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Don't Fear the Portable Reaper

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Michael "Macstorm" Cunningham
STAFF EDITORIALIST

Cowbell: *dong* *dong* *dong* *dong* *dong* *dong* *dong* *dong*

Ok, so we don't really need more cowbell. What we do need is more handheld. Another handheld system, that is. Another handheld, you say? Why on Earth would we need that? There's already the DS and PSP out there. What need is there for a new handheld? It's needed to strengthen competition. In terms of RPGs, the PSP doesn't have near as much to offer currently or in the near future. I'm sorry, but ports aren't cutting it. The DS is dominating the market and has a strong lineup for this upcoming year. But what happens when something continues along without ever facing any true competition? No, "Sony" is not the answer I'm looking for. The correct answer is that they lose the drive to improve. Let's face it, competition is good for gamers. I'd much rather have too many options than not enough.

Both the DS and the PSP have their respective fans, and I don't really want to start a debate over which system is better. That's not my focus here. With the DS being as dominate as it currently is, there really needs to be another portable system out there to compete with it. If the PSP is not going to do it, then something needs to happen. Sony either needs to hand the PSP over to the reaper in favor of another new portable system or redesign the PSP the same way Nintendo did when changing the Game Boy to the Game Boy Advance. I don't want to speculate on the reason for the lack of good games, but perhaps drastic measures are what it is going to take to bring some competition back into the handheld arena.

Now, it's not like the DS is suffering due to a lack of a strong competitor. It is holding its own quite well, both here and abroad. Nothing about the DS says lazy, but if given too much time without competition from another system, things could become stagnant. I guess the saying could be modified to what doesn't outsell you will only make you stronger. Personally, I would like to see a market where two systems were on closer to equal ground than what we have right now. No matter how good a system is, nothing is a better motivator for innovation than seeing that other system closing in from behind. So Sony, don't fear the reaper. Perhaps a rebirth is just what you need in order to be reborn as something greater. In the meantime, a quick note to the DS, don't ever become too cocky regardless of how well you are doing.