@necron101, As long as it is region free (I'm not sure about it, since there is web-browser, which might be language / region dependent), I am going to import it. Of course, that's assuming I still have money, and not hit hard enough by the economy crisis.
@kspraydad, However, the DSi is a more meaningful device to Nintendo than the GB Micro was. The DSi is extending the lifespan of a portable that has no other internal competition unlike the GB Micro which launched after the DS. If the two situations were to be the same, then we would have already had to see the next-gen Nintendo portable.
The DSi actually adds hardware features and a new revenue stream altogether for Nintendo (DS Ware) unlike the GB Micro which was literally just a shrinkage of existing old hardware to squeeze a bit more money out of the GBA brand.
As you can see, the GB Micro and the DSi are quite different in their situations.
@lstormy10, Oh ok. Yes, I agree with DSi not coming to NA until late 2009, the earliest we should see a new portable from Nintendo could be sometime in 2011. Though as kspraydad shows, they are not afraid of overlap. So there is definitely potential for a new portable before then.
I think the Wii will actually have an influence too. Once Nintendo is content with how Wii is doing and not having to spend so many resources on Wii games, they will be able to shift some resources towards their new portable. So perhaps when Wii is just past its prime years, they will launch their next portable.
@lstormy10,I thought the DS already had MP3 and Browser through cartridge...these functions already existed and are being carried on...the 1seg wont be though.
But yes...it is just my musings...I am not in Japan and have no idea how much the 1seg penetrated the market (I do know it is quite popular on the PSP)
@Joe80, I never said it will be the only portable - just that it will be available in stores to consumers most likely until March 2010. The release of the DSi gives extra life to the DS family of hardware.
However, based on the info coming out of the San Francisco Nintendo conference that the DSi won't be launching in the U.S. until late 2009, I am sure it is pretty safe to say that Nintendo will not be launching another portable right after they launch the DSi in late 2009 in the U.S. Thus I would peg the earliest time frame for another portable console as early 2011 - not that I am saying that there will be one launched at the time.
@kspraydad, If there sales based on the DS Lite being used as a media device via a receiver, then these would be offset by the use of the DSi as a media device via SD card music and photos - plus the internet browser.
Also, by what Nintendo is saying, they will not be immediately discontinuing the DS Lite in the least bit.
Either way, the sales you are referring too are probably not too significant.
Recent strength in the PSP sales for the last year has in some part been driven by use of the PSP as a 1seg reciever.
DS has such a receiver as well and this may be contributing to some portion of Japanese sales. With the dropping of the GBA slot are we not loosing this function on the DS and therefore potential sales as a media device?
@lstormy10, I don't think the points expiration date should be held as a reason to say DS hardware will last that long, in terms of being Nintendo's only portable on the market.
Yet, I still think the DS will be their main portable for another 1.5-3 years, I just wouldn't make that direct correlation and bet on it.
Nintendo's announced the DSi, the third iteration of its DS platform. But how does it stack up to the Nintendo DS Lite? We've crunched the numbers and got the data for comparison's sake. That, after the jump.
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As long as it is region free (I'm not sure about it, since there is web-browser, which might be language / region dependent), I am going to import it. Of course, that's assuming I still have money, and not hit hard enough by the economy crisis.