Post by: WindyMan on January 29, 2004, 09:03:22 AM
Link: http://gameonline.jp/news/2004/01/29025.html (Japanese)
Source: Famitsu
The cloud of mystery surrounding the new Nintendo DS product won't be fully lifted until E3, so every scrap of information that comes out about it before then will be jumped on in a hurry. This time is no exception.
The LCD displays on the DS, though reported to be similar in appearance and size to the Sharp TCT LCD displays on GBA, will not be the same ones found on Game Boy Advance systems. In addition, since LCDs in general are in very high demand thanks to cellular phones and other products, Nintendo might not be able to announce a definite price (or even solid release date) at E3, instead waiting until the summer to do so. The system will also use a bulit-in rechargeable battery, though it's unknown whether or not it will be the same as the one found in the GBA SP.
Speaking of E3, we all know that the system's form will likely be shown there, as well as specific details being announced for it. More detailed information about the wireless connectivity will be divulged, and the full story on third-party development will be spilled as well.
As originally reported, the DS will use what Nintendo calls a "semiconductor memory." While it is cartridge-based, it will definitely not be like current GBA cartridges. It's a thin card which presumbably slips into the unit somehow. There are many benefits to this type of media, the most important of which is that manufacturing costs are similar to that of optical discs, and have a very fast turnaround time if more of a game needs to be made.
As you might expect, it has been confirmed that Nintendo already has games in development for the new system, and as you also might have guessed, Shigeru Miyamoto is involved. No further details were given about game software.
Finally, an interesting piece of information was uncovered. Apparently, Nintendo is still thinking about whether or not they should make the system "interchangeable" with the GBA. This could mean anything from the software or hardware for either system. The discussion over this is most likely over the similar processors the GBA and DS share (the ARM7), and the fact that they use different types of cartridge media.
That's all we have for now. As we find more information about the Nintendo DS, we'll be sure to let you guys know about it straight away.
Post by: nolimit19 on January 29, 2004, 10:13:48 AM
Post by: Chode2234 on January 29, 2004, 10:15:12 AM
Post by: Bill Aurion on January 29, 2004, 10:17:11 AM
to rechargability...
Post by: RyanGassxx on January 29, 2004, 10:24:51 AM
Post by: nolimit19 on January 29, 2004, 10:34:02 AM
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Originally posted by: RyanGassxx
... But does nintendo really think that a handheld with 2 screens is the future of handheld gaming?? They obviously cannot be this dense... If not the whole online thing, surly there is at least one more gimmick that this hardware features tha will make it innovative... we'll just have to wait and see i guess...
lol unfortunately they are that dense.
Post by: nemo_83 on January 29, 2004, 10:51:08 AM
Post by: GaimeGuy on January 29, 2004, 11:10:07 AM
Post by: Ian Sane on January 29, 2004, 11:21:11 AM
I think they do and I don't think it's such a dumb idea. A dual screen design is more flexible because it can have both dual and single screen games. It expands the options for designers without forcing them to a new standard. All this needs is a killer app that could not be done without two screens.
Interchangability between the GBA and DS would suggest a GB/GBC style system where most of the games are playable on both but with some extra features or graphic enhancements on the DS and all two screen games are DS exclusive. If they go this route however over time the GBA will be phased out in favour of the DS.
Post by: Fluke Worm on January 29, 2004, 11:30:26 AM
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If they go this route however over time the GBA will be phased out in favour of the DS.
Yes, my thoughts exactly. I see Ns dilemma, the DS being totally GB compatible would be a good selling point but it would threaten the GB's place in gaming. I do hope it's somewhat compatible with the gameboy, not like it would play the games(that would be a problem cus the cartridge slot) but could still link up to it to play multiplayer games(for games that only need one cart.) and all that jazz.
ps: lets try to keep all the DS rants for the right thread and stay on topic
EDIT:spelling
Post by: nolimit19 on January 29, 2004, 11:36:05 AM
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Originally posted by: Ian Sane
If they go this route however over time the GBA will be phased out in favour of the DS.
i PERSONALLY think that would be the best way to do it.
Post by: Fluke Worm on January 29, 2004, 11:57:07 AM
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i PERSONALLY think that would be the best way to do it
Then the DS wouldn't be a "third pillar" though I get that that's just your opinion. The GB could just become the more economical version of the two but I hope that that doesn't EVER turn out to be the case, intentional or not.
______________________
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I think that the chances of that not happening were quite slim with the GBA SP havin a rechargable and N saying this would be a higher end handheld, unless of course they wanted to shoot themselves in the foot
Post by: Don'tHate742 on January 29, 2004, 11:59:55 AM
If nintendo was smart they would push the DS as a successor to the GBA, try to move everyone who bought the GBA to buy the DS. If they make it high tech looking and actually have some feature and games that are worth while, then I see no trouble for them. Just look how people bought the GBA SP and that wasn't even a completely new system. Nintendo should abandone the gba and hail the DS as the true successor. Backwards compatability is a must, it won't work without that. If they don't provide backwards compatibility then the ds is a gimmick.
Post by: Davideo on January 29, 2004, 12:15:50 PM
Post by: Djunknown on January 29, 2004, 03:37:21 PM
If there's anyone who can make a killer app for the DS, it's gotta be him. 2 screens; now what can a genius do with it? C'mon Shiggy, don't let us down!
Imagine some remixed classics like Donkey Kong, Mario Bros, etc. Zelda would get some attention too.
Pretty much, just think of your favorite franchise. What can you do with 2 screens?
Post by: Bill Aurion on January 29, 2004, 03:41:29 PM
Post by: NWR_Lindy on January 29, 2004, 05:23:22 PM
They're going to sell the DS as a totally new experience, which it may very well be. Hey, at least you can say that Nintendo isn't following the crowd. What I'm really curious about is which market they plan to satisfy with this product. I can't think of one off-hand...younger gamers may not be able to afford this thing, and older gamers that want portable games all have the GBA SP and love it (I know I love mine). I can't see why they'd want another portable.
There has to be some other draw...maybe they have a wireless portable MMORPG in the works.
silks
Post by: Dryden on January 29, 2004, 07:03:52 PM
Wow.
Sarcasm.
Except for the fact that (from what I've read elsewhere) the two screens are side-by-side, allowing a full screen view instead of two screens. So that's double the GBA size already. And the processor is more advanced, the media cheaper to produce, and the new technology will let developers do things that handheld games have never done before.
I don't see the DS becoming a "replacement" because it won't be compatible with the Gamecube. It's too late in development. But remember - the Game Boy Advance preceeded the Gamecube by only 6 months, and they started pushing connectivity with Animal Crossing, six months later.
I would not be surprised at all to see the DS have a release date matching the PSP, and the N5 having a release date to match the PS3. And more connectivity - hopefully wireless and without extra purchases like the GBA-Gamecube cord. Hopefully wireless. Hopefully.
Post by: Urlan on January 29, 2004, 08:18:30 PM
Post by: KDR_11k on January 30, 2004, 03:55:37 AM
Two screens don't make the device worse, it has as much processing power as the GP32 plus the GBA. That's some nice power. If you don't like the two screen concept you will probably find more than enough games that use them as one screen.
I'm still saying it was more or less announced just to counter the PSP, while it was announced as a third pillar to avoid shortcycling and looking too much like late Sega.
Post by: Olpus on January 30, 2004, 05:47:34 AM
Post by: Ian Sane on January 30, 2004, 06:54:44 AM
Like anyone cares. Seriously the GC/GBA connectivity stuff is a non-factor. If the DS was backwards compatible but for some reason didn't connect with the GC the amount of people who wouldn't buy a DS because of that is ridiculously insignificant. Besides if the DS is backwards compatible with the GBA I don't see any reason why it wouldn't connect with the Cube. It would just be in "GBA mode" when connected.
A lot of you who are against the idea of the DS replacing the GBA are using arguements from Nintendo's point of view. The connectivity issue, the third pillar talk, etc. Think of it from a consumer point of view. This "third pillar" stuff doesn't mean sh!t to the average consumer. If they see a new portable from Nintendo they are going to think it's a GBA successor. Therefore Nintendo might as well treat it as such or else risk pissing off all of those consumers who think it's a GBA successor and are pissed off that it's not backwards compatible and the game selection is small with little third party support. That sort of misinterpretation among consumers could give Sony the portable market on a platter.
Post by: matthewwithanm on January 30, 2004, 08:28:53 AM
people act as though the effect of having two screens cant be accomplished now. but look at multiplayer games with split screens. if the ds simply gives us two screens, all its really giving developers is more screen space. in that case, it really is not that innovative.
Post by: PaLaDiN on January 30, 2004, 10:31:43 AM
Big difference.
Post by: Koji on January 30, 2004, 11:47:59 AM
Stereo speakers used to be thought of as a gimic...
TV's were thought of as a gimic...
later, COLOR TVs were thought of as a gimic...
YES lots of things have been gimics... but unless you actually see the thing and how it works, you may never realize what truly is and isn't a gimic.
*clears throat* *begins to sing* All we are saying... is give DS a chaaaaaaaance!
*bows*
Post by: Bill Aurion on January 30, 2004, 11:53:14 AM
*beats Koji to a pulp*
Post by: Ian Sane on January 30, 2004, 12:07:10 PM
REALLY? That seems like something that everyone would want. Movies were in colour when TV was still black & white so it seems pretty natural to have colour for TV as well. My dad sure didn't think it has a gimmick when he first saw colour TV. He thought "it's about f*cking time."
Anyway this whole "what can you do with two screens that you can't do with one" question has a very simple answer. A huge screen makes for a huge portable which is inconvenient. Two screens allows one to fold the unit in half thus increasing portability.
Post by: curt_fehr on January 30, 2004, 03:20:30 PM
nolimit19 says:
lol unfortunately they are that dense
I think the term your looking for is genius. You must not have the whole picture of what Nintendo is doing. 20 years ago, critics were bashing Nintendo for not only investing so terribly much into game developement, but also just releasing the NES in the US. So if you look at the whole picture, there best decisions have always been bashed and criticized before any results or conclusions come forth. After the results come in, then the critics praise Nintendo for the same thing they were bashing them for a few months back. Geez, where's the faith nowadays?
Post by: odifiend on January 30, 2004, 04:10:58 PM
Post by: Edisim on January 30, 2004, 04:19:38 PM
There's also the possibility that maybe the system has somehow evolved into an "intermediary" system. That is, maybe it can function as a portable gaming device, but can also function as some sort of "at home" device. I know I played the gba as much at home as on the road. (Well, I used to... haven't touched the thing in a while.) Perhaps the wireless connectivity could, at least as one of its functions, serve to communicate game data between the gcn/n5 and the nds for easier syncing/moving of game data/characters/virtual-pets.
Just had another thought about the two supposedly vertical screens while thinking back to the idea of using the lower panel (if it's a touch screen--as unlikely as that is.) as a 'virtual control panel'... What if the top screen could be flipped all the way over (past 180 degrees. way past) such that your opponent could see it, and indeed that he/she was intended to see it? I can't really think off-hand of any great gaming possibilites but... Actually, I guess it wouldn't necessarily even have to flip all the way over; it could just flip up, then be rotated--like that pda-thing whose name I can't remember.. heck, if the top screen could be flipped and turned/rotated, it could even just sit flat on the system so the thing would look like a normal one-screened device if the game doesn't make use of the second screen.
And before anyone asks what I've been smoking--it's nothing. I don't smoke anything, personally. (It's all second-hand.)
Post by: Uncle Rich AiAi on January 30, 2004, 04:52:51 PM
The SP came out almost a year ago, and I'm sure there were gamers who were pissed that Nintendo didn't released that as the original GBA (even I refuse to buy a SP, choosing to stick with the original GBA). There will be gamers who may think the DS is the next GBA, and may be pissed there will be a new handheld to buy.
Post by: KnowsNothing on January 30, 2004, 05:06:01 PM
Love the sig!
I haven't been able to catch up on my news lately, so I'm not sure if I know the whole story on the DS or the latest details, but from what I have gathered I'm one of those people that doesn't want to see it. :\
Post by: RABicle on February 01, 2004, 04:58:49 AM
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Ugh! That, by far, is my most hated John Lennon song ever!
I believe it was through the pure crapness of that song that Bob Dylan got his start. We needed a better protest song.
Ok about the DS, I hope they think up a better name for it than simply DS. I mean Advance was a pretty bad add on to GameBoy, SP was worse even GameCube is questionable. Nintendo 64 had a crap sound to it too. How about the Nintendo Wasmatron? Much better.
Honestly I'm pretty much just wasting space with this post, I dont know what to think of the DS yet, it's far to confusing, I haven't made up my mind. Mabye E3 will help.
Post by: KDR_11k on February 01, 2004, 06:22:11 AM
Post by: rogue_gamecube on February 01, 2004, 09:00:37 AM
Post by: Fluke Worm on February 01, 2004, 09:56:12 PM
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My portable DVD player is barely big enough to make the subtitles on it legible
There's another use for dual screens
, when the DS movie player comes out(will probably happen if DS's sucsessfull) one screen shows subs and other plays movie, this would work well if screens are indeed vertically mounted.
Post by: vudu on February 02, 2004, 10:17:33 AM
what if the flash memory cards the ds will use are the same as the memory cards the n5 will use? would it be possible plug a ds game into the n5's memory card slot and play a ds game on your tv (split screen, of course). i have no idea if this is even technically possible, but it might be a reason for nintendo to poor a lot of money into game development for the ds if they don't expect a lot of people to purchase the system.
Post by: Pale on February 03, 2004, 08:32:15 AM
Post by: Fluke Worm on February 03, 2004, 02:39:31 PM
but I don't know anything about the techs either.?
Post by: Bill Aurion on February 03, 2004, 03:27:25 PM
Post by: Mario on February 03, 2004, 03:45:37 PM
Post by: odifiend on February 03, 2004, 05:39:37 PM
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on February 03, 2004, 10:06:07 PM
