With rumors swirling that Nintendo could be announcing a revised DS later this week, some people have wondered if it’s just too soon for that to happen. The DS Lite is still selling well in Japan and selling even better in the U.S.

History shows that the time is actually perfect for Nintendo to announce and release a new portable gaming device.

The company may have waited seven years between its first two iterations of handheld hardware, but, since then it’s been barely two years between each handheld hardware release. Sales success hasn’t slowed Nintendo before, it seems.

Check this list of Nintendo handheld hardware released in America and then decide whether it would be stranger for Nintendo to announce a new portable this week… or for it not to.

Nintendo Handheld Release Dates In U.S.
07/21/89 Game Boy
09/03/96 Game Boy Pocket
11/18/98 Game Boy Color
06/11/01 Game Boy Advance
03/23/03 Game Boy Advance SP
11/21/04 Nintendo DS
09/19/05 Game Boy Micro
06/11/06 Nintendo DS Lite

Time for something new in 2008, no?

(Above: Nintendo portable hardware release dates, from the Nintendo of America press site)