Author Topic: Meet the Nintendo DS! (Read 6839 times)

NWR_Lindy · « **on:** May 11, 2004, 02:03:11 AM »

First picture and details. Thanks to reader ccoxe for the early tip!

Steven Kent gives us the long-awaited scoop on the Nintendo DS portable system. System highlights include:

- two 3-inch screens
- one of the screens is touch-sensitive, allowing a stylus to be used to control certain games
- built-in Bluetooth connectivity for wireless gaming
- specs slightly more powerful than the Nintendo 64
- ability to play Gameboy Advance cartridges and Nintendo DS "game cards"

Electronic Entertainment Expo 2004: DS Running Metroid Prime DS

No release date or price for the DS has been revealed, but it is expected to be released by the end of the year at a price point somewhere around $150.

Evilmanman · « **Reply #1 on:** May 11, 2004, 02:43:05 AM »

Doesn't look too good.

Patch · « **Reply #2 on:** May 11, 2004, 02:45:48 AM »

Well guys and gals, it's the real deal. Kent is one of the most venerable gaming journalists out there, and he credits the picture to Nintendo. It's real.

The question is, WHERE THE DICKENS ARE THE SPEAKERS?

Chongman · « **Reply #3 on:** May 11, 2004, 03:01:54 AM »

it looks fine but....

BLUETOOTH!! WHAT THE HELL!!!

please tell me it aint true...

thecubedcanuck · « **Reply #4 on:** May 11, 2004, 03:46:23 AM »

Here are a few pics of some third party DS carry cases

DS CASES

vudu · « **Reply #5 on:** May 11, 2004, 04:05:45 AM »

Quote
The question is, WHERE THE DICKENS ARE THE SPEAKERS?

i assume the indentations to either side of the screen are the speakers. perhaps i'm wrong, though.

first impression is, the thing doesn't look much prettier than some of the half-ass mock-ups i've seen floating around the web for months now. i'll reserve final judgment until i see the thing in action.

KirbySStar · « **Reply #6 on:** May 11, 2004, 04:16:10 AM »

"the PSP will not be able to display anything that you cannot do on a current system. ... We want to do things that you could not do before. We are looking at the creative end." -Shigeru Miyamoto

hehe, GOD I love Shigeru Miyamoto!!!! I can't wait to see him at the D.C. seminar! It's gonna be so cool!

Glad I could help you out guys, been reading for years now!

vudu · « **Reply #7 on:** May 11, 2004, 04:28:57 AM »

now that gba game compatibility is confirmed, i wonder if developers will be able to program gba games to recognize the hardware take advantage of the ds' abilities. (much like how there was a special ring shop in the zelda oracle games that only appeared if you played it using a gba.) while it wouldn't be especially useful for most games (usually just a gimmick, because if the second screen was essential, it shouldn't be played on a gba in the first place) i can think of a few games where i would love it.

off the top of my head--final fantasy tactics advance would really benefit from the ability of a second screen. it was such a pain in the ass to navigate menus in that game because of the limited screen size. you couldn't see what effect items would have until you equipped them. it would be really cool if the game could recognize that you were playing on a ds and the menus appeared on the second screen. while i realize this is impossible in the case of ffta, it might be something we see in future games.

KDR_11k · « **Reply #8 on:** May 11, 2004, 04:47:23 AM »

I doubt Nintendo would issue an image of the DS before the official announcement. Perhaps it was missattributed.

yellowfellow · « **Reply #9 on:** May 11, 2004, 05:03:13 AM »

i'm interested in finding out what market they are targeting and how they are going to position this new toy so that it is not seen as a replacement for the SP

i really am sort of unwhelmed by the whole design to be honest

Mario · « **Reply #10 on:** May 11, 2004, 05:36:53 AM »

It's fake.

It was a concept art posted on the 5-3-04 at this site: http://www.gamed.nl/view.php?id=2282

Thank god.

Nile Boogie · « **Reply #11 on:** May 11, 2004, 05:41:21 AM »

Can this really be it? I'm not sure but one thing that really stand out if this is the real thing, no analog! I understand the touch screen is semi-sorta close but it would seem to me if you have a portable N64 that analog control would have to be standard. Now, if this is that rumored "A-pad" instead of a D-pad then I retract my reservation.

ALSO, not the sexiest thing I have ever een either.

Nile Boogie · « **Reply #12 on:** May 11, 2004, 05:45:05 AM »

Thank You Sir Mario. Thank You Indeed!

Pale · « **Reply #13 on:** May 11, 2004, 06:01:00 AM »

Its kind of odd that they wouldn't call that a mock up... I dunno. Bluetooth is kind of a bummer, but I'm sure this thing will kick butt. Its pretty funny that we all basically knew the specs. Apparently a lot of stuff DOES slowly get leaked out to the public.

Thrackerzog · « **Reply #14 on:** May 11, 2004, 06:01:56 AM »

I don't think so Mario. If you check here they are reporting it as the first picture of the DS. They just retroactively put the image in every article about the DS, going back as far as November of last year.

Mario · « **Reply #15 on:** May 11, 2004, 06:10:05 AM »

Oh noes I just noticed that!

I guess we'll find out in a few hours... please be fake

NWR_Lindy · « **Reply #16 on:** May 11, 2004, 06:17:21 AM »

I doubt it's a fake - if it is, then the joke's on Steven Kent and USA Today. A larger version of that image is now plastered right up at the top of their Tech page with a big headline under it.

We'll find out in a few hours...I believe the Nintendo Press Conference starts at 9am Pacific/Noon Eastern.

silks

Bill Aurion · « **Reply #17 on:** May 11, 2004, 06:27:36 AM »

nope, it's 11 AM PST...

hypersonic5 · « **Reply #18 on:** May 11, 2004, 06:29:09 AM »

This is cool

JonLeung · « **Reply #19 on:** May 11, 2004, 06:30:09 AM »

I'm still excited about the DS, but at the same time I can't help but feel a little irked. I'm glad it can play GBA games, but that's part of that irk.

I held off on getting FF:CC and another GBA (though probably an SP this time around) when I heard of the possibility of a NES-themed SP. Well, now I'm bored of FF:CC just through a couple rentals (though I was limited to single-player which killed the point).

Being a big Zelda fan I was going to consider getting a GBA SP (even though I might not want the NES one anymore) for Four Swords Adventures. But now this comes along.

I don't know if I want it to be fully compatible with the GBA-GCN link cable...if it is, I could wait for that instead of ever getting an SP...it'd be a longer wait, but then I'd save some money. But I want to play FSA soon, and for that I'd need to spend the money to get a GBA SP even though that'd probably be the only reason I'd get it.

Maybe if I wasn't a cheapskate...

If they'd released FSA before E3 I wouldn't be so hesitant...

Ian Sane · « **Reply #20 on:** May 11, 2004, 07:10:04 AM »

GBA playability huh? I knew they wouldn't be so stupid as to not include it. Third pillar? Psssh. This is the GBA replacement. When Nintendo says they'll support both systems it's like what they said with the GBC. The GBC was never pushed as a replacement for the regular GB and games were still made for the old system. I expect the focus to be on the DS yet GBA games will still be released in a lesser fashion. The reason they're talking about this third pillar stuff is because they don't want to cut into GBA sales.

I actually like the way the DS looks and since it has GBA playback I'm going to buy one if it's not too expensive. I haven't bought an SP and it will be nice to have a GBA that doesn't require a perfect light source to see. The fact that it will play new DS games is a bonus.

Oldskool · « **Reply #21 on:** May 11, 2004, 09:23:20 AM »

Its the mother of all handhelds! Except for the PSP which I most likely will be put off buing due to price.

nickmitch · « **Reply #22 on:** May 11, 2004, 10:36:32 AM »

I like it, but there still is a chance of it being fake. I mean its a teeny tiny slight chance of it, but a chance is a chance.

chlupe · « **Reply #23 on:** May 11, 2004, 10:43:06 AM »

Just watched the Nintendo Conference thru Gamespot Live. I'm putting up a transcript now on our site (trigames.net) as best as I can transcribe it, but from what I've seen, the DS is indeed that model that was shown in USA Today. They showed an awesome looking Metroid on the bottom screen with an accompanying map on the top screen. The quality was hard to judge because I was watching it through a blotchy, compressed video stream. But it looked almost as good as the Cube version. It could possibly have been an FMV super-imposed on the bottom screen, but the speaker said that the game would be playable on demo DS's tomorrow, Wednesday the 12th. He also noted how you would use the stylus or your finger to point where you wanted Samus to shoot. The crowd erupted when they saw this, although it wasn't the first nor last time they would cheer in ecstasy.

The DS will support local 100 ft area network, I think that's what the Blue Tooth refers to, but I'm not sure. It will also support Wi Fi access, piggybacking on internet technologies. Browsing and such, I dunno, but I know they were touting it for game use and communication. The "instant messaging" appears to simply be the ability to talk to other DS users using your stylus to write and draw pictures.

jarob · « **Reply #24 on:** May 11, 2004, 10:56:23 AM »

WiFi support would be great. What do you mean by support? It will be an add-on?

chlupe · « **Reply #25 on:** May 11, 2004, 11:47:51 AM »

No, I'm assuming it comes with the package. I guess I should have said, "It is capable of" instead of "It will also support". Also, there is voice recognition in the DS via a built-in microphone.

Michael8983 · « **Reply #26 on:** May 11, 2004, 12:13:22 PM »

"GBA playability huh? I knew they wouldn't be so stupid as to not include it. Third pillar? Psssh. This is the GBA replacement."

It's clearly intended as the more tech-savy alternative to the GBA.
Nintendo realizes that the majority of handheld gamers are happy with the GBA and will be happy with it for years to come buy there are a growing number that crave a more advanced handheld. Those are the people Sony was hoping to go after and the DS is Nintendo's way of getting them first. The GBA and NDS can co-exist because the handheld market will soon be split into to two factions. A single handheld just couldn't please both. There has to be a simple, cheap one for the casual gamers just looking to pass the time and a more advanced, more expensive one for the more hardcore gamers who want something with power, graphics, and cool features.

ssj4_android · « **Reply #27 on:** May 11, 2004, 01:11:06 PM »

Gamespot and IGN are reporting the wireless is a special kind and 802.11

NWR_Lindy · « **Reply #28 on:** May 12, 2004, 07:45:09 PM »

I don't know guys, I'm pretty impressed by this little thing. I don't think the design is the coolest (looks pretty dull if you ask me), but man does it have some neat features.

- The microphone is something I never would have thought of, and that can be put to use in all kinds of different ways. For example, you could have a game in which you record a sample of your voice to RAM. Then you have to play that sample back to get security clearance through certain doors. Really cool.

- Wi-Fi piggybacking is brilliant. Being able to hook up to any wireless access point and play somebody across the country is going to be awesome (assuming it works as smoothly as it should). This actually intrigues me more than console online play.

- The stylus is a great idea...no idea how it's going to be incorporated into gameplay, but a great idea nonetheless. I really want to get my hands on the DS to try out this feature.

I can't wait for this to be released.

silks

Uncle Rich AiAi · « **Reply #29 on:** May 12, 2004, 08:01:01 PM »

The Wi-Fi feature has me really interested.

Hear that Pietriots?

News:

Author Topic: Meet the Nintendo DS! (Read 6839 times)