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[krypt0nian]

Ok, you know... I'm just going to say it.

Most systems aren't worth purchasing at launch day. The only reason we as [hardcore] gamers DO buy them is because we're suckers for adopting gaming technology early. It's that simple.

Totally agree...its a sickness. But I am not complaining. Its part of the hobby.

 

[Amir0x]

Showing off the latest gadget? I think so!

I can't control myself. That's why I will be playing DS come Sunday

 

[explodet]

I'm aware of the great stuff PSP can do, I'm looking forward to it too, but can we PLEASE have some screens from games other than Ridge Racer?

It's launching in Japan in under a month and I want to see more Vampire or Dynasty Warriors.

 

[Unison]

The joke about the constant Ridge Racer comparisons is that if there's any current system where graphics really don't matter it's the DS.

 

[Zenny]

There's a reason why it's called a Nintendo DS and not some new version of GameBOY.

Sony has taken the bait. :lol

 

[swoon]

that was really hard to read.

First, not only isn't the system's launch library compelling in any way, but the individual titles that looked most promising have turned out to be not that great after all

like what does that mean?

ya'll are way too caught up on sales and markets. games shouldn't worry about that. we are getting a new ico, wario ware and all those weird ds games that are going to sell well. ds allows for greater change in the way we play games. everyone should buy 4 copies of everything to make sure it does well so we don't have to suffer through the same methods of thinkiig about gaming in 10 years.

 

[ChrisReid]

gba also had new versions of castlevania and mario kart at launch. gbc had a bunch of early remakes, though. super mario brothers, zelda: la, tetris...part of the reason i never bothered with it.

Mario Kart Super Circuit was a few months after the GBA launch.. about when we expect the Mario Kart/AdvanceWars/Wario Ware/Animal Crossing/etc DS titles to come out.

 

[Amir0x]

that was really hard to read.

First, not only isn't the system's launch library compelling in any way, but the individual titles that looked most promising have turned out to be not that great after all

like what does that mean?

ya'll are way too caught up on sales and markets. games shouldn't worry about that. we are getting a new ICO, wario ware and all those weird ds games that are going to sell well. ds allows for greater change in the way we play games. everyone should buy 4 copies of everything to make sure it does well so we don't have to suffer through the same methods of thinkiig about gaming in 10 years.

What.

What?

 

[M3wThr33]

$150 is a perfect price. You're comparing a device that JUST CAME OUT to one that came out OVER TWO YEARS AGO. Are you serious in comparing the two? You act like the GBA wasn't $100 originally.
As for the games, I don't even think I need to bother. The GBA launched with SMB2/USA, Super Dodgeball, Chu Chu Rocket and Lady Sia and crap. Guess what? It became an ABSOLUTE SUCCESS. The Dreamcast had a PERFECT launch (SA aside), yet it bombed.

You might not want a DS now, but don't preach doom when there's enough history to look back at to prove it to be a success.

Just ask yourself. Who questioned the redesigned horizontal shape of the GBA? Yeah, you got used to it. Stop bitching about changes that are improvements.

 

[Saturnman]

$150 is a perfect price. You're comparing a device that JUST CAME OUT to one that came out OVER TWO YEARS AGO. Are you serious in comparing the two? You act like the GBA wasn't $100 originally.
As for the games, I don't even think I need to bother. The GBA launched with SMB2/USA, Super Dodgeball, Chu Chu Rocket and Lady Sia and crap. Guess what? It became an ABSOLUTE SUCCESS. The Dreamcast had a PERFECT launch (SA aside), yet it bombed.

You might not want a DS now, but don't preach doom when there's enough history to look back at to prove it to be a success.

Just ask yourself. Who questioned the redesigned horizontal shape of the GBA? Yeah, you got used to it. Stop bitching about changes that are improvements.

It's ultimately about value for the money. It's a bit irrelevant if the DS is brand new. 3DO was brand new in 1993, was high tech, but for the very vast majority of gamers, it was better to stick with the Genny and Sneeze. Much cheaper and better games to boot.

The article judges the DS as it is right now and with some of the upcoming games on the horizon with a bit of Nintendo portable history thrown in for good measure. It's a fair assesment in that respect.

 

[Ollie Pooch]

people predict some kind of spectacular collapse for the DS. funny how the net turns people into psychics

as for the ridge racer psp/ds comparisons: i don't even want ridge racer.. i've never played it, i don't want to play it, and so i couldn't give a fuck if it looks better on the psp than on the ds. reason being, i don't care about graphics.. which is why i can still go back and enjoy games on my snes / nes / megadrive, etc. i just find it a little depressing when people rip the shit out of a console that OFFERS the potential for great games - the hardware doesn't guarantee the good software, it's up to developers to make it. and it's not even out yet - give it time at least!!

 

[The Take Out Bandit]

I've been saying it for months, and you morons haven't been listenin. . . wait, I've been banned for three months. :/

Well anyhow. . . here's the long and short in a nutshell.

GBA > PSP > DS

GBA will enjoy it's PS2-like lead in the market, but there's no way in hell the DS is going to go toe to toe with the PSP and survive.

Nintendo is just eroding their fanbase.

 

[M3wThr33]

If you're worried about PSP hype, keep in mind the DS has an Xmas launch ahead of the PSP, and the VAST amount of people thinking the PSP plays DVDs and PS2 games. It's not all fun n games ahead for the PSP.

 

[lexi]

DS will enjoy a fair share of success, the market it will suceed in just doesn't exist yet -- Yes, I actually believe this.

I for one am interested, mainly because I'm a gadget-whore, but also because some of the launch software does appeal to me, and some of the later releases are absolute AAA.

 

[Kiriku]

If NDS had a Castlevania game for launch too (like GBA), I would probably be a lot more interested in it.

 

[ourumov]

My problem with DS is that there are no launch games that interest me at all. And that includes SM64 DS. I was never a big fan of the original one...actually I didn't bought it at launch but years later.
Perhaps when the new Goemon appears I'll buy it but not for now...
No interesting racing games, No 2D fighters love...I'll wait.



I think the double screen idea won't bring to anywhere. Developers will continue doing the same crap they have been doing for years and 90% of the games will feature stupid 2nd screen usage. I wish they had released GBA 2 instead of this, seriously. Good luck Nintendo, let's hope this doesn't end with you .

 

[wazoo]

I'm really interested with the DS, not with the launch games.

I'll buy it with Yoshi, Kirby and MEtroid next year.

 

[ge-man]

I can't wait until the PSP launch and the launch of the next consoles. We're going to have the same discussions folks--launches have historically sucked major ass when you think about it. The DS isn't unique in this cases, but people will make it out to be that way.

 

[Folder]

It would be easy to read the above spew as "I used to be important and run some gaming mag. The world was at my feet and everything came free. Now I have to buy my own stuff. And I'm bitter about it."

 

[Insertia]

That article is teh truth. DS doesn't have any compelling software and Nintendo isn't showing anyone why touchscreen and two screens are there.

I expect things to turn around next year because DS has a lot of strong first and second party titles announced for it.

 

[GSG Flash]

For anyone that doesn't want to read the article, i'll sum it up for you:

"Help me i'm poor!"

 

[SantaC]

yeah go ahead and cancel your preorders for one persons opinion. Like PSP's launch is any better. Majong x3 and a car game? yay. Hopefully this means it's easier for me to get a DS at launch.

 

[Pimpwerx]

http://homepage.mac.com/gregorypierce/fun/virtualBoy.jpg

As an old-school Nintendo fan, I think it's necessary to point out that Nintendo has released shitty pieces of hardware that have been heavily criticized, yet stubbornly defended by the loyalists. I'm not saying the DS is a guaranteed failure, I think it'll sell well early. But so did the DC, the N64 and the Saturn. In the face of the PSP juggernaut (hard to believe, but it's already become that even before its launch), the writing is on the wall for the DS. Nintendo might as well have called it VirtualBoy2. Another gimmicky device that will be made irrelevant by something conventional, yet vastly superior technologically. I remember slapping my forehead in shame when the Virtual Boy was first announced. A clear loser from inception, wtf was Nintendo thinking? Well, I have deja vu when it comes to the DS. That third pillar is just a third wheel that's gonna end up stuffing up their handheld dominance IMO.
Sometimes stupid ideas get put out to pasture. If I wanted to use a stylus, I'd buy a PDA. There's a reason styluses haven't broken onto the gaming scene to this point, and it's not for lack of effort. Remember the U-Force? The Power Glove? The Power Pad? Yeah, gimmicky control devices all fall by the wayside. The last new control scheme that stuck was the analog stick and button, and those were a mere evolution of the original ideas, not something "revolutionary". Nintendo's turning into Sega fast. Now they just need to squander their cash reserves and go out in a blamze of incompetance and sour grapes...right DC fans? :lol PEACE.

 

[SantaC]

As an old-school Nintendo fan, I think it's necessary to point out that Nintendo has released shitty pieces of hardware that have been heavily criticized, yet stubbornly defended by the loyalists. I'm not saying the DS is a guaranteed failure, I think it'll sell well early. But so did the DC, the N64 and the Saturn. In the face of the PSP juggernaut (hard to believe, but it's already become that even before its launch), the writing is on the wall for the DS. Nintendo might as well have called it VirtualBoy2. Another gimmicky device that will be made irrelevant by something conventional, yet vastly superior technologically. I remember slapping my forehead in shame when the Virtual Boy was first announced. A clear loser from inception, wtf was Nintendo thinking? Well, I have deja vu when it comes to the DS. That third pillar is just a third wheel that's gonna end up stuffing up their handheld dominance IMO.
Sometimes stupid ideas get put out to pasture. If I wanted to use a stylus, I'd buy a PDA. There's a reason styluses haven't broken onto the gaming scene to this point, and it's not for lack of effort. Remember the U-Force? The Power Glove? The Power Pad? Yeah, gimmicky control devices all fall by the wayside. The last new control scheme that stuck was the analog stick and button, and those were a mere evolution of the original ideas, not something "revolutionary". Nintendo's turning into Sega fast. Now they just need to squander their cash reserves and go out in a blamze of incompetance and sour grapes...right DC fans? :lol PEACE.

difference is that the DS has 2 million preoders. It's already NOT a failure like virtual Boy was.

 

[gunstarhero]

This is the first time i've had anything on preorder, only to cancel it at the last moment. Mario was never the draw for me, Feel the Magic was a big game but after reading how short it is, no thanks. Mr. Driller is the systems only saving grace - and though a great game - it's not a system seller to me. Ridge Racer has a great concept (ster the wheel on screen), but man it looks like crap.

I can't believe I'm not going to own a Nintendo system on launch - but this has been a letdown start (much like the PS2) - I'll wait for the software to show up.

 

[SantaC]

This is the first time i've had anything on preorder, only to cancel it at the last moment. Mario was never the draw for me, Feel the Magic was a big game but after reading how short it is, no thanks. Mr. Driller is the systems only saving grace - and though a great game - it's not a system seller to me. Ridge Racer has a great concept (ster the wheel on screen), but man it looks like crap.

I can't believe I'm not going to own a Nintendo system on launch - but this has been a letdown start (much like the PS2) - I'll wait for the software to show up.

I am glad this forum doesn't have 2 million readers...

 

[Insertia]

yeah go ahead and cancel your preorders for one persons opinion. Like PSP's launch is any better. Majong x3 and a car game? yay. Hopefully this means it's easier for me to get a DS at launch.

Unless you live in Japan, PSP's majong-filled launch doesn't matter.

Also that car game and fighting game look more interesting then anything being released for DS this year. ;D

 

[gunstarhero]

I am glad this forum doesn't have 2 million readers..

If you mean I was "another victim" influenced by the infamous GAF board, you're wrong.
I simply learned my lesson from the PS2 launch. I'd rather wait for the lineup to get stronger - one puzzle game for a few months (Driller) is not going to cut it for me.

PSP is in the same boat as far as I'm concerned - though for graphic whores, it has an advantage (RR looks sweeeeet).

I dunno, I'm going to check out my local Best Buy today and see if they have a demo unit - maybe that will change my mind (probably will). Too bad Hunters isn't out, that would have sealed the deal for me.

 

[ge-man]

If you mean I was "another victim" influenced by the infamous GAF board, you're wrong.
I simply learned my lesson from the PS2 launch. I'd rather wait for the lineup to get stronger - one puzzle game for a few months (Driller) is not going to cut it for me.

PSP is in the same boat as far as I'm concerned - though for graphic whores, it has an advantage (RR looks sweeeeet).

I dunno, I'm going to check out my local Best Buy today and see if they have a demo unit - maybe that will change my mind (probably will). Too bad Hunters isn't out, that would have sealed the deal for me.

Do give it a try. I can't afford to get one this Christmas, but I want one now after MP:H. I can see the DS being very popular for FPS games. Add in the wireless, and you have to wonder why Nintendo didn't bust their ass to get MP:H ready for launch. I like Mario, but his appeal is passing it's prime. MP:H is the kind of stuff Nintendo needs to attract older crowds and tech heads.

 

[Do The Mario]

People bitching about launch line ups doesn’t the PSP have Metal Gear? That would almost mean sale for me.

 

[Amir0x]

yeah go ahead and cancel your preorders for one persons opinion. Like PSP's launch is any better. Majong x3 and a car game? yay. Hopefully this means it's easier for me to get a DS at launch.

If you're going to have a fair assessment of the PSP launch (or games in the launch window), then you must take into account Mercury, Lumines, Metal Gear Acid, Ridge Racers, Vampire Chronicles and others. Is it an impressive launch line-up?

No. But I'd say it's on par with the DS launch, at least.

 

[RevenantKioku]

Ridge Racer sucks. Who cares if it looks good or you control it with a touch screen?
What the fuck happened to all the excitement that was brewing when the titles were announced. There's gonna be Final Fucking Fantasy 3 on the DS, Pokemon, and perhaps some new games we don't know about. HOLY SHIT DID I JUST MENTION A TITLE THAT ISN'T GONNA BE OUT AT LAUNCH.
Go look in the PSP launch box thread. GO AND MAHJONGG! WE'VE GOT THE DS WRAPPED UP AND DEAD.
Shut the fuck up everybody. Jesus. The DS is not gonna die when the fucking PSP hits and the PSP is gonna have enough fucking battery to play a game more than 10 minutes. Neither are going to fail. Nintendo has kept the GC up and running, and doing fairly well, even though the others are doing better. You seriously think the PSP is gonna come out and people are gonna throw their DS's into their underwear and yell FUCK YOU NINTENDO I WILL BE SONY ONLY UNTIL THE DAY I DIE NOW.
Some people will own two. These are two major players right now. Nintendo may do dumb things BUT THEY HOLD THE ENTIRE PORTABLE GAMING RIGHT NOW. They're not going to let it slip into oblivion. They might loose their grasp a little. They might become neck and neck, or even second, but the fucking thing won't die on impact.
Isn't Sony bleeding sweet gravy out of their ass on the PSP? This means they're serious! We're gonna have some fucking competition, which means some good shit happening, rejoice and buy two of each system and play your wireless gaming with your buddies until you're blue in the face from the fun and the alcohol.
We are the winners and you're all making us feel like losers!

 

[SantaC]

People bitching about launch line ups doesn’t the PSP have Metal Gear? That would almost mean sale for me.

metal gear card game, but yeah it has potential.

I am happy with square enix support on the DS. Konami's support with castlevania and goemon is nice too.

 

[kitchenmotors]

Need I remind people that Ridge Racer V was praised during the PS2 launch? And a few months later I don't think we had any shortage of people claiming it's suckage. Same goes for Ridge Racer DS. Ridge Racer is boring, and playing racing games on handhelds is boring.

Mario 64 is the type of game a handheld needs for launch, so stop downplaying it. It's still the best 3D platformer, not one company, even Nintendo, has yet to match it's high standard of gaming sex.

That is all.

 

[Amir0x]

Ridge Racer sucks. Who cares if it looks good or you control it with a touch screen?

'Sup completely subjective statement.

What the fuck happened to all the excitement that was brewing when the titles were announced. There's gonna be Final Fucking Fantasy 3 on the DS, Pokemon, and perhaps some new games we don't know about. HOLY SHIT DID I JUST MENTION A TITLE THAT ISN'T GONNA BE OUT AT LAUNCH.

I won't play another Pokemon game until it goes MMORPG, and Final Fantasy 3 (J) is by far the worst Final Fantasy game ever created.

I can make subjective statements too!

Go look in the PSP launch box thread. GO AND MAHJONGG! WE'VE GOT THE DS WRAPPED UP AND DEAD.

Lumines, Mercury, Metal Gear Acid, Puzzle Bobble, Ridge Racers, Vampire Chronicles, Tower of Purgatory...

Oh. What's that? All of these aren't Mahjongg games!? All of these are games that have great potential? Run for cover!

Shut the fuck up everybody. Jesus. The DS is not gonna die when the fucking PSP hits and the PSP is gonna have enough fucking battery to play a game more than 10 minutes.

I hereby endorse this statement, except the part about shutting the fuck up because that was totally mean! I mean, really!

Neither are going to fail. Nintendo has kept the GC up and running, and doing fairly well, even though the others are doing better. You seriously think the PSP is gonna come out and people are gonna throw their DS's into their underwear and yell FUCK YOU NINTENDO I WILL BE SONY ONLY UNTIL THE DAY I DIE NOW.

You mean throw their GBAs into their underwear? I am confused by this statement!

Some people will own two. These are two major players right now. Nintendo may do dumb things BUT THEY HOLD THE ENTIRE PORTABLE GAMING RIGHT NOW. They're not going to let it slip into oblivion. They might loose their grasp a little. They might become neck and neck, or even second, but the fucking thing won't die on impact.

Cool!

Isn't Sony bleeding sweet gravy out of their ass on the PSP? This means they're serious! We're gonna have some fucking competition, which means some good shit happening, rejoice and buy two of each system and play your wireless gaming with your buddies until you're blue in the face from the fun and the alcohol.
We are the winners and you're all making us feel like losers!

Winners don't do drugs! Also, they don't complain about things they dislike with portable systems!

 

[mashoutposse]

The problem with the DS is that it is designed to solve problems that don't even exist. Most of Nintendo's previous innovations were the result of already conceived gaming ideas -- for instance, the N64's analog stick was added for the specific purpose of making games like SM64 feasible. Ambitious, thoughtful software ideas begat the hardware to make it happen (Power Glove, Power Pad, Light Gun, etc). Now, it seems like today's Nintendo throws in gimmicky hardware concepts (connectivity, DS) to:

-retain bragging rights of most innovative video gaming company

-force groundbreaking, winning ideas out of their software designers (let's face it, they haven't come up with anything like that in a minute)

Nintendo's next truly successful handheld will be GBA2. Meanwhile, PSP will eat into a massive portion of their marketshare (I'm betting that PSP will have at least 40% of the market by GBA2's launch), while battering Nintendo's rep as the premier handheld console maker.

 

[Speevy]

Nintendo's next truly successful handheld will be GBA2. Meanwhile, PSP will eat into a massive portion of their marketshare (I'm betting that PSP will have at least 40% of the market by GBA2's launch), while battering Nintendo's rep as the premier handheld console maker.

Perhaps the PSP can pull 40% of the GBA SP's sales in a month, and probably even more.

But the PSP cannot sell 26 million units before the next Gameboy launches, unless of course the GBA2 launches in late 2008. (in which case Nintendo deserves its fate)

 

[seismologist]

It's like you guys are living in a bubble. We'll see what happens when Japan launches with Pokemon, Wario Ware, and Mario 64...

 

[TheGreenGiant]

The problem with the DS is that it is designed to solve problems that don't even exist. Most of Nintendo's previous innovations were the result of already conceived gaming ideas -- for instance, the N64's analog stick was added for the specific purpose of making games like SM64 feasible. Ambitious, thoughtful software ideas begat the hardware to make it happen (Power Glove, Power Pad, Light Gun, etc). Now, it seems like today's Nintendo throws in gimmicky hardware concepts (connectivity, DS) to:

-retain bragging rights of most innovative video gaming company

-force groundbreaking, winning ideas out of their software designers (let's face it, they haven't come up with anything like that in a minute)

Nintendo's next truly successful handheld will be GBA2. Meanwhile, PSP will eat into a massive portion of their marketshare (I'm betting that PSP will have at least 40% of the market by GBA2's launch), while battering Nintendo's rep as the premier handheld console maker.

IAWTP.. in parts because I think the PSP's 10 year tech shelflife plan will really pan out if they get it right initally and not scare the market to death. Games on the PSP will look good for years to come - problem really then is how long can the disc read device in PSP hold up + battery life with extended use. The price announcement has made me changed my thinking of the PSP not standing a chance to being a MASSIVE CONTENDER. MASSIVE! Not sold on UMD for movies / music or for that matter the multimedia side of PSP but it's definitely a tech geek dream toy.

PSP's future proofness will be its GREATEST asset.

 

[mashoutposse]

If you include all of GBA's previous sales, I agree that 40% is far too optimistic. My prediction is that, in the one year period prior to the release of GBA2, 40% of handhelds sold will be PSPs.

Nintendo should be genuinely afraid of the day that PSP is sub-$150.

 

[SantaC]

Amir0x

As I see it, Nintendo will mainly focus their DS market on the United States. The DS will have a 3-4 months lead until PSP launches in the states.

That alone should not make it a failure.

 

[Amir0x]

Amir0x

As I see it, Nintendo will mainly focus their DS market on the United States. The DS will have a 3-4 months lead until PSP launches in the states.

That alone should not make it a failure.

Huh?

I didn't say the DS was going to be a failure.

But addressing this statement, I will say that having a 3 to 4 month lead on the PSP is far from a guarantee of success.

Dreamcast pretty much proves this.

 

[MrparisSM]

Guys, the Metroid Demo alone has got me sold on this thing. I've been playing that demo non-stop for the past week and have been loving every minute of it. Can't wait to get this baby home Sunday. The screens are VERY durable, not a scratch in site on them. The graphics look really good. And the screen quality is much MUCH improved from the GBA SP screen.

The DS is worth it's price if only for the improved image quality you'll get with your existing GBA games!!! I'm trading my GBA SP in towards a DS!

 

[Random_Hajile]

What happens to Nintendo is NDS fails versus PSP?

GBA and GBA SP has been Nintendo's cash cow... not GCN... so can Nintendo survive if they miscalculated with NDS?

 

[mashoutposse]

I'm thinking that Nintendo needs another winner before PSP gets to $99. After that, all bets are off.

 

[heavy liquid]

 

[Korranator]

I don't like hand held systems.

 

[Agent X]

I agree with a lot of points that this article brought up.

First, not only isn't the system's launch library compelling in any way, but the individual titles that looked most promising have turned out to be not that great after all.

The launch library is rather bland, to say the least.

Since the Game Boy Advance came out, Nintendo has become all about repackaging old games wih minimal improvements, and I'm frankly sick and tired of it.

Preach it! This is my main problem with the so-called potential of the DS. The Game Boy Advance library is almost entirely crap, with a handful of exceptions. It really is one of the worst libraries of any video game system in the history of video games, but that's par for the course, since the Game Boy and Game Boy Color had similarly crummy libraries. The GBA had a fairly good launch, so I hoped that Nintendo would be turning over a new leaf. Not so. After a few months, it all went downhill, just like its predecessors.

In defense of the DS, Nintendo clearly is trying a different approach. They've decided to skip that whole phase of "let's release good games for a few months after launch, to at least give the illusion of a newfound dedication to quality." Instead, they're immediately heading straight into the toilet, so that anyone over the age of 10 knows right away not to bother.

Pricing for the system's too steep at $149.99, too. As I said here months ago when rumors were circulating as to the DS's street price, this thing is a hell of a lot more compelling at $99 or $129 than $149, because a perfectly excellent Game Boy Advance SP sells for $79.99, has substantially better battery life, is more portable and pocketable, and plays a huge collection of decent to above-decent games.

That's mostly accurate, with one exception. The GBASP plays a meager collection of decent to above-decent games. It also plays a huge collection of cookie-cutter kiddie crap, which only sells at all because they have recognizable cartoon characters on the box and little whiny brats are crying to their parents to buy it for them...only to lose the cartridge about an hour and a half later...but that's OK anyway, because by that time they've already beaten the game twice.

It also looks like Nintendo is shaking down early adopters of the DS for around $50 - there were suggestions that the company was once ready to price the DS at $99 just to move units - and a lot of people are going to be pissed a few months from now when the price drops to fight off Sony's PSP.

He brings up an interesting point here. I've seen several Nintendo cheerleaders boast that when PSP launches in a few months, Nintendo will just slash $50 off the price, simply because they can. So, what they're really saying is that it's not worth the dough at its launch price, and the machine doesn't cost all that much to manufacture, and only after a big competitor steps in with a legitimate threat will Nintendo bother to sell the machine at something closer to its actual value. I'm not sure I'd want to say that if I were trying to convince people to get the DS...but thanks for the heads-up warning anyway!

Nintendo's already said that a true Game Boy Advance 2 with better graphics is coming out soon (rendering the DS a third wheel on a bicycle), so maybe I'll even wait for that, instead.

That's the other big "what if" with the DS. Nintendo has said that they're not concerned with the PSP, because they have the TGBAS (true Game Boy Advance successor) waiting in the wings to counter it. Well, why not just skip the DS altogether, and release the TGBAS now? This whole DS situation smacks of Nintendo not having any real portable strategy; that they're merely flying "two screens and a stylus" up the flagpole just to see if anyone will salute.

If Nintendo is convinced of the merits of this hardware, then they should've gone whole hog with it, put in proper GBA backward compatibility (with the link port and all), put in the best mobile graphics and sound hardware that they could get within a reasonable price, and make the DS into the one and only TGBAS. Instead, we're presented with a stopgap solution that'll "just have to do" until Nintendo can truly formulate a PSP competitor. No thanks.

 

[seismologist]

The DS is worth it's price if only for the improved image quality you'll get with your existing GBA games!!! I'm trading my GBA SP in towards a DS!

Same heret, I've got my GBA sitting here ready to bring it to EB so I can "trade up" to the DS. Just like I did with my GBA when the SP came out

 

[Triumph]

difference is that the DS has 2 million preoders. It's already NOT a failure like virtual Boy was.

You guys really need to stop throwing this number around. That number is RETAILER PRE ORDERS. It does not reflect, in any way, the number of actual people that have preordered or intend to buy a DS. It's retailer speculation. You're setting yourself up for dissapointment, chaps.