This is definitely a good point that I've never seen raised elsewhere. Though I would even add something extra. Which is that this isn't just in handhelds, but also for all home consoles as well.  Seriously, right now (though ther emay be just one or two exceptions) I can't think of ANY former console that looked similar to it's successor.  Especially in the Nintendo line, since I have more experience with them.

Good find, and I wonder if Nintendo found it as well.  My feelings are they did.  For Nintendo it could be an obvious blunder since they so badly want to replicate to DS's success, but for Sony you'd figure they'd take a new path if they are serious about contending with Nintendo.

i think the nintendo commercials are fine right now.  they are doing what they need to do first.  Get the word out that "hey check out this 3D"  once the initial rush of buyers is done, THEN start doing the typical games and showing off the new updated graphics in the games.

THis will then make those that now know that is does 3D, whether they own the system or not, to go "wow i want to play that game and/or wonder how that looks in 3D"

if they go straight to just games commercials, it will be too many people thinking its just new amazing games on the ds.  then go to store and be like "why can't my ds play this"

Yes, consumers are stupid and most of them lack the impulse to research products before they purchase them. Nintendo got it right with the Gameboy to Gameboy Advanced and then DS transition, because they all like radically different from each other and it helps the consumer differentiate between them.

The PSP2 will suffer from the same problems, the only difference I can see is that the audience is slightly more informed than a lot of the DS audience and I can see it selling to those people, but that 'informed' audience is going to be extremely limited.

but really, if you are saying they wont be sucessful for looking the same 

iphone: barely changed

ipad: barely changed

Consoles have barley changed: what the PS3 is slighty more round then the PS2, the xbox to xbox360 is like an paint job from white to black (and now back to black).

But really what should they change the psp2 to?. make it cirular?, make it have handles?. 

really this isn't an problem 

yes it will.

but in the case of the ngp its not openable like the 3ds so you can see the difference directly. but both will suffer because of that.

well...possibly, but the designs of the GBA and the DS were made for comfort and ease of use. The PSP is the same way. Quite frankly, I can't really think of ANYTHING to improve on the actual physical designs of the PSP or the DS aside from a few minor things. I can't speak for the NGP, but the 3DS feels good in your hands. It's not cumbersome or cramped, it's just right

Not really - the advertising for casuals will start later. Right now they are still trying to atract early adopters.

mchaza# Some of them have probably already seen AR games as it's nothing new. PSP had it with Eye Pet and Invizamels.

I think the 3DS isn't that big an issue, and as long as Nintendo START ADVERTISING THE THING WELL, it won't be

The NGP is different. The PSP already has an image issue, and if it's called the PSP2, many will see it as an increase (following Slim, 2000, Go etc.), especially since there's nothing which sets it apart aesthetically. 

If it's priced at £300 or above, I see Sony being in real hot water. If they can't portray the differences to the public well enough, then many will see it as a natural rebutal to the 3DS, and just an 'upgrade' as opposed to the new console, and go for the console which they can get for less than half the price. 

Hmm...

ah the NGP is so beautiful