Should Nintendo discontinue the DS line altogether (not 3DS)?

[gumby_trucker]

Buzzi said:

Khuutra said:
No, but I think they need to seriously consider giving the WiiU a different name.

This. If they don't want people with Wii to not buy a Wii U thinking it's just an upgrade, they have to change its name.

As for DS...if is giving profits, they can't kill it. But they should start marketing the 3DS properly, as they are in the UK (I saw an ad were they said "this is not DS, this is 3DS", that's the point).

I wholeheartedly agree with both these posts. Was about to post something similar in fact. It will take some time for the 3DS to build up a good enough library and feature list to make it a valuable alternative to the DS, but until that happens Ninty still need their money-maker.

Differentiation from the old DS line should be their highest priority in terms of marketing the 3DS for now, and hopefully this is a lesson they will apply to Wii U going forward. If they market it as a Wii that can also play HD games then basically they appeal to a saturated market. It has to give the impression of being a new, unique experience.

On a broader note, I think this is another sign that as hardware gets better and better, upgrades become less and less important in the eyes of the consumer. I hope console generations continue getting longer in the future, only being short when there is some serious breakthrough in entertainment.
Incidentally, the Wii should have enjoyed a longer life according to this line of thinking