Redesigned Consoles

If you already own the console, does the new improved redesigned version, which is normally just smaller, appeal to you? In recent years this has been happening more and more often, especially in the handheld arena, so people must be sales in it. Who is buying these though? People that never had them in the first place? Collectors? Gamers who are addicted to new technology? Or are we all playing right into the hands of the developers and essentially buying a ‘new’ piece of old hardware?

It was announced today that the Nintendo DSi will launch in Australia for AUD $299.95 on April 2 this year. For those of you who have followed the third redesign of the console you will know it features some minor enhancements including two cameras and interactive voice recording along with SD card support to double as an MP3 player. Nintendo will also be releasing a range of apps and games for download through DSiWare. The issue is that both the original DS and the DS Lite launched with a price tag of just $199.95. Essentially the DS hardware is over 3 years old, however Nintendo have found a way to not only avoid lowering the price tag but to raise it by $100. Sure there will be some cool new apps and features using the relatively cheap cameras, but the games will still be what you can play on the original DS today.

The PS2 Slim, the Gameboy Advance SP and the PSP Slim & Lite (and now the new PSP ‘Brite’) are other examples of revised hardware for existing consoles recently, and all have sold relatively well. Is it ingenious marketing to find a new audience, a ploy to extend the consoles lifespan or simply developers being too lazy to release a new system entirely?

The PS2 was a great system, and is arguably still alive today. Much of that success in it’s twilight years may have come from the fact that it was ‘re-released’ and revitalised by the PS2 Slim. Had this not been the case many of the final great games may have been held of and moved to the PS3, forcing gamers to upgrade to the more expensive machine. In the next few years Sony will no doubt release a slim model of the PlayStation 3 if they are serious about making it a 10 year console. Microsoft may also follow suit if they want to give the 360 a substantial lifespan and not cut it short as they may have done with the original Xbox.

Purchasing a console you already have with some minor revisions can be hard to justify, especially the beefed up price of the DS. However the slim console does have some major advantages for existing console owners. That is that you don’t have to upgrade as soon. Sure Nintendo would love everyone to buy a DSi, and will try and through the new download feature. But by no means do you have to upgrade, a majority of the full retail releases if not all should still work on the original or DS Lite. Overall it should increase the consoles lifespan resulting in more games still being published during its final years. Win, win, more games for existing consoles owners, and a new model for the fanboys and those yet to purchase the system.

Are you interested in slim or redesigned models of existing consoles, especially ones that you already own? If a slim PS3, 360 or perhaps even Wii came out would you buy it? Perhaps it would need some new features like the DSi to entice you, perhaps a HHD for the Wii, built in Wi-Fi adaptor for the 360 or PS2 compatibility replaced in the PS3.

The end result of redesigning existing hardware is extending the lifespan of the system. If you have no interest in even upgrading to the next console then this is nothing but good news, if you just purchased your console perhaps you feel a little ripped off. The slim model console will more than likely push back the release of the next generation system, however it prolongs the experience of the current generation without forcing you to upgrade. In saying that increasing the price as Nintendo have done with the DSi seems a little step, it’ll be interesting to see how it sells in Western markets.

Tags:

Console DSi ICC Slim