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[jarrod]

your PS2 slim and thick VS GBA and GBA SP argument doesn't make any freaking sense. :lol :lol

How about we throw PSX in on top?

 

[sammy]

I'm sick of new portables being released like every 2-3 years (GBA2 in 2006-7? Argh). Sony with great hardware should be able to duke it out for 5 years on PSP technology, I hope they actually do that, and not cut the thing short. This will force Nintendo to do the same, and will make me very happy.

BTW, I'm including GBA->GBA:SP here since it's STILL an upgrade and should be counted.

You're talking about GameBoy right? The only console that's been solid and backwords compatable for 15 years??...

 

[Particle Physicist]

actually, the GBC had a new chipset, and was much more capable than the old gameboy. Color output is hardly the only difference, and thats why you had many games that were gameboy color only. Like Super Mario Bros. for example. Not possible on the original gameboy hardware. also why gameboy color games do not work with the Super Gameboy.

gah.. oops. my mistake. never really had one.. guess i just remembered wrong.

 

[Ranger X]

Handheld gaming is just seen as a more disposable form of gaming. That's why it's so casual, pricing is (traditionally) so low and it just doesn't grab the attention consoles do. People don't mind upgrading their GameBoy every few years alongside their cellphones, mp3 players, palms and whatnot.

Yep, but that's still a problem. the cellphone, mp3 player, palm and other stuff like that are all industries where it's going WAY too fast. It's our society overconsuming problem and we encourage it? yeah right.
Why sell you a machine that does everything for the next 5 years when i can spread my new functions and devices over 3 machines and make triple the money?
That's exactly this kind of shitty capitalism we should fight against.
It's also very bad on the PC gaming side with the videocards coming out each year or so. You pay fucking 300$ for a card that will never be exploited to it's full potential and will be replaced by another 300$ card in a year or two. yeah right.
Console Jedi here sorry. 5 years cycles are at least a little bit more reasonnable. Handhelds should go for a full 5 years cycles too.

 

[jarrod]

Console Jedi here sorry. 5 years cycles are at least a little bit more reasonnable. Handhelds should go for a full 5 years cycles too.

The thing is, console cycles seem to be dependant on huge upfront losses (usually), amazing software sales and an extra 5 year budget cycle to ensure a return. I'm not sure that model will exactly work for handhelds, especially as they now seem to be enterting a similar "arms race" for performance.

 

[Smiles and Cries]

PSP lasting 5 years?

I won't predict that my PSP will last 5 years, I am prepared to replace mines every 18 months as Sony suggests

 

[Shin Johnpv]

the arguments that the SP isnt just a simple cosmetic upgrade are laughable at best

saying included online ability, the lost of HDD ability, and built in IR, are not significant to count as a "new system" but adding in a built in light, and a rechargable battery (which they sold for the original GBA anyway) is

that's some strong whacky tobacy there

seriously the SP and the PSTwo are just simple upgrades you don't have to buy either to keep playing the latest games, it only counts when you need to buy a new system to keep playing the games released thus GB -> GBC -> GBA

 

[sammy]

^^^ hmmm, I agree...

 

[Future Trunks]

You're forgetting the Gameboy Pocket too, but the fact is the reason why the GBP came out in the first place was because the handheld market was dying, and Nintendo was forced to make some sort of change to spark sales. The combination of the GBP and Pokemon did just that. The GBP came out 7 years after the original gameboy, but then the gameboy color was released just two years after that. 3 years later the Gameboy advance. 2 years later the SP, and then just a year later the DS. I expect another gameboy system to come out in either 2005 or 2006. And I assure you people will get tired of this.

Okay, but the point I was making was that Nintendo didn't "hop" into new generations of GBs in under five years - there were upgrades, none of which were necessary. Adding the GBP to the list doesn't change what I was trying to say, which is why I didn't list it. It's like counting the PSTwo as a new system for the PS2.

 

[Spike]

There is no PSTwo. There is only PS2.

Wrong. According to the packaging that I hold in front of me, in the bottom right corner it says "PSTwo".

And the GBA:SP is a GBA, not a new system. I can only buy GBA games to play on it, not GBA:SP games.

 

[soundwave05]

I think you'll see a "PSP SP" in two years, say with a more compact/slimmer fold-out design and a longer battery life.

That's just the nature of portables. That new cell phone you have is gonna have a new model down the line, as will the i-Pod, as will the WalkMan, as does the Game Boy, and so will the PSP.

Once they can make the components even smaller and more power efficent, of course they'll re-release a new iteration. A new design can also boost sales.

 

[pkasho]

I think it'd be pretty sweet to have newer and better models released that play from exactly the same libraries, kinda like cell phones. I can still choose to play the new games with my old model if I don't wanna shell out for a new one, unlike a new generation where if I wanna play the new games I must buy a new machine, or pickup an old model for cheaper when the new model is released.

Of course, while every 5-7 yrs we get a new generation with some backwards compatibility~

 

[cvxfreak]

Thinking that the slim PS2 (referred to as PStwo for the remainder of the post) isn't a huge change while the GBASP is is pure hypocrisy. They're both in the league of redesigned, but not new systems.