E3 2004: Nintendo DS steps into the limelight
Nintendo's ambitious new handheld enters the public eye
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The once mysterious Nintendo DS handheld console grows less baffling by the hour now as details continue to emerge from the pre-E3 fracas, including official word from Nintendo's mid-morning event. USA Today also weighed in this morning suggesting a US price-point in the region of $150 (which is unconfirmed), whilst also detailing the Bluetooth functionality included which will allow gamers to indulge in multiplayer action sans wires.
We already knew there would be two screens on the device, but it has also been confirmed that one will be touch sensitive in a PDA-fashion allowing for all manner of intriguing gameplay possibilities. A stylus will be used as required with this screen. More over a spot of voice recognition technology will be included (to unique and original ends, we assume), as will 'Wi-Fi' wireless networking capabilities, a la the PSP.
The DS will support both older GBA games and newer DS-specific titles, via two appropriate slots - and the DS media format (which we're told can hold approximately 1gb of data) is apparently of the card variety and is thusly much smaller than the somewhat retro GBA cartridge format.
Technically, the DS offers 3D graphics on both screens via two separate processors, 16-channel sound, and a low-energy consumption rechargeable battery.
Unsubstantiated rumour has it that the DS will actually be called the DS when it goes on sale too - the latest reports rubbishing the original 'Nitro' title rumoured. The system is also said to be slightly more powerful technically than the N64 - which won't be worrying Sony's PS2-beating PSP anytime soon. Not that this seems to concern Nintendo:
"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," commented games design legend Shigeru Miyamoto in the USA Today piece.
Indeed, this ideology is reflected throughout the product, which "provides developers [with] a newfound canvas not only to create new games today, but also to shape the future of the entire industry," according to the official press release, a thought echoed by Namco's Yoichi Haraguchi, who stated: "It is very nice that we can create games using DS that were not even possible before." I believe this, is the kind of 'sand-box' innovation we're talking about:
Voice recognition could let players simply tell the game what they want it to do. Chat software will let users transmit text messages, handwriting and even drawings to one another. And wireless functions could link players in the same room - or across the country.
DS development is currently being planned at over one-hundred companies internationally apparently, whilst Nintendo plot the following in-house: a Super Mario game, a Metroid game, a WarioWare game and the oddly titled PictoChat, software that lets players send instant text and picture messages. Confirmed third-party games in the offing include Spider-Man 2, a Rayman game, a SpongeBob SquarePants title, a Yu-Gi-Oh! game, a Sonic title, a Bomberman game, a Need for Speed game and a Pac-Man title.
The DS will debut in Japan and North America by the end of 2004, and will be with us in Europe during the first-quarter of 2005. More specifics on the product's launch and line-up is planned soon, as well as pricing confirmation.
Comments
still not worked out how two screens will make gameplay any better, looking at the pics there's the game going on in one screen with the map on the other. when your playing the game your gonna have to stop to look at the map, so whats the difference in pressing a button to reveal a map instead.
if i was able to somehow connect 2 TV to gamecube and have metroid prime on 1 TV and the map on the other TV, this will not change the gameplay, it just makes thing easier 4 lazy people.
dude... mario 64 on a HANDHELD???? that was one of the greatest games of all times... on a HANDHELD? MULTIPLAYER??? nintendo never fails me...
its not bluetooth.. i read somewhere that USA Today, the newspaper that first said it was bluetooth, got it wrong or asumed that it had bluetooth. i dont think a company as big as nintendo would do something stupid like that.
Yeah, Umm....The Nintendo DS has been OFFICIOALLY announced to have and 802.11 wifi. Just like PSP. I've read the words blue and tooth way too much. If Nintendo wanted to put bluetooth in something, they would put it in a controller, or a mouse, or NOTHING. Bluetooth doesn’t even compete with the wireless tech. that Nintendo used in the Wavebird. Bluetooth is for mice and cell phones...and Macs. NOT Nintendo.
what exactly does 802.11 wifi let u do and will it cost extra monthly fees to use it?
This says that the cards for the DS can hold about 1 gig, can you watch mpeg and avi movies on the DS??
In an interview with Nintendo's vice pres, Parrin Kaplin, she states that ALL their online services are gonna be free. No matter what. That is why they havnt jumped the gun with Gamecube online, because they feel not enough people have sufficient internet connections this generation. Expect FULL FREE online support for all next gen Nintendo systems, seeing as they are definetly going online for the DS, means they now believe enough people have sufficient internet speeds, and therefore are preparing to support online with all new systems.
any critics of the DS's multiplaer systems let me tel you, the bluetooth thing lets it play wirelessly.. UP TO 16 PLAYERS! Do you know what that means! games like pictochat would be fricken awsome, and mario kart ds, 16 PLAYERS! Awsome! And what i they come out with super smash bros ds?
HOLY CRAP! I saw a bunch of the movies! I can't wait (but has to anyway) to get one!
DS IS COOL I HAVE IT INTENSE 3-D IMAGES I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW PSP IS NOT 1 SYSTEM
I HAVE IS AS GOOD AS DS SEND ME ANTHER..
I cant wait!
Playing people accross the country will be sweet! Metriod hunters is probably going to be the bestseller.:-) Does anybody know if pictochat is a seperate ''game''? or does it come standard???
This is awsome! When will this hit shelves? ;)
You can't spell S H I T ?
With this have a built in light?
Hey!!! No swearing!!!
This thing looks so damn good!!! like the 4 player mario64 thing that would be awsome, I hope there could be like big mariokart online 16-player tourneys, that would be so sweet!
It's said that DS will be released on the first quarter of 2005. I want it today... :)
It will be released in november and the psp in march but everyone knows nintendo is for little b i t c h e s
It will be released in november and the psp in march but everyone knows nintendo is for little girls psp rocks ds sucks
u can also do voice chat to other people,to use picto chat u hav to buy the game,but they are looking into integrating so everyone will have picto chat without any purchase of a game,meaning it will be formated into the actual software itself,also 2 screens is great cuase u can have a map or options or somethin,but can also open up a picto chat room on 1 of the screens while ur playin the game,and rayray,about ur question,to play online multiplayer u dont need to pay monthly fee with 802.11,u need to buy a wireless rowder(not sure the spelling) the wireless rowder is just a rowder with an antena on it wich u hook ur internet in,u can still use internet while using the wireless internet,so baseicly its just making ur connection wireless while keeping ur old non-wireless conection too...
Some people say it will be hard for lefties to use. but they are totaly wrong. the games that require drawing will be able to be drawn with the left hand and games like metriod just require you to look, its easy to look with your left hand then. So everything is perfect for everyone. especially when your as artistic as i am, you can use your right hand also. its not like you have to paint a mona lisa with your right hand.
Nintendo changed the design.
To the guy that said that Nintendo sucked, yea you can just play your little psp untill the battery runs out in only 2 1/2 hours lol
due to the style and gadgetry of this handheld, weight maybe a problem. the weight of this device has never been mentioned and i would say it would be heavier than the PSP. so far, we have not seen wat the cartridge looks like for this handheld and cannot be certain that it will be smaller than the Gameboy Advance SP. Look at the opening of the DS and see that it looks like an openning for a SP cartridge. Bluetooth cannot be placed in the system because there is no antenna inside it ( apart from the LAN networker). DONT YALL THINK THE DS IS ALITTLE TOO FAT COMPARED TO THE PSP??
Hey do u know if the Wifi or wot ever its called ( the thing that lets u on the internet) be free or will it be a monthly thing?
Trailerpark369, you're an inconsiderate fool. Nintendo is not for "little 'b i t c h e s'", as you put it (by the way, did your spacebar go berserk on you, or something?) I think the DS is something new and innovative. Go get a life, TP369. You obviously just posted here for some "attention". Well, you're getting what you want. Loser.
For trailerpark369, Nintendo is CLASSIC. They CREATED Mario Bros. Mario is the greatest game EVER. You deserve to be hung from a tree by your wang for three days.
The DS will be the king of all game consoles. The PSP will be alright, but the DS will really kick it in the rear. Wireless gaming competitions across the country! That's something I've never even DREAMED about! Trailerpark, you think PSP is BETTER than Nintendo? Two words: IN BED!!
DS. It rocks. w00t!
Whoever said the PSP rocks and the DS sucks, is a shmuck!
helo? enyone there?
an official?
if i swear, will anybody come on?
OK, the ds has 2 sreens, so can you play multiplayer with one payer on the top sreen and one on the bottum?
I herd the ''ds'' wll be sold at 149.99 way less then other game franchise thought wold be The double screen feature is for maps plus the touch screen and other ''touch based'' controlls A comment from nintendo power said there are over 100 companies working on game titles around the country im all out for the mario 64 though.
How far away does pictochat go?
PLEASE SOMEONE TELL ME WILL THEIR BE A MONTHLY FEE FOR THE NINTENDOS ONLINE CAPABILATIES?
HAVING IT FREE JUST DOESENT SEEM TO MAKE ANY SENSE?
SHED SOME LIGHT ON MY POSITION ANYBODY PLEASE!
I just got a ds It is the hardest thing out there and the picto chat is crazy
it iscool bot you chod pot a computeur
this sucks the wirelees communication is only 100 feet
this sucks the wirelees communication is only 100 feet
Iknow that it has all the awesome things that have not been introdust to the public. but, does it have a built in light.
i have a ds and i like it!!! stop dising it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
how far away do u have to be for pictochat to work?
30 to 100 feet depending on conditions.
Nintendo DS is amazing.You should not want to throw it away.
can it really go online
FD
I bought a ds earlier this year, expecting the best. When i got it i also bought madden and super mario. The graphics seem like they havent changed from the gba at all there just horrible. I was waiting in line at the release of the PSP and i brought my ds with me. As soon as i got my PSP i threw my ds to the floor!
i think the nintendo ds is off the fa shizzle dillle if ya know what im talking bizzle
DS rocks the house man. It is gonna beat the PSP to the ground. Go DS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I cannot believe that anyone could acutally think that the DS is THE portable system to have. I've tested out a friend's and it blows! Johnny is right. If you want to play Mario 64 then just dust off your Nintendo 64. Nintendo has a bad habit of bringing back old games instead of creating new ones. (An excellent way of stealing our money.) Get the PSP. Who doesn't want to watch movies, listen to their favortie tunes, and play excellent games with superior graphics all on the same hand-held?
hey ppls..... I have a ds, so what are you psp ppl gonna do? insult me? uh oh.... im scared.....the DS is awesome. So don't tell us DSers' what to fruckin buy. we chose what we chose.PSP is very fragile anyway.
Hey people im going to get a nentendo DS tomorrow and im very exited i can't wait!
There are lots of rumours of the DS's online capabilities which eventually will allow the DS to connect to the internet and also play other Ds owners all over the country and even in the world. There are alo rumours that nintendo are developing something which will allow the DS to play movies and music, are these rumours true?
it is of the chain.Cause i have one and it is the BEST! !GET IT!
PSP kicks DS ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!
:-p
YOU RULE trailerpark369!!!!!!!!!! Freeze in heaven!!!!!!!
YOU RULE trailerpark369!!!!!!!!!! Freeze in heaven!!!!!!!
How much will this cost?
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I want a DS and am about to get one but people keep tellin me that the DS is wack, get a PSP. Though something draws me to the DS am not sure if it is a good dicision
the psp isnt worth your money{250.00}.i have a ds and it rocks,ialso rock so we tight. my ds is awsome so just remember that i rule and so does the ds not the psp so u better get it it has cheaper everything than the psp and its cool!!!!!!!ok ok. bi!@#$%^&*()_+=-[]}{|;'":/.<<>?1234567890
ds sux
Good site. The guest book too good! Necessarily install to itself same.
I just got a nintendo ds and I have know Idea how u picto chat. I think it's awesome but at the same time it's boring.
Comparing PSP to NINTENDO DS is like comparing an ipod to a cd player. PSP is clear cut winner. All DS does is play games with mediocre graphics and that pictochat thing doesnt work. u have to be within 100 feet of the other person. And if we are talking about battery life, PSP has a 10 hour battery life. PSP has the most powerful graphics ever .Nintendo will NEVER rise above Sony or Microsoft. NEVER!!
ne PSP playerz that have twisted metal wanna play me im on channel 12!!
who said u had to listen to us Chau. It would help if u could spell though
does anyone go on this?
if u want the battle to still go on i have alot of negatives for psp =)
what does the wi-fi connection acually DOOOOOOO????????????
WHAT IS BETTER DS OR PSP. DUH PSP. NINTENDO DS IS CRAP
The wi-fi connection goes on a wirless signal through ur wireless router or the wi-fi usb connector.
It lets you go online and play multiplayer games with other Wi-fi users..
i so wanna play someone who sucks in mario kart :)
Anyways instead of investing into psp i rather go for ps3
yo yo lets just get along with our systems i own a game boy pocket and i seriously want ot buy a gameboy sp ,ds or psp.!!!
A great site where one can enjoy the thought of a great mind long departed. Cheers for the good work!
Will someone please help me with my connection problem. My nintedo Ds finds my router but does not connect to the server. Any ideas
They are realy fun. The games let you interact with the game. I think the best game is nentendogs!
this web site stinks all i wanna know is how much a DS should cost as an estimate!! how much is that 2 ask??
how do u use pictochat :-)
Very interesting and beautiful site. It is a lot of helpful information. Thanks!
Even though I did not read all that information up there, I was wondering why is there never anyone in the chat room.
Does anyone actually respond?
i have a ds its cool.... In a way stil finding games for it
Psp is just a ps2 portable with not as good games and grafics so who wants one. Ds is just much better no other consel is like it as it has touch screen and mic and two screens. Some of the game names may have been heared before like mario kart, but they have been mad better by leting you blow up your own ballon oin a ballon battle by using the mic, and by on the touch it shows you a 2d view of the track and other carts. Also the ds has a lot longer battery life than the psp. The ds doesn't load ever and even if it does it only takes about two seconds at the most .Get something that hasn't been done before get a ds.
Ds rules unlike the psp
ds is cool but i dont think it is better than psp cause psp has internet music back rounds and 8 hours of battery.and it plays movies. so i think u are wrong psp is way cooler.even though im going to get a Ds.tell me if im wrong.
dude this site is awesome but you didnt answer my question how far away does pictochat on a ds go
dude this site is awesome but you didnt answer my question how far away does pictochat on a ds go
THE NINTENDO DS SUCKS GOD DAMN IT~!
Tell, and here at you always so?
I just want the cheapest DS there is, really. The lowest price I've seen is $116!! There is no way I will pay that much. What now?
:-(
I own over 40 million ds's
DS IS FOR LITTLE GIRLS, PSP ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DS ROCKS PSP SUCKS
I LIKE JUICE :)
i still want to know if i can get a nentendo ds on ebay for just 116$Can i or can i not
i like picto chat, but it bad because connection has to be close
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