I have absolutely no doubt Nintendo had one in the works, perhaps even still do. Nintendo have lots of things in the works all the time, doesn't mean we see them all. It would have been crazy not to have a GBA succesor being worked on, they had no idea if the DS would be a success or not. I just think that with the DS doing so well and a traditional handheld going entirely against Nintendo ideas of new, simple ways to play, a new Gameboy makes no sense.
Yes Nintendo has new ideas of new and simple ways to play, but the Gameboy has never been a difficult gaming device to grasp. There aren't many buttons to use, its already simple. Further, they have also stated that they have no intentions of abandoning the current profitable concepts within the gaming realm.
What, and Nintendo are going to release a system to dump their N64 games onto? With the Revolution's virtual console around? Let's be serious here, it just makes no sense. You have the DS, a system capable of putting out N64+ graphics. You have the Revolution, a system we already know is going to play N64 games. N64 games look like shit next to PSP games. You would not release a new system with that as a main selling point.
I never said it was the main selling point, that is your limited assumption.
Yes the Revolution will have it's virtual console, but id wager a guess that not all games will be available for purchase on it, and perhaps you will find that the systems will link and you will be able to play your downloads on the new GameBoy.
I don't believe that on a small screen, the size of a PSP's that graphics matter, its definitely all gameplay. I don't think that Nintendo finds graphics to be the be all either.
Im completely serious, And I can see Nintendo pulling off a N64 Classics series on the Next Gameboy, and making millions, even with the Virtual console there, one does not necessarily count the other out, expand your mind a little dude. It's like saying the Virtual console will not work cause I can get those games for FREE emulated off the net, wake-up.
You're not making sense. If you're going to have a weaker system than the PSP anyway, use the DS. It's already out there and popular and there are plenty of successful titles out that barely use any of the DS unique features. The only reason to release a new Gameboy is to compete with the PSP market.
I just can't get my head round why you think Nintendo would release a system less powerful than the PSP when the DS is already out there. Especially when a new PSP would be around the corner to make even their first system look redundant! People who want the best graphics/multimedia capabailities will go with the PSP or the next PSP. People who don't mind graphics but want something different will go for the DS or next DS. Who beyond the hardcore Nintendo faithful is this system going to appeal to! What advantages does it have?
N64 to DC levels...I mean...are you mad?
You are not understanding. The DS, it can be argued, is a completely different product to what GameBoy and PSP is, as is PSP to GameBoy. I doubt you will see many Under eight to twelve year old kids with a PSP, or many adults apart from avid gamers with a GBA. Why? Because No right minded parent wound buy there child such an expensive piece of gaming equipment as the PSP, and as a parent, I know it isnt suitable, the games definitely are not aimed at them. So what caters for that market now?
With the PSP, Sony is attempting to create a completely new market for Handheld consoles, and that is the Teen to adult market.
With the DS, Nintendo is also attempting to engage new audiences whilst not turning off current handheld gamers.
A new Gameboy would be after the same market that Nintendo now caters to with the GBA, children and gamers. Thats it, it's not about competing with the PSP.
What out of Nintendos new philosophies makes you think that they will try to compete with the PSP?
The DS certainly is out there, as is the PSP. And I doubt that a new PSP is going to be out within the next five-seven years, how much better do you really believe the graphics could get on a Handheld? Next step logically for PSP is around PS2-PS3 graphics! Yeah right....
The only reason to release a new GameBoy is not to compete with the PSP at all, thats really a blind view. The reason to release a new GameBoy is to cater to it's current market (which is not the PSP's or DS's), and to continue it's Dominance. The next logical step for the graphics on a Nintendo Handheld is of course Gamecube graphics.
But, given the 'New Nintendo Philosophies' that you talked about, that would be counter-productive and ultimatly too-costly.
Nintendo is never going to offer multimedia functions in their handheld consoles as a standard, it does not make sense for them as a GAMING company to offer alternatives for people to not buy their products for their systems. Therefore, the next Gameboy could NEVER logically compete with what the PSP offers, apart from games...
...then why even release it? What games do you think they can put on it that they can't on the DS or Revolution? If the DS was packed with just non-games I could maybe understand. It's not though, there are more traditional games than non-games out there. I mean what are they going to say: "The DS is great for non-games and the PSP has the best graphics, but the new Gameboy has great traditional titles like Mario Kart, Pokemon, Zelda, Mario, Kirby, Metroid, Advance Wars, Mario & Luigi, Starfi...wait a minute...the DS has these. Oh shit. Oh wait...WAIT! It has N64 games which we could have just released on the DS just as easily rather than making you buy a new system and you can of course get them all on the Revolution anyway...ermm....oooooh look at it's pretty colours. Please buy it."
SEE ABOVE!
Of course there are more traditional games on DS as well, but the majority of these games are generally offered with a different control method.
Nintendo would be smart, for the GameBoy demographics, to release a N64-Dreamcast powered handheld, one screen, that yes, has ports, but also has that power to fulfill a generation of handheld games, like the GBA did with SNES, that is the logical step, Discounting DS.
Perhaps the Next GameBoy will be as powerful or moreso then the PSP, but thats not likely. Perhaps the Gameboy after next.
Oh let me think, maybe in case the DS was a complete disaster and it damaged the Gameboy name when they tried to go back to a traditional handheld?
What is it about the DS that makes it so BOLD that it could have been a complete Disaster??? Two Screens, a touch screen??? Its still just a gaming system.
Had it had the GAMEBOY name, it would have definitely been successful anyway, because it definitely WOULD have been the next Gameboy. And wouldnt have been competing with itself (GBA) as it would have been a figured replacement.
As I said, the DS is targeted intentionally at a much broader and in some cases mature and different demographic then the GameBoy. The GameBoy brand is known to be primarily targeted towards children. As the PLAYSTATION brand is KNOWN to be primarily targeted at Young adults and teenagers.
