Topic: New Nintendo DS Has Camera, Music Playback

[Kairon]

Possible price mentioned, and a larger screen, a Japanese newspaper reports.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=16750

 The Nintendo DS could finally be getting the redesign that rumors have centered on for months. Nikkei Net, the online component to Japan's Nikkei newspaper, has reported that Nintendo is set to announce a new hardware revision of their wildly successful DS handheld system. This revision is said to include a built-in camera, music-playback capabilities, and the ability to connect to information terminals.    

According to Wired, a photograph of the corresponding Nikkei print story suggests that the new design could go on sale for less than 20,000 yen (about $188 US). Currently, the DS Lite retails for 16,800 yen (about $158 US). The print story also reports that the new DS will have a larger screen.    

Nikkei speculates that this means that the device will be better able to compete with today's increasingly versatile consumer electronics and cell phones. Nintendo has been experimenting with added uses for their DS hardware almost since the hardware's launch, where people could order food at Major League Baseball games, guide users at a Japanese poetry museum, and has even undergone pilot programs at Disney World. Nintendo fans who know their history may also draw a connection with the Game Boy Camera peripheral, which let users take black and white pictures and use the images in games and activities back in 1998.    

The DS has seen one significant hardware revision (the slimmed-down DS Lite) and countless colors and special editions since its launch four years ago. If the Nikkei report is accurate, Nintendo could be depending on this new hardware design to keep the DS sales momentum high as it approaches and seeks to surpass the 100 million unit mark. The hardware has sold more than 77 million units worldwide already.    

Nintendo is holding press events this Thursday in both Japan and America, and Nintendo World Report will be on hand at the San Francisco event this week to bring you the latest Nintendo news as it breaks.

[AV]

WHAT WHAT WHAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This makes no sense.

Camera=WHY? I never used camera in my cell phone
MP3 support = Ok nice but umm why even bother anymore who doesn't have a iPod ?

I was expecting some Wii tech instead at least twisting. Graphics are not step up?

Only $50 more why not just do attachments for DS instead ?

This is just stupid and makes little sense, I think somebody translated something totally wrong

[NWR_Lindy]

Nah, not Kohler.  That dude speaks and reads Japanese too well to mistranslate something.  This looks like the last big push to get a DS sales surge before they announce the DS's successor.  With the new things that developers could do with a camera, you could probably milk two more years of innovative games out of the DS.

[IceCold]

I swear, I wrote my "two years" post before I read Sillks'! I think that's probably what's happening here - instead of releasing a successor next year they'll release this and then wait an extra year for their next handheld.

Maybe it'll only be released in Japan. DS hardware stales are becoming stagnant there (everyone has one already!) so this should give them a boost.

[MegaByte]

I wonder which way the camera will face since the Japanese camera attachment faces the user.  It could be used like a cell phone camera or it could be used for video phone over IP (what ever happened to their VOIP client anyway?)

[ShyGuy]

This makes me glad I held out on getting a DS Lite.

[Nile Boogie]

I think it's a great idea!

[KDR_11k]

Camera use for games sounds stupid, the DS is mostly played in public and doing strange stunts on the commute will get you weird looks (and in England, shot).

Camera=WHY? I never used camera in my cell phone

YOU don't. Millions of teenagers do.

[Enner]

Shot?! Whoa.

An mp3 player and a camera would be neat extras to have on a handheld device. Though, I would figure they would have a cellphone on standalone devices that would have those.

And while cellphone cameras may be excessive, I think it's always nice to have incase you see something interesting. Also, as long as it has enough megapixels. I don't know about others, but having anything lower 1.3 megapixels, even on extra feature camera, is just too small.

[KDR_11k]

In Airstrip One, Facecrime is punished

Malstrom already has an article up matcxhing the system to a phase of the Blue Ocean strategy.

[RABicle]

Bigger screen? Is this teh GBColor style successor we've all been waiting for? Like we'll see new tiers of games, DS, DS+Fist enhanced and Fist only?

[Toruresu]

My DS Lite died on me a few weeks ago, perfect timing!

I don't own an mp3 player, so this is perfect!

[Nick DiMola]

 Thanks Nintendo! Now I have to buy another DS

[TheFleece]

I really like the new features, but I don't like the idea of buying another DS (i just got the silver) and I don't like the idea that a true successor would come out in another year because that would create a tier of games I never liked it when Nintendo did it.
I would still want one though. I hope they don't call it the DS Advance.

[Caliban]

Damn you Nintendo, but I think in the end I won't buy this new DS. Let's see what they really have to offer this Thursday.

[TheYoungerPlumber]

Frankly I doubt games can access the camera. When in game mode it is probably just a DS.

[AV]

I got the name " DS Micro ".

[KnowsNothing]

Ahahaha well this sounds like a DS revision that I certainly wont buy.  Actually my current lite is getting pretty beat up, maybe ill grab another when the corresponding price drop comes with the launch of this camera thingo.

I dont know about you guys, but Im really not ready for a completely new handheld.  The DS has so many fantastic games that I could easily get another two years out of whats just been released so far.  So I hope this unit keeps the DS relevant for at least another two years, hopefully more. 

[NWR_Lindy]

I think these changes are more aimed at Japan than the US.  The current DS Lite is still selling in the US.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

This makes me glad I held out on getting a DS Lite.

WORD UP.  I'll finally get a DS Lite after a price drop!

Maybe this new DS will more easily accommodate piracy to better compete with PSP.

[that Baby guy]

This does sound like a Japanese-only thing.  Nintendo might hold a few focus groups or something here, but I doubt they'll wind up bringing it over.  They could, it's not the first time I've been wrong.

However, the GameBoy Camera isn't actually a black-and-white camera, it can pick up color.  The thing is, the GameBoy available at the time of its release was monochrome.  If you used the GameBoy Camera with a GameBoy Color, it would pick up color, although not very well, it still picked up color.  An interesting thing to know, I'd say.

[AV]

Wouldn't this also UNDER CUT sales of DS this holiday season if they show it off in Oct. event. If people know another DS is coming soon, why bother buying it now.

Wonder if GBA compatibility is out .

I would LOVE if you could use SD cards and play Virtual Console games on it. Now that would be killer.

[Morari]

MP3 support = Ok nice but umm why even bother anymore who doesn't have a iPod ?

I don't. In fact, a lot of people don't. Many people do have MP3 Players however. iPods are overpriced and full of many useless features.

I think that Nintendo should be looking to lower the price of the DS more if anything. There isn't enough of a difference between it and the Wii... financially speaking.

[NWR_insanolord]

MP3 support = Ok nice but umm why even bother anymore who doesn't have a iPod ?

I don't. In fact, a lot of people don't. Many people do have MP3 Players however. iPods are overpriced and full of many useless features.

I think that Nintendo should be looking to lower the price of the DS more if anything. There isn't enough of a difference between it and the Wii... financially speaking.

You need to mix things up a bit, Morari, you're getting too predictable, I knew when I saw that you were the newest post that you'd nitpicked the use of the word iPod.

As for the suggestion of a DS price drop, that would be about as dumb a move by Nintendo as dropping the price of the Wii. It's basic economics, when demand is as high as it is currently for both Nintendo hardware platforms you don't need or want to increase it further.

[that Baby guy]

But you're assuming that demand for the DS and Wii is in a vacuum.  You're assuming that there's nothing out there other than the DS that can satiate that demand.  That's simply not try.  People who own PSP's need a reason to buy a DS.  People with iPhones need a reason to buy a DS.  While the DS is selling quickly, and dominating the market, it isn't the only device there, and it's not something everyone that uses a handheld device to play games owns.  The reason for Nintendo to lower the price is to attract those who have passed on the DS for a conglomerate media device to take a second look.  It's to hook people on Nintendo's platforms, and to get them to enjoy Nintendo's ideas.

While the DS is bringing in what must be a pretty penny (what, it's been 2 years since the lite came out, and there hasn't been a single drop in that time, IIRC.), Nintendo could take a cut and greatly boost sales to make up for it, then, the increased volume in game sales that would likely come with it could exceed current earnings, market share percentage would rise, development for the Nintendo platform would rise in reaction, and in return, Nintendo would earn even more money, market share, and brand familiarity than it has now.

I've got two real concerns about this type of DS remake:  The first is that although the DS is a great system and a great handheld, can Nintendo be confident that they can make a great multimedia device?  It's a relative first for Nintendo, since they've never created a console with the ability to play any media other than their proprietary software. (I'm not counting that device for the GBA and DS that was moderately successful in Japan: It was an add-on, and not an device with the initial function.)  I'm also concerned that there are smaller, better, easier, and more reliable devices out there that do everything this DS can reportedly do, exempting playing DS titles, and if someone desires this sort of device, odds are that they already own it.  With all the MP3-playing camera phones out there, I can't see anyone with the intention of buying a DS choosing this model over the light, since they'd likely have a phone that could do the same thing.

I'm being a downer, I know, but I'm skeptical for little reason, since I'm not all too familiar with the actual buying habits of Japan, since I don't know how, when, or where the system will be released, and I'm not psychic.  I'm merely attempting to point out what I'm worried about in regards to the device, not that the device, itself, is flawed.