Post by: Jonnyboy117 on February 09, 2006, 05:52:25 AM
Since the DS Lite was announced in January, Nintendo has been typically quiet about any details of the system, and no actual photos have been released (the announcement was accompanied only by rendered artwork). All that has changed in the past couple of days, since Nintendo's filing with the Federal Communications Commission was discovered. The public filing includes numerous external and internal photos of a DS Lite prototype, as well as the system's manual in various languages. You can see the external photos in our DS Lite hardware profile. Below is a summary of new information about the DS Lite, gathered from the photographs and manual.
- PictoChat appears to be exactly the same as in the original DS model, shooting down rumors of a new online version of the program...though such a product could still be released separately.
- Although the DS Lite's external port appears to be identical to that of the Game Boy Micro, the manual firmly states that the DS Lite AC adaptor is only compatible with the DS Lite. Presumably, this means that the system cannot be recharged with the Micro's adaptor. The manual says there is still no multiplayer compatibility in GBA mode, which had been speculated due to the Micro-like port.
- The GBA cartridge slot does indeed have a removable cover to keep out dust when a GBA cartridge or DS Option Pak is not inserted. The cover can be removed with your thumb.
- The shoulder buttons do not protrude from the system casing as much as on the original DS or the GBA SP. They cannot be seen when looking directly at the front of the system.
- The new brightness levels have a significant impact on battery life. At the brightest level, the DS Lite can be played for 5-8 hours, which is slightly less than with the original DS. (This setting may be brighter than the original DS, though.) On the lowest brightness level, the DS Lite can operate for 15-19 hours. There are two additional brightness levels between these two extremes.
- The DS firmware (system menus and settings) seems to be exactly the same, except that the backlight icon can be touched multiple times to scroll through the brightness settings, whereas the light could simply be turned on and off with the original model.
- The new power button appears to be a spring-loaded slider switch, not a button as on the original DS. You push it up to turn on the system, but it returns to the bottom position when you let go. To turn off the system, you push the switch up again and hold for a few seconds. The power switch is located on the right side of the system, above the stylus.
- The DS Lite includes a new stylus with a rounded back end, which makes it fit flush with the system casing when stored. Drawings in the manual indicate that the new stylus may be thicker and longer than the original version.
- The dual-screen logo on the outside of the system is not prominently raised, as seemed to be the case in Nintendo's concept art. The logo appears to be only very slightly raised, and it may in fact be slightly recessed.
- The wrist strap will now be sold separately instead of included with the system, according to the manual.
Post by: Hostile Creation on February 09, 2006, 06:16:49 AM
Post by: TMW on February 09, 2006, 06:28:00 AM
Plus, 18 hours of battery life is just sweet.
As much as I hate to admit it...sign me up.
Post by: pyrokamileon on February 09, 2006, 06:37:46 AM
Post by: Jonnyboy117 on February 09, 2006, 06:43:18 AM
Post by: Bill Aurion on February 09, 2006, 06:47:23 AM
Post by: Artimus on February 09, 2006, 08:39:48 AM
Post by: KnowsNothing on February 09, 2006, 08:42:39 AM
Post by: Jonnyboy117 on February 09, 2006, 09:30:23 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: KnowsNothing
Is "lowest setting" the same as "off"?
I wondered that myself. I'm guessing no, because the original DS lasts longer than 5-8 hours with the light off, and the DS Lite appears to use the same battery. (The physical size is the same, at least, and I don't know why they would use a lower-power battery of the same size in an otherwise upgraded system.)
Post by: Bill Aurion on February 09, 2006, 11:00:51 AM
Post by: Artimus on February 09, 2006, 11:13:44 AM
Post by: hudsonhawk on February 09, 2006, 11:19:30 AM
Post by: ruby_onix on February 09, 2006, 12:25:27 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: PGC NewsBot- PictoChat appears to be exactly the same as in the original DS model, shooting down rumors of a new online version of the program...though such a product could still be released separately.
Well, that's one less excuse for Nintendo to charge extra money for the DS Lite.
No wonder Reggie says it's Japan-exclusive for now. Nintendo of America isn't in a position where they can overcharge people with the DS right now.
Post by: ruby_onix on February 09, 2006, 01:12:49 PM
They took one of the problems of the DS's design (being flat around the edges), and made it even worse. While quite obviously looking at a GBA SP's design, which had the solution.
Nintendo probably thought they needed to do this because they didn't recess the D-pad and buttons (which is a great thing, IMO), but if you just made two recessed circles where the buttons meet the top half, then you're fine. As-is, all they did is just recess the entire top half of the unit, which left them unable to round the corners.
Post by: Mario323 on February 09, 2006, 03:09:01 PM
Post by: MegaByte on February 09, 2006, 03:31:50 PM
Post by: Artimus on February 09, 2006, 04:02:06 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: ruby_onix
Looking at the pics, I really don't like how the top half of the unit is raised around the edges, making it concave, presumably to seal it around the edges when it's closed. That sort of thing makes it bothersome to easily open and close the unit. The rounded edges of the GBA SP are much nicer.
They took one of the problems of the DS's design (being flat around the edges), and made it even worse. While quite obviously looking at a GBA SP's design, which had the solution.
Nintendo probably thought they needed to do this because they didn't recess the D-pad and buttons (which is a great thing, IMO), but if you just made two recessed circles where the buttons meet the top half, then you're fine. As-is, all they did is just recess the entire top half of the unit, which left them unable to round the corners.
Who the hell has ANY problem opening a DS? Goodness, do you not have fingers?
Post by: blackfootsteps on February 09, 2006, 04:24:33 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Mario323
... A japanese system will still play my US games just fine, right?
Yes, there's no region lock on the DS original and surely that won't get changed for DSL.
Post by: ~*Adolph*~ on February 09, 2006, 04:27:18 PM
They could of at least included searching for pictochat while you play games
like how a few DS games do. BOOOOO
How am I supposed to switch battery light only on startup.
The whole point of being able to change brightness is that If my battery is low
I can change light brightness and continue playing. I do that with my new GBA SP
it has the two light settings and if I am on red on high light power than I turn it down to nomral and I can continue playing and find a save spot. That is useful. Having 5 settings is useless if you can't change them on will.
I might still end up picking it up. But right now hype is lowering.
I guess I'll keep my thumbstrap of my original DS since it doesn't come free or whatever
Post by: Smash_Brother on February 09, 2006, 04:29:41 PM
Post by: vudu on February 10, 2006, 08:14:47 AM
Post by: Pale on February 10, 2006, 08:50:28 AM
Post by: vudu on February 10, 2006, 09:13:51 AM
QuoteThere's also a picture of the GBA slot w/ a game in it on the link I gave. I suppose it's possible that the picture was just taken with the game not inserted all the way, but unfortunately I doubt it.
Nintendo has recently opened up a website detailing what you can expect out out of the DS Lite, at least in Japan.
Some of the pertinent points would be:
· Three launch colors: Crystal White, Icy Blue, Enamel Navy
· GBA Cartridges will stick out of the slot by about 1cm. But you get a dummy cart to fill the slot when it's empty.
· The thumbstrap is back. And it's white.
· The charger will be different from the current DS/GBA SP chargers.
Post by: Pale on February 10, 2006, 09:28:10 AM
Edit: Staring at the picture again, there is a bunch of japanese below it... with the term "1cm" put in there so it looks as if it does stick out...
Post by: Artimus on February 10, 2006, 09:29:39 AM
Post by: KDR_11k on February 10, 2006, 08:24:42 PM
Post by: Artimus on February 10, 2006, 08:59:25 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: KDR_11k
It does create a risk, you can't leave the carts inserted when you put the system into a pocket.
Of course you can? What's it going to do, gouge a 1cm hole in your leg?
Post by: ruby_onix on February 11, 2006, 02:41:04 AM
Quote
Yeah, I'm sitting here wonderig if it is just on its way in, because the pic of the DS cart is shown as if it was in the process of being inserted. I wonder if Gamesarefun are just going off the picture or if it says it somewhere in the Japanese...
The dummy cart is stubby. And it's not just that it's avoiding the contacts. Compare the notch in the side to a GBA cart.
And Nintendo can't switch to making stubby GBA games, because they won't fit in a GBA (any version) or regular DS. Of course, if Nintendo came up with some sort of enhanced DS Lite-exclusive games that utilize something or the other that the regular DS doesn't have, and is more suited to the GBA slot than the DS slot, then that would be perfect. I smell a megaton.
Quote
Of course you can? What's it going to do, gouge a 1cm hole in your leg?
Worse. Damage your videogames.
Post by: KDR_11k on February 11, 2006, 03:14:24 AM
Post by: vudu on February 11, 2006, 03:32:49 AM
Post by: Pale on February 11, 2006, 09:31:33 AM
This does kind of upset me, as the pocket thing is a big part of what made the Lite cool.. We'll have to see how it works.
Post by: KDR_11k on February 11, 2006, 09:08:38 PM
Pocket thing?
Post by: King of Twitch on February 11, 2006, 09:19:39 PM
Post by: KDR_11k on February 11, 2006, 10:10:40 PM
Post by: Pale on February 12, 2006, 06:38:19 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: KDR_11k
This does kind of upset me, as the pocket thing is a big part of what made the Lite cool.
Pocket thing?
Haha, you know... the "pocket thing"...
I just meant the fact that it would fit in my pocket better was one of the big selling points of the Lite... Anyone who says having a game jut out won't make that more difficult and more fragile is just insane.. =P
Anyway, I guess the alternative is to carry your gba games in the other pocket and put them in when you are ready to play, but still, somewhat frustrating...
