bmf said:
Just because the feature exists in the chipset doesn't mean that it has to be implemented in the device. If the new device has an effective 2:3 (tallscreen?) aspect ratio then it won't really map to a widescreen TV very well. That doesn't preclude the possibility that it might have an HDMI port anyway, but it would be more of a curiosity than anything.
I weighed having 2 screens vs 1, then I also factor how Nintendo may impliment future revisisons for the "DS2" (like phat to lite to DSi to XL) and I also think about how the ergonomic arrangements of how the unit is held/played and that's just beyond the screen(s) size, resolution & aspect ratio. If the DS2 has one screen or two screens (that somehow "combine") and the aspect ratio fits to a 16:9 standerd than an HDMI port makes sense for scaling to an HDTV, but if it doesn't (and they're not aiming the device to be a hybrid of any type) then neither an HDMI port nor Tegra is needed/likely.
Grinding is so outmodded. I suppose the idea of allowing the user to supplant skill with grinding has it's place, but more often than not, when an RPG requires grinding it's because the developer didn't match the difficulty curve with the level progression curve very well. A good workaround for this is to have enemy spawns vary dependent upon what level the PC has reached. Fallout 3 did this very well.
Grinding was just an example...an example that I also put in quotes...this isn't an argument for or against the gameplay mechanic of grinding, but rather how something LIKE grinding could be done on the go but the more story-based or "main" game could be played at home, in comfort and in a home theater cinematic set-up.
Here's an interesting thought. The Wii already has the ability to serve games to the DS. Why not allow Wii games to serve mini-games to the DS/i? A common API would be a much more elegant solution than trying to shoehorn the same hardware to work in both a handheld and home console capacity. It's possible, but there are much better things that Nintendo can do with that time and those resources.
So far, it seems Nintendo has avoided that type of "connectivity" between the DS & Wii on purpose. I don't see them switching gears on that now...sure there's some light experimentation with Wario DIY also as a (gallery only) Wii Channel, but nothing to the level of the GBA & GCN connectivity attempts last generation. And I'm suggesting something beyond just connectivity...more along the lines of one game that has both the (the at home & on the go) game "modes" in them. Granted, this wouldn't be for all games, just where it makes sense. I do not disagree with you about common API's, but that sorta is a blanket statement...what I've suggested before with the hybrid (or better exmple, the universal format) is that the portable would be Tegra 2 based while the home console would be Tegra 3...but this is all assuming the Tegra rumors hold water. And if they don't then the hybrid concept I've suggested particularly seems way less likely for Nintendo to do...but the universal format could still come to fruition, for certain games.
With the DS2 likely to be a leap to GCN (or even a Wii+ since the Wii is just a GCN+ and the screen would be portable) and the Wii was "held back" with the next one possibly not being way beyond the current generation HD consoles...I really do think many games could look/play somewhat similarly in either a portable or at home "modes". The at home console mode obviously looking better, but not so much that the game couldn't share basic similarities in portable mode.
