The Nintendo DS in Hindsight

The 20th century brought us a lot of technological advancements for both leisure and business. Imagine that just a few decades ago, using the computer meant having to come face to face with a mechanical behemoth the size of a small office space and gave out enough heat to comfort you during the colder months. As human knowledge allows computers and technology in general to progress, we are seeing perennially shrinking devices that allow us to do more in less time and with a minimum of monetary investment. It seems that as our lives get busier and our attention spans decrease, portable computers become our constant companions more and more by providing outlets for communication, productivity, or just a fun way to relax and indulge in some entertainment.

More than a decade after Nintendo revolutionized the handheld market with the creation of the original grey, thick-as-a-brick Game Boy, the company that started as a producer of hanafuda playing cards brought forth its most technologically advanced and creative portable gaming system to date: the Nintendo DS. Originally clad in a silver plastic clamshell enclosure, the DS' form factor lent much from the company's Game & Watch systems during the 80's, adopting their clamshell design and dual screen feature. Though relatively thick and clunky by today's sleek form standards, the Nintendo DS was a world-wide success, edging out Sony's much ballyhooed PSP due to the system's unique touch screen feature, unsurpassed support from third party developers, an extremely large back catalog of Game Boy Advanced games, and a clever marketing campaign that targeted casual gamers as well. Soon, children, teens and even adults grew fond of the system, especially after Nintendo gave the DS a major physical overhaul in the form of the Nintendo DS Lite.

It goes without saying that Nintendo definitely has kept close watch of its hold on the portable market because of all the attention that they devote to it. Gaming shops are flooded with peripherals for the DS, both first and third party, and the system never had the game drought that plagued the PSP for so long after its initial release. The Touch Generation campaign that Nintendo launched has attracted the attention of a very wide target market, allowing the DS to touch base with gamers of all ages and backgrounds, which is why there are a multitude of game titles of different genres to choose from.

If you think that you'd like a portable gaming system that doesn't stretch itself too thin by having the onboard capabilities to play movies, listen to music or look at pictures, you'd best steer clear of the PSP. If you'd like a system that simply focuses on portable games and the entire Nintendo franchise that has been built up for decades, then I don't think it's a very difficult decision to pick up a Nintendo DS at the soonest possible time.