The Tegra rumours say they ought to be moving into position to release a handheld from this year onwards. So this just helps confirm it. They could release this year if they wanted to, but likely only in Japan.

Completely true. Still, I find it hard that they would release a new handheld when they have done so little with the DSi.

I think the DSi was partially intended as a defensive manouevre against cheap or free casual games, on laptops or iphone or ipod touch. But I think they've also realized that they're not going to have an agreeable method of payment for those games with only the use of credit cards or points cards bought at game stores, unless the device becomes network integrated. Bills (unlikely) or prepay phone credit (more likely in my opinion) are much more appealing to the ordinary user, mobile phones exploded when pre-pay arrived.

So I expect this to be network integrated, and to be more powerful (since they may as well), and in that it would fulfil the role the DSi was intended for.

Oh, thanks!

It is Casshan, from that Tatsunoko license. I found this yesterday.

DS sucessor this year? Possible.

I agree with you but perhaps the DSiware will be available on the next handheld (using another name, and not "Dsiware"), so this next handheld will continue what the DSi started, but still, where are the games with special DSi catridges? Where is the true support for the DSi? It's hard to understand but I am confident that they will release a new handheld this year.

The DSi is like $170 and the PSP Go is $250. Way too early for a next gen. The mainstream gamer isn't going to pay more than that for handhelds. Throughout history, if there is one thing we learned, it's that expensive handhelds just don't do well in the western market. In Japan, where they are starting to use the things as an outright replacement for home consoles (given low home console sales numbers), maybe it's a different story over there.