Analysts believe that Nintendo will combat the Xbox 360 and PS3 price cuts made by Microsoft and Sony by announcing a number of new accessories later this week, in addition to a Nintendo DS revision.

Although it hasn't been confirmed by Nintendo, it is firmly believed that a new DS model will be announced this week at a media and investors meeting in Japan and will be released in the territory before Christmas. The new DS revision will come equipped with a camera, allow users to play music and feature 'advanced wireless functionality.'

Although Nintendo hasn't officially revealed the final details, it's rumoured that the new model will be even slimmer than the DS lite and that the camera will be compatible with some Nintendo DS games. Currently, there's also no word on how Nintendo plans for us to store our musical content on the handheld.

Meanwhile, various Japanese-based analysts predict that Nintendo won't drop the price of Wii to compete with Microsoft and Sony, but instead will look at broadening the range of accessories, such as the Wii board.

"Nintendo has no need to cut the Wii's price,'' said Takashi Oka, a senior analyst at CSK Institute for Sustainability, a Tokyo-based research firm. "If Nintendo cuts prices now, people who already bought the Wii will feel they've lost money. Nintendo won't do such a thing.''

Naoki Fujiwara, who, according to Bloomberg, oversees about $720 million as chief fund manager at Tokyo- based Shinkin Asset Management Co, believes that its the quality of the games that will see Nintendo achieve its forecast of selling 30.5 million DS players and 26 million Wii units before the end of the financial year on March 31, 2009.

"Chances are Nintendo will introduce home-made game titles such as a new version of the Wii Sports,'' he commented. "There are slight expectations Nintendo will bring out the latest episode of Dragon Quest for the DS. If it happens, it would have a big impact.''

Source :: Bloomberg