[godslabrat]

With the new DSi garnering compliments like "Kinda nice if you don't already have one..." and the PSP Go seen as overpriced at best (and the system of doom at worst) it doesn't really seem like this holiday season will focus much on portables. Kind of odd, because portable video game systems are always a hot Christmas gift, and portable systems seem to be the hottest of the hot. To not have one to focus on puts all the attention back on the traditional consoles... and all we've seen on that front this year are a bunch of price drops and a redesigned PS3.

What does this say about the industry in general right now-- that our two major players in the portable market are going into the Christmas season with lackluster offerings?

[vdub_bobby]

Yeah, it isn't a great time to buy hardware - we're right in the "somewhat-boring middle of the generation" time:
Like 1988: NES, 7800, SMS, etc. had all been out for over a year (several years in most cases) and the Genesis and Game Boy wouldn't come out until the next year.
Or like 1994, when all the 16-bit machines had been out for a year or more but the first of the next generation wouldn't be out for another year (except for the Jaguar).
Or like 1998, or 2004.

Similarly for the handhelds; the DS has been out 5 years now and the PSP for 4 years - it's about time for a new iteration but Nintendo is waiting at least another year for a real new handheld and Sony...well, you know.

On the other hand, it's a great time for games, since developers have had time to learn the hardware.

[MarthaVickers]

I hadn't really payed any attention to all the mediocre portables coming out until now.
To be honest after game boys, i pretty much steered clear of portables. Was very close to getting a DS and still might one day, but not right now.

I think they will probably focus on the larger consoles for this holiday. The Ps3 has dropped to compete with the xbox 360 which are both now at 299, and the wii now at 199.
If i was the kid to wake up christmas morning and find a psp go under the tree, i sure wouldnt gloat about it to my school buddies lol.

[monzamess]

PSP GO would be GREAT if someone else were picking up the tab (like if you're a kid who got one for Christmas). Or if it just cost a lot less and could play used games.

[revolutionika]

i already have bought:

DS PHAT
DS SLIM
DSi
PSP PHAT
PSP SLIM

and refuse to get:

DS XL
PSP GO

i will wait for PSP 2 or DS 2

[Wickeycolumbus]

revolutionika, on Wed Nov 4, 2009 4:37 PM, said:

i already have bought:

DS PHAT
DS SLIM
DSi
PSP PHAT
PSP SLIM

and refuse to get:

DS XL
PSP GO

i will wait for PSP 2 or DS 2

Don't forget the PSP 3000!

[Reaperman]

Far as I'm concerned anything with two screens or the word 'sony' on it is useless, and the games for those systems aren't even fun to steal. Now the fads are finally starting to wear thin on other folks? Or just the size/shape revisions?

I'll be here with my gameboy micros hoping that someday handhelds will be simple again. Only then can they compete against items like smartphones. Smartphones will always do gimmicks better, and people will always be willing to spend far more money on them. I'm fairly certain they're about to take over every bit of market this generation of overly-complex handhelds has been aiming for.

This post has been edited by Reaperman: Wed Nov 4, 2009 4:40 PM

[jeremysart]

I have bought the PSP 1000, and the DSL.

They are both good handhelds (when hacked).
I like to be able to emulate my old systems like the 2600, NES, SNES, Gen, Intv etc. and they both do this pretty well, plus both have a decent enough amount of actually good games hidden behind all the shovel wear.

Now I do think the DSi and PSP GO where both terrible ideas. Releasing yet another revision of the system just seems too Sega to me. They should have focused more on creating a handheld altogether, they have been out plenty long enough now.

And fyi Sony, the "Virtual" thing will never fly with me.. I want to OWN a physical copy of the games I buy, sorry..

[vdub_bobby]

I don't think you can characterize the DS as a "fad" when over 100 million of them have been purchased.

It is due for an update, but Nintendo isn't afraid to milk a handheld for all its worth - they sat on the Game Boy for 10 years before releasing its underwhelming successor, the GBC.

So if you want a new handheld from Nintendo the best thing would be for the PSP to do well. Somehow, though, I don't see the PSP Go being a blockbuster, but what do I know?

[monzamess]

vdub_bobby, on Thu Nov 5, 2009 2:34 PM, said:

So if you want a new handheld from Nintendo the best thing would be for the PSP to do well. Somehow, though, I don't see the PSP Go being a blockbuster, but what do I know?

I don't want the PSPGo to succeed because I don't want Nintendo or anyone else going down that road. It's bad enough that they discourage and kill off legit homebrew, now they want us to buy games from only them. No resales, no discounters, just overpriced digital downloads. Maybe I'm just stuck in the collector mentality and haven't transitioned to the content rental mentality (because that's all you're doing even if you "buy" a digital copy in a closed system).

[jeremysart]

monzamess, on Thu Nov 5, 2009 2:52 PM, said:

vdub_bobby, on Thu Nov 5, 2009 2:34 PM, said:

So if you want a new handheld from Nintendo the best thing would be for the PSP to do well. Somehow, though, I don't see the PSP Go being a blockbuster, but what do I know?

I don't want the PSPGo to succeed because I don't want Nintendo or anyone else going down that road. It's bad enough that they discourage and kill off legit homebrew, now they want us to buy games from only them. No resales, no discounters, just overpriced digital downloads. Maybe I'm just stuck in the collector mentality and haven't transitioned to the content rental mentality (because that's all you're doing even if you "buy" a digital copy in a closed system).

My point exactly. The virtual download concept scares me, and I very much discourage it. I want to own a physical copy that I can hold in my hand, and let a friend borrow, and resell when im done with it..

[Video]

I might be interested in the DS XL, maybe hack it up so it will run GBA carts again

But yeah, your right, this year has kinda sucked for the handheld world.

And then Microsoft releases the "AWESOMEE PRO" with a 10" screen and full console controls and a packin with every halo ever made. (and I sell some guys left kidney and buy 10 of them)

[monzamess]

Video, on Fri Nov 6, 2009 5:30 PM, said:

And then Microsoft releases the "AWESOMEE PRO" with a 10" screen and full console controls and a packin with every halo ever made. (and I sell some guys left kidney and buy 10 of them)

I keep wondering when MS will make a portable game system, probably some form of Zune. So more content rental. Hopefully if and when they make something, it will be more reliable than the 360.

[Punisher5.0]

Hmm.... I have to disagree. The Pandora is supposed to finally launch in December. I already prepaid for it so I'm psyched for the tail end of 2009.

[MagitekAngel]

I give up. I want a Game Gear for Christmas.