Iwata: We aren't planning a next-gen DS
by David Hinkle 
{ Nov 6th 2007 at 5:40PM }
During a recent financial briefing, Iwata spoke about some concerns over a possible revision to the DS or a possible next-gen successor to the dual-screened handheld. Turns out, Iwata isn't so keen on a new handheld device coming from Nintendo right now, or anytime in the future. Instead, he plans on extending the functionality of the DS.Iwata wants your DS to become a companion so deeply in touch with your life that you'll find it useful in everyday situations. Sure, you can enhance your life with your DS at the baseball game, museum or when you're studying hard at school. Until the DS can't do that anymore, we imagine it'll be sitting pretty in the driving seat.
[Via Game Informer]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
TheCoats @ Nov 6th 2007 5:54PM
I am really glad to hear this.........i look forward to apps on my ds......but i wish they would make some kind of harddrive so i wouldnt have to switch karts when i want to get online.....etc........just something to think about but glad to hear this i am at almost all times within 10 feet of my ds.......
Xaos @ Nov 6th 2007 6:32PM
#1-They do make things like that, its called R4 or M3 Simply (or your choice of homebrew hardware) which uses microSD as a hard drive.
Anyways, Im glad they're not pursuing a next-gen system either, especially seeing as how most developers now barely make full use of the DS's features.
Jay @ Nov 6th 2007 6:36PM
I second that.
The DS needs no "follow up", it's perfect. We don't want it replaced, because we want people to keep finding uses for it.
Geoff Gibson @ Nov 6th 2007 6:41PM
What are you guys talking about?
Companies that are content become bloated. They refuse to upgrade and continually work on bigger and better things. All I see coming from this is a competitor swooping in and stealing the prize from Nintendo in a few years.
Nintendo better have something up it's sleeve because whether they like it or not, the PSP is a competitor and you can bet your ass Sony wants a larger slice of the portable pie.
Don't be foolish Nintendo, start working on a DS2. . .
Jedimonkey @ Nov 6th 2007 6:42PM
Perfect? No way is it perfect. I can think of many ways that the DS could be improved. Better graphics, WPA support, higher res screens, a smaller gap between the screens, and internal storage would all be welcome improvements. A multi touch screen and possibly even an accelerometer could be used to enhance the number of gameplay options open to developers. Some sort of analog stick or equivalent might also be nice.
Does it need all of those things? No, of course not. But I think that a next gen DS could have MANY improvements over the original.
shinneri @ Nov 6th 2007 7:11PM
Uh-huh, they also denied the existance of the DS Lite, and it was announced like a week later.
Of course they're going to say they aren't thinking about the future right now because they don't want to do anything to harm their current massively successful game console or give Sony any insight into their strategy.
But behind closed doors, I'm sure they've been throwing around ideas for a WHILE.
Xian B. @ Nov 6th 2007 7:16PM
I don't think Iwata is saying there will be no DS2 in the future... just not in the near future. Companies do tend to build one success upon another in swift succession (look at iPods, cell phones, etc), but in this case I think a DS2 would do little but steal the thunder of DS1. The DS has enourmous momentum right now and it would not be wise for them to fix what ain't necessarily broken. The financial investment required to R&D a DS2 alone would be enough reason for them to keep riding this wave for a few more years at least.
Personally, I'm glad. If they abandoned the DS this early in its life I would not buy a DS2--not only because I'm satisfied with the DS1, but because I would feel like Nintendo is just trying to bleed me dry with the next "cool gadget upgrade" rather than with quality entertainment products. I hope they continue to invest their money in DS games and apps. The DS2 can come later.
TheCoats @ Nov 6th 2007 8:40PM
xian b is right.....im not saying i want a new ds right now or even in the next year or soooo......the ds isnt perfect but the functionality has not been fully used and its still gaining momentum in sales.......and i know nintendo makes a harddrive cart for the ds i was simply stating that having all the functionalities (browser etc.) on the main start page would be nice instead of having to buy a cart.....
Rubang B (BRUSH WITH FAME) @ Nov 6th 2007 9:25PM
There will be a new DS in the distant future, when the world is ready. They should release it the day the DS outsells the PS2. Mwahahaha!
Dante Diablo @ Nov 6th 2007 11:16PM
how about a pdf reader??? I know it sounds stupid, but sometimes, i'd love to check a pdf, but i don't have my laptop available! Plus, the ds is lighter and has faster a faster boot-time.
sepaar @ Nov 7th 2007 12:03AM
A DS2, if that is the term, is inevitable. However, there is still no sense in releasing one when the current model still has so much potential.
As for ideas about more apps... I know this will sound incredibly stupid, but something involving a graphing calculator. That would be incredibly useful. Wouldn't have to carry around both at one time, unless I need the other for some reason like a test, oh wait, my mistake, they don't allow calculators on Calc 2 exams. I guess I wouldn't need to carry it around. Maybe even a word processing program. That would be interesting. All just ideas though, and will never come to fruition.
Afterlifer82 @ Nov 7th 2007 12:09AM
Regardless of what Nintendo says they will upgrade the DS. They have this obsessive issue where they can't go more than 2 years without releasing a new portable console.
Xian B. @ Nov 7th 2007 12:29AM
Afterlifer82: Don't be so sure. Don't forget, the GBA Micro bombed. "Once bitten, twice shy." As far as I'm concerned, the only physical improvement worth making to the DS Lite would be eliminating the gap between screens. But even that wouldn't make me shell out another $130 for it.
Anthony @ Nov 7th 2007 12:45AM
Everyone knows they're going to make a slightly more powerful, dual-touch screened clamshell gadget. And maybe add a couple more shoulder buttons or an analog stick. Or maybe motion sensitivity... hmm. *tilts DS forward and down, then marble rolls forward!* wheee!
jesus_bon_jovi @ Nov 7th 2007 2:04AM
@Dante Diablo
You just described one of the many uses of a PDA. Unfortunately Smartphones with their smaller screens (resolution) are beginning to take over. PDF viewing on PDAs is already possible although the limited resolution makes it difficult to use since you can only read a small portion of the page at a time. Its possible to convert PDFs to images and load up on hombrew enabled DS but even still the total resolution on a DS (both screens combined) is about 382x256. Your basic Palm has a screen resolution of 320x320 or hi-res 320x480 or VGA 640x480 on a VGA Pocket PC. Don't get me wrong though my DS is able to do many things my more expensive PDA can do at a fraction of the cost.
Blu-Sam @ Nov 7th 2007 9:30AM
I had plat DS for nearly 3 years and become limp lately. I just hope there is new DS model than rather lite version.
tom.b @ Nov 7th 2007 10:25AM
I expect that it will be a long time till there is a completely new DS (DS2) but I'm sure that sometime next year there will be a slightly improved DS Lite(r?). Anyway, the new functionality that could be added to existing DSs that I would be most interested in would be a way to buy old Game Boy games from the Wii Virtual Console, and then be able to transfer them to a memory card in the DS.
Also, I expect them to transition the DS back to the Game Boy brand, so the next DS could be called something like 'Game Boy DS'.
Cody S. @ Nov 7th 2007 6:56PM
@ sepaar
Look up WabbitDS. It's a homebrew TI-83+ Emulator for DS and it works very well. It may fit your needs and you wont need to wait.
dave @ Nov 7th 2007 10:31PM
I doubt we're going to get a straight-up DS successor. We'll probably end up with a whole new contraption with a bunch of new gimmicks a few years down the road (I'm guestimating around 2011).
My bet's on motion sensitivity as the next big thing for handhelds. I'd suspect it would have at least 1 analog stick, too, and rumble. And, of course, a hard drive or a big ol' hunk of hard drive-like flash memory. A built-in web browser would be cool too.
And, here's an idea: The entire game catalogue is handled via download. No more pesky switching.