Author Topic: *** Changes I'd make to the actual NDS (Photoshop) (Read 7656 times)

MeaN · « **on:** May 23, 2004, 03:48:28 PM »

Regardless of what I think, Nintendo will release their handheld they way they think it will profitable. But since I haven't touched my photoshop program in a while and there are a couple things I'd change about the DS, I did this quick 5 minute photoshop job.

Changes :

1. A, B, X and Y buttons bigger.
2. D-pad bigger.
3. Larger [now widescreen] top screen.
4. Somewhat larger lower screen.
5. Different L and R buttons.
6. Stereo speakers.

I'd take the DS over the PSP, but I admit I'm jealous about the PSP huge (for a handheld) screen. And yes, I understand the price involved, BIGGER screen = shorter battery life.

I CASE YOU WANT TO COMPARE THEM :

Actual DS (same picture I used)
http://home.comcast.net/~mypersonalpage/wsb/media/278465/site1052.jpg

My version
http://home.comcast.net/~mypersonalpage/wsb/media/278465/site1051.jpg

joeamis · « **Reply #1 on:** May 23, 2004, 06:32:12 PM »

I like it better but I think both screens should be the same size because some games are going to switch the images from the top to the bottom and vice versa among other reasons. I'd like to see larger buttons, d pad, and better shoulder buttons (from what i hear the shoulder buttons are'nt that great). The widescreen would be great for FPS games. However, for practicality I believe the only things that should be changed are larger d-pad, buttons, and different shoulder buttons. It will be interesting to see how the DS changes when it's final form is revealed.

BlackNMild2k1 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 23, 2004, 07:30:57 PM »

I like the look of the top screen being wide screen, it looks like alot better use of all the wasted space on either side of the top screen.

Now all it needs is a place to hold the stylus, which i think should be right where the screens fold, and an analog stick for precision control.

KDR_11k · « **Reply #3 on:** May 23, 2004, 09:08:15 PM »

You'd block those speakers with your hand if you tried to play it. Also, I question the ergonomicsof buttons this far outwards.

blackfootsteps · « **Reply #4 on:** May 23, 2004, 09:46:27 PM »

I like it, especially the larger buttons but... wouldn't the buttons jar against the wider topscreen. That's why there are those recesses at the top.

akdaman1 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 24, 2004, 01:08:28 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: blackfootsteps
I like it, especially the larger buttons but... wouldn't the buttons jar against the wider topscreen. That's why there are those recesses at the top.

There are ways around the problem.

I like what you've done. It looks alot better. The normal DS looks really bad now. Thanks alot.

joeamis · « **Reply #6 on:** May 24, 2004, 06:45:52 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: BlackNMild2k1

Now all it needs is a place to hold the stylus, which i think should be right where the screens fold.

good idea

Blackknight131 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 25, 2004, 11:46:04 AM »

Im very interested in Nintendo's final case design....surely SURELY they will make some design changes after most everyone was wowed by the aesthetics of the PSP....the time to make those changes is most certainly now. And indeed where will the stylus port be...I imagine it to be on the back, a kind of cut out circular slot that the stylus can be slid into, twisted, and thus locked in place. Maybe the styles will be telescoping so that it assumes a more compact form for storage.

But listen, those L/R buttons...anyone know firsthand what they are like? Does a change need to be made there? They look somewhat awkwardly placed and less responsive that the traditonal "bars" shaped L/R buttons.

In terms of some hardware change, I would like the processor or 3-D chip to recieve a little boost, but thats likely a pipe-dream.
EVEN BETTER, increase the units system memory (currently at 4 MB I beleive)....and have it flashable....such that multi-boot games can be a little more beefy, maybe even pictochat can be flashed and re-flashed onto such multi-purpose memory so that whatever game you are playing, you can access pictochat nearly on the fly. I dont know if this is possible or feasible hardware-wise, any enlightenment here? Is System RAM that can be utlized both by the system and by the user as flashable small-capacity memory possible?

-Blackknight131

Bloodworth · « **Reply #8 on:** May 25, 2004, 04:34:51 PM »

I think it's funny that people don't like the design of the DS, since it's continuing the same look as the SP that most people fell in love with. The only guess I can make is that people saw Sony's little shiny device first. I have to admit, I have no idea where everything fits inside the PSP.

I had no trouble with the L and R buttons, and never really even thought about it while I was playing. Jonny didn't like them as much though because you push them with the inside of your finger instead of the tip.

mouse_clicker · « **Reply #9 on:** May 25, 2004, 04:37:25 PM »

Quote
Im very interested in Nintendo's final case design....surely SURELY they will make some design changes after most everyone was wowed by the aesthetics of the PSP...

Everyone was also wowed by the aesthetics of the GBA SP, but that was nothing more than a square. Methinks the public is easily pleased.

KnowsNothing · « **Reply #10 on:** May 25, 2004, 04:47:10 PM »

Having the screens being the same siz eis much easier for nintendo and the screen manufacturer. They just need to order the same thing, and only kind of screen needs to be made. They did the same thing with the GBA D-Pad and the GC's D-Pad.

Blackknight131 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 25, 2004, 10:50:27 PM »

Yes, we-er, I mean 'they' are.
Is it similar to the SP's style? Yes...but why does it not look as sleek? Its cuz its significantly larger than the SP. It now has the form factor analagous to a larg-ish silver "brick" (someone else's words) . That, and the fact that next to the design of the PSP it simply does not look as streamlined as it could be.
That said, I agree the look isnt horrible by any means...can it be tweaked tho, nipped and tucked as it were: I think it is possible and I dont see the harm, unless it would infringe on system components. It might be nice if they unveiled a luminescent white case....along the lines of iPod. Wonder what colors will be available at launch...

The L/R and buttons, I dont think I have a good idea about em. By your description, it does sound like the tactile feel when operating the buttons doesnt seem as natural as many people are accustomed too. Which, I spose, would be another cue it took from the GBASP. I'll assume it serves some design purpose however...

-Blackknight

ActorJ · « **Reply #12 on:** May 26, 2004, 09:22:24 AM »

If Nintendo had had the forsight to make the top screen wide as in your mock-up, I would have zero hesitations about the DS. As it is I am experiencing a muted excitment. Like being a a Ferris wheel instead of a hellevator,

Ian Sane · « **Reply #13 on:** May 26, 2004, 09:57:17 AM »

"They just need to order the same thing, and only kind of screen needs to be made. They did the same thing with the GBA D-Pad and the GC's D-Pad."

The d-pad issue kind of sucked in the end since they improved the d-pad on the SP and thus the same d-pads excuse didn't fly anymore. It would have been nice if Nintendo released new Cube controllers with the SP d-pad.

Anyway I agree that buying two of the same screen is obviously a good idea from a business perspective. But I also agree that having a wider top screen would be really nice. For any game that tries to seemlessly connect the two screens they can just squish the image on the top screen so it's only as wide as the bottom.

And if they stay with the same screen size why not fill up the extra space on the top half by putting in stereo speakers in the blank spaces to the sides of the top screen? Now realistically that may be hard to do since I don't know what "guts" are under that space but from a pure design point of view it makes sense. The speakers would be on opposite sides and the players hands wouldn't cover them.

KDR_11k · « **Reply #14 on:** May 26, 2004, 10:38:24 PM »

More screen space means a higher resolution means higher hardware requirements. I have a feeling that if the top screen was widened that much, battery life would go down quite a bit.

Blackknight131 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 27, 2004, 09:10:52 AM »

So I hearsay that Nintendo is generally rather understated in their hardware estimations and stats....
Thus far they have stated that the NDS will have battery life of about 10 hrs....putting two and two together it would be nice if they are being conservative once again. If the DS can end up going around 14 hrs (more!?) I would be thrilled.
Maybe that is hoping for too much, as the unit does have to power two screens and two processors...

-Blackknight131

KDR_11k · « **Reply #16 on:** May 27, 2004, 08:57:19 PM »

It's said to have the same life as the SP. I don't know how much that as except for the official 10 hours estimate.

Bloodworth · « **Reply #17 on:** May 28, 2004, 07:30:05 AM »

Quote
And if they stay with the same screen size why not fill up the extra space on the top half by putting in stereo speakers in the blank spaces to the sides of the top screen?

Not sure if you realize this, but the current speaker is in the right "groove" next to the top screen.

I have to continue to say that stereo speakers on a portable are utterly useless. The only reason you would do it is for hype, because they're not going to make one bit of difference that close together. Headphones give you better sound than two speakers would and keep you from aggravating people. By the way, I do believe I spotted a standard headphone jack on the front of the unit along with another mysterious hole.

Draygaia · « **Reply #18 on:** May 28, 2004, 02:41:37 PM »

Um I would really change the select/start and put it on the right side on either the bottom or top. Mainly because I keep pressing the middle start with my right thumb. Its used to moving around buttons (obviously) than the left thumb. I would also chop off the sides of the top screen. Basically You would see a GBA/PSP with a cover for the screen only.

But the thing that really gets to me the shell shape.

Blackknight131 · « **Reply #19 on:** May 28, 2004, 11:37:10 PM »

No disrespect, but I personally think that would be a change for the worse...it would make it look more toy-like, not to mention it would somewhat resemble those cheap -ass "multi-game" players, y'know the ones with like 14 versions of tetris with wonderful 4-bit graphics...

-Blackknight131

Gremio · « **Reply #20 on:** May 31, 2004, 07:09:01 PM »

Meh. I thought I'd try a take at (aesthetically)fixing the DS up.. couldn't figure out how to adjust the look from the original so I started from scratch... despite the fact that I'm as adept as a crab using chopsticks at making stuff like this... and the buttons and practically everything is disproportionate...d-pad too small, looks like the top screen is larger than the bottom one, too..mmm well at least I tried?

http://www.angelfire.com/bug/nei_first/dsnintendo.jpg

Chode2234 · « **Reply #21 on:** June 17, 2004, 04:27:44 AM »

I know that I would love to see an analog stick instead of a d pad, especially if this is supposed to be a system that will have a strong emphesis on 3d.

Jale · « **Reply #22 on:** June 17, 2004, 06:49:33 AM »

Good in theory but hard to impliment on a handheld.

By the way has anyone thought about which necessary parts of the system will actually be in those ares next to the top of the screen while they were making that screen take up the whole area? Might be something important. Might not!

Chode2234 · « **Reply #23 on:** June 17, 2004, 09:52:19 AM »

Hard to do? Just stick it on there! If you're worried about it not being able to close right because of the clamshell design simply make it low profile like the on the the cube, or something, I don't think it would be that hard. Although there would probably be more engineering costs because it would be harder to do than simply a d pad....

Regardless I think it is a necessity if we are expected to play 3d games...

p.s. I hope nintendos handhelds don't become dumping grounds for previous generation consoles, I think the gba is about snes ported out and I would hate to see the same thing happen here as well.

Bill Aurion · « **Reply #24 on:** June 17, 2004, 09:57:39 AM »

The thing to worry about with an analog stick is something called durability...Over time, the resistance of an analog stick begins to die and you end up with a floppy analog stick which is worthless...Opening up the system to replace it every few months doesn't sound fun to me...

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Author Topic: *** Changes I'd make to the actual NDS (Photoshop) (Read 7656 times)