54 replies to this topic

[lord-of-shadow]

http://ds.ign.com/ar...9/549919p1.html

September 20, 2004 - Today, Nintendo finally broke the news on the Nintendo DS system.

The Nintendo DS, it's upcoming dual-screen handheld system, will launch in North America on November 21st for a retail price of $149.99.
PictoChat, the software program that enables DS owners to sent text and pictures wirelessly to nearby DS systems, will be embedded in the system hardware. The DS system will spring to life out of "sleep mode" if it senses any other systems in the area, giving gamers the opportunity to chat spontaneously with each other.

More than 100 companies have signed on to create games for Nintendo DS, while Nintendo itself is already developing its first 20 titles. Electronic Arts' Madden NFL, The URBZ: Sims in the City, Need for Speed Underground, Tiger Woods and GoldenEye are being made for the system. The complete lineup of games planned for the launch of Nintendo DS will be announced in the near future.

Nintendo has confirmed that the system will be backward compatible with Game Boy Advance games, but will not support system-link multiplayer in GBA games due to the DS' lack of link cable port.

Nintendo chose the United States to lead the worldwide launch of Nintendo DS because of overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic reaction from consumers and to take advantage of the holiday sales season. After the subsequent launch in Japan, the system will be available in Europe and Australia in the first quarter of 2005.

"Nintendo's mission remains unchanged: expand the game experience," says Satoru Iwata, president of Nintendo Co., Ltd. "Nintendo DS is the road map to the future of video games, and most clearly demonstrates the type of innovation that players demand."

I like the price. And if I read that correctly, it will be launched in North America first... very unusual. I hope it is not signaling a new trend in the industry...

[Green Goblin]

dang you LoS
beat me to the punch will ya? *shakes fist*

[SteveT]

I wish they'd work on announcing a few launch titles so I can decide whether or not I want it.

[Koroks Rock]

The 4SA team is making a Zelda DS game... that's about all the details there.

But there will be a 3D Metroid "Hunters" with multiplayer, and a Mario Kart game, and lets see, hmmm... animal crossing, mario 64x4, and a few other generic nintendo games.

[SteveT]

Right, but those aren't official launch games with release dates. Just lists of games that will at some point be out for it.

[Selena]

Eh, I doubt I'll get it. I've already got an Advance SP.... and for something like this I'd rather spend the money on an old N64 and a couple of games.

[Nikorasu, the Mystic Samurai]

That's just 2 months away. Does anyone know what games will be out for launch?

[lord-of-shadow]

The list of launch gams will be released on October 7th, I think.

[Hero of Winds]

Really? EB Games listed the first DS releases as of March 2005, but then again they've never been all that reliable.

And I was hoping for a $150 price, that is something I could definitely afford... eventually.

[Khuffie]

IGN neglected to mention the following information:

- the game will feature a pack-in demo of Metroid: Flesh Hunters
- cartridges are again confirmed to be 1 GB
- there is a strong possibility that they are cheaper than GBA games
- Nintendo will spend $40 million on its launch-button, the larger it ever had to launch any console
- GBA games will work only in single player mode, Game Boy/Color games wont work.

Some specs:

Size / Weight (when folded)
Height: 84.7mm
Width: 148.7mm
Thickness: 28.9mm
Weight: 275 (including battery & stylus)

Display
Top Screen:
3 inch color TFT with backlight
256 x 192 pixel resolution, .24mm dot pitch
260,000 color display

Bottom Screen:
3 inch color TFT with backlight
256 x 192 pixel resolution, .24mm dot pitch
260,000 color display
Transparent analog resistive touch panel

Main controls
Directional pad, A/B/X/Y buttons, L/R buttons, Start/Select buttons
Touch panel
Internal microphone (voice recognition possible with software)

Input/Output
DS cartridge slot
GBA cartridge slot
Stereo Headphone jack
Microphone jack

Wireless capabilities
IEEE802.11 and Nintendo propriety protocol 2 format
Radiowave distance: 10 - 30 meters depending on environment
Multi-player game possible with one cartridge
Voice chatting with the internal microphone while playing over Internet is possible

CPU ARM9 and ARM7 (With new graphic engine)

Sound Internal stereo speaker (virtual surround sound possible with software)

Other features
Internal Clock w/alarm
Touch panel calibration
PictoChat pre-installed (Text and graphic drawing application that can be used to communicate with up to 16 users via wireless capability)


Configurable settings
Startup mode switching
Language: Japanese, English, German, French, Spanish, Italian
Screen selectable when playing GBA games (top or bottom screen)
User Information display

Power and Battery
Internal Lithium battery (Runs approximately 6-10 hours from full recharge, depending on application)
Full recharge time: 4 hours
Power management systems, such as sleep mode, included
Comes with AC adapter

[Nikorasu, the Mystic Samurai]

All that just sounds better and better the more I read, except the "Game Boy/Color games wont work" part.

[Toan]

Wait, no GB/GBC games will be compatible with it???

...

Well, I still got the GB Player on the good ole' cube, so I'm set.

[DarkJuno]

Sounds good to me, though I'm still not convinced to immediately buy either this or the PSP anytime soon.

[Green Goblin]

my B-day's Oct 15th, so I'll be getting enough cash for this
W00T for me !!!!!

[Ken the Wandering Soul]

... We wants the precious...

*clears throat*

But seriously, I WANT this. But they need to get over that multiplayer GBA hurdle. And they MUST have Super Smash Brothers for it.

[Khuffie]

Originally posted by DarkJuno@Sep 21 2004, 05:24 PM
Sounds good to me, though I'm still not convinced to immediately buy either this or the PSP anytime soon.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

YOU WILL BURRRRRRN FOR YOUR INSOLENCE!

er...*whistles*

[Nabooru]

Sounds like a handy system--however, it is something not to buy immediately, IMO. I wait a little while for cool games to come out for it.

[DarkJuno]

Originally posted by Khuffie@Sep 21 2004, 07:22 PM
YOU WILL BURRRRRRN FOR YOUR INSOLENCE!

er...*whistles*

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I said anytime soon. I still intend to get the DS by at latest next year. B)

[Fury Three]

Once again I'll be waiting this one out a bit. $150 is a bit too steep, considering the minuscule amount of time I spend actually playing games.

These new interactive features sound very interesting, though, so I'll probably jump on board following the first price drop.

[Custommagnum]

I'll probably wait a bit as well, unless of course it turns out a bunch a games that I want are on it.

[Sir Deimos]

thats very sexy that we get it first XD i think i needs it....

[Koroks Rock]

Originally posted by Khuffie@Sep 21 2004, 02:17 PM
IGN neglected to mention the following information:

- the game will feature a pack-in demo of Metroid: Flesh Hunters
- cartridges are again confirmed to be 1 GB
- there is a strong possibility that they are cheaper than GBA games
- Nintendo will spend $40 million on its launch-button, the larger it ever had to launch any console
- GBA games will work only in single player mode, Game Boy/Color games wont work.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There's only one flaw in the stats you listed Khuf- it's one Gb, not 1 GB. The DS cartridge will be a gigabit not a Gigabyte. That's small compared to the psp's 1.8 Gigabyte, but considering Nintendo's tradition of good language formatting, it shouldn't be a problem. It's larger than the 64 cartridges ever were, if you want to look at it that way.

what would be really cool is if the DS took a page from linux community and allowed you to use boot disks (ie a gameboy cartridge which holds an alternate OS). and i'll bet anything they'll make a expansion to allow for gameboy playing.

[Masamune]

Eh, I don't see non-GB/C compatibility being bad. It's supposed to be a new system, I think that might be intentional so that the next Gameboy will have that as a selling point.

If money is available, I want one. If not, early next year definitely.

[Sir Deimos]

i love that the portable systems are getting as strong as the last generation game systems... it must eat batteries like a bitch though huh... lol... and if they make the DS and gameboy two seperate portable systems im gonna be a little upset lol

[Masamune]

Originally posted by Khuffie@Sep 21 2004, 02:17 PM
Power and Battery
Internal Lithium battery (Runs approximately 6-10 hours from full recharge, depending on application)
Full recharge time: 4 hours
Power management systems, such as sleep mode, included
Comes with AC adapter

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Battery time sounds pretty good to me.

[Sir Deimos]

o.o; my browser didnt show khuffies post when i read the thing... guess it didnt load all the way.... but thats great.... i definitely need to get one of these... the problem is getting it without my parents getting pissed lol

[Zythe]

How much will it cost in pounds?

[Sir Deimos]

i doubt that they know that yet... they most likely only gave the cost for the american release because its a lot closer than the others