Post by eh on Feb 28, 2005 19:09:56 GMT -5
The technology stork may be visiting Nintendo prematurely this year. Just months after Nintendo delivered its most recent baby, the dual-screen goodness known as the DS, word has it that Nintendo is already getting busy working on a new handheld, the successor to the Game Boy Advance SP.
The news comes from Analyst PJ McNealy of American Technology Research, who released a statement today declaring, "It is likely that the next version of the Game Boy Advance SP will ship as early as this holiday, ahead of most expectations of calendar year 2006."
When contacted for comment, Beth Llewelyn, senior director of public relations at Nintendo of America said, "There is always speculation on what the next Game Boy will be, however, at this time there are no announcements about a new Game Boy SP product."
Why would Nintendo release a new handheld just a year after it released the innovative DS? For one, Nintendo has always maintained that the GBA and the DS were targeted at different audiences, with the GBA aiming at the children's market and the DS trying to tap into an older audience. McNealy also points out the fact that Nintendo has consistently released new versions of the GBA every two years, putting the new model on track for release this holiday season.
And while piracy may not be rampant in North America, it is plaguing Asian markets. A new version of the GBA could help alleviate this problem, crippling the illegal activity that costs Nintendo revenue every year.
Specifications on the new system are purely speculative at this point, with theories ranging from simple cosmetic and performance enhancements to a graphical leap that's similar to current-generation consoles. If previous models are any indication, the latter isn't likely. The leap from GBA to GBA SP included a new illuminated screen, rechargeable battery, and design improvements, but the systems' processors were identical.
McNealy predicts that Nintendo will sell the new GBA SP for the same current price point as its predecessor, $99, and drop the original GBA SP down to $49.
On the financial side of things, McNealy sees nothing but good coming out of a new GBA SP for companies involved in GBA software, particularly third-party developers THQ and Activision. Given the lack of material increase as a result of development and research--the new GBA is likely to be backward-compatible with previous GBA software--THQ and Activision should continue to thrive in the portable market.
McNealy goes on to say, "The Nintendo DS has, by and large, been additive to Nintendo software revenue and units sales and not cannibalistic. Even with the DS launch in November, GBA software revenue and unit sales were up double-digits in December and January."
source www.gamespot.com/news/2005/02/28/news_6119320.html
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Well I think Nintendo will probably do it. Iwata said that if the DS starts to lose ground the GBE will be out sooner than we think. The DS is starting to lose ground in Japan and imagine what will happen when it hits the US
Low batteries will be become the new standard for handhelds, and games that cost 50 dollars. Nintendo cant lose the handheld market or they will turn into Sega faster then we think 
The news comes from Analyst PJ McNealy of American Technology Research, who released a statement today declaring, "It is likely that the next version of the Game Boy Advance SP will ship as early as this holiday, ahead of most expectations of calendar year 2006."
When contacted for comment, Beth Llewelyn, senior director of public relations at Nintendo of America said, "There is always speculation on what the next Game Boy will be, however, at this time there are no announcements about a new Game Boy SP product."
Why would Nintendo release a new handheld just a year after it released the innovative DS? For one, Nintendo has always maintained that the GBA and the DS were targeted at different audiences, with the GBA aiming at the children's market and the DS trying to tap into an older audience. McNealy also points out the fact that Nintendo has consistently released new versions of the GBA every two years, putting the new model on track for release this holiday season.
And while piracy may not be rampant in North America, it is plaguing Asian markets. A new version of the GBA could help alleviate this problem, crippling the illegal activity that costs Nintendo revenue every year.
Specifications on the new system are purely speculative at this point, with theories ranging from simple cosmetic and performance enhancements to a graphical leap that's similar to current-generation consoles. If previous models are any indication, the latter isn't likely. The leap from GBA to GBA SP included a new illuminated screen, rechargeable battery, and design improvements, but the systems' processors were identical.
McNealy predicts that Nintendo will sell the new GBA SP for the same current price point as its predecessor, $99, and drop the original GBA SP down to $49.
On the financial side of things, McNealy sees nothing but good coming out of a new GBA SP for companies involved in GBA software, particularly third-party developers THQ and Activision. Given the lack of material increase as a result of development and research--the new GBA is likely to be backward-compatible with previous GBA software--THQ and Activision should continue to thrive in the portable market.
McNealy goes on to say, "The Nintendo DS has, by and large, been additive to Nintendo software revenue and units sales and not cannibalistic. Even with the DS launch in November, GBA software revenue and unit sales were up double-digits in December and January."
source www.gamespot.com/news/2005/02/28/news_6119320.html
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Well I think Nintendo will probably do it. Iwata said that if the DS starts to lose ground the GBE will be out sooner than we think. The DS is starting to lose ground in Japan and imagine what will happen when it hits the US
Low batteries will be become the new standard for handhelds, and games that cost 50 dollars. Nintendo cant lose the handheld market or they will turn into Sega faster then we think 
I have to get a DS it is getting Sonic DS 
you know the DS is much STRONGER than a PDA screen too 
This is exactly what I thought was going to happen...Once Iwata mentioned 3 pillars, I thought cool, so there will be DS the innovative system, and then the next gameboy will come out and KILL the PSP. Im thinking Nintendos going to have 4 pillars I think that they will make the rev a innovative system, and then they will come out with a casual system called "NINTENDO 512" and blow away the PS3 and XBOX2 graphics...I also think Iwata''s going to be announcing Nintendo's online plan at "Heart of a Gamer" press conference on March 10, 9 days away. Then 2-3 months after the launch of the REV theyll announce a rumor of NINTNEDO 512, and then Nintendo will start gaining the market back, step by step.