintendo can not sustain two completely separate handheld systems, effectively competing with itself, and complete against the PSP. Why the hell would I buy both Nintendo systems when I can just buy one PSP? This has to be the worst business strategy I've ever heard of.

Aren't they doing that now? Supporting the DS and the GBA?

[MaxBiaggi3]

The only way I can see this making any sense is if the next piece of handheld hardware from Nintendo is just another GBA revision (like the GBA to SP). The SP is pretty good as is, so I don't know what more they could add or change about it to increase its appeal. Cosmetic changes could make a world of different to some shoppers though.

[Chris in Cali]

If I get screwed by this whole thing, it'll be the last time. Nintendo will never get any of my money again. Nintendo can not sustain two completely separate handheld systems, effectively competing with itself, and complete against the PSP. Why the hell would I buy both Nintendo systems when I can just buy one PSP? This has to be the worst business strategy I've ever heard of.

Aren't they doing that now? Supporting the DS and the GBA?

Yes, but the DS just came out, and it's obvious the GBA will pretty much be dead by 2006. That's when the DS should just be blooming, but if the GBE comes out it's going to kill the DS's momentem.

It's like the WWE pretending to have two brands. Raw's great, and Smackdown sucks. That's they way it's going to go, one will shine, and the other will be sub-par.

[dafoomie]

If I get screwed by this whole thing, it'll be the last time. Nintendo will never get any of my money again. Nintendo can not sustain two completely separate handheld systems, effectively competing with itself, and complete against the PSP. Why the hell would I buy both Nintendo systems when I can just buy one PSP? This has to be the worst business strategy I've ever heard of.

Aren't they doing that now? Supporting the DS and the GBA?
No, because they aren't separate at all. The DS can play GBA games. You don't need to own a DS and a GBA, you just need a DS. GBA is the previous generation, what they're going to do, is support two new and completely separate handhelds within the same generation. One will (supposedly) not be able to play the other's games.

[Strell]

You ARE whining too much because the very nature of the systems are different enough to warrant owning both.

Unless you come to accept that, then you're doing nothing more but whining.

The DS is shortsighted on the game front, I'll admit that. But it's not shortsighted on the platform front - my guess is that it was in the works far before the PSP was officially announced. Nintendo never once said they'd make the DS compete with the PSP, but they know they need something out to at least keep the handheld market strongly in their favor. The DS does that, but it's not a segway point to the next GBA - it's something all it's own.

It's not competing with itself. It's trying something new.

[Chris in Cali]

You ARE whining too much because the very nature of the systems are different enough to warrant owning both.

Unless you come to accept that, then you're doing nothing more but whining.

The DS is shortsighted on the game front, I'll admit that. But it's not shortsighted on the platform front - my guess is that it was in the works far before the PSP was officially announced. Nintendo never once said they'd make the DS compete with the PSP, but they know they need something out to at least keep the handheld market strongly in their favor. The DS does that, but it's not a segway point to the next GBA - it's something all it's own.

It's not competing with itself. It's trying something new.


Man, you really buy into Nintendo's BS don't you. "It's short sighted on the game front, but it's not short sighting on the platform front?" You're right, why even have games at all for the DS because the hardware is good enough to stand alone.

[dafoomie]

You ARE whining too much because the very nature of the systems are different enough to warrant owning both.

Unless you come to accept that, then you're doing nothing more but whining.

The DS is shortsighted on the game front, I'll admit that. But it's not shortsighted on the platform front - my guess is that it was in the works far before the PSP was officially announced. Nintendo never once said they'd make the DS compete with the PSP, but they know they need something out to at least keep the handheld market strongly in their favor. The DS does that, but it's not a segway point to the next GBA - it's something all it's own.

It's not competing with itself. It's trying something new.
Here's how the "nature" of the systems will go. The next Gameboy will get the A-list games, and the DS will get gimmicks for the touchscreen, if anything at all.

The DS is fast becoming the next 32X, or the next Virtual Boy. 32X was undercut by the next system (Saturn), which should have been the main focus all along. The Virtual Boy was different enough to warrant a separate platform in the face of N64, but wasn't nearly good enough to survive on its own. DS manages to combine the failings of both of the biggest failures in recent history. As a DS owner, this is very disconcerting.

[Strell]

I'm not the one telling you to buy it.

As for the platform itself, let the games talk. Yes, few now, there will be more later, and I'm not going to act like that's something that's positive.

Nintendo should have launched with more games, more should be out now, etc etc. I bought a DS and yea, there's little worth warranting a purchase now. I'm more interested in what comes down the line.

If you don't want it, don't buy it. But don't buy it, willingly knowing there's few games for it, and then complain when a GBA successor appears, when you full well know that was going to happen anyway.

Dafoomie: Good point, and I submit that I agree with it unless Nintendo shows some serious developer expansion in order to fully support the DS (which, as of now, is not happening). I'm not worried about that (in terms of this argument right now), I'm more concerned with people blatently upset over something Nintendo told them upfront was going to be the natural progression of things.

Edit: "Whining" was directed at anyone in the other post, by the way. I'm not out here to insult people or anything.

[thingsfallnapart]

the DS STINKS. I hope nintendo releases another portable because i dont see much hope for the DS' future as it is. 10 games, and the only 2 i like, feel the magic (which is the best on the system) is very short, and mario 64 DS, which in my opinion sucks pretty bad. Wat where these guys thinking putting n64 games on a ds without a analog stick and a shotty d pad control scheme? the thumbpad is virtually useless.

I'm no PSP supporter. For now im just happy playing games on my SP.

[Grave_Addiction]

It' just seems like Nintendo needs to actually put some games out for the DS before they decide that we should drop another $100-$150 on another handheld.

Well, the two systems are supposed to be separate tiers, so it shouldn't matter when they launch the two systems.

Also, the DS is geared to older gamers while the GB is tailored towards the younger audience. This is something we've all known for a very long time.

Nintendo isn't asking you to buy a GB. They're trying to get you to buy a DS, while hoping your young cousin will buy the new Gameboy.

[GuilewasNK]

All the hostility over something yet to be confirmed...

How about we all wait until the supposed annoucement around March 10th? For all we know the rumor might be out there by some Sony sympathizer to piss off DS owners.

[dafoomie]

If you don't want it, don't buy it. But don't buy it, willingly knowing there's few games for it, and then complain when a GBA successor appears, when you full well know that was going to happen anyway.

Dafoomie: Good point, and I submit that I agree with it unless Nintendo shows some serious developer expansion in order to fully support the DS (which, as of now, is not happening). I'm not worried about that (in terms of this argument right now), I'm more concerned with people blatently upset over something Nintendo told them upfront was going to be the natural progression of things.
Had I known that Nintendo would completely undercut the system within a year or two, I would never have bought it. I think its time to get out while the getting is still good.

You're right about anyone who buys the system now though, the writing is on the wall.

Well, the two systems are supposed to be separate tiers, so it shouldn't matter when they launch the two systems.

Also, the DS is geared to older gamers while the GB is tailored towards the younger audience. This is something we've all known for a very long time.

Nintendo isn't asking you to buy a GB. They're trying to get you to buy a DS, while hoping your young cousin will buy the new Gameboy.
In theory, this could work somehow. In practice, Nintendo doesn't control what platform their developers make games for, they'll go with the system with the largest installed base. DS simply will not get the support it needs in order to survive.

This is history repeating itself. Its being undercut by a new system in the same geneation (like 32x), unique enough to need its own separate system, while not quite good enough to hold its own separately (like Virtual Boy), and has absolutely no games and no support from developers (like both). You're right about what their plan is, but their plan sucks.

[Grave_Addiction]

You ARE whining too much because the very nature of the systems are different enough to warrant owning both.

Unless you come to accept that, then you're doing nothing more but whining.

The DS is shortsighted on the game front, I'll admit that. But it's not shortsighted on the platform front - my guess is that it was in the works far before the PSP was officially announced. Nintendo never once said they'd make the DS compete with the PSP, but they know they need something out to at least keep the handheld market strongly in their favor. The DS does that, but it's not a segway point to the next GBA - it's something all it's own.

It's not competing with itself. It's trying something new.
Here's how the "nature" of the systems will go. The next Gameboy will get the A-list games, and the DS will get gimmicks for the touchscreen, if anything at all.

The DS is fast becoming the next 32X, or the next Virtual Boy. 32X was undercut by the next system (Saturn), which should have been the main focus all along. The Virtual Boy was different enough to warrant a separate platform in the face of N64, but wasn't nearly good enough to survive on its own. DS manages to combine the failings of both of the biggest failures in recent history. As a DS owner, this is very disconcerting.

This is what I quickly found out after owning my DS for a couple weeks. I realized the DS is nothing more than a gimmicky system that really won't have any lasting power.

Other than Wario Ware and Feel the Magic, there aren't really any good games that make good use of the DS' abilities. Sure the system sounded cool on paper, but when put to use, it just really isn't a lot of fun.

The whole-touch screen is decent, but I just can't see it being a major feature in a great game, unless that game itself lends itself to point and clicking like a strat game.

The dual screens idea has to be one of the worst features of the DS. A person's eyes cannot look at two places at once. Having two screens means having to take away a gamer's eyes from the action screen to a supplemental screen that shows a map or something similar. I still really haven't seen the top screen be utilized in a way that couldn't have been done with a menu screen in the bottom screen.

Sure some people will argue that the top screen is there for ease of use and to not hassle you with flipping through menus, but I think that's a poor arguement. You don't base an entire system and name it after a feature that will only make the game's menu screens faster to use.

[javeryh]

The whole-touch screen is decent, but I just can't see it being a major feature in a great game, unless that game itself lends itself to point and clicking like a strat game.

I agree but I think Castlevania for the DS is using the touch screen in a VERY cool way with the seal thing they've got going on... still that's a minor feature...

[PsyClerk]

All the hostility over something yet to be confirmed...

How about we all wait until the supposed annoucement around March 10th? For all we know the rumor might be out there by some Sony sympathizer to piss off DS owners.

I was about to say the same thing.

The whole-touch screen is decent, but I just can't see it being a major feature in a great game, unless that game itself lends itself to point and clicking like a strat game.

Bah, what do you know. You'll get my Game.com when you pry it from my cold dead hands! :evil:

[dafoomie]

My DS is now officially for sale.

I'll buy another one when it hits the bargain bin next year.

[pumbaa]

Hold on a second. Let's assume this is true. Read the farking article people:

"The Nintendo DS has, by and large, been additive to Nintendo software revenue and units sales and not cannibalistic," he wrote. "Even with the DS launch in November, GBA software revenue and unit sales were up double-digits in December and January."

The GBA is a seperate platform, and it is in need of a refresh. This thing wasn't meant to replace your GBA:SP, and they only put the damn port in there as a convienence to YOU... the consumer. You didn't buy a DS to replace the GBA (or at least thats what Nintendo thinks). You bought a DS for the touch screen, for the 2nd screen, for all the weird little things they put in it. The DS isn't dying, and publisher aren't running away from it... its just DIFFERENT. The proof is in the pudding my friends. Here's a link to all the DS games being released... thre are 164 of them.

http://forums.g4tv.com/messageview.cfm?catid=21&threadid=204217

That more than even SONY says are in development fot the PSP (100). I know they aren't coming out right now, but I think Nintendo is reshifting is focus for the DS... thats why we have heard from them in a while.

If you've been paying attention, its always been Nintendo's stance that the DS was NOT competitive against the PSP. I know that sounded like complete bullshit, but if you look at it it makes sense. If they were competing, games would be able to be ported back and forth... that doesn't work AT ALL for the DS and the PSP. If they were competing they should have comparable graphics... again... not true. The DS is a testing ground for new ideas (in the same way that the Virtual Boy was a testing ground for the N64). The difference here is that the VB was released and was a subpar product, the DS has been released and has been successful.

[Grave_Addiction]

All the hostility over something yet to be confirmed...

How about we all wait until the supposed annoucement around March 10th? For all we know the rumor might be out there by some Sony sympathizer to piss off DS owners.

I was about to say the same thing.

The whole-touch screen is decent, but I just can't see it being a major feature in a great game, unless that game itself lends itself to point and clicking like a strat game.

Bah, what do you know. You'll get my Game.com when you pry it from my cold dead hands! :evil:

Hah hah. The infamous Game.com, with such killer apps like Resident Evil 2 and Wheel of Fortune! You can even check your e-mail with it!

[Strell]

I'll give you 50 for the DS, dafoomie. :P

/joking of course...unless you'd sell it for that :p

[kaji7p56]

The $99 price point is just an opinion (from the article).

Though is would make sense to make some sort of an announcement in March to steal the PSP's thunder.

[MaskedPlague]

Wow, I was hoping for some more DS games. It seems the DS may be going the way of the Virtual Boy.

[Chris in Cali]

If Nintendo's March announcement isn't either...

A. The DS going online.

or

B. A list of upcoming DS games, with screens, info, and some release dates.

I will sell my DS, and have no regrets this time.

So I'm holding off a little longer before completely giving up on the DS. This March will make or break the DS for me.

[pumbaa]

Hm... off the top of my head... not looking at any lists heres what we should have by the end of the year:

Baten Kaitos DS
MArio Kart
Super MArio
Animal Crossing
Metroid Hunters
Yoshi's Touch and Go
Another Code
Need for Speed
Polarium
Meteos

Those are all games that I'm buying for sure (obviously because I remembered them). Right now there is a definite drought which Nintendo needs to solve right away, but I think a may be a amatter of timing, Theres a general drought in videogames now because its after Christmas. Usually there is at least one game I wasnt to buy a week from the systems, and that hasn't been happening.

[Mr Unoriginal]

Hm... off the top of my head... not looking at any lists heres what we should have by the end of the year:

Baten Kaitos DS
MArio Kart
Super MArio
Animal Crossing
Metroid Hunters
Yoshi's Touch and Go
Another Code
Need for Speed
Polarium
Meteos

Those are all games that I'm buying for sure (obviously because I remembered them). Right now there is a definite drought which Nintendo needs to solve right away, but I think a may be a amatter of timing, Theres a general drought in videogames in general now because its after Christmas. Usually there is at least one game I wasnt to buy a week from the systems, and that hasn't been happening.

Are any of those ports? Mario Kart, Baten, Super Mario, Animal Crossing?

[dafoomie]

"The Nintendo DS has, by and large, been additive to Nintendo software revenue and units sales and not cannibalistic," he wrote. "Even with the DS launch in November, GBA software revenue and unit sales were up double-digits in December and January."
Of course DS isn't going to hurt GBA sales, you can use GBA games on it. And theres like 5 DS games out right now. Its like how the GBA affected Gameboy and Gameboy Color sales... They were up. This new Gameboy thats coming out won't be compatible with the DS. One system's games can't be played on the other.

This thing wasn't meant to replace your GBA:SP, and they only put the damn port in there as a convienence to YOU... the consumer.
How nice of Nintendo to give me, the consumer, some slight thought. DS NEEDS compatibility with GBA right now because it has no games.

You bought a DS for the touch screen, for the 2nd screen, for all the weird little things they put in it.
I bought it for the games... Now all of the A-list games will be going to the next Gameboy.


I have ZERO faith in Nintendo's ability to pull this off. If DS will be able to play these next generation Gameboy games, then it would be different. This dual screen thing isn't even that great a feature, not enough to warrant a separate system from the main platform. At least with Virtualboy, the benefits were obvious, the way you'd use the system was obvious. How do you, as a developer, use this damn touchscreen? Aside from menus, they pretty much have to slap something on to the game just to make use of it. Nothing they've really done with the touchscreen is revolutionary enough to make the game really greater than it would be without a touchscreen.

If they're not going to undercut this system with a next-gen Gameboy within the next 2 years, then thats completely different as well. But even if its 3 years, thats a short lifespan.

[GuilewasNK]

I'll eventually get a DS for Advance Wars DS, Final Fantasy III and Castlevania if nothing else. I am still having too much fun with my GBA SP right now though. :D

[rockhero]

The DS is a solution in search of a problem. I regret having ever bought mine.

It sounds like the new Gameboy will be what everyone wanted in the first place, which is also what the PSP is.

[pumbaa]

Hm... off the top of my head... not looking at any lists heres what we should have by the end of the year:

Baten Kaitos DS
MArio Kart
Super MArio
Animal Crossing
Metroid Hunters
Yoshi's Touch and Go
Another Code
Need for Speed
Polarium
Meteos

Those are all games that I'm buying for sure (obviously because I remembered them). Right now there is a definite drought which Nintendo needs to solve right away, but I think a may be a amatter of timing, Theres a general drought in videogames in general now because its after Christmas. Usually there is at least one game I wasnt to buy a week from the systems, and that hasn't been happening.

Are any of those ports? Mario Kart, Baten, Super Mario, Animal Crossing?

Super MArio, Baten, and Mario Kart as far as I know won't be ports. Animal Crossing will probably be the same "game", but only because its hard to completely change that genre. I'm pretty sure it will be expanded a lot though... its my most anticipated game.

[Strell]

Question:

Did the Virtua Boy have any games released from second or third party companies?

Along with this, did development kits go out for it?

[Chris in Cali]

I feel bad because I kinda talked my girlfriend into buying a DS so I could play multi-player with her. Little did I know how terrible the Mario 64 multi-player would be. The Metroid rocks, but she doesn't like FPS's.

[javeryh]

Question:

Did the Virtua Boy have any games released from second or third party companies?

Along with this, did development kits go out for it?

yes.

[pumbaa]

In the sense of success, the Virtual Boy arguement doesn't have anymore weight to it because the DS sold quite a bit over the holiday season. If anything I would liken more to the N64 launch.

[jerfgoke]

I've traditionally been a big Nintendo fan, but I have to say that more and more each day I'm regretting that I didn't hold out for the PSP. I truly don't see how Nintendo can fight a three-front battle when they haven't even been able to hold two, and they've failed so miserably with their Virtual Boy, which is looking all the more similar every day.

Let's face it, the touch screen is a complete gimmick. Give us something useful like true analog, not this touchscreen that's only good for mini games I could just as easily play on my cellphone. If something doesn't change QUICKLY, I'm jumping off this sinking ship.

(An ONLINE Massively-Multiplayer Animal Crossing would start me singing a different tune, to be sure!)

[Grave_Addiction]

The only game that makes me want the DS is going to be Grandia DS.

[dafoomie]

In the sense of success, the Virtual Boy arguement doesn't have anymore weight to it because the DS sold quite a bit over the holiday season. If anything I would liken more to the N64 launch.
We're talking end result, not total sales. End result being gimmicky failure.

[pumbaa]

In the sense of success, the Virtual Boy arguement doesn't have anymore weight to it because the DS sold quite a bit over the holiday season. If anything I would liken more to the N64 launch.
We're talking end result, not total sales. End result being gimmicky failure.

I understand where youre coming from, I'm right there with you. I want some games to friken play on my DS, and looking at a listing from either EB or GameStop doesn't help matters at all. I don't think Nintendo will abandon the DS so quickly. They've got over 150 games from various publishers coming for the thing, and an impending launch in Europe. Look at the Euro launch games, they are getting shit in March that we won't get until April. It mystifies me that they are getting 15 titles AT LAUNCH when we parely have that here now. The reason I have to much faith in the DS is because I believe that certain games have shown it works. Band Brothers multiplayer is an amazing thing, Polarium is as addictive as Tetris. The the possiblitities of carrying around my own Animal Crossing Village while using the stylus to simply navigate the menus more efficiently gets me going. What can I say, I'm an optimist.

[dafoomie]

In the sense of success, the Virtual Boy arguement doesn't have anymore weight to it because the DS sold quite a bit over the holiday season. If anything I would liken more to the N64 launch.
We're talking end result, not total sales. End result being gimmicky failure.

I understand where youre coming from, I'm right there with you. I want some games to friken play on my DS, and looking at a listing from either EB or GameStop doesn't help matters at all. I don't think Nintendo will abandon the DS so quickly. They've got over 150 games from various publishers coming for the thing, and an impending launch in Europe. Look at the Euro launch games, they are getting shit in March that we won't get until April. It mystifies me that they are getting 15 titles AT LAUNCH when we parely have that here now. The reason I have to much faith in the DS is because I believe that certain games have shown it works. Band Brothers multiplayer is an amazing thing, Polarium is as addictive as Tetris. The the possiblitities of carrying around my own Animal Crossing Village while using the stylus to simply navigate the menus more efficiently gets me going. What can I say, I'm an optimist.
I hope you're right, and I think DS will do ok while its by itself, but, I see the next Gameboy pretty much killing it. The anticipation by itself might be enough to do it. I hope Nintendo isn't as stupid as I think they are.

The article the OP referenced at spong kinda echoes my thoughts on this.

[jkam]

I think everyone is jumping the gun a bit here...

There are about 160 games coming out THIS year for the DS...so I don't think you can compare it to the Virtual Boy. We all know there needs to be MORE games. I would think March will mark the point where they announce the new GB but it won't actually release until Christmas of 2006.

As for the DS being gimmicky well yes it is. Anything that is different from the norm could be classified as gimmicky. The real test is if that gimmick makes an impact on gaming or the current market. You all know that if the DS really opens up and does really well other companies will jump on the bandwagon. Nintendo has always tried fresh things....good or bad at least they attempt something different.

As for the next gameboy I'm sure it will offer something close if not better than the PSP because well Nintendo needs to compete in the handheld market more than any other because they have remained supreme for years. They also haven't released new gameboy hardware in about 4 years. The SP wasn't any different than the original except for the light and design. THE TRUTH IS NINTENDO SAID THE DS WAS NOT THE NEXT GAMEBOY SO EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE PAID ATTENTION RATHER THAN BUY THE SYSTEM AND COMPLAIN ABOUT IT LATER.

Here is another positive article about the DS:
Nintendo claims most successful launch ever for DS in Australia:
Link (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=7050)

[DenisDFat]

spong is as reliable as someone very unreliable.

spong sucks,.

[pumbaa]

I think everyone is jumping the gun a bit here...

There are about 160 games coming out THIS year for the DS...so I don't think you can compare it to the Virtual Boy. We all know there needs to be MORE games. I would think March will mark the point where they announce the new GB but it won't actually release until Christmas of 2006.

As for the DS being gimmicky well yes it is. Anything that is different from the norm could be classified as gimmicky. The real test is if that gimmick makes an impact on gaming or the current market. You all know that if the DS really opens up and does really well other companies will jump on the bandwagon. Nintendo has always tried fresh things....good or bad at least they attempt something different.

As for the next gameboy I'm sure it will offer something close if not better than the PSP because well Nintendo needs to compete in the handheld market more than any other because they have remained supreme for years. They also haven't released new gameboy hardware in about 4 years. The SP wasn't any different than the original except for the light and design. THE TRUTH IS NINTENDO SAID THE DS WAS NOT THE NEXT GAMEBOY SO EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE PAID ATTENTION RATHER THAN BUY THE SYSTEM AND COMPLAIN ABOUT IT LATER.

Here is another positive article about the DS:
Nintendo claims most successful launch ever for DS in Australia:
Link (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=7050)

You couldn't have posted this sooner? I felt like I was losing the crowd!!! :wink:

Also, look to Japan for the future of the DS. They just released stands that broadcast DS demos and upgrades (ala Xbox Live) at various stores. These are basically like wireless points, so I'm seeing DS online play stands" popping up all over the place. The DS... AGAIN... isn't the next GB. Before they even introduced the thing as the DS, it was simply known as "the 3rd pillar". I'm pretty sure Nintendo's concept of the thing was just that.

They are making money off handhelds, so why not release another one. But Nintendo is a BUSINESS people. They aren't you or I, they aren't some guy working in a basement. Nintendo (I'm SURE) has a marketing department, and probably researched this whole "3rd pillar" business way before we even knew about it. If they released the DS, they did it because they thought that it was going to be different enough so that you would have to own a DS AND whatever the next GBA is. I'm 100% positive that when developers come to them with a game in mind, they make sure that it takes advantage of the unique features that the DS has. The company is not stupid, and its not the same company that released the Virtual Boy.

[javeryh]

As for the DS being gimmicky well yes it is. Anything that is different from the norm could be classified as gimmicky.

Not really... when 3D first started to develop that was a vital step in shaping gaming as we know it today. It was different from the norm but definitely not gimmicky. There are other examples but just because it deviates from the norm doesn't make it gimmicky... I think :P

I agree with your post though and I'm glad Nintendo is trying new things but I really think the DS is going to fail... and I don't want it to... I love Nintendo but they are really starting to resemble my grandmother. I still love her but she is suffering from dimentia and it's getting worse every day. The person I love is really no longer around but rather a shell of her former self. Eventually she will die and I will be upset but the fact is it may have happened already...

[Chris in Cali]

I think everyone is jumping the gun a bit here...

There are about 160 games coming out THIS year for the DS...so I don't think you can compare it to the Virtual Boy. We all know there needs to be MORE games. I would think March will mark the point where they announce the new GB but it won't actually release until Christmas of 2006.

As for the DS being gimmicky well yes it is. Anything that is different from the norm could be classified as gimmicky. The real test is if that gimmick makes an impact on gaming or the current market. You all know that if the DS really opens up and does really well other companies will jump on the bandwagon. Nintendo has always tried fresh things....good or bad at least they attempt something different.

As for the next gameboy I'm sure it will offer something close if not better than the PSP because well Nintendo needs to compete in the handheld market more than any other because they have remained supreme for years. They also haven't released new gameboy hardware in about 4 years. The SP wasn't any different than the original except for the light and design. THE TRUTH IS NINTENDO SAID THE DS WAS NOT THE NEXT GAMEBOY SO EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE PAID ATTENTION RATHER THAN BUY THE SYSTEM AND COMPLAIN ABOUT IT LATER.

Here is another positive article about the DS:
Nintendo claims most successful launch ever for DS in Australia:
Link (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=7050)


160 games, that doesn't mean good games. Nor does it mean first party games, nor do we have any real info on most of them. Everyone knows the DS and PSP will be battling for the better third party support, but if Nintendo releases another handheld this close to the DS's launch then the DS will be battling for it's own first party support as well!!! A vastly unwise move by Nintendo if you ask me. Yes, we all knew the DS was not the next Gameboy, that's why it's not called the Gameboy, no one EVER argued that. What we didn't know was that Nintendo was going to drop the next gameboy so quickly, which anyone with a brain can see will cut the DS games support majorly.

[Alpha2]

The DS isnt a failing system when it does better in the first 6 months than Nintendo expected it to do in a FREAKING YEAR. ...ehem.

Now to this Bullsiht article which hinges everything on this:

"We believe it is likely that the next version of the Game Boy Advance SP will ship as early as this holiday, ahead of most expectations of calendar year 2006," wrote P.J. McNealy of American Technology Research.

Who the fawk are you Mr. Mc Nealy and why should we give a lick what you say? are you a Nintendo Insider? Are you freaking psychic?? NO? then STFU.

The whole article is speculation of the highest order, I dont even understand why CNN would print nonsense like this. The DS is Nintendo's stop-gap product designed to keep market share untill they're ready to release a true successor to the GBASP which they will do when they;re good and ready, not when some egotisical trendmaking analyst says so.

File this article in the toilet.

[Gothic Walrus]

I think everyone is jumping the gun a bit here...

There are about 160 games coming out THIS year for the DS...so I don't think you can compare it to the Virtual Boy. We all know there needs to be MORE games. I would think March will mark the point where they announce the new GB but it won't actually release until Christmas of 2006.

As for the DS being gimmicky well yes it is. Anything that is different from the norm could be classified as gimmicky. The real test is if that gimmick makes an impact on gaming or the current market. You all know that if the DS really opens up and does really well other companies will jump on the bandwagon. Nintendo has always tried fresh things....good or bad at least they attempt something different.

As for the next gameboy I'm sure it will offer something close if not better than the PSP because well Nintendo needs to compete in the handheld market more than any other because they have remained supreme for years. They also haven't released new gameboy hardware in about 4 years. The SP wasn't any different than the original except for the light and design. THE TRUTH IS NINTENDO SAID THE DS WAS NOT THE NEXT GAMEBOY SO EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE PAID ATTENTION RATHER THAN BUY THE SYSTEM AND COMPLAIN ABOUT IT LATER.

Here is another positive article about the DS:
Nintendo claims most successful launch ever for DS in Australia:
Link (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=7050)


160 games, that doesn't mean good games. Nor does it mean first party games, nor do we have any real info on most of them. Everyone knows the DS and PSP will be battling for the better third party support, but if Nintendo releases another handheld this close to the DS's launch then the DS will be battling for it's own first party support as well!!! A vastly unwise move by Nintendo if you ask me. Yes, we all knew the DS was not the next Gameboy, that's why it's not called the Gameboy, no one EVER argued that. What we didn't know was that Nintendo was going to drop the next gameboy so quickly, which anyone with a brain can see will cut the DS games support majorly.

On the other hand, it CAN mean good games and first party games.

As far as cutting the market goes, we have no idea how the game libraries are going to compare to each other. People still see PS2 and Xbox as being more "grown up;" maybe the DS will be the adult handheld to the next Game Boy's more kid-friendly approach.

And it's not true that no one argued the DS wasn't a Game Boy replacement. If you think it is, you must not have been online when it was first announced. For the most part, people saw it as a GBA successor despite what Nintendo said.

[pumbaa]

I think everyone is jumping the gun a bit here...

There are about 160 games coming out THIS year for the DS...so I don't think you can compare it to the Virtual Boy. We all know there needs to be MORE games. I would think March will mark the point where they announce the new GB but it won't actually release until Christmas of 2006.

As for the DS being gimmicky well yes it is. Anything that is different from the norm could be classified as gimmicky. The real test is if that gimmick makes an impact on gaming or the current market. You all know that if the DS really opens up and does really well other companies will jump on the bandwagon. Nintendo has always tried fresh things....good or bad at least they attempt something different.

As for the next gameboy I'm sure it will offer something close if not better than the PSP because well Nintendo needs to compete in the handheld market more than any other because they have remained supreme for years. They also haven't released new gameboy hardware in about 4 years. The SP wasn't any different than the original except for the light and design. THE TRUTH IS NINTENDO SAID THE DS WAS NOT THE NEXT GAMEBOY SO EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE PAID ATTENTION RATHER THAN BUY THE SYSTEM AND COMPLAIN ABOUT IT LATER.

Here is another positive article about the DS:
Nintendo claims most successful launch ever for DS in Australia:
Link (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=7050)


160 games, that doesn't mean good games. Nor does it mean first party games, nor do we have any real info on most of them. Everyone knows the DS and PSP will be battling for the better third party support, but if Nintendo releases another handheld this close to the DS's launch then the DS will be battling for it's own first party support as well!!! A vastly unwise move by Nintendo if you ask me. Yes, we all knew the DS was not the next Gameboy, that's why it's not called the Gameboy, no one EVER argued that. What we didn't know was that Nintendo was going to drop the next gameboy so quickly, which anyone with a brain can see will cut the DS games support majorly.

You BOLDED words! I've never even seen that (or noticed it). Coolness... I say more formatting within posts!!![

[epobirs]

If you don't want it, don't buy it. But don't buy it, willingly knowing there's few games for it, and then complain when a GBA successor appears, when you full well know that was going to happen anyway.

Dafoomie: Good point, and I submit that I agree with it unless Nintendo shows some serious developer expansion in order to fully support the DS (which, as of now, is not happening). I'm not worried about that (in terms of this argument right now), I'm more concerned with people blatently upset over something Nintendo told them upfront was going to be the natural progression of things.
Had I known that Nintendo would completely undercut the system within a year or two, I would never have bought it. I think its time to get out while the getting is still good.

You're right about anyone who buys the system now though, the writing is on the wall.

Well, the two systems are supposed to be separate tiers, so it shouldn't matter when they launch the two systems.

Also, the DS is geared to older gamers while the GB is tailored towards the younger audience. This is something we've all known for a very long time.

Nintendo isn't asking you to buy a GB. They're trying to get you to buy a DS, while hoping your young cousin will buy the new Gameboy.
In theory, this could work somehow. In practice, Nintendo doesn't control what platform their developers make games for, they'll go with the system with the largest installed base. DS simply will not get the support it needs in order to survive.

This is history repeating itself. Its being undercut by a new system in the same geneation (like 32x), unique enough to need its own separate system, while not quite good enough to hold its own separately (like Virtual Boy), and has absolutely no games and no support from developers (like both). You're right about what their plan is, but their plan sucks.

The problem with this theory is that it skips the 32X's own problems. It was a horrible design. Design may be the wrong word. More like a collection of chips Sega tossed in some leftover shells from earlier telecom add-ons for the Genesis and shook it up until it produced video. The 32X was just a torturous environment for developers. Most games on it completely ignored the second processor because there was no methogology offered by Sega for using both chips to any advantage. Why Sega chose to do this is baffling. THey could easily have produced a cheaper device that would have added a major boost to the Genesis without making it painfully complicated and portions of it unusable.

The Saturn suffered from some of the same complaints but the larger RAM space made it viable for Sega to eventually deliver code libraries that provided handling for multiprocessing. Most developers were never going to master this on their own, just as most developers of computer software are dependent on OS facilities to deal with multiple threads correctly. Meanwhile, Sony had a platform that was vastly simply to deal with and had some other major incentives for publishers seeking to better manage their inventory.

By comparison, the internal structure of the DS provides a very rational division of responsibilites between the ARM7 and ARM9 to the extent that much of it is automatic. The facilites for further divvying up usage of the processors is also well covered in the Code Warrior development suite that ever DS developer receives.

I don't much of a parallel here. I did think about for a while earlier and almost posted an OTOH that this could be Nintendo's first step into building up ill will among gamers as part of their eventual move out of the hardware business. Upon reflection I think this article shows a lot of flaws, making me take the whole thing with a massive grain of salt. I can think of numerous bad choices by Nintendo but I'm not going to start ripping them a new one over an unconfirmed rumor. Until proven otherwise I'm not inclined to believe they launched the DS with no consideration for what would happen in the GameBoy line.

[epobirs]

The DS isnt a failing system when it does better in the first 6 months than Nintendo expected it to do in a FREAKING YEAR. ...ehem.

Now to this Bullsiht article which hinges everything on this:

"We believe it is likely that the next version of the Game Boy Advance SP will ship as early as this holiday, ahead of most expectations of calendar year 2006," wrote P.J. McNealy of American Technology Research.

Who the fawk are you Mr. Mc Nealy and why should we give a lick what you say? are you a Nintendo Insider? Are you freaking psychic?? NO? then STFU.

The whole article is speculation of the highest order, I dont even understand why CNN would print nonsense like this. The DS is Nintendo's stop-gap product designed to keep market share untill they're ready to release a true successor to the GBASP which they will do when they;re good and ready, not when some egotisical trendmaking analyst says so.

File this article in the toilet.

McNealy has been covering tech industry analysis for longer than some CAGs have been alive. His opinon is not without some significance. I happen to think he's wrong in this case but he isn't just some guy they stopped on the sidewalk.

[jkam]

I never said 160 good games. But we will have:

New Super Mario Bros.
Animal Crossing
Castlevania
Mario Kart
Viewtiful Joe
Metroid Hunters
Final Fantasy III
Advance Wars

just to name a few. HOPEFULLY ONLINE PLAY.

The part that also gets me about all of this is the whole PSP thing. Don't get me wrong I love my PS2 and I'm getting a PSP (thanks TRU\EB!!) but what will they be offering that is SO much better??? Yes they have a lot of launch games. Yes the graphics are great. They all look like there PS2 counterparts. Sony wants to push the whole buy our movies, memory cards, and accessories rather than try something different and unique. Nintendo is not an audio\video company. They don't sell TV's or DVD players. In there business they make systems and games so why not try something unique? It just seems stupid that people keep comparing the DS and the PSP. The DS is most likely the 3rd Tier, filler, in between system but if it has some good games that I want to play then who cares??? If you don't want your DS sell it now and get your money back. No harm No foul.

I'm sure once the PSP is out people will have just as much to complain about. Maybe not lack of games but something. Don't be a Lemming. Play what you like. I will be happy with my DS + PSP.

I can't wait to see the GBE. Bring it on Nintendo.

[epobirs]

I think everyone is jumping the gun a bit here...

There are about 160 games coming out THIS year for the DS...so I don't think you can compare it to the Virtual Boy. We all know there needs to be MORE games. I would think March will mark the point where they announce the new GB but it won't actually release until Christmas of 2006.

As for the DS being gimmicky well yes it is. Anything that is different from the norm could be classified as gimmicky. The real test is if that gimmick makes an impact on gaming or the current market. You all know that if the DS really opens up and does really well other companies will jump on the bandwagon. Nintendo has always tried fresh things....good or bad at least they attempt something different.

As for the next gameboy I'm sure it will offer something close if not better than the PSP because well Nintendo needs to compete in the handheld market more than any other because they have remained supreme for years. They also haven't released new gameboy hardware in about 4 years. The SP wasn't any different than the original except for the light and design. THE TRUTH IS NINTENDO SAID THE DS WAS NOT THE NEXT GAMEBOY SO EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE PAID ATTENTION RATHER THAN BUY THE SYSTEM AND COMPLAIN ABOUT IT LATER.

Here is another positive article about the DS:
Nintendo claims most successful launch ever for DS in Australia:
Link (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=7050)

I wouldn't take the duration of the GBA's life as any indicator a new model is due. The B&W GameBoy existed for nearly a decade before the GBC finally appeared and wasn't exactly a technological marvel. It did two very important things to make it a viable product for Nintendo. It had good battery life and it could be retailed for $99.

The GBA is still very strong in selling new units and moving software. It still has a lot more units to move as the price eventually gets down to $50. I believe Nintendo will offer it at that price for at least a few months before a new model appears. Maxxing out the installed base and having a wide gap between it and the DS would aid both of those systems until such time as the right feature set falls into a $99 package for a new GB.

[epobirs]

I think Animal Crossing could be much better on the DS. Much of that game's potential could only be realized by taking your memory card over to someone else's GC to exchange data. I suspect a lot of people whose only knowledge of the game is what they read off the box weren't picking up on that and by and large weren't picking up the game either. A wireless handheld is far better environment for such promiscuous activity games.

I wouldn't be surprised if the coming version only supports local wireless but that would leave room for a sequel that supported online along with a bigger feature set.

[pumbaa]

I think Animal Crossing could be much better on the DS. Much of that game's potential could only be realized by taking your memory card over to someone else's GC to exchange data. I suspect a lot of people whose only knowledge of the game is what they read off the box weren't picking up on that and by and large weren't picking up the game either. A wireless handheld is far better environment for such promiscuous activity games.

I wouldn't be surprised if the coming version only supports local wireless but that would leave room for a sequel that supported online along with a bigger feature set.

Promiscuous Activity Games? Theres a genre that would wipe away Nintendo's kiddy image. The jokes write themselves.

[epobirs]

My guess of what this next gameboy will be..

Slighty better than Dreamcast level graphics.

Same desing as the GBA sp, but with a backlight, stereo speakers, four face buttons, and a larger screen.

Complete compatability with GB/GBC/GBA games.

Connectivity to the Nintendo Revolution.

A real Zelda title, and not the Four-Swords spin-off that the DS gets.

I wouldn't hold my breath on seeing that feature set in a GameBoy any time soon. There is a reason why the PSP is so expensive and still gets a hefty subsidy towards its price from Sony. You aren't going to get anything comparable to a Dreamcast (like, say, the PSP) in a $100 handheld this or next year.

Don't count on seeing GB and GBC compatibility in any new machines. Nintendo did that with the GBA because the old library was needed to launch the system strongly, especially with Pokemon. But that isn't an issue anymore. The Pokemons have been revamped in GBA versions and almost no GB/GBC has been produced for two years. Supporting that library is no longer a revenue driver for Nintendo. THe GBA library by itself is massive and quite adequate for giving any new GB a big launch advantage.

There is another technical reason, the same one that motivated them to not support GB/GBC on DS. Pre-GBA games were made using 5V chips. GBA and DS games are on 3.3V chips. Making the system use only 3.3V parts throughout improves battery life and saves cost and complexity. Don't be surprised if the next GB also has dual slots like the DS and uses cards like those on the DS for software delivery. There are several advantages to the newer design that Nintendo would want to use.

You need to be more specific on what you want when you say '"a larger screen." The DS screens are larger and of greater resolution but you say the DS is too big. Of course, one of the things the size of the DS provides is a way to have stereo speakers with sufficient separation to make to make the effect audible. (I was pretty impressed that they managed decent stereo effects at that size.) On a single screen clamshell with the controls directly underneath there isn't enough space for speaker separation and there is the further problem of those speakers being covered by the player's fingers.

You have to give up some things for a compact package. Using headphones for good audio production is just one of them. It is these compromises that allows for a high-end product like the DS to be a market worth exploring. The GameBoy is always going to be limited by the formula that makes it so successful. That doesn't mean it has to be the only viable handheld. Just the one with the biggest reach in the market.

[epobirs]

I think Animal Crossing could be much better on the DS. Much of that game's potential could only be realized by taking your memory card over to someone else's GC to exchange data. I suspect a lot of people whose only knowledge of the game is what they read off the box weren't picking up on that and by and large weren't picking up the game either. A wireless handheld is far better environment for such promiscuous activity games.

I wouldn't be surprised if the coming version only supports local wireless but that would leave room for a sequel that supported online along with a bigger feature set.

Promiscuous Activity Games? Theres a genre that would wipe away Nintendo's kiddy image. The jokes write themselves.

The first time I heard the phrase 'promiscuous mode' used for a networking product it raised eyebrows all over the room. I've seen one network management package that designates such systems with a scarlet A icon.

[AdamInPlaidum]

And the Oscar for most coherent posts in the shortest amount of time goes to: epobirs! ;)

[slidecage]

i cant belive people are still buying the DS. I mean its been out 4 months an yet there are no major titles that you must have and there is really nothing plan on coming out that is a MAJOR TITLE.

i got a DS mid Jan and only had it out of the box 1 time to play mr driller rest of the time i play my SP

[AdamInPlaidum]

i cant belive people are still buying the DS. I mean its been out 4 months an yet there are no major titles that you must have and there is really nothing plan on coming out that is a MAJOR TITLE.

i got a DS mid Jan and only had it out of the box 1 time to play mr driller rest of the time i play my SP

What do you consider a major title? I think the first 2D Mario game since Yoshi's Island is a pretty big deal. How about FF3, the only FF not yet released in the U.S.? Or the chance (even if it's just a chance) of online Animal Crossing? I think those are pretty big deals, but perhaps I'm alone in that opinion.

[Alpha2]

McNealy has been covering tech industry analysis for longer than some CAGs have been alive. His opinon is not without some significance. I happen to think he's wrong in this case but he isn't just some guy they stopped on the sidewalk.

Unfortunatly dispite all his apparent CNN credentialls, that's all he comes off as in this article, he gives no rational for his claim other than "I think" so it's really pointless. He had no real information, at best he's using biased half guessing based on the fact that Nintendo is numerially in third place without concidering that financially 3rd is fine for them even though they'd love to be 2nd or even 1st.

Hell if I didn;t know any better I'd say the guy had stock in a competing company and was trying to shake consummer confidence by leveling a false claim. I mean look at this thread alredy 4 pages long full of speculation and comparisons to sega's WORSE product ever, the 32X, in less that 24 hours. It;s like the complete opposite of nintendo's "paradigm shift" statment from a couple of months ago.

[Moxio]

Whoa! A $99 starting price?!! Totally on my buying list!

[whoknows]

spong is as reliable as someone very unreliable.

spong sucks,.

Running out of Insults eh??

[zionoverfire]

Well it looks like I might be right and that the DS was just a copout to deal with the PSP until the true gba sucessor could be finalized. Although a price of $100 does sound awfully cheap.

[whoknows]

$99 seems too cheap for it to be able to do what they are saying.

[dafoomie]

If you don't want it, don't buy it. But don't buy it, willingly knowing there's few games for it, and then complain when a GBA successor appears, when you full well know that was going to happen anyway.

Dafoomie: Good point, and I submit that I agree with it unless Nintendo shows some serious developer expansion in order to fully support the DS (which, as of now, is not happening). I'm not worried about that (in terms of this argument right now), I'm more concerned with people blatently upset over something Nintendo told them upfront was going to be the natural progression of things.
Had I known that Nintendo would completely undercut the system within a year or two, I would never have bought it. I think its time to get out while the getting is still good.

You're right about anyone who buys the system now though, the writing is on the wall.

Well, the two systems are supposed to be separate tiers, so it shouldn't matter when they launch the two systems.

Also, the DS is geared to older gamers while the GB is tailored towards the younger audience. This is something we've all known for a very long time.

Nintendo isn't asking you to buy a GB. They're trying to get you to buy a DS, while hoping your young cousin will buy the new Gameboy.
In theory, this could work somehow. In practice, Nintendo doesn't control what platform their developers make games for, they'll go with the system with the largest installed base. DS simply will not get the support it needs in order to survive.

This is history repeating itself. Its being undercut by a new system in the same geneation (like 32x), unique enough to need its own separate system, while not quite good enough to hold its own separately (like Virtual Boy), and has absolutely no games and no support from developers (like both). You're right about what their plan is, but their plan sucks.

The problem with this theory is that it skips the 32X's own problems. It was a horrible design. Design may be the wrong word. More like a collection of chips Sega tossed in some leftover shells from earlier telecom add-ons for the Genesis and shook it up until it produced video. The 32X was just a torturous environment for developers. Most games on it completely ignored the second processor because there was no methogology offered by Sega for using both chips to any advantage. Why Sega chose to do this is baffling. THey could easily have produced a cheaper device that would have added a major boost to the Genesis without making it painfully complicated and portions of it unusable.

The Saturn suffered from some of the same complaints but the larger RAM space made it viable for Sega to eventually deliver code libraries that provided handling for multiprocessing. Most developers were never going to master this on their own, just as most developers of computer software are dependent on OS facilities to deal with multiple threads correctly. Meanwhile, Sony had a platform that was vastly simply to deal with and had some other major incentives for publishers seeking to better manage their inventory.

By comparison, the internal structure of the DS provides a very rational division of responsibilites between the ARM7 and ARM9 to the extent that much of it is automatic. The facilites for further divvying up usage of the processors is also well covered in the Code Warrior development suite that ever DS developer receives.

I don't much of a parallel here. I did think about for a while earlier and almost posted an OTOH that this could be Nintendo's first step into building up ill will among gamers as part of their eventual move out of the hardware business. Upon reflection I think this article shows a lot of flaws, making me take the whole thing with a massive grain of salt. I can think of numerous bad choices by Nintendo but I'm not going to start ripping them a new one over an unconfirmed rumor. Until proven otherwise I'm not inclined to believe they launched the DS with no consideration for what would happen in the GameBoy line.
I was not trying to compare the reasons why 32x was horrible to DS, unlike 32X, DS is a good product in and of itself. I was just comparing the end result, that it was ultimately undercut by what everyone wanted in the first place.

DS could very well be a good platform, its a good product. Its just not the platform that Nintendo is going foreward with. The two screens/touchscreen thing is a gimmick, thats all well and good on your main console, but the problem here is, it'll be the only thing DS has going for it. And its just nothing special enough to justify an entirely separate system. Virtual Boy's gimmick had 10 times more going for it.

Whoever said DS is a stopgap was right. 32x was also a stopgap. No one wants to invest $150 in a stopgap, when the real deal is not only a year or two away, its going to cost $50 less, and make the DS completely obsolete.

[jkam]

This article puts the spin on a different way...basically saying the SP will get some sort of an upgrade like play yan capability, headphone jack, and wireless built in.

LINK (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=7073)

It would make the $99 price point a lot easier to swallow but another GBA revision would seem really stupid at this point.

I don't think Nintendo NEEDS to compete with the PSP right away. I mean I would LOVE to see something from Nintendo that could be a portable gamecube but it isn't necessary. The SP has proven there is still a love for 2D gaming. There is about 120 games coming out this year which proves Nintendo will back it...at least for this year.

The DS can easily compete with the PSP if they do things right. Online play being one. The price point is right as opposed to Sony's $250 for a handheld. Nintendo needs to take advantage NOW. Hopefully some good news will come in March. It's March... the clock is ticking.

[pumbaa]

It interesting to see the progression of this rumor, as I think it says a lot about the state of the DS (in the gamers mind) regardless of whatever truth the rumors have.

Me, I think Nintendo is going to roll out a portable wireless network and wants GBA to be a part of those plans. Which would give credence to the gameindustry.biz spin on this. But it doesn't really matter... heres why.

Obviously the state of the DS is in trouble when almost every gaming site who catches this rumor adds a "death of the DS comment" or a "DS is a gimmick" comment to the table. It seems like all that awesome press after E3 about the possibilities of the DS has been squndered. The problem here is that the DS's promises of innovation (at least in the minds of the gamer) haven't been fill. None of the games shown at E3 besides Mario 64 have been released. Pac Pix? Metroid Prime Hunters? Mario Bros? None of these games have been released, and these are the games that got everyone talking about the DS.

Look, the thing still has at least a good year left in it, developers are going to just drop their DS projects and port them to other systems simply because the DS is so damn specialized. You've got 160 games coming. So sell your DS, hold off until theres more colors, a price drop, or online play. Just don't scream to the high heavens that the thing is dead when it obviously isn't. Especially based off of a rumor.

[javeryh]

This article puts the spin on a different way...basically saying the SP will get some sort of an upgrade like play yan capability, headphone jack, and wireless built in.

LINK (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=7073)

It would make the $99 price point a lot easier to swallow but another GBA revision would seem really stupid at this point.

I don't think Nintendo NEEDS to compete with the PSP right away. I mean I would LOVE to see something from Nintendo that could be a portable gamecube but it isn't necessary. The SP has proven there is still a love for 2D gaming. There is about 120 games coming out this year which proves Nintendo will back it...at least for this year.

The DS can easily compete with the PSP if they do things right. Online play being one. The price point is right as opposed to Sony's $250 for a handheld. Nintendo needs to take advantage NOW. Hopefully some good news will come in March. It's March... the clock is ticking.

I'm amazed that Nintendo can sell 6 million DS systems for $150 and no game in less than 6 months but can only sell 18 million Gamecubes in 3.5 years. The Gamecube costs $50 less, has tons and tons and tons of AAA games already released for it and no one is buying. The DS is $50 more expensive, it has (arguably) 2 or 3 games worth playing that weren't made 10 years ago, it's entire premise is one giant gimmick, and it is severely underpowered to Sony's upcoming offering. God I hate the general public.

[jkam]

This article puts the spin on a different way...basically saying the SP will get some sort of an upgrade like play yan capability, headphone jack, and wireless built in.

LINK (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=7073)

It would make the $99 price point a lot easier to swallow but another GBA revision would seem really stupid at this point.

I don't think Nintendo NEEDS to compete with the PSP right away. I mean I would LOVE to see something from Nintendo that could be a portable gamecube but it isn't necessary. The SP has proven there is still a love for 2D gaming. There is about 120 games coming out this year which proves Nintendo will back it...at least for this year.

The DS can easily compete with the PSP if they do things right. Online play being one. The price point is right as opposed to Sony's $250 for a handheld. Nintendo needs to take advantage NOW. Hopefully some good news will come in March. It's March... the clock is ticking.

I'm amazed that Nintendo can sell 6 million DS systems for $150 and no game in less than 6 months but can only sell 18 million Gamecubes in 3.5 years. The Gamecube costs $50 less, has tons and tons and tons of AAA games already released for it and no one is buying. The DS is $50 more expensive, it has (arguably) 2 or 3 games worth playing that weren't made 10 years ago, it's entire premise is one giant gimmick, and it is severely underpowered to Sony's upcoming offering. God I hate the general public.

People really should buy a GC.

[javeryh]

This article puts the spin on a different way...basically saying the SP will get some sort of an upgrade like play yan capability, headphone jack, and wireless built in.

LINK (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=7073)

It would make the $99 price point a lot easier to swallow but another GBA revision would seem really stupid at this point.

I don't think Nintendo NEEDS to compete with the PSP right away. I mean I would LOVE to see something from Nintendo that could be a portable gamecube but it isn't necessary. The SP has proven there is still a love for 2D gaming. There is about 120 games coming out this year which proves Nintendo will back it...at least for this year.

The DS can easily compete with the PSP if they do things right. Online play being one. The price point is right as opposed to Sony's $250 for a handheld. Nintendo needs to take advantage NOW. Hopefully some good news will come in March. It's March... the clock is ticking.

I'm amazed that Nintendo can sell 6 million DS systems for $150 and no game in less than 6 months but can only sell 18 million Gamecubes in 3.5 years. The Gamecube costs $50 less, has tons and tons and tons of AAA games already released for it and no one is buying. The DS is $50 more expensive, it has (arguably) 2 or 3 games worth playing that weren't made 10 years ago, it's entire premise is one giant gimmick, and it is severely underpowered to Sony's upcoming offering. God I hate the general public.

People really should buy a GC.

I don't know what the problem is other than immature people worried about their "image" - Gamecube is for kids only! :arrow:

[dafoomie]

This article puts the spin on a different way...basically saying the SP will get some sort of an upgrade like play yan capability, headphone jack, and wireless built in.

LINK (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=7073)

It would make the $99 price point a lot easier to swallow but another GBA revision would seem really stupid at this point.

I don't think Nintendo NEEDS to compete with the PSP right away. I mean I would LOVE to see something from Nintendo that could be a portable gamecube but it isn't necessary. The SP has proven there is still a love for 2D gaming. There is about 120 games coming out this year which proves Nintendo will back it...at least for this year.

The DS can easily compete with the PSP if they do things right. Online play being one. The price point is right as opposed to Sony's $250 for a handheld. Nintendo needs to take advantage NOW. Hopefully some good news will come in March. It's March... the clock is ticking.

I'm amazed that Nintendo can sell 6 million DS systems for $150 and no game in less than 6 months but can only sell 18 million Gamecubes in 3.5 years. The Gamecube costs $50 less, has tons and tons and tons of AAA games already released for it and no one is buying. The DS is $50 more expensive, it has (arguably) 2 or 3 games worth playing that weren't made 10 years ago, it's entire premise is one giant gimmick, and it is severely underpowered to Sony's upcoming offering. God I hate the general public.

People really should buy a GC.

I don't know what the problem is other than immature people worried about their "image" - Gamecube is for kids only! :arrow:
I don't own a Gamecube because I don't want a Gamecube. I have trouble keeping up with the games that interest me on Xbox and PS2. While there are several games that interest me on Gamecube, there aren't enough to justify the purchase.

I didn't say there aren't good games on the GC, just not enough that interest ME to justify buying it.


I am relieved at the clarification from gamesindustry.biz, but my points stand if they release a new Gameboy platform within the next two years.

Also, the lack of games on the DS is rather... baffling. And very disappointing. Still, I'll be happy if the DS becomes the platform of choice for 2d, and has some staying power in the years to come. If it can approach the staying power of the GBA, that would be good. If its closer to what GBC was (an incremental upgrade before the next major platform), it won't be good.

[GizmoGC]

[quote=slidecage]i cant belive people are still buying the DS. I mean its been out 4 months an yet there are no major titles that you must have and there is really nothing plan on coming out that is a MAJOR TITLE.

i got a DS mid Jan and only had it out of the box 1 time to play mr driller rest of the time i play my SP

Can I ask what 'major' title PSP is going to have? Almost all the games are re-hashes of PS2 games. Nothing really new.

[Mr Unoriginal]

[quote=slidecage]i cant belive people are still buying the DS. I mean its been out 4 months an yet there are no major titles that you must have and there is really nothing plan on coming out that is a MAJOR TITLE.

i got a DS mid Jan and only had it out of the box 1 time to play mr driller rest of the time i play my SP

Can I ask what 'major' title PSP is going to have? Almost all the games are re-hashes of PS2 games. Nothing really new.

OMFG!!! METAL GEAR SOLID!!!111!!111 Oh wait...it's a card game.

[GizmoGC]

I'm amazed that Nintendo can sell 6 million DS systems for $150 and no game in less than 6 months but can only sell 18 million Gamecubes in 3.5 years. The Gamecube costs $50 less, has tons and tons and tons of AAA games already released for it and no one is buying. The DS is $50 more expensive, it has (arguably) 2 or 3 games worth playing that weren't made 10 years ago, it's entire premise is one giant gimmick, and it is severely underpowered to Sony's upcoming offering. God I hate the general public.

Gamecube may NOW be $99, but it launched at $249. Then dropped to $199, then $149, and now $99.

Also, the comment about the E3 games not coming out except for Mario is a little untrue. We did just get Wario, hehe.

[javeryh]

I'm amazed that Nintendo can sell 6 million DS systems for $150 and no game in less than 6 months but can only sell 18 million Gamecubes in 3.5 years. The Gamecube costs $50 less, has tons and tons and tons of AAA games already released for it and no one is buying. The DS is $50 more expensive, it has (arguably) 2 or 3 games worth playing that weren't made 10 years ago, it's entire premise is one giant gimmick, and it is severely underpowered to Sony's upcoming offering. God I hate the general public.

Gamecube may NOW be $99, but it launched at $249. Then dropped to $199, then $149, and now $99.

Also, the comment about the E3 games not coming out except for Mario is a little untrue. We did just get Wario, hehe.

I don't think it was ever $249... $199 maybe but I'm pretty sure I didn't pay over $200 for it at launch...

[GizmoGC]

[quote=slidecage]i cant belive people are still buying the DS. I mean its been out 4 months an yet there are no major titles that you must have and there is really nothing plan on coming out that is a MAJOR TITLE.

i got a DS mid Jan and only had it out of the box 1 time to play mr driller rest of the time i play my SP

Can I ask what 'major' title PSP is going to have? Almost all the games are re-hashes of PS2 games. Nothing really new.

OMFG!!! METAL GEAR SOLID!!!111!!111 Oh wait...it's a card game.

Yeah....and? Sure, its a NEW game, but its another MGS game. But just wait until all the masses buy it and go "WTF?!?!? ITS A CARD GAME!". But besides that, what else is coming out? All PS2 ports! Nothing really original.

[GizmoGC]

I'm amazed that Nintendo can sell 6 million DS systems for $150 and no game in less than 6 months but can only sell 18 million Gamecubes in 3.5 years. The Gamecube costs $50 less, has tons and tons and tons of AAA games already released for it and no one is buying. The DS is $50 more expensive, it has (arguably) 2 or 3 games worth playing that weren't made 10 years ago, it's entire premise is one giant gimmick, and it is severely underpowered to Sony's upcoming offering. God I hate the general public.

Gamecube may NOW be $99, but it launched at $249. Then dropped to $199, then $149, and now $99.

Also, the comment about the E3 games not coming out except for Mario is a little untrue. We did just get Wario, hehe.

I don't think it was ever $249... $199 maybe but I'm pretty sure I didn't pay over $200 for it at launch...

Maybe your right... I didn't buy it at launch, I waited till it dropped to $149.

[Mr Unoriginal]

[quote=slidecage]i cant belive people are still buying the DS. I mean its been out 4 months an yet there are no major titles that you must have and there is really nothing plan on coming out that is a MAJOR TITLE.

i got a DS mid Jan and only had it out of the box 1 time to play mr driller rest of the time i play my SP

Can I ask what 'major' title PSP is going to have? Almost all the games are re-hashes of PS2 games. Nothing really new.

OMFG!!! METAL GEAR SOLID!!!111!!111 Oh wait...it's a card game.

Yeah....and? Sure, its a NEW game, but its another MGS game. But just wait until all the masses buy it and go "WTF?!?!? ITS A CARD GAME!". But besides that, what else is coming out? All PS2 ports! Nothing really original.

Ooops, I forgot my <sarcasm> </sarcasm> tags. Sorry.

[epobirs]

This article puts the spin on a different way...basically saying the SP will get some sort of an upgrade like play yan capability, headphone jack, and wireless built in.

LINK (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=7073)

It would make the $99 price point a lot easier to swallow but another GBA revision would seem really stupid at this point.

I don't think Nintendo NEEDS to compete with the PSP right away. I mean I would LOVE to see something from Nintendo that could be a portable gamecube but it isn't necessary. The SP has proven there is still a love for 2D gaming. There is about 120 games coming out this year which proves Nintendo will back it...at least for this year.

The DS can easily compete with the PSP if they do things right. Online play being one. The price point is right as opposed to Sony's $250 for a handheld. Nintendo needs to take advantage NOW. Hopefully some good news will come in March. It's March... the clock is ticking.

I'm amazed that Nintendo can sell 6 million DS systems for $150 and no game in less than 6 months but can only sell 18 million Gamecubes in 3.5 years. The Gamecube costs $50 less, has tons and tons and tons of AAA games already released for it and no one is buying. The DS is $50 more expensive, it has (arguably) 2 or 3 games worth playing that weren't made 10 years ago, it's entire premise is one giant gimmick, and it is severely underpowered to Sony's upcoming offering. God I hate the general public.

Not surprising at all. The GC is up against very stiff competition. At launch the primary competition for the DS was vaporware. One of the advantages of relatively low priced toys for adults is they can be bought on a whim. For instance, my brother bought GBA's for all three of his kids but with the DS he bought one for himself as well. The product held more interest for an adult than the GBA while still building on that system's massive success.

It's a good marketing move. Some might recall that the original GameBoy targeted adults with Tetris and other games that were easily picked up or put down on amoment's notice. It moved a lot of units early on but Nintendo couldn't sustain it. When the Pokemon Empire took power there was no question that this was built on a very young audience. With billions of dollars rolling in that was just fine. But mastery of one market segment is never enough when so much more is available.

The DS still needs to make good on the promise with a good flow of software but the initial ideas are good. Remember the 'This isn't your father's Oldsmobile' campaign that sought to break the auto brand out of an aging demographic? The DS is doing it in reverse. "This isn't your little brother's GameBoy." The touchscreen and stylus may not work out as Nintendo hopes but in the near term they've caught the eye of a lot of consumers, marking the DS as something different and more suitable to be seen in public holding. (Games should have a panic button to put up a dummy personal planner app jsut as many PC games had dummy spreadsheets that could be summoned with a panic button.) The ad campaign follows this theme with "Touching is good."

The old standby of advertising to the late teens and young adults: This will get you laid.

On the GameCube Nintendo simply screwed up. They underestimated how much ill will they'd generated in the previous generation among developers targeting older audiences. Until RE4 it was very hard for a consumer to spot anything on GameCube that was not a remake or multiplatform. The older players geared towards FPS and stealth games favored Xbox. The biggest audience, playing it safe, got the PS2 that covered all the bases. It may not have had all the brand names of the competition, like Halo and Mario, but it offered the best chance of keeping the kids happy as well as giving Dad something he'd like as well.

I would hope Nintendo has learned along the way. The launch library for their next console needs to have the equivalents of Mario 64 and Grand Theft Auto both to make it clear they can cover the range as well as anyone. Unless, of course, they can't. They may have yet another profitable also-ran system. Not a bad business but you have to put up with a lot of people preparing a grave you don't need.

[javeryh]

I don't own a Gamecube because I don't want a Gamecube. I have trouble keeping up with the games that interest me on Xbox and PS2. While there are several games that interest me on Gamecube, there aren't enough to justify the purchase.

I didn't say there aren't good games on the GC, just not enough that interest ME to justify buying it.

yeah but didn't you buy a DS? You can't honestly say that the DS has more games that interest you than the gamecube, can you?

I know what you mean about not having time to keep up though (it's the only reason I don't have an xbox - also it would cost around $180 to get set up) but I think the GCN has to be considered a better purchase than the DS - at least at this point in time...

[RAMSTORIA]

dont forget, the DS has winning eleven coming soon, the psp doesnt... but i want both, im just poor

[FriskyTanuki]

i cant belive people are still buying the DS. I mean its been out 4 months an yet there are no major titles that you must have and there is really nothing plan on coming out that is a MAJOR TITLE.

i got a DS mid Jan and only had it out of the box 1 time to play mr driller rest of the time i play my SP

Can I ask what 'major' title PSP is going to have? Almost all the games are re-hashes of PS2 games. Nothing really new.

OMFG!!! METAL GEAR SOLID!!!111!!111 Oh wait...it's a card game.

Yeah....and? Sure, its a NEW game, but its another MGS game. But just wait until all the masses buy it and go "WTF?!?!? ITS A CARD GAME!". But besides that, what else is coming out? All PS2 ports! Nothing really original.

Ooops, I forgot my <sarcasm> </sarcasm> tags. Sorry.

Typical PSP stereotypes. Most of the "re-hashes" have new features, modes, etc that give you reasons to get the PSP version instead. As for non "re-hashes", there's Mercury, New Legends, Metal Gear Acid, Lumines, Rengoku, Smart Bomb are just from the launch titles. As for afterwards, there's Death Jr., Project Interceptor, Crisis Core: FFVII, Infected, Coded Arms, and Advent Shadow. Please do some research before making false claims based on stereotypes.

[FriskyTanuki]

dont forget, the DS has winning eleven coming soon, the psp doesnt... but i want both, im just poor

It's coming (http://psp.ign.com/objects/683/683138.html), just have some patience.

[pumbaa]

This article puts the spin on a different way...basically saying the SP will get some sort of an upgrade like play yan capability, headphone jack, and wireless built in.

LINK (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=7073)

It would make the $99 price point a lot easier to swallow but another GBA revision would seem really stupid at this point.

I don't think Nintendo NEEDS to compete with the PSP right away. I mean I would LOVE to see something from Nintendo that could be a portable gamecube but it isn't necessary. The SP has proven there is still a love for 2D gaming. There is about 120 games coming out this year which proves Nintendo will back it...at least for this year.

The DS can easily compete with the PSP if they do things right. Online play being one. The price point is right as opposed to Sony's $250 for a handheld. Nintendo needs to take advantage NOW. Hopefully some good news will come in March. It's March... the clock is ticking.

I'm amazed that Nintendo can sell 6 million DS systems for $150 and no game in less than 6 months but can only sell 18 million Gamecubes in 3.5 years. The Gamecube costs $50 less, has tons and tons and tons of AAA games already released for it and no one is buying. The DS is $50 more expensive, it has (arguably) 2 or 3 games worth playing that weren't made 10 years ago, it's entire premise is one giant gimmick, and it is severely underpowered to Sony's upcoming offering. God I hate the general public.

Not surprising at all. The GC is up against very stiff competition. At launch the primary competition for the DS was vaporware. One of the advantages of relatively low priced toys for adults is they can be bought on a whim. For instance, my brother bought GBA's for all three of his kids but with the DS he bought one for himself as well. The product held more interest for an adult than the GBA while still building on that system's massive success.

It's a good marketing move. Some might recall that the original GameBoy targeted adults with Tetris and other games that were easily picked up or put down on amoment's notice. It moved a lot of units early on but Nintendo couldn't sustain it. When the Pokemon Empire took power there was no question that this was built on a very young audience. With billions of dollars rolling in that was just fine. But mastery of one market segment is never enough when so much more is available.

The DS still needs to make good on the promise with a good flow of software but the initial ideas are good. Remember the 'This isn't your father's Oldsmobile' campaign that sought to break the auto brand out of an aging demographic? The DS is doing it in reverse. "This isn't your little brother's GameBoy." The touchscreen and stylus may not work out as Nintendo hopes but in the near term they've caught the eye of a lot of consumers, marking the DS as something different and more suitable to be seen in public holding. (Games should have a panic button to put up a dummy personal planner app jsut as many PC games had dummy spreadsheets that could be summoned with a panic button.) The ad campaign follows this theme with "Touching is good."

The old standby of advertising to the late teens and young adults: This will get you laid.

On the GameCube Nintendo simply screwed up. They underestimated how much ill will they'd generated in the previous generation among developers targeting older audiences. Until RE4 it was very hard for a consumer to spot anything on GameCube that was not a remake or multiplatform. The older players geared towards FPS and stealth games favored Xbox. The biggest audience, playing it safe, got the PS2 that covered all the bases. It may not have had all the brand names of the competition, like Halo and Mario, but it offered the best chance of keeping the kids happy as well as giving Dad something he'd like as well.

I would hope Nintendo has learned along the way. The launch library for their next console needs to have the equivalents of Mario 64 and Grand Theft Auto both to make it clear they can cover the range as well as anyone. Unless, of course, they can't. They may have yet another profitable also-ran system. Not a bad business but you have to put up with a lot of people preparing a grave you don't need.

This has to be one of the most well thought out damn posts on this thread. The DS's goal, me thinks, is to start making Nintendo a broader brand. You've got games like Sprung (quality doesn't matter....) they go into places that no other Nintendo product would. This Organizer Plus software that has been announced is another step into the "Young Adult" range. Basically, seems like for ages 16-24... the DS may not be as "taboo" to have as a GameBoy to have in your backpack/briefcase.

[captaincold]

It was a smart move on nintendo's part not to release any Ds games in January so that Minish cap could get not only the Gba market but also the Ds market.

If Wario Ware touched were released in January i highly doubt Ds owners would have bought BOTH Minish cap and Wario Touched.

I like having alot of choices but i HATE to see good games sell like crap because the market is overcrowded, which is what will happen when the Psp is released.

[GizmoGC]

i cant belive people are still buying the DS. I mean its been out 4 months an yet there are no major titles that you must have and there is really nothing plan on coming out that is a MAJOR TITLE.

i got a DS mid Jan and only had it out of the box 1 time to play mr driller rest of the time i play my SP

Can I ask what 'major' title PSP is going to have? Almost all the games are re-hashes of PS2 games. Nothing really new.

OMFG!!! METAL GEAR SOLID!!!111!!111 Oh wait...it's a card game.

Yeah....and? Sure, its a NEW game, but its another MGS game. But just wait until all the masses buy it and go "WTF?!?!? ITS A CARD GAME!". But besides that, what else is coming out? All PS2 ports! Nothing really original.

Ooops, I forgot my <sarcasm> </sarcasm> tags. Sorry.

Typical PSP stereotypes. Most of the "re-hashes" have new features, modes, etc that give you reasons to get the PSP version instead. As for non "re-hashes", there's Mercury, New Legends, Metal Gear Acid, Lumines, Rengoku, Smart Bomb are just from the launch titles. As for afterwards, there's Death Jr., Project Interceptor, Crisis Core: FFVII, Infected, Coded Arms, and Advent Shadow. Please do some research before making false claims based on stereotypes.

..and Mario 64 and every other game didn't include any other extras besides ports?

[FriskyTanuki]

i cant belive people are still buying the DS. I mean its been out 4 months an yet there are no major titles that you must have and there is really nothing plan on coming out that is a MAJOR TITLE.

i got a DS mid Jan and only had it out of the box 1 time to play mr driller rest of the time i play my SP

Can I ask what 'major' title PSP is going to have? Almost all the games are re-hashes of PS2 games. Nothing really new.

OMFG!!! METAL GEAR SOLID!!!111!!111 Oh wait...it's a card game.

Yeah....and? Sure, its a NEW game, but its another MGS game. But just wait until all the masses buy it and go "WTF?!?!? ITS A CARD GAME!". But besides that, what else is coming out? All PS2 ports! Nothing really original.

Ooops, I forgot my <sarcasm> </sarcasm> tags. Sorry.

Typical PSP stereotypes. Most of the "re-hashes" have new features, modes, etc that give you reasons to get the PSP version instead. As for non "re-hashes", there's Mercury, New Legends, Metal Gear Acid, Lumines, Rengoku, Smart Bomb are just from the launch titles. As for afterwards, there's Death Jr., Project Interceptor, Crisis Core: FFVII, Infected, Coded Arms, and Advent Shadow. Please do some research before making false claims based on stereotypes.

..and Mario 64 and every other game didn't include any other extras besides ports?

Of course it did, I never said anything against that. I'm just pointing out your flawed opinions towards the PSP's games.

[epobirs]

It was a smart move on nintendo's part not to release any Ds games in January so that Minish cap could get not only the Gba market but also the Ds market.

If Wario Ware touched were released in January i highly doubt Ds owners would have bought BOTH Minish cap and Wario Touched.

I like having alot of choices but i HATE to see good games sell like crap because the market is overcrowded, which is what will happen when the Psp is released.

Wario Ware Touched is a rather brief experience while Zelda games require some commitment. I really doubt a either game would have affected sales of the other if they had been released tha same week.

Considering the rave reviews, Minish Cap should be getting a lot of business from DS owners regardless of what native DS titles are alos out. Some of the last major PS1 titles did much of their business on the PS2. FFIX, for example. It took a serious snob to turn their nose up at that one just because it wasn't the latest technology.

[Maxim_L_Sinistral]

my take is that they're going to do a Nintendo DS "SP" type thing. it's just like sony is doing with every single playstation. Playstation-->Playstation 1. Playstation 2 --> Playstation 2 slim. And even Nintendo has dabbed a little of they're steak in that sauce. The original Gameboy --> Gameboy Pocket. Gameboy Advance --> Gameboy Advance SP. I wouldn't worry too much though as Nintendo is a very strong company who started out as a simple playing card manufacturer to one of gaming's household names.

P.S. i'm not a fanboy, i own the PS2 PS2slim Xbox, and GC.