| mothman said: IMO this isn't going to happen in the short term for the following reasons: 1. For the first time Nintendo is losing money on every system sold. This isn't anything new to Sony and Microsoft but for Nintendo it is. In order to gain back what they've lost they need to keep pumping out the same hardware until they break even on lower manufacturing costs, profits from software, etc. It does not make sense financially for them to release a new model unless they can make it for less money. That would mean removing components or using cheaper ones rather than adding any. So the chances of any near term redesign featuring and second analog stick, bigger screen, more powerful battery are slim and none, 2. The current model is selling very well now. Until momentum slows or stalls there is no reason for them to release a new model. The time between the original DS and the DS Lite was around 13 months. That would put us around April 2012 but given the above factors it would be prudent for Nintendo to wait several months for next holiday season or all the way to March/April 2013 before releasing any new design. |
My thoughts exactly, on a full blown redesign; Nintendo will try to keep the current model until it makes financial sense to add more features to the current platform. I see a second analog stick being as important to Nintendo's future gameplay plans as Wii-Speak or Wi-Fit board to the Wii. It just ain't happening and the fact that it's a Gamestop exclusive shows how important a second stick is to the platform. Secondly, I don't see a refreshing until sometime in 2013 or holiday 2012. I expect that model will have a better/bigger screen, longer battery life, and better ergonomics that cost a little more than the current model.($189-199) to compete a bit better than the PSV (I don't think Sony is crazy to drop the $ on the Vita for a while it's a loaded spec system). Right now it's only speculation, which is predictable and not a very good one at that!!! (since everybody knows Nintendo refreshes their handheld system every 2 years or so)
