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"That rival to the DS.."

Cube-Europe: "After the recent rumours about the PSP price point, we can now safely announce the official news. The PSP will be available in Japan on December 12th, with a price point of 19,800 yen - $185. The battery life will be something like be 4-6 hours for gameplay and 4-5 hours for movies."

So not anywhere near expensive as was predicted, and with better battery power than was thought. No news on when it'll launch in the US or UK though.

I think you'll find Nintendo will happily support the system...

Especially as the games can be used in the DS anyway.

GBA is going to be outdated, and the DS is it's natural successor. Bringing out software for the GBA when people will see it as having been replaced will only work for so long.

No more Zeldas (after Minish Cap) or Pokémons (after Emerald) or major Marios are coming out. Of course third partys are going to still support it for a while, like the PSone even though the PS2 came out. But it'll fade. For it to be a true third pillar it would have to co-exist with the DS for more than the six months or so post-launch it's going to get before it is seen as well and truly replaced?

If I remember correctly a host of third party software, 2 editions of the "NES CLASSICS" and Emerald at LEAST are due next year.

Dringo wrote:
> You seemed to miss the whole third pillar thing.

Meh. I see no evidence of it being a third pillar. It'll replace the GBA in everyone's eyes but Nintendo's if it hasn't with them already. How many new GBA releases are scheduled for next year? The DS will be their primary focus handheld wise and as soon as it's launched the GBA will no longer even be needed because of the DS back-compatibility - the fact it can't play GB games is neglible.

>
> The GBE would not have the touch screen and extra functions of the
> DS. The GBA still has a load of games due for release in the next
> year.

Just how many? After Minish Cap no more Zelda. After Emerald, no more Pokémon. Nintendo and it's franchises are moving on.

And you're right the GBE wouldn't have the touch screen. It would need something else though to be worth buying instead though surely :S Otherwise it would be seen like a step backwards.

You seemed to miss the whole third pillar thing.


The GBE would not have the touch screen and extra functions of the DS. The GBA still has a load of games due for release in the next year.

The DS will be standing besides the Gameboy franchise and it really looks like Nintendo mean this. It isn't just all talk.

So GBE's release won't signal the end of the DS.

But you are right, if the DS destroys the PSP and sells millions and millions then Nintendo won't want to release a GBE so soon. But it is always there to kick Sony in the teeth if they look like taking a lead.

Dringo wrote:
> And by the time the PSP may finally get together (note it isn't
> released in america for another 5 months) Nintendo might have
> unveiled plans for the next Gameboy. E3 2006 perhaps.

Depends.. if the DS sells well I can't see Nintendo rushing to bring out a GBA2, and the DS will hopefully have a good lifespan. Just two years before the next one is unveiled is a little premature. Cube will last longer than that.

You can play with Pikachu on the DS?

Cool.

I worry about the PSP, I don't think it'll sell very well at all. And unless the DS is truly mindblowing and don't think that will either.

And even if the PSP does survive against 2 Nintendo handhelds, when it finally does start to get on a roll the next Gameboy will halt it in its tracks.

I think the idea of selling the GBA for a cheap £50 and the DS as an innovative machine will encompass casual and hardcore gamers alike.

Whilst the PSP... I'm not sure... I never imagined handheld gaming really appealing to adult gamers. It'll be tough.

And by the time the PSP may finally get together (note it isn't released in america for another 5 months) Nintendo might have unveiled plans for the next Gameboy. E3 2006 perhaps.

PSP has got a lot of competiton. And all from the same company.

Nintendo and Sony descend into schoolgirl bickering.. Miyamoto threatens to pull Sony PR guy's hair if he doesn't take back his smelly comments:

"Yasuhiro Minagawa's, head of PR for Nintendo Co., Ltd. response to the PSP price announcement was "That's not a game machine, they showed it at the [Tokyo] Game Show without any fundamental game software, and you can tell that it's not yet complete."

SCE's Ken Kutaragi's reaction to Nintendo's reaction: "People who want to play with Pikachu will need Nintendo's new-style DS machine," he responded, "but those who want to play our racing game Gran Turismo 4 will need a PSP, right?"

PsY©Ho FoX 19 wrote:
> You know there are a hell of a lot of other internet services that
> people could buyfrom, then there's the shops.

There.. are..?

You know there are a hell of a lot of other internet services that people could buyfrom, then there's the shops.