I'll preface this by saying I own a DS, since around Xmas, and it's a nice system although horribly undersupported right now in terms of games.

OK, I hear a lot of people say "it's not the next GBA, we're lucky they still support it". So if it's not the next GBA then what is it? OK I see that they didn't use the word "Gameboy" with it. But really I don't get it. I don't see how the DS is anything but the next iteration of portable gaming units from Nintendo? Why create something you only will marginally support?

To me this "isn't the next GBA" thing is just a cope out for Nintendo to save face against the PSP. Otherwise, why would you create an entirely new system if you don't plan to fully support it the same way you supported previous handheld units? And why are we assuming the next GBA is going to be a GBA? Nintendo has never piggy backed on a name like the Playstation line or the Xbox line since the Super Nintendo.

$150 isn't a tiny amount of chance for a handheld, if they support it for less than 4-5 years I'm really going to be disappointed and mad. I was burned by Nintendo when I bought the original GBA with horrible screen only to have them release the better one a little later, now this. I hate to say it but even with the good games, I'm getting sick of this game.

Sorry I had to vent on this, I know it's not the end of the world, but it is frustrating and I'd like to hear some rationalizing on why the DS shouldn't be fully supported like the GBA was.

I see the DS as winning the war against the PSP based purely on one thing, the touch screen. After playing warioware touched (along with playing around with other handheld pc devices) I think any handheld that doesn't support a touch screen is just backward, and not worth my time. It would be a shame if Nintendo doesn't give it full support which it deserves. Having said that, the upcoming games list gives hope and the world wide sales so far would give game companies incentive to support the DS and avoid getting lost in the mess of ps2 ports on the psp.

My 1 important request (as mentioned in the gba micro thread) is just that nintendo need to shrink it down a bit, its too big right now. I imagine (and hope) that we'll see a new, smaller, more stylish model in 1 1/2 - 2 years..

Frankly speaking, until Nintendo announces they are pulling support your fears and anger are way pre-mature.

I agree that Nintendo's "strategy" in marketing the DS is a confusing and deceptive one. I believe they have intentionaly left the possability of a GBA successor out there to influence people that might consider getting a PSP.

The DS is far from going anywhere soon. By all accounts, the DS was the system of E3 this year. That fact may have been lost under the noise created by the new consoles, but there are some serious games coming out. More importantly I am begining to see how the DS games truely are changing and expanding the gaming market.

Nintendo created the DS to expand the market. Presently the gaming market in Japan is drying up. It is no where near the industry it was there 10, even 5 years ago. It's true the US market has taken off, but for how long? Traditionally the US market has mirrored much of the Japanese market with a 5-7 year lag.

The fact that the DS appeals to a different type of gamer is what insures its success in many ways. The PSP may "eat" all of the previous GBA market but the DS will always hold an audience for gamers that are looking for that different level of interaction and innovation.

Man, I don't know what more Nintendo could do to show the support it is getting that all the stuff that was shown at E3. They are also keeping very quiet about a replacement for the GameBoy so I don't think they plan on doing that until this system has been on the market for a couple of years. The seem to be showing they are fully behind the DS.

I think things will change by the end of the year when all the marque titles are on the market and the online service if up and running. DS has a bright future. It is definitely looking to have more to get excited about than the PSP which had a very weak presence at E3 and continues to ride movies as its main selling point.

With all the Nintendo games coming soon and out already, I'd say it is getting their full support.

There's a lot more first party games comign for it than the GBA. GBA got Zelda and Pokemon, DS had Warioware and Mario 64, and is getting Metroid Hunters and pinball, New Mario Bros, Mario and Luigi 2, Kirby, Nintendogs, etc and some good 3rd party games like Castlevania.

Seems like complete support to me, much more worthwhile games on the slate than compared to the PSP, though obviously not for someone who doesn't like Nintendo's games (but those people should never buy a nintendo console or handheld in the first place).

I won't disagree about it getting their full support, I guess I'd like to see it get their longterm support like the GBA. IE if there's a GBA2 out in 2 years, that won't be cool.

I agree on that. I doubt they will though. It doesn't seem like the PSP is taking business away from them (totally different market) so I doubt they'll rush to get a GBA 2 out if the DS keeps selling well.

Didn't they make the statement that if the DS flopped, GBA2 would arrive in 2006? And if it was a success (which apperently it is), the GBA2 would be held off until at least 2007?

I think the thing would have to be a complete sales dissaster for Nintendo to cut support early. Look how poorly the GameCube did and they are still supporting it a year longer than the Xbox. Considering how well it is doing so far I think it will have at least a 5 year lifespan and probably 6.

However, the GBA2 will probably be out in 2007, but I don't see them dropping support for the DS just because the GBA2 is out. The seem determined to market the DS differently and try to show it is separate from the GBA. Not saying we all 100% buy that, but they are trying.

The PSP's strength is in its graphical power and multimedia features. If Sony fails to increase PSP sales to a significant # developers will stop producing games for it, other then PS2 ports. The cost of development for a game like Ridge Racer for the PSP is significantly higher, therefore a developer and publisher need to sell a significant larger number of a game to make it profitable then that on the GBA or DS where costs are lower.

Regardless, even if a GBA2 did arrive, it would surly effect the DS support, but it would not kill it off. As I stated above, the DS offers a kind of gameplay that a simple handheld can't offer. Yes a large number of gamers have picked up the DS, but its true "success" will be measured in how it gets current non-players to pick up a DS and game. These "new" gamers won't be interested in the GBA2, rather more compelling DS games.

I don't see how you could say that. The DS had THE best software showing at E3. They have a great 3rd party support too. In the first year of a console's life, you shouldn't expect there to be a massive influx of games. However it's asking quite a bit for it to last longer than the GBA, the GBA is unquestionably the most successful console ever made, sales wise, game wise, and thats something they can't ignore. I'm sure they'd want to do the same with the DS, and it's pretty evident they're putting their full backbone behind it by putting their big guns on it, as well as some really unique stuff. Of course a revision of the system is happening in the future, we've known this from the start, so you shouldn't be getting angry about that. But with the shorter console lifespan lately initiated by microsoft, who knows whats gonig to happen. But really, what I'm seeing is that a lot of developers seem to be migrating to the DS as well.

It could be worse, you could have spent $250+ on a portable play game console only to see a paltry selection of upcoming games on the horizon at E3.

I had to check twice to make sure this wasn't a bumped thread that originated from January or February... back when the PSP was clearly going to steamroll the poor DS, according to all the industry pros and normal consumers doing their best Kreskin predictions.

What a difference four months (and one illuminating E3) makes.

I'm not sure I'd write off the PSP yet. Sure Sony had all its focus on the PS3 at E3... but the PSP also had one of the best opening day releases of any system I can remember and rivals the DS library which had a good head start on it. Right now the DS seems to get quirky system demos masked as games, nothing of substance. Of course that changes when big guns like Animal Crossing & Metroid come out, but for now it's slim pickens unless you are a hardcore gamer. Luckily the GBA library is huge and backs it up nicely.

I guess we'll see who comes out on top next christmas. Once again, competition proves to be a very good thing and hopefully the PSP pushes the Nintendo DS to be an longterm machine and not a transition machine.

It sounds like the success of the DS has pushed out the "it's just a short term system", so that's good to hear, hope it goes away completely versus seeing the Nintendo DS on the bargain bin in walmart in 3 years.

Alot of people have been saying that since the DS was first released, and I tend to think that alot of people don't know what they're talking about.

I think that the DS was an experiment for Nintendo, like the Virtual Boy. I think they wanted to try out something new and see how gamers responded to it. That's why early on they were hesitant to commit to saying the DS is the new Gameboy. Because they were afraid that if the DS was a failure, they'd be left in a tough situation. I think this is why some people still believe that there's a "real" Gameboy Advance 2 that's coming out in the next year or two.

But unlike the Virtual Boy, the DS has been a pretty big success. Nintendo has sold more than 5 Million units worldwide already, and now that developers are finally starting to figure out what to do with the hardware, the software slump is finally turning around and it should become even more successful. Just look at the boost the DS got in Japan with the release of Nintendogs. There was a 75,000+ unit increase in DS sales that week alone!

With those kinds of sales, I don't think there's any reason to believe Nintendo isn't serious about the DS. They'd be crazy not to be. I think that as long as gamers are supporting the DS, Nintendo is going to be supporting the DS.

No that would be crazy. The PSP is finding its market as well, but Nintendo is showing there is a place for two very different styles of gaming. I think the DS will be supported well and as posted above Nintendo may not get around to that GBA2 for a long, long time.

It'd be nice if Nintendo incorporates the features of the DS into the GBA's successor so that it can be backwards compatible with the DS library as well as the GBA and GB libraries.

My thought on the DS is this, how will these systems hold up in the future?

I know this has no bearing on things currently, but what about 5-10 years down the line.

I mean, will used systems be prone to overly scratched screens and dead pixels?

I can't comment on the screens to much (I don't own one) but they do sell "protectors" if you are seriously concerned. Regarding the pixels, I suspect they will last a very long time like all the previous GB, GBA units. I don't know the MTBF of the screens pixels, but the if the screen makes it beyond its infant mortality stage I suspect it will work for 10 years or more. My original GB's are still going strong.

Between Kirby and Meteos, this looks to be the month where DS really gets going.

FYI - I don't believe the DS supports the original Gameboy cartridges, only GBA games.

Yeah that's what I meant. The PSP will no doubt be successful. But I don't think it will affect the DS's success at all.

Totally different markets. It's going for people that want to play PS2 type games on the go and the tech people that have to have the latest cool gadget.

The DS is going for kids and hardcore gamers that like quirky games and don't care much about graphics.

Both can succeed as we've seen there is a market for each.

I know they make protectors, but just because they are made doesnt mean people will buy them or use them.

The DS just concerns me because you *HAVE* to touch and use a stylus on that 2nd screen. Kids will buy/want a DS and we all know how kids sometimes end up treating thier stuff.

What about that touch screen? Is this going to be something easily replaceable if the screen is shot to hell? It's one thing to have an old Gameboy and say "yeah my screen is scratched to hell"...well, thats a plastic "cover" (if you willl). The touch screen just seems a bit more complicated and not as simple to replace.

I'm sure it will wear out more than regular screens, but it should still last a hell of a long time if not abused.

I know people with PDAs that are several years old and still work like a charm.

I've used my DS a good bit since Nov. with no screen protector and don't have a single scratch or dead pixel.

I understand what you are driving at now, essentially the condition of buying a used system. (as you said and I glazed over).

For the record I own a original TI Avigo (I'll be be shocked if anyone knows what this is whithout google) as well as a Palm 3, both very old and still work and look great.

Here's an article from GameSpot about how the PSP is slumping behind the DS in Japan right now:

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/06...s_6126940.html