Rhombus said:
[...]In general I guess I think it's harder to develop a really good DS game, cause you have to think outside the box and can't really rely on graphics and sound. The DS is doing very well commercially though, so I guess they want to cash in.
Actually, I think some companies are thinking too much "inside the box" with the DS.
A little story:
At a generic game company, the head developer and marketing person meet....
Dev: We're done with our new DS game, wanna see it?
Marketing: Sure...
Dev shows game
Marketing: Ooh, nice, really nice....but.
Dev: but what?
Marketing: You're not really using the DS-specific functions, are you?
Dev: Uhm, we did use it as we wanted; bottom screen for statistics, so the top screen is all action

Marketing: no, no, no...the stylus? the microhone??? What about it?
Dev: You can control the menu's with the stylus and the regular buttons? The mike, it's really not needed....
Marketing: WRONG! ALL WRONG! How do you EVER think we're gonna SELL this game?! The people want to use their DS because it's a DS!
Dev: Err..they do?
Marketing: Sure, who's the marketing guy here?
Dev: If you say so. What do you propose then?
Marketing: You had some fancy actions under the shoulder buttons; put those under the stylus, and remove them from the shoulder buttons. This will force people to use the stylus - that's what they want.
Dev: But... it's a fast game, I don't think...
Marketing: You don't think because I do the thinking here.
Dev: ...
Marketing: Then something else: When you go gameover, the player should have to shout "continue" into the microphone instead of just clicking a button to continue. It adds to the experience.
Dev: *sigh*
Marketing: No need to sigh; the next game will be more targeted to the DS' specific functions from scratch, so you won't need to make changes afterwards.
Dev: What's the idea?
Marketing: Our multi-million selling game franchise, Paolo the Pancake.
Dev: Ah, from the famous GBA platform game!
Marketing: Yes, but this time we're gonna do something new and entirely different!
Dev: Sounds good (for a change), what do you have in mind?
Marketing: Well, Paolo, being already a round character, is just perfect for the DS! With the stylus, you can throw him, draw with him... just about anything!
Dev (sarcastic): I'm thinking "Paolo's Paintbrush Pong"?
Marketing: Brilliant!
Dev: ....right.. and what are you gonna do with our other franchise, Mech Destroyer 3000?
Marketing: Nothing; Mechs don't make good round balls.
Dev (sarcastic again): Maybe the cannonballs they shoot do....
Marketing (enthusiastic): That's the best idea I ever heard!
Dev (slaps head): No... no, it's not.