Launch a redesign (micro) of an already great portable system (advance SP) right on the heals of your competitor’s far more powerful system release (PSP). This was a gutsy and very tactful move by Nintendo. Chutzpah! Have you seen the blogs and media outlets today? They are all talking about the GameBoy micro (you’d think the thing was an iPod mini or something). Gadget geeks already want to scoop them up and it’s stealing a lot of thunder from the PSP. Not that this will win a portable war, but let’s just say it’s a big battle won. It keeps people thinking about gameboy, people obviously want to buy it more as a cool gadget than a gaming device, and it buys Nintendo more time to further develop the next GameBoy in response to the PSP.
Let’s face it, the GameBoy and DS are already selling well, this move just ensures that Nintendo is still the man to beat in the portable market. Even given the PSP’s far more superior hardware. I think this was the best business move made at E3 this year. Nice work Nintendo. Now if we can only get you to reconsider your nappy PowerPoints! Yikes.