Nintendo, Sony Start Handheld Gaming Battle At E3

An anonymous reader writes "There's a Wired News article up discussing the fight for handheld game console supremacy starting at next week's E3 Expo. According to Wired News, 'Nintendo, the biggest seller of video-game consoles 15 years ago, once again faces a tough street fight against Sony, the upstart that stole much of the video-game business with its PlayStation. This time, the fight is over handheld video-game machines, and if Nintendo loses, it could be in serious trouble.' It explains: 'Nintendo is expected to give peeks at its next-generation handheld system -- code-named the DS -- while Sony will release more information about its PSP. Both companies will be vying for the hearts and minds of gamers and -- more importantly -- software developers.' Who's gonna win?" Slashdot Games recently ran a related story that has developers and journalists analyzing the showdown to come.

Comments

Well...

[chrispyman]

If I remember correctly, didn't Nintendo say that the DS is not a sequel to the GBA? Besides, one of the real selling points of the GBA (and PS2) was that it could play every single Game Boy game ever released since the system debuted in the late 80s, and thats certainly a negative for Sony's PSP.

Re:Well...

[mrgreen4242]

If I remember correctly, didn't Nintendo say that the DS is not a sequel to the GBA?

Regardless of wether that is the case or not, it is going to be perceived as the sequel to the GBA. It is going to have the GameBoy name, and be a new handheld from the Nintendo. People will naturally assume it is the next GB. As a comparison, look at the GBA SP and how many times you had to tell people it was EXACTLY the same inside as the GBA, just a different case w/ a backlight and built in batter.

Also, if this is NOT a 'sequel' to the GBA, then they are introducing a device that will directly compete with their other products. Wether this would be a negative factor I'm not sure. I'd be curious to see how non-SP GBAs are selling now.

Lastly, is there any info yet on the backward compatibility of the DS? I agree with the parent poster, that backwards compatibility will probably make or break the system. Remember the Virtual Boy? That wasn't a direct sequel to the GB, but an addition to the line, and it failed miserably, mostly because it was a radically different platform to develop for, and had 0 installed game base, which makes it hard to sell systems, which in turn make it hard to get developers to produce games, which in turn, etc etc...

In an already crowded video game market it is going to be rough to get a new system off the ground. If the DS is backward compatible with the GB/A, it will probably sell well, if priced right. If not, it's going to be a tough sell when there are so many other options out there.

The PSP will have success based on 1) (in the short term) Sony/PS fanboys who will buy it and all the launch games just because, and 2) (in the long run) how easy it ends up being to port PS games to it. If a developer can take a PS1 game, run it thru a magical Sony PSP compiler setup and have a nearly ready to ship PSP game, it will be an easy way to build up a library of good games fast, and put a huge dent into Nintendo's handheld market.

Or I could be full of shit, who knows.

Rob

Re:Like always...

[The Other White Boy]

my Dreamcast and Saturn beg to differ.

Game play Length

[nickroethemeier]

Although I don't see either of these devices going the way of the Game Gear, They have to have simple, fun games or they will die. Its flat and simple. Most people only play hand held games for short bursts, and they play console games for hours on end (Final Fantasy). The puzzle games of old (tetris) had it right. Simple, Fun, Short.

Obvious Winner

[$lingBlade]

Sorry to state the obvious, but the winner will be us as consumers. For once we'll have two powerful companies fighting for our money with products that kick butt.

fight it out!

[Anonymous Coward]

Nintendo, Sony Start Handheld Gaming Battle At E3

Nintendo rolls a 16, hitting with the Vorpal Blade!
Sony makes the saving throw and takes 8 HP of damage!
Sony casts a Magic Missile spell at Nintendo and hits for 6 HP!
Nintendo hits Sony with the Vorpal Blade again, with an 18 roll!
Sony fails the saving throw, Sony loses its head!

Just imagine if Microsoft came out with a handheld

[vosbert]

It'll be complete with a hard drive, cpu, cpu fan, and disk drive. It'll be the size of a briefcase and weigh about 10 pounds. It'll also come in handy as a bludgeon.

And the truth is...

[clichekiller]

There are enough people out there who will buy both to keep both companies happy.

Also, in a way, they go after two different markets. The Gameboy is poised for the younger crowd, with their Pokemon and such. This isn't to say there are no good games for adults, Advance War I & II come to mind, just that I see more GB, GBC, and GBA in the hands of little kids then I do adults. The PS2 will almost certainly go after the older teen market and adults.

And ask yourself how many of you own more then one gaming console. I used to own a Gamecube, XBox, PS2, and Dreamcast. I know of plenty of other people who own at least two. So I don't believe Nintendo is in that big of a trouble, if they can keep their niche alive and prevent the PSP from encroaching they should be fine.

Hint to Sony

[stratjakt]

RCA Video and Audio out jacks. You can find the real estate for it.

I should be able to plug into any TV with convenient front a/v jacks and play up on the big screen.

The A/V hack for GBA is by far the coolest, IMO. Build this functionality in, don't try to sucker me by offering me a 60 dollar addon for a 100 dollar console to play my games on TV (GBA player).

I'd spend so much more time playing the games (and consequently buy more games) at home on the TV. As it stands, GBA is good to occupy you while you take a dump, but it's not something you sit down to play.