I was reading an article yesterday about how the iPhone wasn't doing so hot in Japan. And the major reason was because most other Japanese phones were more advance, or more capable.

This got me thinking. If a piece of technology like the iPhone is already being given away at retailers after less than a year in the market, how is that something so simple (let's face it, the DS is a very simple device) can do so well in a market that thrives on the latest and greatest.

The DS has been around for about 5 years now right, and in that time it hasn't changed all that much, yet it still sells very succesfully in the world's biggest tech-head market, how can this be? What is the secret behind its success?

(No bashing intended)

It's dedicated to the job it does. It's a master of interactive entertainment rather than a jack of many trades.

I also have another theory about it's success in Japan, but considering you're talking about how advanced the DS is, I don't think it matters.

Look at the software it sells.

it has nothing to do with R4.

Because it's a unique device unlike anything else.

With the iphone, everything it does can be done somewhere else, and better.

R4 only started to sell really well three years into the DS' lifespan(and software sales started to slow as it did), the DS exploded only one year into it.

DS has tons of RPGS.

What is R4?

Right. Also add in the fact that Nintendo is a japanese company(Second biggest company in Japan) and has years of history.

I went to a Japanese tech show in London what must be 5 years ago and the phones on show were still more advanced than what is currently appearing on the market in the UK.

Full colour 3d games
recordable Satellite TV etc

Although I've no idea what is available in other countries.