Is the Nintendo DS a mere stop gap product?

[Anthony1]

I'm not trying to start a flame war with this, I'm just curious as to how the Nintendo DS fits into the family of Nintendo portables. The name "Game Boy" is a very powerfull brand name, and it's kinda suprising to me, that this system is not mentioned as being part of the "Game Boy" family. I understand that they called it Nintendo DS, because they want to emphasize the fact that it has dual screens, thus the name, but they didn't call it the Game Boy DS for a reason.


So, I'm wondering if it's more of a stop gap product for Nintendo. Basically a product that is designed to prevent their core audience from turning to Sony, while Nintendo prepares the "REAL" successor to the GBA SP.


You have to believe that Nintendo is going to release another handheld with the name "Game Boy" in the title, so this new Game Boy would really be the true followup to the Game Boy Advance line, while the DS is more of a side product line, a temporary stop gap, because Nintendo simply wasn't ready to release a portable that could really go head to head with the PSP in terms of features and power. Even though they didn't have a "real" PSP killer ready, the DS was good enough to be a temporary product that could keep the loyal Nintendo handheld users in their camp.

[le geek]

Based on the support and number of great games coming out for it, I'm going to say no. I think the third pillar will be around for a while...

I won't be surprised if a totally new Gameboy comes out sometime in the future though, just not this year...

Cheers,
Ben

[slip81]

I think it's less of a stop gap and more of a stand alone system. I'm sure that Nintendo will come out with another game boy in the future, and if the big success of the DS continues they'll probably want the two handhelds to co-exist, rather than just say, "Okay, the new game Boy is here, so we don't need to support the DS anymore."

I think the bottom line is money, and if the DS continues to make it, I can't see Nintendo phasing it out.

Also maybe the full support of two handhelds in an indication that Nintendo may go 100% portable in the future if the Revolution turns out to be a failure.

[poloplayr]

Considering we'll see a new re-designed DS on monday...

[Tan]

Considering we'll see a new re-designed DS on monday...

did i miss something?

nevermind i googled it, should be interesting though

[FantasiaWHT]

Even if it WAS a stop gap system, I couldn't possibly attach the word "mere" to it.

I can't even agree with stop gap though. While I'd like to see the DS branch further away from pure gaming (which is what the GB is) to some PDA-esque functions, I think it's reasonable to expect to see the "third pillar" stand.

[hezeuschrist]

Talk to me a year ago: Yep, definitely a stop gap.

Talk to me now: Absolutely not. It's an amazing system with a completely fantastic lineup of games that simply can't be had anywhere else.

But now, how does the Game Boy recapture the mass market, if Nintendo even wants it to? The Game Boy name has been around forever, but it definitely has that childish connotation to it that Nintendo is desperately trying to get rid of.

I wouldn't expect them to drop the game boy name entirely, but if they did I can't say i'd be overly suprised.

[MegaDrive20XX]

Considering we'll see a new re-designed DS on monday...

did i miss something?

nevermind i googled it, should be interesting though

Could of, but according to many sources, like Lik-Sang.com, they say Nintendo of Japan will make an announcement on Jan 16th about the DS Re-design...

[goatdan]

The DS is not a "stop gap," especially considering that it has competed with the PSP in every aspect so far and is temporarily at least "winning" the amount of sales.

Originally, the DS was intended to be the Nintendo PDA, a device that would've been sold to the adult world and would have been marketed as a way to get an ultra-powerful PDA that plays awesome games for a cheap price. As we all know, Nintendo never brought about the talked about PDA features, but instead delivered a bunch of games that gamers really want to play.

The Game Boy Advance has still received many high-quality releases even while the DS has been out. Final Fantasy VI is the most recent example, but it's obvious from the sales numbers that the GBA is still doing extremely well for Nintendo.

Nintendo decided to launch a second handheld console to try to capture more of the market. So far, mission very successful.

[fishsandwich]

Considering we'll see a new re-designed DS on monday...

Link, please... I just get articles of the 2004 release.

:D

[tholly]

Considering we'll see a new re-designed DS on monday...

Link, please... I just get articles of the 2004 release.

:D


I'm very curious as well....and I just don't feel like googling...so, link??

[le geek]

Lazy bastards! LOL

http://joystiq.com/2006/01/11/nintendo-ds-redesign-coming-jan-16th/

[goatdan]

http://www.lik-sang.com/news.php?artc=3775


Late last year Reggie Fils-Aime, chief marketing manager for Nintendo said how they've been looking into re-designing the DS ever since its launch, and last month Japan's Famitsu magazine teased us all saying they knew a current Nintendo console is getting a revision soon, but wouldn't say which one. All signs however are pointing to an NDS: SP, and here at Lik Sang too we have received word a couple of days ago from a Japanese contact stating Nintendo will have a formal announcement of the re-design on Jan 16th. Stay tuned to Lik-Sang.com to see if this turns out to be genius or bogus! Meanwhile rumors on Spong.com suggest it'll be a square clam-shell design, inspired by cell phones and allowing you to make free VoIP calls from any wireless hot spot.

Getting back to today's NDS though, this was without a doubt the must-have machine this Christmas, and worldwide sales surpassed a whopping 13 million in its first year on the market! Demand has been so high in fact that the console is sold out across Japan. Nintendo have even posted a public statement on their website apologizing for not having enough stock, and explaining that they are trying their best to replenish stores, even flying new consoles in by costly air cargo. This shortage is bound to hit Lik-Sang sooner or later, but will vary from color to color. We recommend when adding the NDS to your shopping cart, check the shipping status to see if it's shipping within 24 hours or not.

The Voice over IP thing sounds interesting, and could be a selling point. Will this finally be the PDA DS that Nintendo had originally hinted at? I hope so!

[Tan]

"Meanwhile rumors on Spong.com suggest it'll be a square clam-shell design, inspired by cell phones and allowing you to make free VoIP calls from any wireless hot spot."

yeah i can imagine some retaliation being fired back for that, imagine how many people in major cities will rid themselves of cellphones in favor of free service, if this rumor pans out i think there would be a few stipulations involved like maybe only to other DS users or something

[goatdan]

yeah i can imagine some retaliation being fired back for that, imagine how many people in major cities will rid themselves of cellphones in favor of free service, if this rumor pans out i think there would be a few stipulations involved like maybe only to other DS users or something

What retaliation could there be? Cell phone companies have nothing to do with Nintendo and vice versa. I think it's a genius strategy, especially if it is coupled with a PDA. If that comes true, expect it to be much more expensive ($300+) but extremely popular.

[Tan]

there are many governments worldwide declaring VOIP illegal and blocking usage to protect it's telecommunications industry, VOIP in it's own way is still as contraversial as P2P networks are, the more i think about it the more i just can't see Nintendo jumping into it.