Topic: PSP vs. DS ... Final Verdict (G4)

[clevelandst124]

I never had a n64 and I think Mario 64 is wonderful.  If you are like me, I think it is reason enough to own the ds.  Again, not playing the original I would rate it at 9.7.  It shows that the ds can handle powerful graphics.  Not PSP like but anybody that puts gba graphics on a ds is just lazy.  The mini games are worth the $30 purchase alone as they have infinite replay value and I've enjoyed them as much as the main game.  

But I also have no problem with d-pad control.  I never really understood analog control.  You know what I do in racing games?  I click the analog in the turns.  The same thing I would do with a d-pad.  That's why I thought the control was pretty spot on with Mario 64 ds.  I now have 147 stars and I'm working on 150 without ever using the touchscreen.  That is also why I'm still going to pick up Rayman.  I've never played it and I'm fine with the d-pad so I'm not worried about the controls.  

I do agree that the launch was rushed and would have been better served after now even.  But putting Mario 64 on the ds was a good move.  

[Artimus]

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Originally posted by: allcaps
Whereas the GBA appealed to gamers looking to satisfy an old school, 2D fix, these systems are going in entirely different directions.

90% of GBA owners are under the age of 16 and play them because their parents bought them one and buy them games.

[Deguello]

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90% of GBA owners are under the age of 16 and play them because their parents bought them one and buy them games.

Got a source for this?  Or should I just take your word for it?  I am willing to entertain that a majority of Gameboy Owners are children, but 90% seems a bit much.

[Mario]

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Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised to see a new GB in early 2006

That would be a terrible move, and it won't happen. Who's ever going to buy a Nintendo handheld again when they know it will only have a 1-2 year lifespan and the next one will be even better?  

[KnowsNothing]

That would create an endless loop of wait-and-see and no one would buy anything EVER.  Nintendo are doomed.

Oh yeah, that 90% thinger guess is WAY off.  Plenty of older people bought a GBA, even though it may have been because there was no other choice.  Even Nintendo bashers have a GBA

[Savior]

The GBA was released in  Mid 2001, Id say 5 years means Mid 2006 for the Game Boy Evolution.

The next Gameboy is coming. The question is when, it also depends on the Revolution.

If the Revolution is released November 2006 to go against the PS3, then it means either Mid 2006, or Mid 2007 for the GBE.  

[Don'tHate742]

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Originally posted by: Mario

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Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised to see a new GB in early 2006

That would be a terrible move, and it won't happen. Who's ever going to buy a Nintendo handheld again when they know it will only have a 1-2 year lifespan and the next one will be even better?

It's not that bad of a move, a little earlier yes, but the fundamentals are correct.

Nintendo has 2 main objectives, which are:

-- Killing the PSP

-- Killing the PS3


Nintendo could single-handedly do that, but timing is everything. He said he wouldn't be surprised to see a new GB in 2006. That should mean it being revealed at that year's E3. The problem with launching a new handheld shortly after another is the smuthering affect caused by the new one. Nintendo can save the DS if the new GB is revealed, but how? It has to prove to us that it provides a new way to play, that (this is important) can't be mocked or replicated by later handhelds or handhelds seen today. Nintendo should be now, busting their ass to make the touch-screen, two-screen handheld an interactive and fun handheld.

Once the DS "blossoms" into the handheld to own (which seems likely at the end of the year), with a great annoucement of more games, features (PDA for the love of God!), and interenet updates to come (soon that is), they could have a firm grasp on marketshare as well as a big enough loyal userbase. This userbase plays a role in keeping the DS alive. They bought it for it's interactivity, and they will continue to buy games for that sole purpose.

E3 2006 comes around. Nintendo shows the new GB that is set to launch september, along with complete compatibilty with cube games. The combatibility for multi-player games will be limited, unless of course, Nintendo planned this all along (not likely, but you never know). This news along with the REV being backwards compatible, allows for a spread of the same software over three consoles, meaning a obvious boost in sales for software respectively.

The REV acts like a GBE player, and everyone knows how popular the GBA player was. Now, instead of packing the player at a later date, it's automatically there. The GBE has potential to smuther the DS, but like I said, if popular enough, the DS can live on due to two things: It holds the GBA line BWC, which wasn't a last minute adaptation, and it is unique, yet amazingly fun (has to be proven).

The GBE should launch with about 6-7 new titles, but it would be allowed not to launch with many titles though (unlike the DS), considering it has a huge GameCube line-up from the start. This allows let's Nintendo to focus almost all it's game developement for the REV. The only problem is supporting two launches almost side-by-side. If they can do it though, new adopters of the GBE (and there will be many) will get frustrated that they can't play multi-player games completely, then the REV launches with that feature in tow, a seamless transition.

Many third-parties, already familiar with the GameCube will jump on board, seeing as how it's the new GameBoy and it's games can be sold for 3 different systems. The REV will gain sales due to it's new functionality (has to be good) as well as for playing GBE games at home. Let's not forget the possibility of it playing HD-DVD's either.

The DS might get lost in the surge of consumer awareness for the new systems, but as long as there's something for those consumers, it'll survive. The DS summer will benchmark how fully the DS has matured. If it proves that even with a GBE annoucement it can still gain revenue, I think Nintendo could not only successfully killed off the PSP, but keep the "third pillar" promise. Something would have to get DS sales going though, during that vast summer period. PDA functionality, with chat-on-the-go capabilities with normal computers sounds like a nice move. Give it a surge of online titles, such as SSB Online, Pokemon Online, and an RTS, and it'll sell.

For the first time EVER, a handheld can actually generate console sales, forming some kinda allaince between the two. Not to mention, the possibility of using the GBE as a controller.

After that hectic year, things will pan out smoothly for all Nintendo hardware. Games released for the GBE will sell better due to the REV fans that buy the games. The REV third-party list will hopefully grow fuller, with a wide-range of developers due to the secret "concept," and the outstanding REV sell through (due to GBE compatibility). The DS can be the friendly developer's system, for those that don't want to spend the vast amounts of money needed for the two other hardwares. With the PSP out of the way (hopefully), the DS and GBE are the only handhelds that developers would develope for. Most may go with the GBE's very broad user-base, but the DS will become the "portable computer" handheld, letting developers easily transfer (not port) game play mechanics to the DS. An RTS, ORPG, twitchy FPS, compelling 2-D games, puzzle games, 3-D/2-D nostalgia classics, innovative new-twists (JSRF) would thrive on the DS. More functionality can be given to the PDA software, allowing it to grow as time passes. A web browser comes to mind, as well as VOIP (voice/video chat rather than net2phone).

Wow I said alot.....sorry if this sounds like throw up (as in information digested and brought up again), but I can't help it, it seems too plausible.  

[Mario]

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The GBA was released in Mid 2001, Id say 5 years means Mid 2006 for the Game Boy Evolution.

The next Gameboy is coming. The question is when, it also depends on the Revolution.

If the Revolution is released November 2006 to go against the PS3, then it means either Mid 2006, or Mid 2007 for the GBE.

The next Gameboy just came out, it's called the Nintendo DS.

[Mario]

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Nintendo has 2 main objectives, which are:

-- Killing the PSP

-- Killing the PS3

I think their main objective is making a profit. Say DS is selling... 500,000 a month, while GBA is selling 200,000 a month. A new Gameboy comes out, sells 1 million first month, then every other months sells 500,000 average. Now the DS is the one only selling 200,000 a month. They're selling the same amount of systems as before, but they are faced with the costs of developing and launching and supporting a new system. Wouldn't it make more sense for them to wait until the DS starts selling 200,000 a month, and THEN release it?

[Savior]

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The next Gameboy just came out, it's called the Nintendo DS.

Not according to Iwata, Not According to Reggie, Not according  Howard Lincoln. To them the DS is a "Third Pillar"

and you know what, if the DS was the next Gameboy, it would have been called the Gameboy DS.  Its not.

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The unprecedented announcement reveals a product that will exist completely independently of GameCube and GameBoy Advance - a "third pillar" as Iwata recently described it

[Mario]

That's what they are trying to tell you, but do they really think that? I know for sure at least 95% of people in the real world consider it the next Gameboy.

[allcaps]

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Originally posted by: Artimus

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Originally posted by: allcaps
Whereas the GBA appealed to gamers looking to satisfy an old school, 2D fix, these systems are going in entirely different directions.

90% of GBA owners are under the age of 16 and play them because their parents bought them one and buy them games.

LOL, not too sure if that's accurate, but I was 18 when I got my GBA and 19 when I traded it in for my SP. It has a ton of great games you can't get anywhere else (Castlevanias, FF Tactics, Fire Emblem).  

[Savior]

Maybe, maybe not Mario. We will know by next year

[Urkel]

The reason Nintendo refers to the DS as the "third pillar" and not the next Gameboy is:

1. To not cut into GBA sales.

2. To keep the Gameboy brand name from being tarnished in the event that the DS failed. Think about it. If a "Gameboy" fails, that's pretty much it for Nintendo in portables. But if the DS had failed, Nintendo could simply release the "real" Gameboy successor without having the stigma of it being the successor to a failed product.


Nintendo will continue to refer to it as a third pillar since the GBA continues to sell so well. I doubt we'll see the next "Gameboy" until 2007 at the earliest. 2008, more likely.

And it will play DS games. And it will have a touch screen. And a second screen. And a microphone...

[Artimus]

Ok, 90% was a bit much but anyone thinking the GBA is popularly because of some nostalgic 2D hardcore gamer audience is deluding themselves.

[Savior]

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I doubt we'll see the next "Gameboy" until 2007 at the earliest. 2008, more likely

Sure, if the PSP is an incredible succes and cuts into Nintendos share, we might see it next year. Its already been reported that its in development

[Mario]

Of course it's in development, what else would the hardware developing team be doing? GC development started right after N64 was released, Revolution development started right after GC was released.

[Don'tHate742]

I just thought of something really freaking cool for the next GB. Of course, I assume it's going to play GC games and use that media.

Anyways, let's say an awesome multi-player online game comes out. Since both REV and the next GB will have WiFi, I think it would be sweet if you could play online across systems. I could play with my friend while I'm flying on a jet, but while she's sitting at home. How freaking cool would that be?!

Mario -- I don't know why your so against this. It seems logical that the next GB is coming. Either next year or the year after. It makes sense. As we speak, I think they are perfecting it; making sure it's functional as it is perdy, unlike the PSP.

[nemo_83]

ign makes it seem like the PSP's launch has not gone well

[pudu]

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Originally posted by: nemo_83
ign makes it seem like the PSP's launch has not gone well

For the newest take by IGN on the new handheld battle check out my post in the DS section regarding a recent article comparing the two.  I've including a quick summary and the link.  Here's my post link: DS topic link

[Pale]

Well I finally actually got my hands on a PSP.  It is an incredibly nifty machine and I do think its possible that we could see a DS SP that rips off sony's analog nub.  For what it is (an incredibly shallow analog stick) it does the job nicely.  I can conceivably see myself owning a PSP if two conditions occur; 1. 100 bucks or more comes off the price. 2. A killer app (for me) comes out for it.

For me none of the new games are worth it at all.  I liken it to the PS2.  It took a long time for a game that suits my tastes to come out for that system that warranted the purchase.  For the PSP, like the PS2,  it will most likely be a square title.

[darknight06]

"It is an incredibly nifty machine and I do think its possible that we could see a DS SP that rips off sony's analog nub"

Nintendo's not doing that.  It wouldn't benefit anything that's already out and all they'd be doing is alienating their userbase.  You'd see it in the next GB line handheld before the DS.  The only games that would benefit from it would be platformers and SM64DS did not control bad with the touchscreen, so I'm not seeing the point.  

[vudu]

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Originally posted by: RickPowers
Just got home with my PSP.  It makes a GREAT out of the box impression.

Hey Rick, if you have the time, I'd love to hear any updated impressions you have about the PSP.  

[TheYoungerPlumber]

Rick's schedule actually encourages him to USE THE MP3 FEATURE. So I can tell you he loves his PSP and is getting his money out of the thing.

[The Omen]

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But until then, the Nintendo DS is nothing more than a decent idea being used as a stop-gap to limit the sales of the Sony PSP until the next Game Boy is ready. But after people get Sony's slick machine in their hands, I question just how well the tactic will work."

I've thought this all along. It was a good, strategic business move to hold serve until the next GB.  The only problem is, they may have to offer some sort of incentive to people who bought the DS to switch a mere year after its release.  Perhaps making it backwards compatible and giving a sizable discount to those who trade up from the DS.