Let's speculate. The DS has been out for a couple of years now, and although handheld usually have a longer life-span compared to stationary consoles, the recent trend is pointing towards handheld consoles' and stationary consoles' life-span being about the same. That's about 3-4 years. Seeing as the original phat DS was released in 2004 it looks like 2007 will be the year when we're going to see some rumblings about Nintendo's next handheld. The question is, what will it be? Here are a couple of my thoughts on the subject:
* It's highly likley that we will see a continuation of the DS concept - although perhaps without the dual screens. While the concept of using a touch screen to play games is nothing qualitatively new - it's certainly unique when it comes to mainstream consoles. My prediction is that Nintendo will keep the touch screen aspect of the DS while implementing other types of control mechanics. Since the Wii looks to be a major success in part because of the motion sensing controls, it would be no great exercise of the imagination to predict that a similar type of control will be implemented in the next handheld. For example, a single touchscreen console with motion sensing capabilities.
* Unless Nintendo finds a way to reduce the cost, measured in battery life, of using DVDs or similar as media, we will not see it being used in the next handheld. My predictions are that we will either see a continued use of carts in one form or another, since the storage capacity and cost of cart-based media will continue to increase and decrease, respectively, or some form of digital distribution, depending on how well Nintendo manages to fend off piracy with their present digital distribution of VC games.
* It will expand on the internet browser functionality of the DS, and perhaps even include som form of simple mobile phone capabilites. The last point is more uncertain given Nintendo's pretty conservative view on what a console should be. Either way, if such functionality is included it will probably, contrary to the PSP for example, not be the major touted selling point.
What's your thoughts?
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* It's highly likley that we will see a continuation of the DS concept - although perhaps without the dual screens. While the concept of using a touch screen to play games is nothing qualitatively new - it's certainly unique when it comes to mainstream consoles. My prediction is that Nintendo will keep the touch screen aspect of the DS while implementing other types of control mechanics. Since the Wii looks to be a major success in part because of the motion sensing controls, it would be no great exercise of the imagination to predict that a similar type of control will be implemented in the next handheld. For example, a single touchscreen console with motion sensing capabilities.
* Unless Nintendo finds a way to reduce the cost, measured in battery life, of using DVDs or similar as media, we will not see it being used in the next handheld. My predictions are that we will either see a continued use of carts in one form or another, since the storage capacity and cost of cart-based media will continue to increase and decrease, respectively, or some form of digital distribution, depending on how well Nintendo manages to fend off piracy with their present digital distribution of VC games.
* It will expand on the internet browser functionality of the DS, and perhaps even include som form of simple mobile phone capabilites. The last point is more uncertain given Nintendo's pretty conservative view on what a console should be. Either way, if such functionality is included it will probably, contrary to the PSP for example, not be the major touted selling point.
What's your thoughts?
[EDIT]Spelling[/EDIT]