Nintendo DS Price Drop

[bapenguin]

Nintendo has cut the price (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050816/wr_nm/nintendo_dc) of the Nintendo DS handheld system from $150 USD to $130 USD. The price cut is effective August 21st.Nintendo said the price cut comes ahead of the August 22 U.S. release of "Nintendogs," a video game that allows the player to mimic ownership of a puppy and is already selling well in Japan.

Could a Sony price cut on the PSP be close behind?

[Exodus]

I doubt it, Sony's full of a buncha greedy fuckers.

Well, more than nintendo I think :)

[Klade]

I don't see why sony would. Their price is already a lot higher then the DS so people buying a PSP probably aren't even considering a DS.

[Groo]

Sony better release that $199 PSP w/o all those accessories soon...

[fitbabits]

Dear Nintendo,

Drop the DS to $100 and I'll consider buying one.

Love,
fitbabits

[MajSheppard]

You couldn't give me a PSP.

[fitbabits]

You couldn't give me a PSP.

Just so happens I was giving one away for free as well... Guess you wouldn't want it?

EDIT: For those who asked me about the free PSP, either on here or via PM, it's gone. I've decided to give it to the pediatric oncology clinic at the hospital where I work. As to where I got it and why I'm giving it away - my brother sent me one as a late birthday present (he sent me a DS as a late Christmas present, but that's another story...). He does these things to try and curry favor with me.

[anakin876]

I'll take it fitbabits - a few of the games are decent and with the memory stick and some software - instant classic games machine

[Borys]

In other news:

or Game Boy fans, a new version of the flagship handheld gaming system is still on track for this year. Nintendo announced the Game Boy Micro will ship to stores Sept. 19. No pricing has been announced.

http://money.cnn.com/2005/08/16/technology/personaltech/nintendo/index.htm

[MasterEvilAce]

The DS is gameboy v2. Nintendo just won't admit it.

[MajSheppard]

No Nintendo is smart to seperate DS and Gameboy, that way parents who come into the store can buy the cheaper system for the brats and Nintendo can get there money. While at the same time you people who complain that Nintendo is too Kiddy have a seperate sleek system that you can buy that just happens to play the other games as well.
There is a reason the DS is out selling that PSP, and it is called better games.

[The Mystery Cow]

Sort of a threadjack here, but Sheppard's reference to the DS as a "sleek" system brought this to mind. Does anyone else find the DS shoulder buttons INCREDIBLY uncomfortable to use? I've been trying to play Metroid: Zero Mission and I end up with hand cramps.

[Heretic Machine]

First, the DS is just another gameboy, don't buy into the hype.

Second, neither system has anything close to an acceptable library of games.

Third, unless the PSP drops down to $150 it'll never find a home on my shelf.

[AvA]

Hey, I hope that on the 21st of August both Nintendo and Sony will drop the price for their handhelds here in Europe too!





Ehm... Too bad PSP won't be in store untill Sep. 1st! :eek:

[Chagrinful]

Sort of a threadjack here, but Sheppard's reference to the DS as a "sleek" system brought this to mind. Does anyone else find the DS shoulder buttons INCREDIBLY uncomfortable to use? I've been trying to play Metroid: Zero Mission and I end up with hand cramps.

It's pretty bad ya, I'm wating for the DS SP or w/e they'll call the 2nd version.

[Kefkataran]

Second, neither system has anything close to an acceptable library of games.

They're both pretty early in their life, though the good new stuff has been slow-coming. Still, at least as far as DS is concerned, I think there's some really exciting stuff coming. I wouldn't give up on it completely just yet. Agreed about the PSP pricing point, though.

And let me be the first to say: Why the fuck do these companies always drop the price two months after I buy their crap?

[bean19]

Kefka - You didn't hold out for Nintendogs? ;)

I'm wary of handhelds. . . as I don't really end up playing them often, but I do own a PSP (I'm a sucker for the video playbak capabilities). Still, I don't play it much. . . $20 isn't enough of a drop for me to buy a DS, but, you know, we'll see. Maybe I'll play a demo of Nintendogs at a store and suddenly want one. I really, really love dogs.

[Kyle Jones]

Ah, nice to see the price drop. I've been considering getting one in the near future and htis might just push it closer to my buyable range. Of course I'll be holding off until Fallish when Animal Crossing DS comes out and I have to buy it.

[The Mystery Cow]

Kefka - You didn't hold out for Nintendogs? ;)

I'm wary of handhelds. . . as I don't really end up playing them often, but I do own a PSP (I'm a sucker for the video playbak capabilities). Still, I don't play it much. . . $20 isn't enough of a drop for me to buy a DS, but, you know, we'll see. Maybe I'll play a demo of Nintendogs at a store and suddenly want one. I really, really love dogs.

I was at a Gamestop the other day trying out a demo of Meteos (still can't quite figure out how it works), and this little kid next to me was playing Nintendogs. He was having an absolute ball with it until what I guess was his older brother came over and started making fun of him for playing it. He said it was stupid because "you couldn't shoot the dogs."

I weep for tomorrow's generation!

[Derwin]

Just so happens I was giving one away for free as well... Guess you wouldn't want it?

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE YOU UP ON THAT, KIND SIR

[thecrazyd]

I would buy a PSP if it hit $100, or if it put out some games. I recently bought a DS off of ebay for $100, and I wouldn't want to pay more for a system with no games out or on the horizon.

[Dracula-X]

There is a reason the DS is out selling that PSP, and it is called better games.
Only in Japan :) In North America it's a different story. However, I'd wager a price drop like this with the advent of Nintendogs on these shores will put Ninty ahead here too. On the other hand, Death Jr. and other titles on the horizon might help keep Sony ahead, but too soon to tell. But that's besides the point - A cheaper Nintendo handheld and more games on the way, gamers win.

[bKangy]

Ehm... Too bad PSP won't be in store untill Sep. 1st! :eek:

PSP has lost in Europe already. Why? Because nobody even cares anymore. Everyone already went and got a DS because it's been out for like 5 months now. DS will have a lowered price, I assume, whilst PSP will still be at it's opening price with only its launch titles. Even my Sony fanboy friends aren't interested.

[TechSuck]

Ill be getting a DS the moment Advance wars DS hits.

[Nessus]

I'm so glad I waited. I'll probably pick up a DS with Meteos and Kirby in the next couple months.

[mister_slim]

I doubt we'll see a PSP price cut anytime soon. Sony isn't willing to lose that much money.

[hideouslywrinkled]

I'm glad I waited too. Now I can pick up a DS and Nintendogs for about the price I could have bought just a DS a few days ago.

My 2/3-year resolution. No more systems at launch!

[Hellstorm]

Ill be getting a DS the moment Advance wars DS hits.

Well guess what, Advance Wars DS comes out next week. :D

[ZMoe]

I own a DS. I'll probably get Nintendogs. Right now I mostly play Super Dodgeball and PuyoPuyo on it. lol

I agree the DS is just a GBA v.2. If it were suppose to be a seperate system, why would it still play GBA games?

I want a PSP... not because I think the games are great, there's actually no game out or even really coming up that would make me want one... I just want a portable device to watch movies on.

[stmfuller]

sweet, another $30 and I'll START to consider getting one!

[Xaerin]

PSP has lost in Europe already. Why? Because nobody even cares anymore. Everyone already went and got a DS because it's been out for like 5 months now. DS will have a lowered price, I assume, whilst PSP will still be at it's opening price with only its launch titles. Even my Sony fanboy friends aren't interested.

It'll have more launch titles than the US launch though and the DS is different enough to the PSP to make sure people wait. And those that can't wait import.

[kickmybum]

I'll buy a DS when Nintendocats is released.

I hate dogs. The only good thing they've ever done is sold tacos and saved little timmy stuck in a well.

[Kefkataran]

I hate dogs. The only good thing they've ever done is sold tacos and saved little timmy stuck in a well.

You say that like it's not impressive. I don't see some of these EvAv slobs like Kelegacy selling tacos or saving little Timmys. Do you?!

[bean19]

I was at a Gamestop the other day trying out a demo of Meteos (still can't quite figure out how it works), and this little kid next to me was playing Nintendogs. He was having an absolute ball with it until what I guess was his older brother came over and started making fun of him for playing it. He said it was stupid because "you couldn't shoot the dogs."

I weep for tomorrow's generation!

Great story. :)

[RandomViolence]

You say that like it's not impressive. I don't see some of these EvAv slobs like Kelegacy selling tacos or saving little Timmys. Do you?!

That's not true. He sold me a taco yesterday.

It was awful, just plain awful.

[Adam Blue]

I like the DS a lot.....but I never play it.


The PSP on the other hand gets daily usage. But in the form of ROMS. My entire NES/SNES/Genesis collection on my PSP. But the console is crappy. The 'X' button is starting to stick. The battery life is terrible. I would prefer to use emulation on my DS, and I've heard there's an SNES emu out there.

[Xaerin]

I would prefer to use emulation on my DS, and I've heard there's an SNES emu out there.

There is but I've heard the PSP version is better but don't take my word for it. Seems to me the DS would be perfect for ScummVM games with the whole touch screen mouse replacement controls.

[Pumped'Up]

The DS screens are too tiny - no wonder 2 are needed to makeup for screen space...but there's a gap inbetween...but that's ok, there's PSP.

[nonchalance]

Motherfuckers.
I bought my DS not two weeks ago.

Mind you, I'm not sure when, or whether, the pricedrop will come to Oz, so it might not have been a bad idea.

Incidentally, for those who question whether or not it's a GBA v2, of course it is. And it's a really nice iteration of the hardware.
What's your point?

[thecrazyd]

The DS screens are too tiny - no wonder 2 are needed to makeup for screen space...but there's a gap inbetween...but that's ok, there's PSP.
Unfortunately, the PSP has no promising games coming out. But that's ok, there's DS.

[Rommel]

They're both pretty early in their life, though the good new stuff has been slow-coming.

The DS is approaching its one year anniversary and its titles still blow.

[Kamalot]

The DS is approaching its one year anniversary and its titles still blow.
As in... blow the PSP's titles away?

[Kefkataran]

As in... blow the PSP's titles away?

I don't see how he could've meant anything else!

[Nessus]

"The DS is approaching its one year anniversary and its titles still blow."



The PSP was released like 2 weeks after the DS in Japan. They've had just as long to work on games.

Also, by most accounts Meteos (88% average on GameRankings.com), Kirby (87.8%), Advance Wars Dual Strike (91%), and Super Mario 64 DS (86.5) don't blow. Nintendogs (82.4%), Electroplankton (81.3%), and WarioWare: Touched! (83.6%) also have decent averages.

I can understand if those kinds of games simply don't appeal to you, because honestly Tiger Woods Golf (80.1%), Twisted Metal: Head-On (82%), MBL (81.2%), Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee (82.9%), Tony Hawk's Underground 2 Remix (83.7%), Ridge Racer (87.8%), and Wipeout Pure (88.8%) don't appeal to me at all. Not a sports or racing (or Twisted Metal) fan. Which leaves Lumines (90.9%) that I'm interested in.

I think the demographics for the two systems really are different. They spotlight completely different genres.

“To tell the truth, I don't think it's even that 2D is only possible on handhelds, but more that it's only possible on DS. Personally speaking, I'd jump at any chance to develop a 2D game for any console, or even the PSP, but those chances are getting fewer and fewer. I feel like the DS is the last fortress of 2D gaming.” - Koji Igarashi

I think that is somewhat indicative of the differences between the systems.

[Chimpbot]

"The DS is approaching its one year anniversary and its titles still blow."



The PSP was released like 2 weeks after the DS in Japan. They've had just as long to work on games.

Also, by most accounts Meteos (88% average on GameRankings.com), Kirby (87.8%), Advance Wars Dual Strike (91%), and Super Mario 64 DS (86.5) don't blow. Nintendogs (82.4%), Electroplankton (81.3%), and WarioWare: Touched! (83.6%) also have decent averages.

I can understand if those kinds of games simply don't appeal to you, because honestly Tiger Woods Golf (80.1%), Twisted Metal: Head-On (82%), MBL (81.2%), Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee (82.9%), Tony Hawk's Underground 2 Remix (83.7%), Ridge Racer (87.8%), and Wipeout Pure (88.8%) don't appeal to me at all. Not a sports or racing (or Twisted Metal) fan. Which leaves Lumines (90.9%) that I'm interested in.

I think the demographics for the two systems really are different. They spotlight completely different genres.

“To tell the truth, I don't think it's even that 2D is only possible on handhelds, but more that it's only possible on DS. Personally speaking, I'd jump at any chance to develop a 2D game for any console, or even the PSP, but those chances are getting fewer and fewer. I feel like the DS is the last fortress of 2D gaming.” - Koji Igarashi

I think that is somewhat indicative of the differences between the systems.



You accidentally brought up another point against the PSP. Take a look at the games you listed; Tiger Woods Golf, Hot Shots, Twisted Metal, MBL, Tony Hawk Underground, Ridge Racer and Wipeout are all essentially ports of PS2 games. Unfortunately, most of the "highly anticipated" upcoming PSP titles are also simply ports of older PS2 games.
At least the DS is getting new, original or at the very least creative content.

I've been chomping at the bit to pick up a DS for quite awhile...and this just makes the idea of purchasing one that much more tempting.

[mister_slim]

I think Nintendo should follow Nintendogs with MyLittleDSPony. That would as popular as stupidity (really, really popular, for those who've gotten it).

[Camalot]

The DS is king, sure they lowered the price, which normally would occur because they are having trouble getting rid of current inventory but I am sure this is not the case. Must be that they know everyone hates dogs and nintendogs will fail :(

[CapnBob]

I preordered Nintendogs and Advance Wars today. I've been playing plenty of multiplayer Bomberman and Meteos, which both rock, but it's been the GBA Fire Emblem: Sacred Stones that has kept me busy for the last couple of weeks. And checking the DS release list for the rest of the year... I'm glad the titles are mostly $35 or less because I'm looking at 10 to 20 that I may have to pick up.

[Heretic Machine]

You accidentally brought up another point against the PSP. Take a look at the games you listed; Tiger Woods Golf, Hot Shots, Twisted Metal, MBL, Tony Hawk Underground, Ridge Racer and Wipeout are all essentially ports of PS2 games. Unfortunately, most of the "highly anticipated" upcoming PSP titles are also simply ports of older PS2 games.
At least the DS is getting new, original or at the very least creative content.


They are ports of GOOD PS2 games though. Which is better than "original" or "creative" stinking piles of crap. By the way, Mario 64 is a port as well. Plus, the one game that got above a 90% on the DS is only out in Japan, which really doesn't mean shit to me, it might as well not exist at all.

Now don't get me wrong... The PSP isn't any better really. But calling either of them a good handheld is pretty much a joke at this point.

[Nessus]

"They are ports of GOOD PS2 games though. Which is better than "original" or "creative" stinking piles of crap."



What the hell are you talking about? So Meteos, Kirby, and Warioware are crap? Have you even played them? Also, Advance Wars DS is out in like a week. Also, the PSP too has only one game with a 90% or higher average.

I never brought up the port issue because Mario 64 DS is a port, but the PSP has a disproportionate number of ports. I'm glad that the DS doesn't really lend itself to ports of console games (Mario 64 DS had to be completely recoded). I want my handheld experience to be different from my home consoles.

Personally I've always *liked* that handhelds were different from the current generation consoles. I *love* that the GBA has seen the revival of many old SNES franchises.

Having a PSP play games I could get for my PS2 for cheaper (and play on a much, much larger screen with a nice home stereo setup) seems redundant.

Generally with PSP games that are ports of PS2 games the game is designed with a console in mind. Not a handheld with limited battery life, and that is best suited for quick games on the go while waiting in line or on a bus ride.

So with all that taken into consideration I would rather not ports of PS2 games, even if they are good, if the alternative is games like Meteos and Kirby which are both good, and original.