Are you glad that Nintendo so frequently redesigns their platforms?

As we all know, Nintendo loves making new iterations of its platforms, and mainly handhelds. We've seen, what, three different versions of the original Gameboy and three different versions of the GBA? We've also seen more recently (almost exactly a year ago) a redesign of the popular Nintendo DS with the DS Lite.

The question is though, are you glad that Nintendo redesigns their platforms? Do you find them worthwhile and worth the extra money spent? Or, do you think that Nintendo should put more focus on perfecting a handheld the first time around?

Perfecting the first time would be my choice. The GBA SP was superior to the normal GBA, mostly thanks to the built-in light. But it allready was a problem to use a Gameboy Color outside of natural light. So you might say that they could have that idea of the built-in light at the first GBA.

And I also don't really get the point with the DS lit. It's just smaller right? either way, I wouldn't buy one if I allready had a good workin DS. (which I don't, BTW)

Bededog, if the "got the design right the first time", then we would have the GBA now, not "the perfect handheld", the only reason why we have "new" handhelds is because the company asks around and sees what consumers like and dislike and put them in. the first one is ALWAYS what the company thinks they should put in or have focus groups and use their information to change their designs.

And as time goes on, new things are invented, like the current backlight technology, when the backlights were first used (on the gamegear by Sony), it took almost $40 to make and weighed about 2 pounds. do you really want a backlight like that for a Gameboy? Nintendo figured no, so they left it out of the greation for their first GBA. then, about 2 or so years later, people figured out how to make backlights better, so they decided to put that in their next handheld. and it really wouldn't do if they didn't make a handheld to put the backlight into, so they made the GBA SP.

And Serbine, most companies figure out what their consumers want by making their things one way and asking if people like it that way, if they don't, they change it in their next one, like a chargable battery. and if they do like it, they leave it there. so if they only made a few, the "new" machines wouldn't have as many things in them,and then we'd be stuck with things like the original Gameboy instead of the DS.

Bededog, if the "got the design right the first time", then we would have the GBA now, not "the perfect handheld", the only reason why we have "new" handhelds is because the company asks around and sees what consumers like and dislike and put them in. the first one is ALWAYS what the company thinks they should put in or have focus groups and use their information to change their designs.

And as time goes on, new things are invented, like the current backlight technology, when the backlights were first used (on the gamegear by Sony), it took almost $40 to make and weighed about 2 pounds. do you really want a backlight like that for a Gameboy? Nintendo figured no, so they left it out of the greation for their first GBA. then, about 2 or so years later, people figured out how to make backlights better, so they decided to put that in their next handheld. and it really wouldn't do if they didn't make a handheld to put the backlight into, so they made the GBA SP.

And Serbine, most companies figure out what their consumers want by making their things one way and asking if people like it that way, if they don't, they change it in their next one, like a chargable battery. and if they do like it, they leave it there. so if they only made a few, the "new" machines wouldn't have as many things in them,and then we'd be stuck with things like the original Gameboy instead of the DS.

simian92

You brought up all the right points; how can anyone make the perfect handheld without testing what they think should work ont he public first?

Despite everything, however, I find it very annoying how Nintendo makes us dish out even more money once again for a system that we already have if we want to play everything to their maximum potential. I mean, all of us Nintendo followers most likely got the Nintendo DS pretty soon after it came out, and when the DS Lite came out we were all like "Cool, I want that," but still not wanting to put out the money for the system again. Then some casual gamer comes along, picks up the system, and he now plays on a DS that's better than yours, but gets far less use out of it then you would.

It's unfair to the people, but it's the only way to make a "perfect" handheld. You want the best, then you're going to have to put up with spending extra to get exactly what you want.

P.S. Game Gear was made by Sega, not Sony. :P

P.S. Game Gear was made by Sega, not Sony. :P

ihateelvis

i knew that, it was seriously just a typo (i have a GG, and several games for it)

and serbine, the problem with doing that is that anytime a game doesn't sell well, especially if it was an expensive game, the developers are very unlikely to put money behind a sequel, because they are afriad that they'll loose more money. so instead of a sequel to Red Steel, UBIsoft is much more likely to make another splinter cell game.

P.S. - i heard from the scuttlebutt that there actually IS going to be a sequel to Red Steel, but UBIsoft isn't behind it as of now. and there IS another Splinter Cell game in the works.

[QUOTE="ihateelvis"]

P.S. Game Gear was made by Sega, not Sony. :P

simian92

i knew that, it was seriously just a typo (i have a GG, and several games for it)

and serbine, the problem with doing that is that anytime a game doesn't sell well, especially if it was an expensive game, the developers are very unlikely to put money behind a sequel, because they are afriad that they'll loose more money. so instead of a sequel to Red Steel, UBIsoft is much more likely to make another splinter cell game.

P.S. - i heard from the scuttlebutt that there actually IS going to be a sequel to Red Steel, but UBIsoft isn't behind it as of now. and there IS another Splinter Cell game in the works.

As we all know, Nintendo loves making new iterations of its platforms, and mainly handhelds. We've seen, what, three different versions of the original Gameboy and three different versions of the GBA? We've also seen more recently (almost exactly a year ago) a redesign of the popular Nintendo DS with the DS Lite.

The question is though, are you glad that Nintendo redesigns their platforms? Do you find them worthwhile and worth the extra money spent? Or, do you think that Nintendo should put more focus on perfecting a handheld the first time around?

REVOLUTIONfreak

Actually, Red Steel sold very well... its one of, if not the top selling third party game on Wii so far. Ubisoft hasn't officially announced Red Steel 2, but they have put out some pretty obvious hints that there will be a sequel... ie. the job listings they've put out that are looking for "those who worked on Red Steel, and are familiar with online game programming"... or something along those lines anyway.REVOLUTIONfreak

when i said in the scuttlebutt, i mean, in the scuttlebutt, rumors, not true. and of the people who bought red steel, most people were not impressed. i personally loved it. actually, the highest selling 3rd party game is rayman raving rabbids, then a spongebob game, then a chicken little game, then excite truck, and then red steel

[QUOTE="REVOLUTIONfreak"] Actually, Red Steel sold very well... its one of, if not the top selling third party game on Wii so far. Ubisoft hasn't officially announced Red Steel 2, but they have put out some pretty obvious hints that there will be a sequel... ie. the job listings they've put out that are looking for "those who worked on Red Steel, and are familiar with online game programming"... or something along those lines anyway.simian92

when i said in the scuttlebutt, i mean, in the scuttlebutt, rumors, not true. and of the people who bought red steel, most people were not impressed. i personally loved it. actually, the highest selling 3rd party game is rayman raving rabbids, then a spongebob game, then a chicken little game, then excite truck, and then red steel

I personally have no quarrels with a system redesign, just not less then two years later. As Ihateelvis mentioned nothing is worse then screwing over your loyal fan whom already has 3 DS phatsbefore the lite was out. Besides they were probably working on it during whenthe original launched which means they could have much better incorporated it into the DS phat with a delay. I am completely fine with something like the SP which came a good time down the road, and was as someone mentioned the result of outdated rechargeable batteries at the time. BTW they can make a perfect console the first time around the only thing that should be fixed is size and weight unless new tech comes along that was not present or ready at original launch which was the case with the SP but defiantly not the lite.sufian2

Besides, I doubt that they were working on it as soon as the DS came out, because they wouldn't have any feedback from users. For all they knew the DS' design could have been perfect in the user's eyes (it wasn't, but who knew). I also doubt that it took them over a year to design the DS Lite anyway.