Nintendo.

[Pinkbullet3]

Saw this really neat article on a 3D-enabled DS that Nintendo's planning on releasing. Thought it was interesting enough to be worth mentioning, but I didn't want to create a thread solely for this so I guess you can just discuss Nintendo stuff here.

 

March 24, 2010: http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/-nintendo-announces-new-3d-enabled-ds/1394787

 

April 7, 2010: http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=22866

 

 

:-)

[Maleficus1055]

God damn, they need to give this a break. They're doling out new DS models faster than they did Gameboys...

[Nadril]

I believe this is actually a "new" system more so than a remake or upgrade.

[InkofDeath]

I believe this is actually a "new" system more so than a remake or upgrade.

 

If it were a new system as you say, it would be wiser for their marketing strategy to name it something different so people don't get the initial reaction of "Another DS model? I just bought the last two...Too many times, I'll wait till their next generation one...etc,". However, if its hardware is upgraded by a bit, then it could take the place of their next handheld device. In my opinion, the next handheld devices from Sony & Nintendo are going to be aimed at competing directly with mobile phones. If Sony/Nintendo released a new handheld device that didn't compete with mobile phone's by say 2012, then the devices will be doomed. Mobile phones are going to overthrow 'game-only devices' by 2012 or 2013 for sure. Do you really want to carry a phone, which is capable of the games you like, and a handheld device? I don't think the majority do. The next handheld devices from Sony/Nintendo should be competing or trying to change their devices entirely in order to stay alive against mobile phones. Mobile phones will (is) be the new platform to produce games on. That entire casual gamer audience that Nintendo was after with the Wii and which has caused Farmville to be so popular is where the future is headed. There's a TED talk somewhere that talks about why this is and where game design is going to go in that you'll be earning points for doing daily routines in your life, which can later be compared on leaderboards, so that you'll buy/use a product to gain points to brag about it or showoff to friends. That was the centric idea behind the video, I can't find it on TED, which I'm fairly upset about.

 

But anyways if handheld devices don't adapt to mobile phones for gaming and other uses, they're going to fall flat on their face. Which is why I think Nintendo is just milking the DS as much as they can before they release their next handheld device to compete with mobile phones or innovate something to stay alive longer. Convergence of technology will always take place, example is the iPhone. Previously the laptop, mini-van and almost anything else that brings so many functions and uses together for that one 'sweet spot' in the market of that item. The iPhone is virtually 'everything' that technology is and it offers 'everything'. This is convergence.

 

 

 

http://en.wikipedia....cal_convergence

 

Sorta explains it, but it is the bringing together of separate technology into one piece of technology. This is why laptops are doomed to fail, especially netbooks. You won't need a keyboard when you have voice, and you won't have to worry about having enough power when hardware booms right by software capabilities for practical programs. Any programs utilizing multiple cores yet properly? No? Oh, what about that Ion platform? Yea, definitely the concept of where things are headed.

 

 

It just seems like Nintendo would be idiots to make this their next big device. To me it seems more like an experimental concept being put to a real world test. Asking themselves, will 3D gaming and the concepts created or brought to consumers be a worthwhile expenditure in the future? Or are they cashing in on the 3D rave? Are they putting 3D to the real test here to see if it will just be a blow over?

[Nadril]

I think keeping the DS brand is a solid move. The gameboy line never exactly got a big name change afterall.

 

Nintendo has always been trying to stay ahead on "new" technology ideas so it will be interesting to see how this fares.

[AndyPandy]

Seems like they're using a Sharp Parallax barrier screen for the 3D.

[The Runar]

I think I will actually buy it. :)

[TheValeyard]

Is that DSi Xl thing even out yet?

[Pinkbullet3]

Is that DSi Xl thing even out yet?

Japan: November 21, 2009

EU: March 5, 2010

NA: March 28, 2010

AUS: April 15, 2010

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_DSi_XL

[DarkDude]

Nintendo 3DS is not the release name is just the name they're giving to it currently (like how the Gamecube was the Dolphin and the Wii was the Revolution).

 

Not too fond of the 3D stuff tbh, this sounds like it could got the way of the virtual boy but we'll have to wait for E3 when we actually some details rather than mindless speculation.

[rangeor]

I agree, I'm not completely interested with 3D. It doesn't add any gameplay elements, only visual effects, and if it's going to be a new system it should definitely have tools for giving developers chances to be more creative with gameplay. Though I don't know if they're planning something different than the 3D I'm expecting; I doubt it, but it could be something similar to that game that moves the perspective based off of values the camera reads.

 

I also agree that new DS's are getting really old >.> My little brother's gotten all the new ones, and my original bulky silver one has had less problems than his have. I really hope this one's actually new.

[Diesel]

Instead of coming out with new DS's, Nintendo should come out with some decent new titles and stop rehashing old ones to death. :thumbup:

 

Mario Party 37 anyone? No thanks.

 

Also, how about some third party game support and a decent online network without friend codes.

[PoorLepRecon]

Instead of coming out with new DS's, Nintendo should come out with some decent new titles and stop rehashing old ones to death. :thumbup:

 

Mario Party 37 anyone? No thanks.

 

Also, how about some third party game support and a decent online network without friend codes.

 

Mario Party has not had a new game in almost 2 years (excluding DS versions). ;)

 

 

 

If it really is the next handheld, I will probably purchase it. I still have my phat DS from the DS launch, so I haven't wasted money on any of the DS's upgrades.

[Nadril]

I have a DSLite and to be honest the only reason I ever used it a bit is because it was so easily modifiable with a flash cart.

[Youmu]

This Nintendo 3DS thing sounds kinda cool.

 

Though if it's just another DS, then no thanks, not buying.

 

My DS Lite ftw, thank you very much. :)

[scootlaboot]

I need to buy a new ds anyway, crappy nintendo shoulder buttons of fail. 100 to get it fixed/replaced vs 90ish for a used ds light without the whole shipping it out bs.

[Danqazmlp]

With every innovation that works for Nintendo, there is also a dud. Only time will tell if this is a dud or a success.

[Pinkbullet3]

Nintendo's creative. I'll give them that. It's unfortunate that their only market is young kids and adults while the teenage market (predominant gaming market) goes to PS3/360.

 

I bought a G(ay)meCube back in '04 and I definitely regret it now... Nintendo products loose their luster so fast, compared to PlayStation and Xbox. But that's coming from a teen's point a view, where his favorite games tend to be FPS's, of which Nintendo can't really cater to.

 

Oh, did I mention the senior theme for my high school this year (go Class of 2010) is Nin10do?

[InkofDeath]

Nintendo's creative. I'll give them that. It's unfortunate that their only market is young kids and adults while the teenage market (predominant gaming market) goes to PS3/360.

 

I'd have to disagree. Nintendo has the female market locked down. Not the gamer females, but definitely the casual female, who you wouldn't expect to own a handheld or console. I've been surprised so many times in the past year when a female I know pops out their DS or they talk about playing some mindless game on their Wii.

 

And I only need a new Zelda title to wipe the dust off of my Wii. I'm pretty sure I'm wrapped around their marketing anyways. I think I bought the Wii originally because of Twilight Princess and the motion controller. Oh and SSBB was another incentive. If they released more Super Mario Galaxy, Metroid, Zelda and more clever thinking games revolved around Mario, I'd still be playing on the Wii - but they don't.

[Pinkbullet3]

True, they do well in the female market.

 

Perhaps another reason why I said what I said was because of how long the GC games lasted. Notice how 360 and PS3 games are going strong, while GC games aren't even produced anymore.

[DarkDude]

Perhaps another reason why I said what I said was because of how long the GC games lasted. Notice how 360 and PS3 games are going strong, while GC games aren't even produced anymore.

 

That's a silly comparison. You'd be better off comparing it to the Xbox and PS2 markets. There's still a few PS2 games for sale in some places, although that's due to the huge huge marketshare the console had.

 

Over here the Wii section is often the largest in shops, then PS3 and 360 are pretty even, although I notice PS3 is normally slightly bigger. (This is in shops such as Asda etc. (Walmart or whatever).

[InkofDeath]

Wii dominates the market in console sales. After its launch, it had a hard time against the PS2 and 360, but it pulled ahead and held the lead until January. February/March it has been loosing ground due to releases and the fact that almost everyone has a Wii these days.

 

http://vgchartz.com/...3=All&weeks=400 <--PS3/Wii/360

http://vgchartz.com/hwlaunch.php?cons1=Wii&reg1=All&cons2=PS2&reg2=All&cons3=X360&reg3=All&weeks=400 <--Wii/PS2/360

 

http://en.wikipedia....nintendosales-7 <-- Sales Numbers

 

http://en.wikipedia....Station_2#Sales <-- PS2 Sales

 

 

The PS2 out-lived its life-span because of games, as in, games designed for the PS2 specifically were still being produced during the PS3's launch, and the terrible marketing of the PS3 with the price and the lack of triple A titles on it, that could be played on the PS2 anyways. The Wii, in my opinion, could surpass the PS2 in its sales ratio if Nintendo doesn't release a DS that has the capabilities to play Wii games or another handheld capable of such performance, or releasing their next console (which isn't going to happen till 2012 or later in my opinion). Nintendo has to keep pulling casual gamers out of the casual gaming market or the Wii will die quickly. The most played game on the Wii is SSBB, by a crapload. Every other game has peaked and is dwindling in comparison to 360/PS3 games that far surpass the time played for SSBB. The Wii continues to stay alive because it is a party game, as in, it is replacing board games at parties or reunions. So Nintendo has put themselves in a pickle here by forcing themselves to continue to appeal to the casual audience. This doesn't mean they are being forced to ignore the hardcore audience, but they definitely aren't going to spend as much resources as they have before on such games.

 

This is why, if Nintendo were to release a handheld device that directly competed against phones, consoles and PCs, they would pull far ahead of the current competition and be able to appeal to both casual gamers, mobile gamers and the hardcore audience. This is just my speculation but it is logical to take this route. The competitor that Nintendo would have is OnLive, if that ever gains popularity through advertising. OnLive works and is the future of playing your games. Microsoft and Sony though are going to be too busy trying to fiddle with their motion sensors to even realize what is going on. Like GOD.

 

Also the PS3 was below the 360 but the price cuts through-out this year have significantly increased its sales, thus it has surpassed the 360 in some months. The 360 is still ahead though. The PS3 has had surges where certain months have yielded higher sales for the PS3, but have quickly dwindled back down to normal while the 306 has remained consistent.

 

DS is just mobbing the floor with all three consoles though.

[Hawks]

I'm kind of mad about all this 'let's release 3 nearly identical handhelds within 2 years of each other thing' (DSi, DSi XL, and now this) and don't think I'll be buying it. I've got a DSi and I thought I was going to be able to stay 'on top' of the Nintendo market for a while with it, and now they're putting this thing out. I've never liked 3-D stuff and I don't think it's going to do that well, at least here in the US.

 

I buy Nintendo because I really hate Microsoft, the PSP, and don't like FPSs or the more 'serious' titles. Plus I love Mario, Link, Kirby, etc. and all of Nintendo's great classics.

[Pinkbullet3]

If anyone has some Nintendo-related news, I can put it up on the first post.

[Demoli]

Well, you can place Mario galaxy's2 boxart and release dates for both Other M and Galaxy 2