Would it be pointless for N to release an updated GBA

[Steerforth]

Remember when DS was a 3rd pillar? Well, now it is the cornerstone of the company, especially in Japan. The Wii is of course #2, so does Nintendo need to get a 3rd piece of hardware out, and kill the GBA?

Or is there even any point to killing GBA? Can't a portable with power somewhere between a SNES and PS go forever, especially as low cost gaming solution? Would a GC like portable have much of an audience?

[Iain]

The DS has been so succesful that the enxt Nintendo handheld when it eventually comes will have two screens and be bacwards compatible with DS. Unless they decide to call it a Game Boy, the brand isn't getting any more updates I would guess.

The GBA itself will probably carry on for a while as a low end product much the same way the PSone used to fulfill that function for consoles.

[Alienblue]

BITE YOUR FINGERS STEERFORTH! Shame!

I have all but given up on great DS games; My DSlite sees about 1-2 hours of play a day right now, EXCLUSIVELY GBA games. Now, if Nintendo would make DS updates To BOOKWORM, Gba platformers like TAK!, and more stuff like METROID PRIME PINBALL and NEW SUPER MARIO BROS./SUPER PRINCESS PEACH, I'd be more in the DS camp. But no, it's stylus-minigame after stylus-minigame.

With 2D nearly dead on consoles, the GBA is the last mordern haven for these games I love so passionately! I loved the DS before it got so gimmick happy (I blame the Wiimotes success on this), but right now I would buy a new Nintendo handheld that was DS, GBA AND older GB/GBC game comatible! LONG LIVE 2D pad and button controlled games!

[Michael D]

Well, the GBA is pretty much dead already.  Nintendo isn't making any games for it anymore, nor are there any new third party games worth your attention (unless you love those games based on kids licenses).

As far as GBA being a low cost games solution, the only audience who'd really benefit is kids.  Not only are the only new games licensed stuff, but many of the older (and good) GBA are becoming increasingly harder to find new, and unless their parents are very savy about gaming, kids are probably oblivious to the concept of used games anyway.  And besides, most parents probably don't want to go the used route, as its easier for them to see a new game on a shelf and just buy that for their kids.

And let's be honest; when kids go into a store and see the new Mario and Pokemon games out for the DS, aren't they just going to start begging their parents for that system?  Who cares about Zoey 101 and Pirates of the Caribbean for GBA when they can get them on DS, along with the other game characters they love (and if they really want said GBA games, they can play them on the DS anyway)?

As such, there's no point to killing the GBA, as it's already fading out on its own.  It had a really good run, and the DS is just the next step up from that.

As far as a GC like portable system, maybe it would work if it were affordable, had good games and took advantage of the fact that it's a portable system.  But considering what's happening with the PSP (although admittingly, it selling a bit better now), I'm not sure that people are up for that concept to be explored again anytime soon (though, I guess if anyone could do it right, it would be Nintendo). 

[Blah]

I don't think that Nintendo expected the DS to perform so well. They probably expected gamers to be too scared to try such a strange portable. So, they probably expected the Gameboy line to continue making sales with the die-hard gamers playing it, while the DS would make money from the not-so elitist gamers. But when the DS turned out to be such a smash hit, they decided to roll with it and slowly kill off the GBA. Which leads us to today, with the DS being the main Nintendo handheld, and the Gameboy line slowly disintegrating.

[Steerforth]

Remember the good old days for DS Alien -

When review after review complained that "game does not really use stylus", "the 2nd screen is only used for a permanent map", etc, etc.??

The DS did not exactly hit the ground running with competent stylus games, and even today good ones are kind of rare. I know you are against el stylisto on general principal, and I can here you. I  like the stylus games that open up new games, but there is a lot of garbage too.

2-d gaming is still basicly flatlining, even with DS and GBA. Most of the really good 2-d games on GBA were ports, there are exceptions, but its not like major studious decided to keep existing 2-d franchises alive on the GBA with consistent original efforts. I really enjoy the goods games we do get, you would think the sales on these would be enough to encourage more, but maybe not.

I try to understand console lifestyles, but I don't think there is any reason for a system like the GBA or the PS2 to die anymore. There are just no end to the amount of good looking and fun games that can be made for less and less on these systems. Its seems to me there is big oppurtunity here.

[m0zart1]

I actually prefer the games that use the stylus for control.  I am looking forward to Zelda and Ninja Gaiden, as both of them do exactly that.  Obviously not every game should use the new control scheme, but the ones that do and do it well deserve to be celebrated.