Let’s face it. The DS is old. So is the PSP. It’s time for them to get major makeovers. Not these small incremental updates that Sony and Nintendo have been doing. Sure the PSPGo and DSi had some great improvements, but they are still the same hardware for the most part. But what if, the new handheld comes from somewhere else?
Microsoft is slated to make some huge mysterious announcement at E3 (isn’t everyone?) We know it’s probably not about Project Natal as it was just disclosed that it will most likely launch sometime in October and we’ve got just about all the info aside from what the package will include, and the price.
It could be a new Xbox 360 Slim that’s quieter, uses less power and generally fixed a lot of the hardware and overheating problems that they’ve had. Plus, it’s getting pretty old and a lot of them are going to need replacing in the next couple years anyway. Their major announcement could be a whole new Xbox 360, but that’s extremely unlikely since they would be far ahead of the other platforms in regards to the next generation. And really, do you want to drop another couple hundred bucks on a new one already? I know I don’t.
So if it’s not the Xbox 360 Slim, then it could be a portable gaming system. Let’s face it, they don’t have one and could certainly do it. They’ve got Windows, LIVE and Xbox not to mention Zune.
Put all of that together in a tiny little package with perhaps a touch screen, accelerometer and both D-pad and buttons and you could have the Microsoft handheld gaming system. Maybe a Z-box. OK I admit, that’s a lame name.
That combination of gear would be far superior to the PSP. It would incorporate popular features of the iPhone/iPad/iPod as well as a touch screen like the DS. But the screen could be larger, the graphics chips more powerful and perhaps, just perhaps, even run XBLA titles as well as Indie games.
Now I’m not saying that they should run it on Windows Mobile, but Series 7 does look particularly cool (see my thoughts on Windows Mobile Series 7). It could certainly tie into their LIVE system (Mobile LIVE anyone?) and all the existing services. They could be the first company to tie the three screens (TV, Computer monitor, mobile phone) together into one gaming platform. That is, if they have the vision to do it.
They’re already working on developing new hardware with mobile phone manufacturers and have the KIN (two versions) coming soon. Check the image out to see what it’s going to look like and what it features. It’s going to of course use Mobile Series 7 and they’re calling it a “social phone” so why not include gaming or better yet, make one specifically for gaming!
E3 is rapidly approaching. I unfortunately won’t be there, even though I’ve received a pile of invitations up to my neck. It’s a logistics problem and I’ll leave it at that. Microsoft could be in the perfect position to push handheld gaming to a whole new level. It just depends on whether or not someone over there had the same foresight that I’ve had and decides the time is right to move into that market. Xbox is certainly doing well. Windows 7 redeemed them in the eyes of many. The same will probably happen for Mobile Series 7.
So it’s the perfect time to take the plunge. They’ve already proven that they can build a world-class online gaming service. So why not tie that into a handheld gaming platform? Include Zune and you’ve got music and video. Include XBLA and Indie and you’ve got thousands of games. Granted, not all of those games could be available as some would have hardware requirements beyond what a handheld could do. But then again…maybe not. There are 1Ghz processors in smartphones and fairly strong graphics chips as well.
Of course, it’ll probably be that Xbox 360 Slim edition I mentioned back in the beginning of this article and I’ll be disappointed. Not that a quieter less-power-hungry Xbox 360 wouldn’t be welcome. But I still think they could certainly attack the handheld gaming market with force and take a big chunk for themselves.