Originally Posted by GameHED
PSP is going to crush gba. When more developers move to create for the psp (and don't think they won't have a bigger incentive to) we will start to see better quality third party sotfware from developers other than just those well-known companies and a better quality-to-crap ratio than we are seeing on gba in general.
This, in turn will make handheld gaming more enticing to people like me who end up mainly buying only nintendo-made titles and a few others from other companies (square, capcom, konami) because the price on some games is hard to justify on old technology (when you can buy secondhand Xbox and ps2 and cube games) and where developers aren't putting as much effort into thier handheld games as thier home console games. (lack of focus? Where is an all-new mario world made for the gba from the ground up that showcases the ba power?)
One thing I like abut gba is the titles, not necessarily the gba itself (I still think it was silly for them to not include headphone jack with the new model, have crap sound and/or music, and lack the extra buttons), but the games that come out for it that catch my interest. (by default of the gba being the only handheld left) For me, GBA is really a stepping stone to something better. (just like gbc was to black and white gb)
One of the reasons why people are pissed at the original GBA not having a light is perhaps nintendo had planned it that way and intended to include one (in a later model) anyway without letting anyone know. Going by this logic it is possible they might do it again and release some kind of upgraded "future gba" with gba/GBASP-backwards compatibility to compete. (hey anything is possible)
I believe GBA's own success might be it's weakness (as well as strength) since now you've got to stick with GBA support to keep the userbase happy while you lose others to a competitor who can offer a better system and support. (just like what happened with the home console wars when saturn lost to ps1 because saturn was behind and lacked focus)
There's also the possiblity that sony will use the success of ps in general as leverage to get third parties to create content for the psp and create exclusive-content for psp over the gba. Sure Konami are pretty loyal to gba now, but what happens later may be a different story. I can imagine MGS exclusives for psp tipping the balance in favour of psp given the right choices. Or ports of popular franchises to psp like suikoden not being possible to gba because of the weaker specs of gba. Nintendo actively choose to slow down the market with old technology as it is an advantage to them. When you have a monopoly, there is no reason to move forward as profits are being made already on the software.)
See, the thing with nintendo in the past is I love thier games but I realise they treat thier fans (and developers if ou think about the cart days and how third parties couldn't compete) like crap. Thier arrogance in the past costs them marketshare, and non-company-specifc gamers (ie people who appreciate games from a wide spectrum of companies with no loyalty to any one specific one) turn thier interests elsewhere while waiting for the AAA+ titles. (I've had friends who had to sell thier systems while waiting for releases and then buy the system back again when the releases were timed to come out, just so they could play the single title!)
Sure nintendo have improved and thier atitude is slowly changing but they just don't "specialise" (within a given genre) as much; and this might limit them from taking advantage of the bigger market (adult gamers and kids who play 'adult' games because they want to be cool like thier older bros) that is possible outside the sphere of the traditional nintendo target. (ie nintendo fans themselves)
Kids aren't the only people playing handheld games, there will be style-conscious adults who buy expensive gadgets for themselves that have the money to spend on a more technologically-superior system with a focus on good quality games. (not just licensed crap taking up the majority of the library, but real genuine support by companies commited to making games that are really worth buying, and who aren't in-house developers for the same company who manufactures the system.)
First party developers (wanting the system to do well) would be expected to create quality titles, but the key imo won't be just them, it will be the overall diversity of tastes and styles that third parties can offer when they are given incentives to want to develop and focus on the system. Currently given the state of the handheld market it is better for them to put all thier focus and original ideas on home consoles but with some competition in the handheld market we might see better games and more original ideas instead of retro titles or remakes of existing 2d games.
