Nintendo DS Fact Sheet

slingblade · 05-11-2004, 07:01 PM

lots of gaming sites have revealed the image of the Nintendo DS. i personally think the design could have been better. look @ the PSP and look @ the DS, i think i would pick PSP, even though i'm a straight up Nintendo fan. the DS does look impressive with it's metroid prime: hunters game. but it really lacks designing. maybe nintendo will make it more attractive. it's too boxy. it's a typical looking digimon detector (u know, in season 2 of digimon, they had those lil computers that they plugged their digivices into).

PJPoon · 05-11-2004, 07:41 PM

The Nintendo DS looks cool.
Nintendo has information on it on their website: http://www.nintendo.com/systemsds

MattW · 05-11-2004, 07:57 PM

I think it looks like a laptop, and I'm thinking of starting to save some money to buy one (though I wish I could find an official price estimate, so I know what I'm working for). I think the design could've been a bit better, but maybe that'll be changed before its official release. Though it looks big and clunky in the pictures, I think it'll probably be jut a bit bigger than a regular GBA, plus the flip screen. I still don't think it'll replace the GameBoy, but if it does, I'm getting ready now. Oh, and did you hear, one of the games for it will be Animal Crossing DS? I am undoubtedly buying that game (sorry, I don't know what you guys think of Animal Crossing, but I love it!). Well, I just hope the DS is in the $100-120 price range, as I can't afford anything much more than that...

Busterslash35 · 05-11-2004, 07:58 PM

The things that interest me are the VRU and Touch-screen..

Anubis · 05-11-2004, 10:25 PM

Nintendo has published a fact sheet on the Nintendo DS:

Nintendo's latest innovation, code-named Nintendo DS, provides users with a unique game-play experience using features never before offered by any other home console or hand-held game system. This portable personal entertainment and communications unit provides owners with new perspectives on dual screens, new control using both touch and voice, and new connections with two kinds of wireless game play. It's a newfound canvas on which developers can express their creativity.

Dual Screens: Two LCD screens offer one of the most groundbreaking game-play advances ever developed: experiencing a game from two perspectives at once. Imagine the possibilities. In a racing game, drivers might see their own vehicle's perspective on one screen and an overall track view on the other. In a role-playing game, the action could take place on the first screen while the second provides a reference for a player's tools inventory. Game play also could use both screens at once, offering a giant boss for heroes to defeat. In the future, games could be created allowing users to play games on one screen while text messaging other DS users on the other. Each 3-inch screen can reproduce a true 3-D view and is backlit to assure comfortable play in any lighting condition.

Touch Screen: The lower screen will offer something never before provided by any game device: PDA-like touch capabilities. Players no longer have to rely on just buttons to move characters or shift perspectives. They can navigate menus or access inventory items simply by touching the screen with stylus or fingertip. A software-based keyboard might even allow the screen to be used as an input center for games and messaging. The possibilities are limited only by developers' imaginations. The screen will have a tougher film cover for durability, and will come with a stylus.

Microphone: An available microphone port means that in the future, players might need only to tell their games what to do. DS software could identify everything from voice commands to hand-clapping. Players might be able to move their characters simply by telling them which way to go. The voice capabilities also could allow gamers to chat with one another over the Internet while playing.

Wireless: DS users will be able to connect with a local wireless network of up to 16 players. Nintendo's guaranteed range is 30 feet, but will extend far beyond that depending on circumstances. It assures high response rates required for real time game play, and will make use of both IEEE 802.11 and Nintendo's proprietary communication protocol, which provides low battery consumption. Players will be able to chat and play games without any connecting cords, completely untethered. The DS technology also provides for a wireless LAN connection, which could allow a theoretically infinite number of players to connect at a hot spot and compete at a central game hub on the Internet, even if they're thousands of miles apart.

Wireless Game Sharing: If software developers desire, multiple players can compete in wireless games, even if only one person has a game card inserted. Players could also test-play games for themselves as long as they stayed connected.

3-D: With the newly developed graphics engine, DS can reproduce impressive 3-D renderings that can surpass images displayed on the Nintendo® 64. Games will run at 60 frames per second, and allow details like fog effects and cel shading.

Sound: The 16-channel sound allows for greatly expanded use of voices and music, and a richer, more immersive game experience. A plug for headphones transmits stereo sound.

Battery & Power Management: The battery is rechargeable and the unit features a low-energy-consumption design. The DS also has Power Management functions of Sleep mode and Standby mode. In Sleep mode, players can stop and resume game play whenever they like. If the user receives a message from a friend or user nearby, DS activates itself from Standby mode.

Processing: The unit will run on two processors, one ARM9 one ARM7.

New Media: For its compact cards, the unit uses newly developed semiconductor memory, which allows for lower cost, shorter manufacturing time and memory capacity of more than one gigabit of information.

Dual Slots: Nintendo DS makes a vast library of Game Boy® Advance games readily available. Developers could find ways to make new connections between GBA games and DS games. The GBA port could be used for new hardware, enormously expanding the functional expandability of the DS.

Heres a Pic: Nintendo DS

cellversesfrieza · 05-12-2004, 05:18 AM

I am suprised how powerful the Nintendo DS is. Nintendo.com said it has better grahic display than the N64. By, today's standards that is not much for a consule system, but for a handheld system, that is amazing.

**Xssj2GohanX** · 05-12-2004, 08:34 AM

I think the touchscreen looks awesome with the example that was given with the Sonic game. The graphics really looked impressive with Mario 64. I gotta say that as of now I am more interested in the PSP for its ps2 equivalent processing, but I am more intrigued with the DS. I really want to learn more about it and its capabilities.

DuelHippy · 05-12-2004, 03:02 PM

Suggested Retail Price: One Grand.

I was debating whether or not to get it right away (there's no way I could avoid getting it at all; I mean, I'd have to get it sometime) but then I heard they were making Animal Crossing. So it looks like I'll be a release-dater again. Thanks for the article. Just two questions: When and How Much?

Eidorian · 05-12-2004, 06:17 PM

Price is also the biggest issue for me. I like the fact that's it's backwards compatable but I only bought my GBA late last year and it seems that investment is going to be replaced a bit too soon.

Undrave · 05-12-2004, 06:18 PM

*drool*

Sounds awesome!

Oooh... Pokémon for DS, where you actually call the moves you want your Pokémon to perform! That'd be funny. It could work with any RPG too.

Seriously : how much ? I'll start saving now!

Eidorian · 05-12-2004, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undrave

Oooh... Pokémon for DS, where you actually call the moves you want your Pokémon to perform! That'd be funny. It could work with any RPG too.

I can now picture people shouting out their Pokemon's attacks. I find that strange and really cool at the same time.

Anubis · 05-12-2004, 07:10 PM

DS $150-

PSP $250+++++

Right choice: DS (not just for the price but also for the better features and Nintendo franchise games)

Undrave · 05-12-2004, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eidorian

I can now picture people shouting out their Pokemon's attacks. I find that strange and really cool at the same time.

That's the same feeling I got when I imagined it. It's like so corny it's cool XD.

It would feel more 'realistic' that's for sure.

150 US? Dang... that's ... near 200 Canadian... I got that only a little over that on my last pay check ><

Undrave · 05-12-2004, 07:33 PM

It reminds me of a Game&Watch, like my old Zelda Game&Watch...

It's not designed to replace the Game Boy, they don'T want to kill their best seller, it's another console, another market.

Anubis · 05-12-2004, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undrave

150 US? Dang... that's ... near 200 Canadian... I got that only a little over that on my last pay check ><

Start Saving

05-13-2004, 08:21 AM

Forget SP anymore. I am going to buy this. What games does it use? Does it have a light? Because if it doesn't, then i might buy the NES Gameboy Sp.

**Xssj2GohanX** · 05-13-2004, 12:18 PM

They've announced a LOT of games already for the DS and PSP. Some DS ones include Super Mario 64x4, Metroid Prime:hunters, Super Mario Bros DS, Animal Crossing DS, Sonic DS, Mobile Suit Gundam Seed, Bomberman, and Mario Kart DS. And of course it has the wireless aspect to it. That would be awesome. One cartridge, multiple DS' connect wirelessly to the DS that has the cartridge and they can all play. And both screens on the DS are backlit so thats good.

05-13-2004, 12:23 PM

DS does not have a projected release date yet, but Nintendo hopes to get it out this year.

Felron · 05-13-2004, 04:07 PM

After seeing the videos for the DS. I don't like it. Low poly count really hurts it, and the feel of depth is... Well, its almost non exsistant.

And, it still seems there doing nothing with the other screen. Just a map, wich I feel is trying to give you that depth back. But doing a horrible job of it.

I say STAY AWAY!

05-13-2004, 05:35 PM

So you can or can't play Gameboy Advance or regular Gameboy games on it?

**Xssj2GohanX** · 05-13-2004, 07:19 PM

It is reverse compatible. There is an alternate slot for GB advance games.

05-13-2004, 08:02 PM

This is so sweet it is not even funny. Do you guys expect that it will have a built in light? I pray it does. I also would like to know what colors it comes in.

Undrave · 05-13-2004, 08:07 PM

Both screen are backlit.

Evangelion Unit-Zeta · 05-14-2004, 06:59 PM

Whoa, looks great. I better start saving. I hope they make a new Pokemon for it.

chaoslord · 05-15-2004, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neouser

DS does not have a projected release date yet, but Nintendo hopes to get it out this year.

yea, they hope to have it out sometime during Q4 of this year