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Next-gen Game Boy to Hit Stores This Year?

Posted by Zonk on from the could-be dept.

Jason writes "CNN's always enjoyable Game Over column has an interesting story up about Nintendo's plans to launch its next generation Game Boy in 2005, as opposed to the expected 2006 release. The column predicts official word on the new GBA will come during Satoru Iwata's keynote at GDC. As yet, no features are known, but author Chris Morris speculates this could just be an incremental step, rather than a full-fledged generational leap."

8 of 77 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Why would this be a surprise? by Firehawke · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The new system as described is supposed to be a "next generation" type system, meaning a good jump beyond the GBA. At least that's what they were saying only a month ago. Moving in with another high-end system only a year after releasing the DS would be suicidally insane. I think it's probably going to be another year and a half MINIMUM before we see a new GB design so as to not cannibalize the DS sales or injure the still-strong GBA sales.

  2. Re:Risky.. by supersuckers · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I agree with the grandparent. Let's go through a timeline of nintendo's handhelds starting with the gameboy (ignoring before that):

    1989: gameboy launched
    1996: gameboy pocked launched (better screen, smaller, but same game system)
    1998: gameboy color launched. This is nine years after the original gameboy, and it still played gameboy games.
    2001: gameboy advance launched.
    2003: gameboy advance sp launched. Mostly cosmetic changes to the original gameboy advance.
    2004: nintendo DS launched. Backwards compatible with gameboy advance.

    What on earth are you crying about? We've basically got 3 systems since 1989, and each "new" one has been backwards compatible. The original gameboy advance game out in 2001. The DS was the next major change, in late 2004. Actually, can you name many other markets that have moved that SLOW???

  3. Re:Risky.. by Mooga · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Still, it normaly takes YEARS for new systems to come out. Making the new GB come out a less then a year after their past new GB is pushing it. It takes a good year or two for good games to come out. Do they really want to "replace" the DS before the good games come out. It looks like a bad idea too me and that they will probably end up lossing money.

    Unless this new GB is the DS-SP, which everyone knows is going to come out since the DS is HUGE (I know it's the same size as the GBA but that's HUGE too!).

    --
    ~ Mooga
  4. Re:Why would this be a surprise? by Guspaz · · Score: 2, Insightful

    If the DS is not a replacement for the GBA it shouldn't run GBA games. By making it backwards compatible they position it as a direct upgrade path. Which is also known as a replacement.

    I'm confused as to why Nintendo thinks they need two seperate handhelds on the market. They're only fracturing the market, which does not do them any good at all. For one thing they'll have smaller libraries for each unit than they would without fracturing the market.

    Personally I think this is a stupid decision.

    I think that if they really wanted to do two units, they should have essentially made a $99 single screen DS, and the $199 dual screen model. Most games would be compatible with both, and when running on the single screen model would simply not use the second screen.

    The DS could be looked upon as an upgraded model. More information displayed in games, easier controls, wireless, that sort of thing.

  5. Re:It's an analyst. by Macgrrl · · Score: 2, Insightful

    What isn't obvious why anyone with a GBA or a DS would buy a GBA2.

    It's unlikely this would be the case, but one excellent reason to buy a GBA2 would be if it could act as a comfortable and fully functional wireless controller for the Revolution AS WELL AS a standalone portable gaming device.

    --
    Sara
    Designer, Gamer, Macgrrl in an XP World
  6. Re:Risky.. by I(rispee_I(reme · · Score: 2, Insightful

    2004: nintendo DS launched. Backwards compatible with gameboy advance.

    For purposes of clarity: the DS will play GBA games, but not Gameboy games. Still, I agree with your sentiment that Nintendo has behaved well regarding backwards compatibility.

  7. Re:Why would this be a surprise? by ikkonoishi · · Score: 2, Insightful

    DS to me seems to be an attempt to separate themselves from the "game boy" name in order to appeal to a more adult (not as in porn) market.

    If you walk into your office with a game boy your boss may complain, but if you just have a Nintendo DS with wireless IM, PDA like functions, PDA like stylus pad, ect... he would not have as much reason to call you on it.

    I firmly believe that the next step for the DS is as a poor man's PDA. All they need is a few software packages being released on NDS media which can use the features of the NDS in a business environment. Since the GB(C|A) cartridges use a different slot they could be used as data/application packs with the NDS cartridges acting as a mini OS.

  8. New Game Boy should use DS chipset by drwiii · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Nintendo would be suicidal to play it any other way. The new Game Boy should use the DS chipset without the frills (touch screen, microphone, wireless, second display) with the same cartridge form factor. That way, existing DS owners will have "forward" compatibility with the new Game Boy offerings and Nintendo doesn't end up segmenting their market.