Loose Threads: Is the DS in trouble?

For most of its life, the DS has been the swotty golden child of gaming, incapable of doing anything but pleasing those who came into contact with it. It seems, however, that handheld gaming's little darling has a vice that's starting to make itself known - shovelware.

The DS hasn't had the best time of it in 2008. Not that it has been especially bad, but where the console could do no wrong in 2007 a lack of stellar titles and a permanently buttoned lip from Nintendo has left the DS a bit lost in the wake of the seemingly unstoppable Wii.

Being fickle and impatient, our kneejerk reaction was to worry about the death of the DS as we know it as soon as these thoughts popped into our heads. Obviously, after a few minutes of sober contemplation, we saw sense and realised that it's clear the DS isn't quite gasping its last yet. But that's not to say it couldn't do with bucking up its ideas a bit, and last week we thought we'd find out if you feel the same. It seems we're not alone with our concerns.

Forum member Danskmacabre has always been upbeat about the DS in his posts, though on this occasion some of that glowing praise was replaced with unease:

"There's a lack of decent new games for the DS at the moment. However, I don't buy that many games anyway - I generally play the same games for a long time. Usually Puzzle Quest, Etrian odyssey, Mario Kart and a few other games. It IS true the the Wii has eaten into my game purchase budget as well, what with recently buying Mario Kart and a couple of other games."

Hmm, could it be that the Wii is the reason the DS is taking a back seat just now? Dansk (can we call you Dansk?) went on:

"there are SO many bad games on the DS. I think this is affecting sales and thus new games coming out. Is the DS in trouble? I wouldn't say "trouble" but yeah, I think it has peaked."

Joining him was an equally concerned SetsFireToPoshHammer:

It is annoying that there isn't much on the horizon just now, unless you like Pokemon. I do think that the DS has suffered a bit as a result of the Wii too. It's understandable that Nintendo wants to push its new console but I think the DS needs a few big announcements for the console to stay relevant, currently it's drowning in shovelware. I am sure Nintendo won't let the DS fall by the wayside, but I do wish they'd hurry up and get me excited about the thing again. I really feel like it has lost some of its momentum.

Finishing off a very short discussion, Accelorata Jengold wasted no time in grinding his favourite axe:

Can anyone guess what I am about to say? I WANT THE VIRTUAL CONSOLE ON THE DS! PLEASE NINTENDO, DO IT NOW! And even if not, if Nintendo isn't going to come up with any big new releases besides Pokemon for the thing, it would be great if we could at least get some reworked N64 games, like the Mario 64 port that launched with the system. Obviously what I would really like are some new games, and preferably not Kitchen Sink Cleaning DS, Oboe Hero DS or Tantric Sex DS (actually, that last one might be alright). Here's an idea - sheep dog training. The game could come with a whistle that you have to use with the mic to keep your flock in line. Actually maybe hold off on that one, I think I want to patent the idea first.

We'd certainly buy it. Can't guarantee anyone else would though. As for the DS, it looks like the console could do with pulling its socks up, but then if the games industry has taught us anything, it's that you should never underestimate Nintendo. Let's just hope the DS rises from the doldrums soon.

And so, in the wake of such a skimpy amount of discussion, we're pulling out the big guns for next week's topic:

What is it about porn and portable games?

If that doesn't get your tongues wagging, then nothing will. Head over to the forum for more details, where we will hopefully catch you for some intelligent exchange about hentai PSP fighting games and raunchy casino themed mobile gamble-em-ups. Click 'Track It!' to catch next week's Loose Threads.