@Joe80, I meant in recent releases (DS & Wii) after changing strategy and shortages are probably not a major factor in the release time frame due to their new success in having shortages and high sales during typically slow months. However, overall, the release time frame is largely affected by how well the hardware it will be replacing is doing and the DS is still performing quite well with a recent rebound in Japan - high sales momentum of the holiday season will easily carry the DS through to at least the summer when word of a DS Lite refresh or a DS 2 may be spoken during the convention season to prime the market for a fall/holiday release.
I see no possibility at all of a DS 2 before April (saying that Nintendo's hardware shipments forecasts have remained as high as ever for the DS and any word or shipment of a DS 2 would have a definite affect on sales of the current DS) and I still don't see much of a chance of a DS 2 before next fall/holiday.
@lstormy10, Nintendo did release the gameboy advance in the Summer, as well as the original gameboy. They might believe demand would be high and not want to launch at fall/holiday if it meant shortages and missing out on sales. That is, if this rumor was referring to a DS2. I wouldn't put it past them to release it so soon as they really have not released a lot of DS games lately.
@apujanata, @sagexsdx, I believe they mean the rumor in the sense of a DS 2, not a revision of the current platform - so the worries of fracturing the market wouldn't really be there because having to build a new market is needed for every new generation of a console.
However, I don't see Nintendo putting out the successor to the DS until the 2009 fall/holiday season at the earliest - early next year does not make sense. (Plus, historically Nintendo has become tied to releasing brand new consoles/handhelds in the fall/holiday season.)
The only type of refresh I could see possible for the DS before the release of a DS successor would be making a slimmer, more portable version of the current DS Lite (through removing the GBA slot and miniaturizing the tech inside). If they did this type of refresh, it would not risk any fracturing of the market yet (other than the games that rely on the GBA slot for some reason). This type of refresh is something that could possibly take during the first part of next year and would boost sales until the actual successor to the DS is released.
@sagexsdx, I'll very, very surprised if Nintendo release this. I think the innovation for "next DS" will be more significant than just "adding second touch screen".
Getting it next year, and fracturing the market (as you said) ? No way.
this has to be fake/false. nintendo's already learned what happens when you split the market. also developers won't be happy developing for both touch screens if they know only a fraction of the total nintendo ds market can even play their game.
According to several industry sources outside of Nintendo, the company is working on an updated Nintendo DS. The screens are supposedly slightly bigger, but the biggest change is that the new DS will apparently have two touch screens. That way, players can interact via the stylus with game play on both screens.This announcement, if true, won't hit until early next year.
Translated by NeoGAF :
Nintendo and others are requesting that these "majicon" devices, such as R4, are prohibited from import and sale in Japan, via the Tokyo courthouse today.
They've got a huge amount of support too, with 53 other companies adding their names to the list, including Square Enix, Capcom, Bandai Namco, Koei, etc.
So in the count down to Star Wars:The Force Unleased getting released on next to every console Nintendo have a great treat for DS owners.
Above are official Nintendo DS styli, but with a bonus Star Wars license thrown in, yes these are proper DS lightsabers.
"An onslaught of stats were thrown out at this year's Nintendo E3 keynote, but one of the most impressive of the slides upon slides of stats is the announcement by Nintendo that the company expects to have sold 100 million DS units worldwide by the end of its next fiscal year. DS hardware sales are already 12% ahead of last year's numbers, with software an astounding 29% higher than 2007 as well."
@Joe80, Thanks. You have my gratitude (and some upbids) from me. Do you really think this will get lots of upbids ?
NeoGAF forum mentioned that it is a remake, not sequel. The person leaking it is Dragona Akehi, admin, and also leaker of DQ IV, DQ V, and their American release. It seems that she has good intel / leak from Square Enix, so it is trustworthy. I made the game stock first, so I could post the news at the proper. Akira Toriyama deserve it (proper respect), since I like his Dragon Quest (also our son like it).
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I meant in recent releases (DS & Wii) after changing strategy and shortages are probably not a major factor in the release time frame due to their new success in having shortages and high sales during typically slow months. However, overall, the release time frame is largely affected by how well the hardware it will be replacing is doing and the DS is still performing quite well with a recent rebound in Japan - high sales momentum of the holiday season will easily carry the DS through to at least the summer when word of a DS Lite refresh or a DS 2 may be spoken during the convention season to prime the market for a fall/holiday release.
I see no possibility at all of a DS 2 before April (saying that Nintendo's hardware shipments forecasts have remained as high as ever for the DS and any word or shipment of a DS 2 would have a definite affect on sales of the current DS) and I still don't see much of a chance of a DS 2 before next fall/holiday.