Nintendo DS

[EvilMario]

Nintendo recently announced a new portable system.. although they also referred to the Virtual Boy as a successful handheld product too.. Here's the press release on it. No pictures, specific specs, or concept art has been released. Some info on the processing power, media, and screens have been released.. we also now know that the screens will be alinged vertically. Argh.. too confusing.. read for yourself.


From: bloomberg.com

" Nintendo Announces Dual-Screened Portable Game System;
``Mystery'' Product to Launch Later This Year

High-Tech Writers / Business Editors E3Expo 2004 REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 20, 2004 An unprecedented approach to video game play -- holding two separate game screens in the palm of your hand -- hits the scene later this year when Nintendo introduces a new portable game system, code-named Nintendo DS.

From information made available today, players can look forward to being able to manage their game progress from two different perspectives, enhancing both the speed and strategy of the challenge. For example in a soccer game, users can view the whole game on one screen while simultaneously focusing on an individual soccer player's tackle or goal on the other screen.

Players will no longer be forced to interrupt game play to shift perspective, such as moving from a wide shot to a close up, or alternating between a character's ongoing battle and a map of the environment. Nintendo DS makes it possible to perform the tasks in real time by simply glancing from one screen to the other.

Today's announcement is but a glimpse of the additional features and benefits that will be shown in full at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles in May. Once fully revealed, players will see innovative advances in game interaction.

"We have developed Nintendo DS based upon a completely different concept from existing game devices in order to provide players with a unique entertainment experience for the 21st century," explains Satoru Iwata, Nintendo president.

Nintendo DS features two separate 3-inch TFT LCD display panels, separate processors, and semiconductor memory of up to 1 Gigabit. It's scheduled to launch worldwide before the end of 2004.

In addition to Nintendo-developed software, the company is in discussions with third-party game developers around the world.

Nintendo DS will be marketed separately from the company's existing Nintendo Game Boy(R) Advance portable system and Nintendo GameCube(TM) home console.

The worldwide leader and innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its popular home and portable video game systems. Each year, hundreds of all-new titles for the best-selling Game Boy(R) Advance and Nintendo GameCube(TM) systems extend Nintendo's vast game library and continue the tradition of delivering a rich, diverse mix of quality video games for players of all ages. Since the release of its first home video game system in 1983, Nintendo has sold more than 1.8 billion video games globally, creating enduring industry icons such as Mario(TM) and Donkey Kong(R) and launching popular culture franchise phenomena such as Metroid(TM), Zelda(TM) and Pokemon(R). A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in the Western Hemisphere. "

[570]

It sounds very.....weird.....I think I'll buy it......I dunno, depends on the games that come out on it!

[Stak]

This could either be really really good or really really bad. Though the idea of two screens intrigues me...

We'll have to wait to see how they're going to use this two-screen thing first, I guess.

[590]

probably cost about... $300

[EvilMario]

Word is the Japanese release price will be about 187USD. So, $150 isn't out of the question.
---
EM

[Will Sharber]

Do you think that the 1.8 billion video games they've sold since '83 counts the ones that are bought second hand? Or is that straight from nintendo to the distributors. Or is that from the distributors to the customers?

[Zandor 12]

yes

[Stak]

THIS DS THING HAD BETTER NOT SUCK.

[46]

Do you think that the 1.8 billion video games they've sold since '83 counts the ones that are bought second hand? Or is that straight from nintendo to the distributors. Or is that from the distributors to the customers?

That's probably the "shipped to distributors" number, as a lot of large retail chains don't disclose sales figures. But hell, with the soul-devouring bememoth that was the Gameboy I'm surprised they haven't sold more.

On the topic of the DS, I'm expecting Virtual Boy 2, guess we'll find out at E3.

[Commodore]

1.8 billion games is still quite a lot.

[598]

nintendo ds = nintendo bs.

just release a new gameboy, silly ppl.

[EvilMario]

just release a new gameboy, silly ppl.

That's like saying the Virtual Boy was the next Gameboy, or the 64DD was the next home console, or that penis = COCK. What's up with that?
---
EM

[598]

i' m not considered the ds the next game boy... what i'm saying is that nintendo should work on the next game boy instead of the ds. sor-e if i made that unclear.

[646]

Stak Said:
THIS DS THING HAD BETTER NOT SUCK.

Yes, Stak, I'm sure yelling at Nintendo from a forum no one really.. That important goes to is going to TOTALLY MAKE THE DS ROCK! GO DS! .. I just contradicted myself. Ah, well.

[Dr. Dos]

Dead. 1 Month. Or does it not count because it's in video games? Well there's active topics now so shut up :(