by Nick - 02.28.05
[Now Playing| Wario Ware - DS]
The internet is ablaze with the idea that Nintendo may release the next iteration of the Gameboy this year. Poppycock, I say.
First of all, no matter how much Nintendo says the DS is the third pillar, I still bet they dont want to shoot the system in the foot this early in its lifecycle. Give it awhile to establish a user base and some games.
Secondly, the DS just rolled out in Europe. Do you think people over there suddenly want to hear that there is a new system on the way?
Third, this would say nothing good to developers. ‘Hey look at our new innovative DS, please make some games for it. Oh, and here comes our newest Gameboy, dont forget about that either.’
Finally, this speculation is from a CNN Money analyst. What do they know about gaming?
UPDATE: Take a look at this article at Spong (the gaming equivalent of a tabloid paper). Im just going to say, if this does turn out to be true, which I doubt, I will be…I dont know. I guess Ill be a little pissed. Of course, if they can continue to make easy to pick-up-and-play games for the DS, Ill be fine. More as it breaks.
Poppycock… hah! I use that joke all the time!
Agree’d, though.
Daedalus - 02.28.05 9:51 pm
New system every xmas? It’s pretty cool
Cool - 02.28.05 10:04 pm
Depends on what is meant by “new gameboy”. It doesn’t need to be an evolutionary step like that between GameBoy Color and the GBA. If it’s more like the step between GameBoy and GameBoy Pocket or GBA and GBA SP that would fit well in the GameBoy lineup.
The DS has such a nicer screen than the GBA SP, but I feel that the original GBA has a better layout than the SP. Perhaps a new GBA (I think they are calling it a GameBoy Evolution) the GBE with brighter backlit screen, built in wireless, layout like the original GBA but also built in screen protector still at $99. Something like that would sell.
Kearns - 02.28.05 10:12 pm
I guess if it was a slight upgrade, say GBA SP2 I could see that. But then by the time the next real Gameboy comes out, people are just going to say ‘Ill wait for them to make a few revisions first.’
Nick Luckett - 02.28.05 10:18 pm
I don’t buy it. By a stretch, it’s within the realm of possibility, but I don’t buy it. We’ll just have to wait and see. Oh, and a question: Is SPONG a reliable source??
namor7 - 02.28.05 11:47 pm
If this is just a redesign like the SP was then I don’t think it’ll be in much demand since people are pretty happy with the SP and the GBA is going to fade out over the next year in the shadows of the DS and PSP. If it’s a new system then that’ll be pretty tough to sell to people too. The only thing that I think’ll work for Nintendo to get people to buy it is to make it like a portable GameCube. I mean, hey the GC discs are already the right size and it would instantly have the whole GC library. If it’s something other than that then I just don’t see this whole thing going over well with the public.
hokku - 02.28.05 11:57 pm
Spong…well, not really. They have often had fake stories. Usually they just report the news with a wry sense of British humor, but they are known to concoct ridiculous stories. So, take it with a grain of salt.
Nick Luckett - 03.01.05 12:18 am
Thanks, Nick–That’s good to hear. I’m a huge fan of the DS, and I hope this one is false.
namor7 - 03.01.05 12:38 am
Oh yeah, and I agree–CNN Money knows nothing about gaming. Neither do Forbes or any of the others. I work for Interbrand, so I’m kind of right in the middle of all those types. People who try to make huge, sweeping statements about markets that they know nothing about.
namor7 - 03.01.05 12:41 am
this could be true , if the upcomming gameboy is just a redesign of the gameboy sp but more slick and with enhanced screen and may be just a bit of more graphic power nintendo did it before with success, and don’t forget this have nothing to do with the DS , we have to learn to think that nintendo has three platforms !!!!!!!!!
silversurfer - 03.01.05 12:57 am
as i said here:
http://www.mobilemilitia.com/news.php?item.171
that guy must be really confused. he calls the ds a gameboy ds. and it seems like he’s refering to the ‘game boy’ line as gameboy advance, so he really could mean a new game boy. if you think about it, there’s little that could be done to the sp to make it any better. i made a mock-up of what i would like to see (if anything):
http://www.mobilemilitia.com/upload/gbaspsp01.jpg
and of course, a headphone jack would be nice.
daniel schroeder - 03.01.05 1:25 am
It’s possible that they could come out with a revision of the DS; however, I don’t think that Nintendo is going to do a Gameboy Next. If they did, it would be colossal marketing blunder (two handhelds at the same time?). BTW, I like the “Play it Loud” button.
Joseph Valencia - 03.01.05 12:37 pm
/me smacks his head
you do know that they DO have two handhelds at the same time, right?….right? i feel like i’m constantly saying that.
daniel schroeder - 03.02.05 1:48 am
This is a ridiculous idea. Nintendo would have to be out of their minds to release another handheld system right now, regardless of what kind of technology it posessed. Even hearing that one could come is detrimental to Nintendo. People will not buy DS, and just wait for whatever new handheld is supposedly coming out.
The only way I could see this sort of working out just fine is if the next GameBoy was actually just a portable GameCube game player. That actually wouldn’t be so bad.
James Montagna - 03.02.05 4:37 pm