Post by: TheYoungerPlumber on January 21, 2004, 03:07:57 PM
Source: Game Informer Online
Link: http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200401/N04.0121.1808.42530.htm
Following yesterday’s intriguing revelation of the Nintendo DS, the Nintendo's rumored “third pillar” platform, Billy Berghammer of Game Informer Online talked with Beth Llewelyn, NOA’s Director of Public Relations. The interview reveals a handful of new tidbits along with clarification on what the system is and why it exists. Below are a few highlights:
Quote
Billy: Will the unit be backwards compatible with the Game Boy Advance or the Game Boy?
Beth: We haven’t announced anything about that, yet.
Billy: I also read that developers can use both screens as one if they so choose.
Beth: Yes, you can use the two screens as one big monitor. I think it’s one of those things that the developer will have the freedom to do what they want to do.
Billy: Will the screens be side-by-side, or vertical? Also, will the screens be set right next to each other or will they be separate, much like the classic Game & Watch designs?
Beth: The[y] will be in the vertical position.
Beth also confirmed that DS cartridges can store up to 1 Gigabit, or 128 Megabytes, of information, and that the hardware and its 1st and 3rd party software will be fully revealed at E3 2004. She neither confirmed nor denied the possibility of backwards compatibility with Game Boy games. To read more about Nintendo’s philosophy behind the system and why it was announced so early in the year, be sure to check out Game Informer’s full interview!
Post by: Rancid Planet on January 21, 2004, 03:19:33 PM
Post by: Bill Aurion on January 21, 2004, 03:30:59 PM
Post by: Patch on January 21, 2004, 03:35:53 PM
Even the launch date isn't entirely firm.
Trying to visualize a mock-up is a little tricky. Beth describes the screens as being close enough together to form one large screen if developers wish to use it as such... I wonder exactly how this thing will look. Apparently they'll have to ditch the protective clamshell design.
I just hope they manage to keep dust outta BOTH screens in the manufacturing process.
Post by: NWR_Lindy on January 21, 2004, 03:36:23 PM
1) OK, why have yet another product line? The GBA SP is doing great, the Gamecube is so-so (good Christmas sales notwithstanding)...why not concentrate on those platforms? I hope Nintendo isn't spreading itself too thin.
2) Won't this system take away from GameBoy Advance sales? It's a handheld from what I can tell.
Sounds cool though. The two vertical screens sounds like a neat idea, at least for games like Kid Icarus 2 (fingers crossed).
silks
Post by: Perfect Cell on January 21, 2004, 03:58:44 PM
Post by: Djunknown on January 21, 2004, 04:27:27 PM
Question is, can Nintendo hold out until E3 with an image of the DS? I can see those jobs done in Adobe now....
Post by: Chongman on January 21, 2004, 04:32:59 PM
well, thats interesting. I guess many of you can STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT SCREEN SIZE NOW. if anything, i'm willing to bet this has the psp screen beat. I mean, a bigger screen that can split into two at any time with dual processors and 128 megs of ram (well, i'm no techy but i'm guessing thats ram)?
Its gonna rock man. And its going to be cheaper, because, c'mon, thats the way nintendo goes (and somehow they're still going to amazingly be able to pull a profit). Yup. And someone mentioned earlier that they fear it wont be a clamshell case. I say, dont worry, nintendo will figure it out and find a way to protect both of our lovely upcoming screens. :-D now if it could only cook my tacos while i play...
or as someone else has tastefully said before, nintendo waffle iron anyone?
So what are you going to buy? PSP or DS? MUAHAHAHAHAHA, I bet sony is crappin their pants as i type this. I'm half expecting them to copy the idea though. If they do, man am i going to bomb their offices good.
Post by: Bloodworth on January 21, 2004, 04:53:04 PM
I'm wondering if they'll stick with DS for the final name or come up with something crazy like "Mutant".
Post by: mouse_clicker on January 21, 2004, 04:53:27 PM
Quote
and 128 megs of ram (well, i'm no techy but i'm guessing thats ram)?
Actually, I think it's the size of the cartridges it uses. Considering the average N64 cart held 64MB, this is quite large for a handheld.
Post by: RABicle on January 21, 2004, 04:54:44 PM
Also about the clamshell design. If the screens are above and below each other as the nice lady says, they could put a hinge between them, dividing the machine in half, so then they could fold over onto one another, much like the current clamshell design. Which is good to protect both screens.
Post by: Chongman on January 21, 2004, 04:56:48 PM
alright, sorry about that. it just seems like they keep talking about something thats actualy inside the machine, so i assumed it was ram. my bad. I'm still drooling at all the possibilities though...aaaah....
Post by: Ian Sane on January 21, 2004, 05:36:02 PM
Beth: We haven’t announced anything about that, yet."
Now that's interesting. If this is supposed to be something completely different then surely the answer would be "of course not. This is a third pillar and will introduce new concepts, etc etc." The fact that they "haven't announced anything yet" suggests there's something to announce. I think the DS will play GBA games and will be for all intents and purposes the successor to the GBA. It makes sense since a dual screen portable can do everything a single screen one can thus making the single screen one redundant. Nintendo will maintain GBA support but it will be like how Sony technically still supports the PS1. They'll release the occasional budget GBA title which can also be played on the DS.
And if they're not planning on making it play GBA games they're likely keeping the option open and thus aren't saying anything just in case.
I don't like how she didn't confirm if there is any space between the screens or not. That's important. Sure she said you could use them as one big screen but you can still do that with or without a seperation. I also wish Billy had asked her if this is a 2D or 3D console. A lot of people are making assumptions about that and really we haven't been given a clear picture of what types of graphics this thing can bust out. If it can do 3D they have a competitor for the PSP. Sure they'll say otherwise but they said the Cube wasn't in competition with the PS2 so what they say doesn't always mean anything.
Post by: nolimit19 on January 21, 2004, 05:46:38 PM
Post by: nolimit19 on January 21, 2004, 05:51:15 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Perfect Cell
The fusing of the two screens makes me think this has a better shot now than before...
hits the nail on the head
Post by: Bloodworth on January 21, 2004, 05:58:06 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: nolimit19
damn if they were horizontal it would be soooo nice. if they are being used as one screen, it would be weird to look at them vertically. horizontal makes more sense in almost every single way.
One word: Ikaruga
Post by: Ian Sane on January 21, 2004, 06:01:04 PM
I think the screens will be horizontal rectangles and then arranged on top of each other so the result is like a big square. That's not too weird to look at. In terms of space that (or two vertical screens arranged horizontally) makes the most sense. Something that's totally horizontal would be too wide for a portable. It would rock for Darius though.
Post by: Rize on January 21, 2004, 07:46:56 PM
Post by: jasonditz on January 21, 2004, 07:57:01 PM
Maybe we can finally get some decent arcade ports.
Post by: jasonditz on January 21, 2004, 08:04:34 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
"Billy: Will the unit be backwards compatible with the Game Boy Advance or the Game Boy?
Beth: We haven’t announced anything about that, yet."
Now that's interesting. If this is supposed to be something completely different then surely the answer would be "of course not. This is a third pillar and will introduce new concepts, etc etc." The fact that they "haven't announced anything yet" suggests there's something to announce. I think the DS will play GBA games and will be for all intents and purposes the successor to the GBA. It makes sense since a dual screen portable can do everything a single screen one can thus making the single screen one redundant. Nintendo will maintain GBA support but it will be like how Sony technically still supports the PS1. They'll release the occasional budget GBA title which can also be played on the DS.
And if they're not planning on making it play GBA games they're likely keeping the option open and thus aren't saying anything just in case.
There could be the possibility of the GB Player type addon for it too.
Post by: Dynamitega on January 21, 2004, 08:17:33 PM
http://members.aol.com/dynamitega/nintendods.jpg
Post by: pyrokamileon on January 21, 2004, 09:08:20 PM
Post by: Edisim on January 21, 2004, 09:14:00 PM
QuoteHave they ever?
Originally posted by: Bloodworth
Again the 128 MB is the cartridge size, not RAM.
I'm wondering if they'll stick with DS for the final name or come up with something crazy like "Mutant".
QuoteThat's probably the most important tidbit there... maybe this will sorta be like a "gaming for dummies"-type of system--where one screen is for gameplay, and the other is for a "microsoft office"-like assistant.. only it doesn't ask questions but just shows helpful screens of information (button layout, etc) that would be quick and easy to access using dedicated menu buttons (little ones, right under/next to the lcd) to navigate the menu, so the game controls will never be confused and won't have to serve too many functions as that would confuse old farts and little brats..
Billy: I thought Nintendo was aiming to make gaming simpler. How does having a system with two screens simpler?
Beth: That’s probably a difficult thing to answer right now because we have nothing to show you. But I think the bigger picture answer there is that some games out there get very, very complicated, and it may turn away a lot of gamers. So what we want to make sure is we do make games that can be accessible for all gamers – all ages, all types. We’re looking for ways to make it fun and easy to get into. I think with this system that is certainly being taken into account. So when the games are being developed for this there are going to be games that are easy to get into. It’s just hard to get into explaining it in detail because we can’t get into the detail yet. But I think when you see this – and most likely that’ll be at E3 – you’ll get a much better idea.
"..can playback existing software".. two vertical screens a la old nintendo arcade games.. any connection? ah, who cares? those games mostly blew.
Post by: BigJim on January 22, 2004, 12:54:49 AM
Post by: Pale on January 22, 2004, 02:35:28 AM
Post by: idiot on January 22, 2004, 05:33:53 AM
My strikingly terrible mock-up: http://www.planetidiot.com/temp/newgbds.png
I don't know how I feel about this system if it isn't GBA compatible.
At least there should be room for stereo speakers and a headphone jack.
Post by: chlupe on January 22, 2004, 05:52:23 AM
I don't wanna call someone an idiot heh.
Post by: Retroyoshi on January 22, 2004, 05:57:06 AM
NDS Design
Post by: idiot on January 22, 2004, 06:07:20 AM
I hope developers rise to the challenge of coming up with innovative uses for the dual screens. I could see a Metal Gear Solid type game working well on this system, with a first person and over-head view going on simultaneously. Or a classic-style Mario game where you switch between Mario & Luigi above and under ground while the computer controls the other one.
Developers could also use the screens as primary/secondary displays. If you were playing Street Fighter, you could have your screen scroll away from your opponent, and look up to see where they are off screen. Or you could have a game where the player drops a camera on the ground, and see activity in that area while you play elsewhere. There are a lot of possibilities, but I remain skeptical about whether they will be realized and brought to life.
Something VERY cool would be to include a second set of controls and let the unit hinge away so two people facing eachother could play multiplayer, but I doubt that's the case.
Post by: Ian Sane on January 22, 2004, 06:29:04 AM
I recently thought of a great game idea for this dual screen design. It's a 2D overhead view dungeon crawler (hell make it a Zelda game) with parallel worlds like in A Link to the Past. Each world appears in one of the screens and dungeons require you to teleport between the two worlds to solve puzzles. You control the character in only one of the screens at a time while the other shows the equivalent point in the other world.
Post by: PaLaDiN on January 22, 2004, 06:33:42 AM
And Bloodworth, yeah, I immediately thought the same thing.
Post by: Ian Sane on January 22, 2004, 06:44:06 AM
Did I? I thought your idea was to have the inventory on the other screen permanently. If I did rip off your idea it was unintentional.
Edit: Further research has revealed that in fact our ideas are exactly the same. I guess I either stole it sub-consciously or it's a coincedence.
Post by: mylasher on January 22, 2004, 07:14:53 AM
"Billy: Will the unit be backwards compatible with the Game Boy Advance or the Game Boy?
Beth: We haven’t announced anything about that, yet."
--------------------
Uh, PSP plays PS1 games, right?
I may be living in a fantasy world, but what if DS could play our old N64, SNES, NES, GB and/or VB* games? It does have two processors and two screens...maybe one processor is 2D and the other is 3D?
( *Yes, I still have my Virtual Boy. )
Post by: PaLaDiN on January 22, 2004, 07:15:55 AM
Come to think of it, now that I have it in mind I'm gonna be disappointed if Nintendo lets it slip by.
Post by: jasonditz on January 22, 2004, 07:17:27 AM
Post by: Ian Sane on January 22, 2004, 07:49:09 AM
Nope. It uses it's own unique medium. PS1 discs won't even fit in it.
The problem with making the DS support all those formats is that it would make the system huge to accomadate the various non compatible cartridge slots. The GBA can play old Gameboy games because the cartridge inputs are identical thus requiring only one slot.
I'm beginning to think that this will play GBA games but it will be more like the GBC than the GBA. The GBA is a completely new format but the GBC was more like an upgrade. Some games were GBC only but a lot of them could also be played on the old GB. Maybe the DS will be more like that where most games are playable on the GBA as well but special dual screen games work on the DS only and some GBA games are enhanced on the DS. Therefore it's not really regarded as a total replacement because a lot of games released will still work on the old GBA.
Post by: vudu on January 22, 2004, 08:59:03 AM
ie, if the second screen isn't crutial to gameplay, why would you purchase a second system so you could play the game? and if it is crutial, how would you be able to play the game on gba?
Post by: idiot on January 22, 2004, 09:01:16 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
"Uh, PSP plays PS1 games, right?"
I'm beginning to think that this will play GBA games but it will be more like the GBC than the GBA. The GBA is a completely new format but the GBC was more like an upgrade. Some games were GBC only but a lot of them could also be played on the old GB. Maybe the DS will be more like that where most games are playable on the GBA as well but special dual screen games work on the DS only and some GBA games are enhanced on the DS. Therefore it's not really regarded as a total replacement because a lot of games released will still work on the old GBA.
But they seem to be pushing this as a third system, not an upgrade. I have a bad feeling someone high up will say "we don't want this to be a gameboy with two screens, it's a new and different system," and axe backward compatibility. It's a cool idea by itself, but if that's all there is, it's just a neat gimmick, like the virtual boy. If so, I'll happily buy one in the bargin bin for $30.
They need to look at it from a consumer perspective: Why would I want another portable? Well, if it could link up to the current Game Boys for multiplayer, offered new and unique content and a major graphics improvement comparible to (or preferably exceeding) the PSP, then yeah, I *might* buy it. The might hinges on that new and unique content. What makes it must-have? I don't have a couple hundred dollars to throw around.
But when I take a trip now, I take my GP32. I can do a lot more with it than with a game machine (music, videos, emulation, etc). These days I only play GBA games on the Gamecube.
Post by: Bill Aurion on January 22, 2004, 09:42:58 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: kingvudu
if a game released for the ds is also able to be played on the gba, then the addition of a second screen would seem more of a gimmick than anything else.
Do you see something wrong with this? The DS hardware is going to be superior to that of the GBA's, so if you could play a developed game on the GBA, then the company didn't use the DS development kit in the first place...
Post by: vudu on January 22, 2004, 09:49:50 AM
nintendo is talking about the unique gameplay that can be had with the ds. so if ds games were playable on a gba (minus the second screen) the unique additions must not be essential to gameplay. you could definitely do this if the second screen merely functioned as a map or something similar, but if it's meant to change the way games are played, it's going to be impossible for ds games to be played on the gba.
Post by: Bill Aurion on January 22, 2004, 09:58:30 AM
If anything, the DS may be able to play GBA games, but nothing more...
Post by: jasonditz on January 22, 2004, 10:07:06 AM
Post by: Ian Sane on January 22, 2004, 10:07:32 AM
I said SOME DS games would be playable on the GBA not all. The truly innovative ones would require the second screen but the simpler ones that use the second screen for a map or a rear-view in a racing game would work on the GBA in a scaled down mode. If you want to play the real game you still need the DS. It's like how Link's Awakening DX and Pokemon Gold are playable on an old Gameboy but if you're playing like that you're not playing as it was meant to be played.
The idea is that a console that plays only two screen games likely isn't going to take off without the inclusion of one screen games. If the DS has one screen games it replaces the GBA because third parties can make better one screen games on the DS hardware. If the DS is backwards compatible it replaces the GBA for obvious reasons. My suggestion/speculation is a stop-gap approach where Nintendo is to some extent able to keep the two portables alive and promoted as serperate products.
One thing I've been thinking about is the size of this thing. Is it being designed as a portable that you can carry around everywhere or is it more like the Virtual Boy in that it has it's own screen but is meant for home use?
Post by: RealmRPGer on January 22, 2004, 10:46:46 AM
EDIT: Okay, to those of you with those GBA compatibility thoughts. Look at it on the TECHNICAL side. For one, any games using the MAIN screen(ARM9) would NOT AT ALL be playable on a GBA. The GBA uses a processor comparible to the ARM7. So, if ANYTHING, the only part of a DS game taht could be played on the GBA would be the sub-screen, aka the screen "that displays the menu." THIS one point also brings up an interesting point, however. The second screen uses a processor very similar to the GBA. This processor could, in fact, actually be an exact duplicate of the GBA's, allowing back-compatibility. In fact, nowhere does it say that each processor is for a DIFFERENT screen(I don't believe so, anyway). This could mean that the second processor is SOLELY intended for GBA emulation. I doubt this, but at the same time I want it. After-all, if each screen uses a seperate processor, it would be hard to make games that use both screens as one. For reference, I'll just compare the two screens to being able to use 3D and 2D. The main screen uses 3D and the sub-screen uses 2D. The only games using both screens at once would have to be very GBA-like...But that wouldn't matter for, say, TRUE SNES ports(the current ones, remember, are modified because the screen is too small). This is why I truly hope that the ARM9 has the ability to process for both screens.
Upon finishing this post, I realize how much having technical knowledge can be both a help and a hinderance, destroying dreams...
But I am VERY glad to hear about those cartridge specs. That means we may be seeing N64 ports on the DS. Even if it's supposed to be a 2D console, that won't stop some companies from creating 3D chips(like Capcom did for the SNES). I doubt it will be solely 2D, though. That kind of space and power is TRULY overkill on a 2D system.
Post by: vudu on January 22, 2004, 11:51:03 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
I'm beginning to think that this will play GBA games but it will be more like the GBC than the GBA. The GBA is a completely new format but the GBC was more like an upgrade. Some games were GBC only but a lot of them could also be played on the old GB. Maybe the DS will be more like that where most games are playable on the GBA as well but special dual screen games work on the DS only and some GBA games are enhanced on the DS. Therefore it's not really regarded as a total replacement because a lot of games released will still work on the old GBA.
Quotenice going, ian sane...you've started a rumor that is sure to stick with the pgc forums for quite some time.
Originally posted by: Bill
Woah, wait a second...Where was it said that the GBA may be able to play DS games? That would undermine the point of getting the DS in the first place...Why shell out the cash to get a new system when you can play that system's games on your current one?
Post by: GoldShadow1 on January 22, 2004, 02:42:58 PM
"Billy: I think Nintendo should bring back the “open door policy” they’ve always had with the flow of information.
Beth: Uh-huh, yes. And when did we have that? (laughs)"
Post by: GaimeGuy on January 22, 2004, 03:41:34 PM
The Zelda-dungeon idea is one out of many new dimensions this device opens up. It's quite ingenious, but at the same time, I can't help but think, "Now why didn't anyone think of this earlier?"
Yeah, we barely know anything about it, but I like what's been revealed about the DS. A lot.
Post by: Bill Aurion on January 22, 2004, 03:49:22 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: GoldShadow1
I find it amusing how Beth totally misses Billy's sarcasm here:
"Billy: I think Nintendo should bring back the “open door policy” they’ve always had with the flow of information.
Beth: Uh-huh, yes. And when did we have that? (laughs)"
Did it occur to you that she may have been playing along with it?
Post by: Stimutacs Addict on January 22, 2004, 03:59:24 PM
Nintendo's own example (of a soccer game) would fit the 2d/3d possibilities... think about it: you see the field on the secondary (2d) screen, and you see your player in full 3d on the primary screen
that'd be sweet
now, i just hope it has more than 2 face buttons and 2 shoulder buttons
Post by: jasonditz on January 22, 2004, 06:04:45 PM
Seems like a better solution would be a GC/GBA link cable for that kind of view.
Post by: Outlaw on January 22, 2004, 11:23:24 PM
) .. Check it out below, comments appreciated:http://personal.inet.fi/cool/villepiia/misc/ninds.gif
Post by: vudu on January 23, 2004, 05:36:13 AM
i swear, if nintendo leaves out the headphone jack, ... i will do absolutely nothing. but i'll be sad.
Post by: Ian Sane on January 23, 2004, 06:14:12 AM
An analog stick is definitely something that would be hard to pull off on a portable and I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo didn't include one. We're not even really sure if this thing can do 3D anyway. I suppose they could make a removable analog stick that you screw in but that's probably asking for trouble.
And I agree that this thing needs a headphone jack. If an adapter is needed to make it fit that's fine as long as it comes with the damn system.
Post by: KDR_11k on January 23, 2004, 07:42:54 AM
HM! They said it uses one Gig of rewritable (I think Lik-Sang said that) memory, right? And it's supposed to play back old titles as well, right? That'd make sense... What kind of CPU did the N64 use? Could the DS run its games?
Post by: vudu on January 23, 2004, 08:01:35 AM
Quotei assume outlaw was thinking thinking the ds will be backwards compatable. it can take gba cartridges, but it will primiarily use sd memory cards for ds specific games.
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
That's a pretty cool mockup Outlaw. Though I'm wondering why you included a memory card slot. This is a cartridge based system so really there's no need for it.
Post by: Knoxxville on January 23, 2004, 08:23:33 AM
Post by: GameTavern on January 23, 2004, 09:44:05 AM
http://genesiscustomhomes.com/erase/finalgif.gif here
Post by: mouse_clicker on January 23, 2004, 10:28:39 AM
Post by: Bill Aurion on January 23, 2004, 10:50:18 AM
Post by: nickmitch on January 23, 2004, 06:02:31 PM
Post by: CYBERSTAR on January 23, 2004, 06:55:46 PM
whats the point of 2 screens when you can only look at 1 at a time surley a button for alternate veiws would be better and not to mention cheaper .
i can see this ending up as the next virtual boy .
Post by: Bill Aurion on January 23, 2004, 07:04:26 PM
Post by: Edisim on January 23, 2004, 08:00:35 PM
Post by: CYBERSTAR on January 23, 2004, 10:47:09 PM
it'll end up as no more than a souped up gb with 2 screens .
what can be done with 2 screens can easily be done with alternate veiws.
the cube has seen over an 80% rise in sales this christmas and instead of putting that money into making games for the cube there doing the n5 and this junk .
am i the only one that thinks this is wrong ?
Post by: KDR_11k on January 24, 2004, 12:27:26 AM
Also, the DS is obviously meant to counter the PSP, they said it won't replace the GBA so they aren't officially short-cycling it.
Post by: Bloodworth on January 24, 2004, 01:03:57 AM
Post by: odifiend on January 24, 2004, 08:30:31 AM
Quote
Don't they have enough money to make both GC games AND the DS?
I don't think money is a problem for Nintendo, but Cyberstar's point is that Nintendo will have to put their top developpers behind this system to prepare it for a good start- meanwhile taking away from Cube.
The good news is for doubters like Cyberstar and myself is that with early 3rd party support from Konami and Namco (and I'm sure there is more to come), Nintendo hopefully won't be the only one filling up the DS's library, so soon after its launch, they can go back to focusing on the GCN or better yet, creating fun and useful connectivity options between the GCN and DS.
Post by: Dynamitega on January 24, 2004, 08:52:34 AM
NDS Concept Art
Post by: mtg101 on January 25, 2004, 05:14:25 AM
I'm not convinced that we really know what 'vertically aligned' screens means. I think in between translation from the Japanese, and then being relayed via a PR person... it could mean anything. It would mean, so most people seem to think, that there will be two landscape oritentated screens one above each other. Or 'vertical alignment' may mean the screens are in portrait mode.
Now... how about I speculate that this is a follow-up to the VB? I've seen single LCD screens that can display basic parallax 3D by projecting different images to each eye, without the need for stereo glasses. Now what if each of these 3" screens, in portrait mode, display different images to each eye, giving an even better 3D effect?
Or maybe taking the landscape screen idea - what if the whole device splits in two? Imagine that each screen has a controller built in along with its own processor memory and battery - so each could be operated by a different person for collabarative or players v's player games. The link betwen the two could be wireless or just a cable that pulls out when the two halves are separated.
Expanding on the splitting apart of the device - let's think Animal Crossing. The lower screen is your character - their stats, inventory, etc etc. The top screen is your village, where you wander around. Now what if you want to visit your friends village? Well you both snap off your top screens from your NDS, swap them, and attach your friends upper screen to your lower screen. If each half of the NDS has memory, processor, battery and screen this would be possible I think.
I think I have a problem just thinking that this there's nothing more to the NDS that having two screen, one for the main game, one for the map screen or something. I mean how is that different to just having a larger screen and using half for the game and half for the map? Any why would the system need multiple processors for this? (or does it just mean seperate video processors for each screen?)
Post by: Ian Sane on January 26, 2004, 06:38:54 AM
I think that's likely as well considering the huge hype the PSP will have going in regardless of what games are available at launch. I'm hoping that like virtually every non-Nintendo portable ever made the PSP will have some crucial flaw that will kill any chance of it taking off be that battery drainage, high price, potential skipping with the discs, fragile design, etc. However Sony fans are the same people that accept the fact that they may have to buy a replacement PS2 while the console is still current so they're willing to overlook crappy hardware more than others.
While I think the concept of a two screen portable is pretty cool the timing of its release might not be ideal. When a serious competitor is entering the market the last thing you want to do is take a big creative risk that may not be accepted by the mainstream audience. The time to take creative risks is when you're in a comfortable position and can afford to have a blunder. The Virtual Boy for example was released during the height of the SNES' popularity so when it bombed it didn't totally f*ck them up... until the N64 was released at least.
Post by: KDR_11k on January 27, 2004, 09:20:23 AM
