Since we don't know, doesn't that apply to overwhelmingly disparaging comments as well? It's been all of two weeks so far, and we're far too short on figures. Perhaps if we get more, we'll be able to actually claim more things with real basis.jvd said:
Who knows? We certainly don't know the specifics, and--as with the base unit itself--price is primarily what makes things matter.
Whatever they end up doing with cellphone use and/or GRPS, it will primarily affect those who already own the device, rather than attracting people in. (Of course it WILL affect others from that point as well, which is still always good.)
No one just thinking about a cell phone is going to go "hey I should really get a cellphone--should I get a PSP?" If I were to make my own guess about it, I think their best option would be to make sure their Sony/Ericsson products can link up, which gives a broad range of ACTUAL phone options, makes them more attractive, and doesn't confuse anyone about how the phones or their services would go. (With the additional possibility of a small device to allow GRPS-only communication for Internet linking capabilities, with its own separate subscription charge.)
As a parent, I'd hesitate in encouraging my kids to tote along expensive devices they'd use roughly anyway.
But yes, a PSP would still be more expensive, though better as a flash player (functions the same but with better sound chips, as I've seen), it's own brand of gaming (much smaller, but much "more"), seamless multiplayer, and other features besides.But no, I don't see grade and middle-schoolers being a major target market--not for a while. This will most CERTAINLY affect its starting numbers, but I don't think is a critical demographic. Gaming itself has been a steadily-aging activity, and high-tech A/V equipment always skews older.
They're not. I wouldn't want my kid carrying a $200 device around with them until at least high school anyway. This is still not a necessity, and not what PSP's target market has been. They'll get wrapped in eventually, though, if it gets more popular (many parents succumbing to "have to have" things), but mainly when its costs lower enough.
I've already said that devs will not be lowering their GBA commitment, and that it would likely have little to know bearing on their decision to support the PSP anyway. Why are you repeating the same thing?
This point has MANY other ramifications to consider as well, and in the meanwhile regardless of if their next portable has GBA games as a compatibility, they're STILL not going to slow down much. There are too many millions of GBA's out there, and no one else with dominance in the same demographics or price bracket. Of course the GBA--which supports GB carts fine--replaced the GB eventually (are there still any notable GB carts made?), such will Nintendo's next system eventually do to their GBA. Unless that cart medium would be the SAME for their next handheld (which I consider unlikely and think would be a mistake. Just part of my earlier "ramifications" comment). GBA cames will run their natural course whether PSP is there or not, and almost no matter what form Nintendo's next portable takes.
One that would be able to play existant GCN games flawlessly and encorporate their same programming methods? (With a few change to be made afterward.) I'm not talking about relative power scale. The PSP is not a "portable PS2" as it doesn't play the media or function the same way. Nintendo's COULD potentially make exactly a "portable GCN"--using the same media and gaining immense advantage--but I don't think they have the inclination to do THAT, and even if they do I forsee a rather intense amount of effort that would be involved to bring it about. (Hence it would have to be started now/before now, and likely would take until 2006 minimum.) IF they could do it, though, it would give them a portable system of great power and immense advantages--a built-in library, and a slew of developers who've had years to program that way. (And could adjust easily to handheld quirks.) I have nowhere near the expertise to contemplate what would have to be involved in this, though... ^_^;; (But I don't think it would at all be trivial.) I think they could bring this out even HIGHER than the PSP and still blow them out, I'd think. And it would reinforce GCN sales continuing through its own lifespan as well.
If all we're talking about is a "GCN-scale" portable, they could certainly manage that in 2005. But by all accounts, they'll be at the same "stage one" as the PSP--with a new system with nothing built up, and developers learning to code for them fresh. (As usual.) They would most likely have GBA-support (I would imagine from a cartridge-connecting dongle and emulation), but that would just make consumers feel better and surge hardware sales--it wouldn't have any impact on how developers code for them and the rest of their usual considerations.
They wouldn't be able to play PS2 games regardless (a DVD-using portable would be rather psychotic from a size-perspective), and if not I can certainly see them wanting to get away from PS2's complex programming schemes for a device like that. (And perhaps embracing tech that will work out better for the portable screen than TV's.)
I suppose they COULD have embraced that route by using their SOC, but I imagine this would run too hot anyway, and consumers would still have to repurchase games--even if all they were were moved from DVD to the chosen ROM format. It would gain notable advantages if it were--say--miniDVD, and people could burn games they own that were small enough (or if they worked out a compression scheme, perhaps any game?) to media that could then play fine on the PSP, but then protections go right out the window and piracy runs rampant. (And neither Sony nor Nintendo would dream of encouraging that.)
Porting would be easier (of course who knows how hard it WILL be?), but that doesn't make it fanatically desired by the public, who would still have to repurchase games. If, however, they could play what they already own...? I could see EB stampedes being a leading cause of death in launch the launch month!
