Topic: DSi May Hit US by Next Summer

[Kairon]

Iwata says a fall 2009 release would "probably be too late."
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=17123

 Nintendo's DSi may have just arrived on store shelves in Japan, but the handheld game player has yet to release in overseas markets. However, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata recently offered hope that availability would come sooner rather than later.    

"An autumn or year-end [2009] launch would probably be too late," said Iwata at a meeting with analysts and investors last Friday. When it was unveiled earlier last month, the DSi had only been vaguely described as releasing "well into" 2009. However, while Iwata's statements provided some hope, he declined to give further details, saying that "specific plans will be unveiled by our local subsidiaries."    

While this sheds a little more light on the American prospects for the device, Europe is already expecting the device to arrive sooner than that. Shortly after the DSi was unveiled, a spokesman for Nintendo of Europe said they had plans to launch the DSi in spring 2009 for the European market.

[planetidiot]

Still kind of confused about this upgrade.  There's presumably going to be software that uses the camera, and software you can only play by downloading, so like it or not they split the user base. 

Since that's the case, why not just come out with a more powerful DS2 with these features?  My only complaint with the current DS is the hardware is showing its age.  Boost the resolution, up the ram and processor speed, basically do a Gamecube->Wii style hardware upgrade.  Keep backwards compatibility and you're done. 

I guess they're just following the old Gameboy line of products, meaning the DS won't get a major overhaul for another 5 years :S

[GoldenPhoenix]

I wonder how Nintendo will approach a new DS2, because I think the PSP has shown that graphics can hurt a portable system because the experience is basically a shrunk down PS2.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Breakaway screens.

[Flames_of_chaos]

I wonder how Nintendo will approach a new DS2, because I think the PSP has shown that graphics can hurt a portable system because the experience is basically a shrunk down PS2.

Well the reason that it hurt them is that they launched the PSP during the PS2 era and publishers wanting a quick buck made portable versions of PS2 games. And there was nothing unique about the PSP compared to the PS2.

[KDR_11k]

I don't think that's all. Nintendo makes software that demonstrates how to handle their systems correctly and smart third parties take the hint, Sony doesn't develop much and what they did seemed to ride mostly on the PS2's fame.

[planetidiot]

Considering the fate of the other competitors to Nintendo's portables, I'd say the PSP is doing really well.  Two even have a competitor on the market is astounding.  Giving the PSP good graphics didn't hurt it.  What hurt it was that it was more expensive and ran off goofy discs with long load times.  Also the controls weren't very good, and since portables have built-in controls, that's pretty critical. 

If Nintendo came out with a DS2 with more power than the PSP, it would not hurt them.  Not any more than coming out with a non-beefed up DS that just has a couple cameras stuck on it and an SD card.  Then again, I didn't really get any of the old Gameboy upgrades that didn't include a backlight.  This is just par for the course, Nintendo moves slowly until they are ready to revolutionize something.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

But since PSP and DS are going about things very differently, are they even competing?

[where have i heard that before...]

[Halbred]

Well, I'm annoyed that the GBA slot is being removed from the DSi (how will I play Guitar Hero or use the Rumble thing?), but overall I'm excited. I've needed to replace my DS for a little while now. The casing along the joint is cracked, the screens are scratched to hell, the buttons are mushy (especially the D-pad), and the L/R buttons have been tinted by years of overuse. The stylus doesn't really stay in its slot anymore, either.

So I look at this as an opportunity to upgrade and replace my hardware. I hope it doesn't cost (much) more than the current model...