Nintendo DS plows PSP with new downloadable games

With the DS and PSP vying for marketshare in the hot mobile gaming market, Nintendo is trying some new tactics to lock in new customers. In this round that means downloading DS games wirelessly through the Wii.

While the PSP has focused on features like watching movies and more processing power, the DS has benefited from an extensive library of games and an innovative dual screen and stylus interface.

Continuing with its focus on providing a lower cost unit with lots of cool features, Nintendo told the New York Times that the “future DS device will be more tightly integrated with its Wii console. Complete games as well as game samplers will be able to be downloaded into the Wii using its broadband connection, and then transferred wirelessly to the DS.”

Professor Layton, a highly anticipated game for the DS will be able to download new puzzles through the wireless connection with the Wii console.

In Japan, the DS is used for things other than gaming, including museum tours. Nintendo also launched a test during this past baseball season, allowing fans to watch the game from their DS while at the game, order food, and check game statistics.

But, the DS has largely targeted a younger audience and much of its content doesn’t appeal to adults.

The marketers driving PSP sales plan to continue developing mature content and will work toward lowering the price of movie discs for the PSP, which traditionally have hovered around $25.

At the end of 2007, Nintendo reported selling over 15 million DS units since launch in 2004 while Sony reported selling over 9 million PSPs since 2005.

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