Can the DS be beaten? Here's why the DS will stay dominant

It's so HUGE in Japan that the DS will continue to flourish.

Most of the big sellers there will be eventually localized to the west keeping the library alive and healthy. For example, Hotel Dusk, Phoenix Wright 2, and now Lunar Knights just came out within these past two months. And within a few months later, Disney Meteos, Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, and Zelda Phantom Hourglass will be out. How much cooler can you get with the DS's already appealing library?  From a developer's point of view, it's also cheaper to develop for the DS. Plus, since it's the most popular and the best selling system last year worldwide, it's just gonna keep getting better because developers would want to take advantage of the investment and profit it brings.

And to add, Pokemon alone sold over 5 million units. And when DQIX comes out, it alone will break the records for both Diamond and Pearl games. Let's not forget Final Fantasy Revnant Wings, or Final Fantasy Tactics A2. With support like this, can the DS dominance ever crack?

And if by some supernatural force the DS happens to slow down in a few years from now, all Nintendo has to do is grace the system with New Super Mario Bros. 2, Metroid Prime Hunters 2, Zelda Phantom Hourglass 2, Star Fox Command 2, Nintendogs 2, Mario vs. Donkey Kong 3, etc., etc....you get the idea. Nintendo's powerful first-party software alone will keep the DS alive and kicking (even dominating) all the way until, let's say, DS 2 comes out. Do I hear Super Smash Bros. for the DS announced by the end of this year? *wink*wink*

I don't think the DS will ever slow down as long as Nintendo and Japan is around.

I too think DS will stay dominant but Sony hasn't really done much with the PSP yet. A price drop and a redesign will boost sales significantly I think since the system itself doesn't have bad games...just not enough to justify the price.

DS will stay in the lead by far though.
the-very-best

[QUOTE="the-very-best"]I too think DS will stay dominant but Sony hasn't really done much with the PSP yet. A price drop and a redesign will boost sales significantly I think since the system itself doesn't have bad games...just not enough to justify the price.

DS will stay in the lead by far though.
harry2k5

• The disk format is unsuited for handheld gaming. It strains the battery and causes long load times. This can't be changed as then all the current released titles would have no use and current PSP owners wouldn't be able to play new content.

• The controlls are poor and unable to replicate PS2 controlls. The system seriously needs a second analog stick, but again that can't be added after the fact as all current PSP owners would suddenly be unable to controll new games.

• Homebrew and Emulation stunting game sales. The system is easy cracked and ideal for emulation and homebrew. This seems to be seriously stunting game sales.

• Development costs. In comparison to the DS development cost on PSP is astranomical. It simply doesn't make sense for publishers to put resources on the platform when they could make a game for less cost and sell more on the DS.

I too think DS will stay dominant but Sony hasn't really done much with the PSP yet. A price drop and a redesign will boost sales significantly I think since the system itself doesn't have bad games...just not enough to justify the price.

DS will stay in the lead by far though.
the-very-best

The PSP has the better games with 5 AAAs and 47 AAs compared to the DS's 5 AAAs (7 if you include all the versions of NIntendogs) and only 20 AAs. I just think the DS is more portable and appeals to a wider age group. I wouldn't swap my PSP for one though.ATG1

• The disk format is unsuited for handheld gaming. It strains the battery and causes long load times. This can't be changed as then all the current released titles would have no use and current PSP owners wouldn't be able to play new content.

• The controlls are poor and unable to replicate PS2 controlls. The system seriously needs a second analog stick, but again that can't be added after the fact as all current PSP owners would suddenly be unable to controll new games.

• Homebrew and Emulation stunting game sales. The system is easy cracked and ideal for emulation and homebrew. This seems to be seriously stunting game sales.

• Development costs. In comparison to the DS development cost on PSP is astranomical. It simply doesn't make sense for publishers to put resources on the platform when they could make a game for less cost and sell more on the DS.

Well I personally prefer a portable PS2 over a portable SNes/N64 but it's all down to personal taste. As I said, I do think the DS is more portable but apart from that, and Mario Kart DS, there's nothing that appeals to me.ATG1

[QUOTE="ATG1"]Well I personally prefer a portable PS2 over a portable SNes/N64 but it's all down to personal taste. As I said, I do think the DS is more portable but apart from that, and Mario Kart DS, there's nothing that appeals to me.cakeorrdeath

It's major games though are basically spin offs / ports from the SNES and N64 era so it's not really that different. ATG1

[QUOTE="ATG1"]It's major games though are basically spin offs / ports from the SNES and N64 era so it's not really that different. cakeorrdeath

• The disk format is unsuited for handheld gaming. It strains the battery and causes long load times. This can't be changed as then all the current released titles would have no use and current PSP owners wouldn't be able to play new content.

• The controlls are poor and unable to replicate PS2 controlls. The system seriously needs a second analog stick, but again that can't be added after the fact as all current PSP owners would suddenly be unable to controll new games.

• Homebrew and Emulation stunting game sales. The system is easy cracked and ideal for emulation and homebrew. This seems to be seriously stunting game sales.

• Development costs. In comparison to the DS development cost on PSP is astranomical. It simply doesn't make sense for publishers to put resources on the platform when they could make a game for less cost and sell more on the DS.

If Sony released the "PSP lite" which cut out it's more useless cost-adding features and just focused on graphically superior gameplay, then it still wouldn't beat the DS because the DS has already won way too much positive third party support in comparison.  DS now = PS2 of handhelds.  Might be technically inferior, but it has won over unit sales and third parties and therefore can be declared the winner.

...Now all we need is for Nintendo to pick up the slack on Wii and it could become king too.

Might be technically inferior, but it has won over unit sales and third parties and therefore can be declared the winner.justdog11

It's graphically inferior but I think the touch screen is better than having a few more polygons. The same is true of the Wii vs PS3 with it's controls.

[QUOTE="justdog11"]Might be technically inferior, but it has won over unit sales and third parties and therefore can be declared the winner.Sir_Graham

It's graphically inferior but I think the touch screen is better than having a few more polygons. The same is true of the Wii vs PS3 with it's controls.

I disagree on your last comment there. I think there is a place for games like MGS4, Oblivion, Gears of War, Resident Evil 5, Virtua Fighter 5, or more importantly Final Fantasy XIII. With games like these, a little more polygon goes a looooong way, especially a game like Gears of War and FFXIII.

But you're right about innovation in gameplay having the upper hand in some ways. So I'm not saying that the PS3 is going to beat the Wii in the long run with more beef`d out games (don't know yet), because Wii can still win this thing...too early to say.

As well as for the DS...who knows for sure why it beat Goliath Jr.? It just did.