Analyst: DS redesign already done

Pacific Crest Securities' Evan Wilson says new version of Nintendo's portable complete; holiday release torrent creating retail woes.

Nintendo's DS Lite redesign has proved a tremendous success, regularly topping hardware sales charts around the world since it was first released in Japan in March 2006. Despite the system's success, Pacific Crest Securities analyst Evan Wilson believes Nintendo has already finished work on its successor.

"Our contacts indicate that a refreshed DS is complete," Wilson said today in his holiday preview investor's note. "It is thinner (it has no GBA port), has on-board storage, and larger screens. However, we do not expect a revamped Wii or DS until sales begin to tail off in all three major geographies." As of press time, a Nintendo of America representative had not responded to GameSpot's request for comment.

In addition to dropping hints on a redesigned handheld, Wilson addressed the challenges publishers are facing during the jam-packed holiday retail season. Specifically, Wilson said Nintendo is placing publishers in a "difficult spot." With reorders for third-party DS and Wii games taking three to six weeks to fill, Wilson said publishers have a harder time adjusting if they underestimate sales and also risk having to take products back from retailers if their initial orders are too optimistic.

The holiday release torrent is also having adverse effects at retail chains. According to Wilson, the influx of Nintendo-platform releases, as well as bulky Guitar Hero and Rock Band packaging and a resurgence of sales for summer blockbuster game tie-ins due to holiday DVD releases, are contributing most significantly to retail real estate becoming a hot commodity.

Wilson notes that not all games will be affected by insufficient retail space. "Clearly, the end-of-year squeeze creates limited space at retail, which limits the size of initial orders of games with less publicity and reorders of games with lower quality." He anticipates games with high preorder rates, such as Guitar Hero III, Call of Duty 4, Assassins' Creed, Mass Effect, WWE, and Rock Band, to be less affected by insufficient retail space. "Titles that could be at risk of getting squeezed," he continues, "include Haze, Kane & Lynch, and Uncharted."

The influx of original games is also having a negative effect on publishers' annualized offerings, according to Wilson. "It appears that when they are offered increased choice, consumers pass on games that they purchased the previous year or know that they can purchase the following year." Wilson notes that 2007 is shaping up much like 2004, with sports franchises, such as NCAA Football, Madden NFL, and NBA Live, all shifting significantly fewer units than the year before.

"According to NPD, Madden sales are tracking down 6.4 percent in August and September versus the same period last year, with unit sales down 8.9 percent. NCAA Football sales are down 20.7 percent this year versus last year," Wilson said.

348 Comments

  • mike_dragoon

    Posted Sep 29, 2008 4:51 am PT

    i'll pass

  • Blaziken257

    Posted Jul 10, 2008 1:55 pm PT

    This sounds just like the Micro. Very narrow compatibility. No way I'm getting this re-redesign.

    Not to mention some DS games (e.g. Pokémon Diamond/Pearl) utilize the GBA slot, so this even affects some DS games too. I'll pass.

  • D-MonDRV

    Posted Jul 8, 2008 3:10 am PT

    No GBA slot means no Guitar Hero.

  • Die-Hard-Hippie

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 10:42 pm PT

    What is with all of the redesigns? I'm happy with the originals! my regular DS is fine and I never even considered buying the micro.

  • jivemaster

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 12:36 am PT

    GB Micro owned. I have 2. 1 in use, 1 sealed. Offical mini carry cases for them too.

  • That1DudeXx

    Posted Apr 26, 2008 9:51 am PT

    EVERYONE STOP BUYING DS FROM HERE ON!!! THE LESS THE BETTER!!!

  • monkey2go

    Posted Apr 25, 2008 6:12 pm PT

    ohh i got a gameboy micro and i love it. Its alot more portable then the ds so i bring that one everywhere

  • halokila

    Posted Apr 25, 2008 4:36 pm PT

    @321sponge1
    there is no way a handheld system can do that i mean even the psp cant do that

  • SGT4EVA

    Posted Apr 25, 2008 3:19 pm PT

    "it will fail like the gameboy micro" it didnt fail, it was for ppl who wanted something really portable and i dont have one and kinda wish i do cause those things are wicked it was not a fail trust me

  • elozl

    Posted Apr 25, 2008 3:01 pm PT

    Well lets see what new features will offer, i own a Wii and i would like a Hard Drive for it and a New DS model. That is all i ask.

  • lachlan383

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 12:48 am PT

    I would buy this JUST to play my 20+ Game Cube games on it, otherwise I would NEVER buy a new console that does LESS than my DS Phat, which I pre-ordered in 2004 and still works fine, got it the day it came out and have never stopped playing.

  • 321sponge1

    Posted Apr 20, 2008 12:57 pm PT

    I actually know for a fact from a real source of Nintendo that the new DS( possibly a whole new platform on its own) will have a new memory card port like the psp and it will have the capability of playing gamecube games

    It sounds awesome!!!
    I cant wait, it is said to be completed by mid 2009! =D

  • Domenico54

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 6:39 pm PT

    NO GBA SLOT??? ARE YOU CRAZY??? I WAS BUMMED THAT I COUNDNT PLAY THE ORIGINAL GB GAMES!!!!

  • hobobski

    Posted Apr 14, 2008 11:47 am PT

    I still use my original DS, and like the weight better than the Lite.
    although this is a good money-maiking idea.
    seriously, how many people do you know with an origimnal and a lite.
    A lot.

  • Trogeton

    Posted Apr 13, 2008 7:14 pm PT

    LOL.. .lame idea... everyone will stay with the ds or dslite.... DON'T go on with this nintendo.. it will fail like the gameboy micro

  • GoldenBlackness

    Posted Apr 13, 2008 3:55 pm PT

    I own an original DS, and after three years it's still in very good condition. I was planning on getting a DS Lite but I'll be happy to wait a little longer until this new one arrives in Canada. Also, I don't have any problem with the lack of a GBA slot, but it's probably because I beat all my GBA games long ago and don't really care for them now.

  • cd19

    Posted Apr 13, 2008 11:06 am PT

    I understand why people are upset about the lack of a GBA slot, but honestly it's not a huge deal. I still have my GBA SP and can play those games anytime I want. Let's say your a GBA owner and you want to get a DS for playing DS games. Then this new system will be your best choice, as you will have the largest screens to hit a portable Nintendo system in history, and it will also be a lot thinner, to a point where you could probably keep it in your pocket.

  • CornishRocker

    Posted Apr 13, 2008 2:53 am PT

    Yeah, The lack of GBA port doesn't make me want to buy it. I've wanted a DS for a while now, but I'll wait it out a little longer to see what turns up from Nintendo.

  • ShadowTheHHFan

    Posted Apr 13, 2008 12:47 am PT

    The major lack of GBA slot disturbs me to complete ****in end.

    This may turn out to be a bad move on Nintendos end. BUT. Seeing as Nintendo has taken risks before. Like gearing towards casual players on the Wii. It's possible they maybe able to pull this off.

    Of course I wont be buying it unless they make the games ONLY for that new version. My tank of a original DS works just fine for me.

  • Shaymojack

    Posted Apr 12, 2008 8:33 pm PT

    No GBA slot? What'll happen to stuff like Pokemon transfers? I'm expecting some sort of overpriced external GBA slot.

  • eggmcmuff

    Posted Apr 12, 2008 7:47 pm PT

    If this thing were engineered to play the GameCube li'l discs, it would destroy. I don't say that as a fan, I say that as a guy who'd buy his first Nintendo product in a long, long time.

  • NirdBerd

    Posted Apr 12, 2008 5:20 pm PT

    I still have a fat ds only, but with a skin..heh, this is now a good time to instead get a ds lite like i planned, wait for this great upcoming version

  • Ccooldudecool

    Posted Apr 12, 2008 2:33 pm PT

    Heh should be interesting

  • bluej33

    Posted Apr 12, 2008 2:06 pm PT

    I would be really happy if we got a DS redesign even as early as, say, this summer. My DS Lite of more than a year is starting to feel a little flimsy, to be honest -- whereas my regular DS is still in perfect condition, aside from a few scratches. I've even been thinking about picking up a new DSL but now I'll definitely hold off and wait for a DS redesign.

  • skullkrusher9

    Posted Apr 12, 2008 11:31 am PT

    No GBA Port = fail.

  • The_Weekend

    Posted Apr 12, 2008 9:58 am PT

    I would still be using my NDS lite to play my stuff ... not changing over!

  • slayersdeath200

    Posted Apr 12, 2008 3:49 am PT

    im gonna agree with supersmashseal if there is no GBA port how the hell are you supposed to play GH on tour hope you sort that out Nintendo

  • CanalNoises

    Posted Apr 11, 2008 8:43 pm PT

    @EssaregeeX-
    Windows Mobile? Bleh. If they're going to use a computer operating system, they should contract with Apple to have a slimmed-down version of Mac OS X (like the iPhone) or at least some version of Linux. And the DS Browser (Opera) *is* good, it's just really slow because of the DS's lack of memory. Adding tabs would be a must.

  • vashkey

    Posted Apr 11, 2008 6:33 pm PT

    It's a good thing I've waited it out. Hopefully this is true and if so hopefully it'll be out just in time for the Kingdom Hearts game for the DS.

  • EssaregeeX

    Posted Apr 11, 2008 6:09 pm PT

    I want a DS with blutooth and bigger screens, and better wifi, and windows mobile, and a good browser, and built in media capabilities, and a bilt in 64 gb SSD, and a................

  • Hikaru_Isamu

    Posted Apr 11, 2008 5:43 pm PT

    I was about to trash talk the new DS, until I realized...

    I'll probably buy it.

  • KnightsofRound

    Posted Apr 11, 2008 5:33 pm PT

    Do we REALLY need another DS? The sad part is that people will buy this even though they probably already own an original DS or a DS Lite. Guess every company might as well release a slightly modified version of every console that exists every year to keep us shelling out pointless money to them.

  • Zarroc96

    Posted Jan 26, 2008 5:43 pm PT

    Wow, this is really perfect timing. I JUST got a onyx-colored DS Lite today. Just my luck.

  • elfboy69

    Posted Dec 28, 2007 8:45 pm PT

    So will this just be a nother remake? like going for DS to DS lite, Or a hole new system like going form GBA SP to DS?

  • uber1337ness

    Posted Dec 25, 2007 6:41 am PT

    everyone complaining about buying a new ds the new ds isn't going to come out till sales of the dsl drop and not just a little basically nintendo will use the new ds as a saving throw if the ds sales ever drop also really the only thing that sucks about no gba port is no room for the rumble pack which some games rely on, also with built in memory nintendo might turn their little ds into an mp3 player

  • Whitewind617

    Posted Dec 13, 2007 8:09 pm PT

    no GBA port??? isnt that almost needed?

  • lman013

    Posted Dec 5, 2007 2:57 pm PT

    thanks...just about to buy a new ds..lol THANK U

  • sickside6

    Posted Nov 19, 2007 11:17 pm PT

    Nice work nintendo.

  • ahyumifan

    Posted Nov 19, 2007 11:06 pm PT

    what the ???? NOW I gotta buy ANOTHER ONE? Oh thank you very much... I already got 1 DS and two DSL.. plz.. one more, then i can play the pokemon battle rev with myself.

  • boobush

    Posted Nov 19, 2007 9:42 pm PT

    Maybe it's gon be DS lit, you know, to make the word lighter. But seriously, what's the point of having an outdated DS when you can buy a newer one for less than $200 (my guess).

  • razu_gamer2

    Posted Nov 19, 2007 1:24 pm PT

    Err shouldn't Nintendo be concentrating on DS2??

  • ArfenZard15

    Posted Nov 19, 2007 12:22 pm PT

    Omg what? No GBA slot? Sounds like a bit of a mistake, maybe SP sales will go up?

  • f4t4lfury

    Posted Nov 19, 2007 10:01 am PT

    Good! Hopefully consumers will stop buying the same (Madden) game over and over again! So then we can enjoy something new.

  • metc123

    Posted Nov 19, 2007 4:38 am PT

    The Nintendo got the DS Lite Hardware so Right that it cant stop selling......

    Cant see this new hardware surfacing anytime soon, theirs just no need until sales drop, in truth the DS Lite can and will sell for many years to come.

  • ardandil

    Posted Nov 18, 2007 10:10 pm PT

    i like my DS...

  • NWA_31

    Posted Nov 18, 2007 6:33 pm PT

    I'd buy it... >_>

  • spelledarn

    Posted Nov 18, 2007 3:13 pm PT

    Nothing wrong with this at all! The PS2 and even the old SNES went through a couple of new iterations to become smaller, cheaper and sleeker.

  • Timotht

    Posted Nov 18, 2007 11:52 am PT

    Hmm does this mean they will need a new web browser version and will it have expanded memory included as without the gba slot you cant expand it?

  • ert47

    Posted Nov 18, 2007 9:55 am PT

    hmm... odds on it being called "Nintendo DS Tiny Slim Lite"?

    Then give it a year then Sony will release the "PSP Nano Tiny Slim Lite" ¬¬

    well the best thing nintendo could do is to move the position of the on Switch on the Lite back to where it originally was on the Phat or just move it to the bottom, I cant stand switching off the DS when I'm midway through a game because I don't wait long enough to look at the blinking light...

  • FlauM

    Posted Nov 18, 2007 9:07 am PT

    stubby_01
    Drop price and it'll be perfect

    Indeed.

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