Nintendo Doing Something?

 Well, well, and now we have it. Here is the next Nintendo console coming, the DS. Something that must be seen to be believed.I will freely admit I'm skeptical on the matter. However, I must also admit that there lies a possibility for good games for this thing. The ability to use platformers in a new light (perhaps with a map up top, or inventory information), the sheer scope of what RPGs could do on this thing (which is to say a LOT), and the ability to go in new directions with a stylus, such as the new Warioware that was previewed at E3.Now, with that said, I also get a very Virtual Boy smell coming from this thing.

Why? Well, a few reasons.

1: It doesn't carry the Game Boy brand

This is a huge, monster mistake here on Nintendo's part if they take this thing stateside and don't call it a Game Boy . Why? Because mom's and dad's and kids of the world know a gameboy when they see it. It is the brand which singlehandidly kept them in the black during the dark N64 days. It is the foundation of all current portable gaming. If this is to the next-gen product to combat the PSP, it needs to ground itself in Nintendo history and current customer conscious.

2: It needs killer titles

I'm sorry, but if Warioware that uses the stylus to slice fruit is the most innovative thing shown on the E3 floor, then this thing is sunk. Sure there's Metroid, but the controls were terrible, no analogue at all, and it seems like that's a huge waste of time and only has the novelty factor.

Madden DS and Mario DS will sell because they are existing titles with huge existing fan and customer bases. But I believe there needs to be something New and Innovative (yes, capitalized) to truly carry this system beyond the early adopters. No, a pokemon that lets the kids write in their names for the high scores isn't enough. There just doesn't seem to me like anything has been shown to truly knock a gamer's socks off.

3: The PSP is cooler

Bigger screen. Better graphics. No goofy gimmick. No fliptop. It has more storage.  It has less capabilities, but huge possibilities with built in franchises and a customer base (when comparing ps2 - gamecube) of almost 4 to 1. Even the PS2 to Game Boy Advance has a 20 million install base advantage, and if Sony plays this right, which I have no doubt they will based on cross-market advertising from movies to games and TV, the PSP will crush this gimmicky tech toy the day it is released.

The only thing that the PSP could do to ruin its existing chances would be the Game Gear factor: Battery munching. Unless this thing has some special battery-saving technology that has yet to be revealed, I think it will go through 6 AA's in about 6-8 hours, and that is death in terms of longevity.

Could this achillees heel be the DS advantage? I guess we'll find out soon enough...