The Nintendo DS thread!

[Santo]

January 20, 2004 - For months Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has been offering Japanese newspapers vague comments about a new mystery hardware that the company would launch in 2004. Nintendo of America today pulled back the curtains on the top-secret device and it looks to be good news for Nintendo fans worldwide.

The company's mystery machine is in fact a dual-screened portable game device that is entirely separate from both the GameCube and the Game Boy Advance. It will be marketed completely free of its sister hardware. It's called Nintendo DS for Nintendo Dual-Screen.
Nintendo DS features two connected 3-inch TFT LCD display panels, separate processors, and semiconductor memory of up to 1 Gigabit, according to the manufacturer.

Nintendo explains the importance of the dual-screen setup: "Players can look forward to being able to manage their game progress from two different perspectives, enhancing both the speed and strategy of the challenge. For example in a soccer game, users can view the whole game on one screen while simultaneously focusing on an individual soccer player's tackle or goal on the other screen.

"Players will no longer be forced to interrupt game play to shift perspective, such as moving from a wide shot to a close up, or alternating between a character's ongoing battle and a map of the environment. Nintendo DS makes it possible to perform the tasks in real time by simply glancing from one screen to the other."

Today's revelation is just the beginning, according to the company. The bulk of information on the machine will be unveiled at May's Electronics Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles.

"We have developed Nintendo DS based upon a completely different concept from existing game devices in order to provide players with a unique entertainment experience for the 21st century," explained Satoru Iwata, Nintendo president.

Look for much more on the Nintendo DS soon.

source: cube.ign.com / gcadvanced.com

DISCUSS!

[Cooolcorey]

I don't know what to say, I'm kind of excited, but I'll need some more specs and a list of who is supporting it heavily to be genuinely excited.

[Santo]

Sounds like it has a lot of potential. Dual screens = innovation. I knew Nintendo would pull through.

Can't wait till E3!!

:) :) :) :) :) :)

[Wh|tE gUy]

So wait...

Isnt this just another handheld console? I mean the idea is cool, but it is so impracticle it boggles my mind. I could see how dual screens for a GC game could be an advantage, but these screens are 3inches

This will fail horribly and most likely cost a lot. It really is the Virtual Boy 2004

[Xtreme CHRI$$]

Sweet! Sounds awesome, of course Nintendo comes up with the another innovative product!

[Santo]

Originally posted by Wh|tE gUy
So wait...

Isnt this just another handheld console? I mean the idea is cool, but it is so impracticle it boggles my mind. I could see how dual screens for a GC game could be an advantage, but these screens are 3inches

This is fail horribly and most likely cost a lot. It really is the Virtual Boy 2004

Let's not jump to conclusions just yet. Yeah, it is handheld. My belief is that it's Nintendo's weapon against the PSP. And the screens are 3" but that's a fair size, any bigger would be a price overload.

[Xtreme CHRI$$]

Hmmm, does seem to be very similar to the GBA. Guess we'll have to wait to E3 to learn more. *sigh*

[Redstar]

I don't think I've ever said a negative word about Nintendo. However, if their answer to the PSP is an extra screen and a system that won't be compatible with anything already on the market, then I think they might be making a big mistake. The GBA SP is so popular because it is small and looks really cool, not just because it has a lit-up TFT screen. If you add another screen to that, it will undoubtedly be at least twice the size and thus lose the appeal that the SP has. I think a wider screen for the GBA would have been cool, but two screens is too far out there for me. I just think it will intimidate too many people to be popular. Just my opinion though.

[Santo]

I don't want to wait five months though. :( I want to play some soccer games on two screens...

[Xtreme CHRI$$]

Well think of all things it could do for games. And not just different camera views, it opens up a new dimension in gaming!

[David85]

Seems cool, but so did the GBA cable, but I don't trust it.

[Redstar]

I also don't understand how players are supposed to make use of two screens at once in active gameplay. I can walk and chew gum just fine but if I'm involved in an intense game of soccer, for example, then I'm going to be focussd on one screen and one screen only. See... now I'm ranting. This is ridiculous!

[Santo]

"We have developed Nintendo DS based upon a completely different concept from existing game devices in order to provide players with a unique entertainment experience for the 21st century," explained Satoru Iwata, Nintendo president.

I believe the man is trying to say that just because it's different, doesn't mean it should be segregated against.

[Wh|tE gUy]

Originally posted by Xtreme CHRI$$
Well think of all things it could do for games. And not just different camera views
The obvious quesion: How many perspectives do you need in a hand held game?

Originally posted by Santo
I believe the man is trying to say that just because it's different, doesn't mean it should be segregated against.
He must have known it was MKL Day yesterday

[McBizzel]

I don't know, sounds kind of like shit to me. I'm not going to get one from what we've heard so far. My Sp is barely even used as it is, and it's really cool. This idea sounds stupid, two screens, so you mean to tell me, that instead of just glancing to the right, left, top, or bottom of the screen, I have to turn and look at an entirely different screen altogether? Sounds kind of lame.

Not for all gamers is right. This thing will have to be a fair amount larger than the Gameboy Advanced and Advanced SP. It's gotta have killer graphics or something.

I won't be holding my hopes up high for it at E3. --~

[Linque]

Nin never seases to amaze! BRING IT ON, SONY!!!

(*crosses fingers* Disk based format, disk based format..........)

The few preliminary specs and innovative design look promising, but it canNOT look like the old GBA AT ALL!!

(*crosses fingers* sleek, cool design; sleek, cool design..........)

With the NDS (i hope thats not the final name), I can now truely see the coming reign of Nin in the Video Game Industry......

*with a longing look in his eye and speaking in a wistful tone*
Nintendo (Retro, SK, IS, etc.), Id Software, Valve, SEGA, Konami, Square, and a few others. These companies will show the "average gamer" the true meaning of a great game!

*speaking boldly, raising in intensity with each sentence*
These companies will rise together as the pioneers of a new gaming age! Together, they will usher in a new era; where previous critics and naysayers are finally hushed in the awe-inspiring glory of their games!

*climax, with exhileration and gusto*
WHERE NINTENDO REIGNS SUPREME, DOMINATING ALL COMPETITORS IN THEIR SHEER BRILLIANCE; WHILE USHERING IN A NEW.......

*separated and drawn out, with same style as before*
GOLDEN AGE OF GAMING!!!!!

MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A bit over the top and unrealistic, but it never hurts to dream (though I now truely believe Nin can Win):
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited, but imagination encircles the world." --A. Einstein

[Santo]

There's a lot of hate going around here. Seems like people don't think Nintendo can pull it off. Although, I'm keeping the faith. AT LEAST until we see some concept art.

[Santo]

Just updated on the main page (gca), 128 MB of ram, as opposed to PSP's 8 MB. That alone sounds quite promising.

[Redstar]

I'll admit the specs look incredible except for one thing... IT HAS TWO SCREENS! Let me put this into a hypothetical situation. I don't care if you are the best soccer player in the world, even better than the new Sony brand soccer player, if you have two heads, then I'm not going to pick you for my team simply because you have two heads and all the other kids think you're creepy. Does that make any sense? I don't even know anymore.

[Linque]

Prople, please don't crucify the system before you even see it. All we know is that its handheld, has 2-3 in. screens, and 1 gigabit memory.

So please, give it a chance at least.

(I also read it will have separate processors, I assume one for each screen. This is great news, as companies can do SO MUCH with a second processor! Just think, music can even be moved to the second one allowing the full power of AT LEAST one of the chips to be used in graphics, game mechanics, etc.!)

[Santo]

I can only imagine how big this thing is actually going to be...

[McBizzel]

What if it is really big, like XBox big (comparitively from console to handheld)? It would suck. I didn't say I already hated it, but I'm really skeptical about it. --~

[Xtreme CHRI$$]

Santo, you mean hopefully going to be... But I seriously don't think it's going to be a failure and die a terrible death like the sad, sad virtual boy.

[Santo]

Originally posted by Xtreme CHRI$$
Santo, you mean hopefully going to be... But I seriously don't think it's going to be a failure and die a terrible death like the sad, sad virtual boy.

As a matter of fact, I actually enjoyed the Virtual Boy. Although sitting in that position caused my neck to cramp up after ten minutes...

[Xtreme CHRI$$]

The virtual boy was Ok, but I'm not sayin I hated it I just thought it was sad.....

[Santo]

Not quite as sad as how many add-ons Sega had for Genesis. (same era)

[Linque]

To die, the Virtual Boy would had to have lived. The biggest failure by Nin...they won't let it happen again.

[Sean-AMN]

Man this sure is a big hit on all the sites... lol yet another thing we need to cover!

[Steve-AMN]

"The portable will not use GameCube optical disc or Game Boy Advance cartridge based media. Instead, it will play software on semiconductor memory of up to 1 Gigabit, according to the manufacturer."

Hmmmm interesting

[Linque]

Originally posted by Nintendo Steve
"The portable will not use GameCube optical disc or Game Boy Advance cartridge based media. Instead, it will play software on semiconductor memory of up to 1 Gigabit, according to the manufacturer."

That sounds alot like the way the iQue works...

God I hope I don't have to go to a store and download a game EVERY time I want to play something else.

But like I said, I will reserve judgement until I hear something concrete.

[Sean-AMN]

what i find to be the strangest thing is that nintendo announed this so early... very un-nintendo like...

[bill TSM]

"We want to offer to customers a play experience that they've never had before. We're not expecting everyone to cheer following the announcement. It's okay if ten percent of the people say the product is 'interesting' and word spreads with people finding themselves wanting to try it." - http://cube.ign.com/articles/462/462640p1.html

Judging by the reaction from this thread, I'd say he was pretty accurate with the 10% statement.

I'm undecided right now.. I'm in the 10% who thinks it's interesting... I'll hold my judgement until E3.

Oh, and stop comparing the NDS to the GBA because as Nintendo has said, this is not a successor to it. They've still got the Game Boy successor behind closed doors being worked on right now.

[GBA]

I hope it turns out... much better than it sounds.

[Wh|tE gUy]

Originally posted by bill TSM
Oh, and stop comparing the NDS to the GBA because as Nintendo has said, this is not a successor to it. They've still got the Game Boy successor behind closed doors being worked on right now.
Thats where they are going wrong IMO. Might as well make it the next GB, its already a portable handheld.

[Sean-AMN]

question is is it really a handheld....

[Shoxx]

I really don't think this will fail as much as the VB did. This is completely different, and I think that maybe Nintendo might have a lot of innovative titles on the way. I really hope, though, that I won't have to go to the store and download when I want to play a new game... that would suck so badly.

[Casey-AMN]

question is is it really a handheld....

Interesting point, Sean. This isn't what we've seen before, people. Don't ask me what it is, then, because I simply don't know, but I've said in the past that Ninty doesn't have to make a lot of mistakes to learn lessons, they can simply look at Sega's past. Here's a good example of that. Nintendo won't pull a Saturn vs 32x with this new hardware. The NSD can not in my logic be a true handheld device in the current definition of the word, without it being the successor to the GBA... and Nintendo claims it's not. Don't rush to the conclusion that this is Nintendo's PSP killer, either. If this isn't a handheld in the current sense of the word, then they would technically be non-competitors.
...
Yamauchi Co. is plotting something big with this thing. I've not seen Nintendo make an out-of-the-blue press release (NOT a leak, mind you! This is official stuff!) on something this big, especially when they said only a week ago it wouldn't be announced until May.
Either they're trying to catch on to the new wave of hype to shore up their financial report, as is suggested, or they've got (what I believe) some more secret reasons for giving this up right away. No matter if the NSD isn't a competitor to the PSP, this is a shot in the dark at Sony, though I can't be positive as to what exactly was fired.
...
Remember, when speaking of the Dual-Screen idea, it's been done before: Nintendo used the same concept with some of their Game and Watch devices early on, so this isn't a new idea, even if it is new technology. Either way, concept art of some sort would clear up a lot of issues quite nicely... but that's what E3's for, right :D
(Consider this my editorial for the week...lol)

[Redstar]

Originally posted by Sean-GCA
question is is it really a handheld....


If this thing has two 3-inch tft screens, it better be a hand-held! That is the only way I think a lot of people would even consider buying a system with a viewing area that small and compact.

[Redstar]

By the way, all reports seem to indicate it IS indeed a hand-held. See http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/157413_nintendo21.html for details.

[Monkeylord]

Without an image of the thing, we still haven't really been given enough information to work out exactly what it is or does.

[Freak of Kane]

Originally posted by Wh|tE gUy
This will fail horribly and most likely cost a lot. It really is the Virtual Boy 2004

Understatement of the year.

THIS thing is meant to "rock" the gaming world? I smell bulls:eek::eek: t. Seriously...fun and movement never seen before? THIS? Oh well, I'm glad I wasn't too hyped by the product - I was expecting something odd and mediocre. If you're controlling a player on the football field and yo ulook at the other screen for the map, on the screen with the player - he could get easily tackled while you're having the time of your life looking at the map screen. I'm sure there'd be a work around. This could be ok for a racing game...you could have rear view on the other screen or something. Seriously though, I don't see how this is going to rock the foundations of the gaming world.

BTW, whoever said the PSP has 8MB of RAM - apparantly there's been recent news saying it's going to be 32mb of RAM due to developers complaining.

Whatever happens, 1. I hope Nintendo doesn't lose a lot of money if this fails - which IMO it will...it looks like it will only ever appeal to a niche market and 2. Hopefully Nintendo will bust out something that makes this device seem a must have, which I pretty much doubt anyway.

I reckon this will be viewed as just another quirky device. Hopefully I'll be sneered at when I'm totally wrong and this turns the games industry on its' head. Hopefully.

[Santo]

Originally posted by Sean-GCA
what i find to be the strangest thing is that nintendo announed this so early... very un-nintendo like...

Maybe this means an announcement from Sony or Microsoft on their next big thing isn't far away? I mean, if Sony releases full fledged PSP info and shortly thereafter Nintendo were to announce the DS, it would get drowned out by all the Sony hype... Just a thought.

[prime_timer]

hmmmm..... i honestly dont know what to say. it sounds like if you put the right game on it, it would rule, but otherwise..... i think it might just sit down next to the fire, curl up, and die. im just hoping it wont cost an arm and a leg.

[Spartacus]

I really hope, though, that I won't have to go to the store and download when I want to play a new game... that would suck so badly.

Why? It would be the same as going to the store to buy a game. Only problem is that it would eventually run out of room….so I don’t think it’ll be like the IQue.

I don’t usually comment on these things, since I like to just read what every one says. But I like what I’m hearing so far. So I have to say something. Imagine the games that could be made for this! Not just sports games, but all kinds of innovative games. I think I remember Nintendo saying that this would sell for $100. So that’s not a bad price. And when it comes to size, it could fold like the SP, just the second screen would fold under the first, and then it would just fold down….Like the SP.

I’m sure Nintendo has interested MORE then %10. And that might a great thing for them. I’m sure a lot of people will start to like it over time too...(Remember MK: DD?) I know I can’t wait to hear more about it.

My ONLY concern is if it is a handheld, what’s going to happen with GB? And this could be a very serious thing. But besides that, all is in Nintendo world (IMO).


EDIT: Oh, and the screen, for all we know, could be an inch away, so you wont have to turn your head. You would probably just have to glance to the side real fast (And don't act like you’re incapable of doing that!).

[Link]

Think of what it could do for RPG's! You could have all of the action on one screen, and have the menu on the other. Flip through items with the shoulder buttons, and use one of the other buttons to use that item. This would be great if there were four face buttons, a d-pad, and a start and select. This is just an idea, but it shows what could be done with two screens instead of one. Remember the old saying: "Two heads are better than one."

[MAX]

I'm gonna get one.. I've never disliked anything from nintendo.. I even liked playing VB for ..ohh... 10-15 minutes at a time (then I would get a headache)...

[Boondock Saint]

Originally posted by McBizzel
I don't know, sounds kind of like shit to me. I'm not going to get one from what we've heard so far. My Sp is barely even used as it is, and it's really cool. This idea sounds stupid, two screens, so you mean to tell me, that instead of just glancing to the right, left, top, or bottom of the screen, I have to turn and look at an entirely different screen altogether? Sounds kind of lame.

Not for all gamers is right. This thing will have to be a fair amount larger than the Gameboy Advanced and Advanced SP. It's gotta have killer graphics or something.

I won't be holding my hopes up high for it at E3. --~

ian, you said it all right there. this system sounds like nintendo turned around, dumped on the floor, and said, hey, we should make a system that resembles the shit that our company just took right here on the linoleum...better than the SP? damn right! it's GENIUS!

and it sucks.

[McBizzel]

yeah, that thing induced headaches, it had a warning not to look into it for too long that it could damage your eyes. I have to give them credit though, it was a cool idea and it was brave. --~

EDIT: I'm talking about the Virtual Boy in this post. --~

[[GCA] BMaN]

Cool idea. Im sill in the middle of the road on this one though. Once I see it in action then ill cast my vote.

[Adolf Disney]

How's this gonna be the next VB? Virtual Boy failed mainly because it could damage your vision, or physically damge you in some way if played to long. The man who invented the VB, Gunpei Yokoi(also made the original GB, and Metroid) is dead! (No disrespect to the man) He left the company.

I don't think this system will require you to staple it to your arm or something. I'm excited about this and I can't wait till more info about this gets out.

In my mind I picture 2 GBA SP's next to each other on a silver platform. I dunno. :D

[Santo]

Originally posted by Adolf Disney
How's this gonna be the next VB? Virtual Boy failed mainly because it could damage your vision, or physically damge you in some way if played to long. The man who invented the VB, Gunpei Yokoi(also made the original GB, and Metroid) is dead! (No disrespect to the man) He left the company.

I don't think this system will require you to staple it to your arm or something. I'm excited about this and I can't wait till more info about this gets out.

In my mind I picture 2 GBA SP's next to each other on a silver platform. I dunno. :D

Yeah that's basically what I envision. What does everybody else think it will look like? (handheld or not)

[blablamax]

Its a kind of Handheld but Nintendo said it doesnt a successor for the Gameboy which is weird! Its goond be a great answer for the PSP and it will be an all new experience of gaming which is first of all - great and fresh!

I find the DS idea very impressive! 128ram and TWO 3'' screen its huge!!!

I dont no what about you, but I need to start save money for it.

[Sean-AMN]

I dont think its a handheld like the gba... I look at it more as a portable system.... i mean its sapose to be the "third pillar" and it wont effect the gba or cube markets directly kaplan says,...

[dopefish]

Since this is not the successor to the gameboy, I'll probably get it just because it does sound sort of interesting. But I still have to wait and see... Hopefully they'll release a pic or something before E3.

[Spartacus]

I wonder if Nintendo will work with third parties on some if not most of the games...they could even make a division to make and to help third parties with DS games!

[Jaga]

this new Nintendo thing doesn't seem like something I want... maybe i will when it comes out...

[Spartacus]

You know, we know nothing about this at all, so we can't even call this the next Virtual Boy. And if Iwata expects only %10 to be INTERESTED, then this should have a low manufacturing cost and a low sale price (I’m thinking around $100 or less). Which should mean Nintendo won’t lose much money. So I don't think this will hurt Nintendo if it doesn't do great.

[David85]

It better not be too much. But it is coming out this year and that scares me because game companies said they need the product thingie to make games or things for it about 1-2 years in advance.

BTW- Maybe he said only 10% are interested in it because he knows it really dumb, or more likely it will cost so much only 10% will have money for it.

[Steve-AMN]

Originally posted by David85
It better not be too much. But it is coming out this year and that scares me because game companies said they need the product thingie to make games or things for it about 1-2 years in advance.

BTW- Maybe he said only 10% are interested in it because he knows it really dumb, or more likely it will cost so much only 10% will have money for it.

Whoa I don't know where that BTW came from but it was there when I did a quote. Is this a glitch?

Okay back to the topic at hand. First off David...what makes you think companies do not already have the dev kits for the DS? Nintendo could have had dev kits ready years ago and we wouldn't have known about it. I don't know if that is the case or not but you can't make a statement that you are worried since we don't know the truth.

And where ever that 10% comment came from. Whoever thinks this thing is dumb...fine...think it is dumb. I am not saying this is an amazing product strictly cause I have never SEEN the product work and I have never played it. I do know one thing though, people thought it was dumb and stupid and idiotic for Nintendo to try and release a console into America after the video game crash and we all see how that turned out.

Also, too expensive for most people? I highly doubt that. Nintendo is the one company that knows and likes to keep things in a reasonable price range. If it isn't a reasonable price range, then they reduce the price. I doubt Nintendo would change that ideal now.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edit: as far as the glitch, when I pushed quote his comments about the BTW were not there and after I posted, it was...so at first I didn't know why it was there.

[Casey-AMN]

Oh, and the screen, for all we know, could be an inch away, so you wont have to turn your head.

...

I'm gonna get nailed for this, but maybe it's not portable after all. Perhaps Spartikus was accidently onto something more than he thought when he posted the above... it was enough to get my mind spinning. Think about this for a second: you know those goggle-TV things that Sony has on the market? You wear them and it simulates a big screen TV? I still think this might be the new Virtual Boy. Think about this: two screens allows for stereoscopic vision, or actual 3D effects. The screens could be angled as such for this to be so. At a high enough screen resolution, the 3" screens, put close enough to your eyes, could look an awful lot like a freakin' IMAX screen. As for "unprecedented movement", I'll venture a guess that in the INCREDIBLY unlikely case I'm right, Nintendo would have motion sensors all the way around the headband, allowing for (at least some) control through actual... movement


Yes, let the flaming commence, but God, I hope I'm right... this would make Sony and Microsoft have a stroke if it's true.

[David85]

I think that would seriously hurt your eyes. I'm yelled at when i did that with my 27 inches tv when I was younger. :D

[Steve-AMN]

Sorry to shut you down Casey but if that were true then Nintendo wouldn't have made the comment about the two seperate screens showing you two seperate parts of the game...

and a motion sensor in the headband wouldn't work since the headband is attatched to your head...if it had the type of sensors needed to register movement then we wouldn't like it at all.

last but not least...if that were the case then it isn't an innovation at all since products like this have been around for awhile now.

Not flaming...just stating facts

[Lovebird]

i can't wait...i make my desicion after e3 whether to get one or not...

[Shoxx]

I think I know how this thing is gonna look. I'll draw it, scan it, and show you guys.

[OutlawAdidas]

Anyways, the way I see it, If this thing has 128 mb of ram, then think how much the GBA 2 is gonna have. 512 mb probably. Also, if the psp is only holding 8/32 mb, yet this thing is holding 128 mb, thats a big step. That shows that Nintendo isn't playing little games any more. Also, have you guys seen the thing yet, no, so don't dis it. Its like this, some ppl dissed the cube before touching it, but when they did, they found the most greatest gaming system.

[Silliw 2]

Hmm...I'm disapointed. Thought it would be something better. I'm not gonna knock it 'til I try it, but I'm very skeptical.

[Santo]

I really don't see how it could NOT be a handheld. I mean, if it were meant as a stationary system, don't you think the screens would be larger, more PS One-esque? I don't know how much I'd like to sit in a little spot and be focused on such a small screen. Whereas the SP profits from offering portability, the DS seems to have other plans in mind. And if it isn't portable, will it use controllers? And then that brings up the cost of buying new controllers in addition to the GameCube.

Dear Mr. Nintendo, please provide us with more answers!

[Shoxx]

I would love to get more answers, but unfortunately, I don't think they'll speak again until E3. I'm really excited, and I'm gonna get to work on that sketch.

[Lovebird]

well hop to it boy! with any luck, this is my 100th time saying it, psp will die. hopefully, nin will steal the show at e3 like in 2002...i can't wait...

[Boondock Saint]

oh mugan...you LOVE nintendo...

this idea stinks to high heaven. you know why? b/c i say so.

[Casey-AMN]

I've found a picture of the device! This is an exclusive for GCA at this point, and if you would please look below, you can find the first concept art for the NDS!!!:

http://www.nintendorks.com/chris/archives/ds.JPG


...
Sorry, thought that'd be pretty funny:D

[Steve-AMN]

well then if we are to follow that pathetic line of logic then I have to say that you have no clue what the hell you are talking about...

Thank God we don't follow that line of logic.

edit....not refering to Casey

[Santo]

Hmmmm... interesting. What if the DS did really look like that?(only more modern, of course)

[Lovebird]

that is quite rude boondock...name one thing wrong with the idea...you can see two different perspectives of the same game? that really helps....but watever....let's not argue.....
that wouldn't be bad, santo, but the screens would have to be much closer, no doubt

[Xtreme CHRI$$]

It looks like a giant NES controller with two screens on it, nothing how I picture it.....

[Lovebird]

that's not the real thing dude

[Casey-AMN]

Oh dear... Chri$, good sir, this is what's known as a "Game and Watch". It's Nintendo's first portable series. They were released in the late '70s, early '80s. The above is a joke.

*Cue Song*: "The More You Know!"

[Xtreme CHRI$$]

Yeah, I know..... I should edit that post to say "nothing how I picture (not pictured) it" I must of accidently slipped a d in their...

[Casey-AMN]

just making sure:D

[Lovebird]

suuuuuuure you did.....liar! jk, but i hope it is similar, but modern, screens closer together

[Jaga]

has anybody seen the picture of the DS by IGN? it looks wierd

[Lovebird]

gimme the link or die!

[Casey-AMN]

God, I hope you're not referring to this:
http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/nintendodsannounced.jpg
lol

[Lovebird]

lmao!!!

[Casey-AMN]

Yup. They're jackholes, but they're just stupid enough we love them anyway, ya know?:)

[Lovebird]

yea....i guess...

[David85]

http://www.gbaroms.com/nintendods.jpg

this is funny

[Xtreme CHRI$$]

LOLOLOLOL, thats hilarious! Look at how famous this has made Nintendo, there gettin made fun of every two minutes.

[Monkeylord]

This just copied and pasted from NoE:

"Mystery Product" to Launch Later this Year

An unprecedented approach to video game play -- holding two separate game screens in the palm of your hands -- hits the scene later this year when Nintendo introduces a new portable game system, Nintendo DS (temporary name).

Today's announcement is just a glimpse of the additional features and benefits that will be shown in full at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles in May. Once fully revealed, players will see the innovative advance in game interaction.

From information made available today, players can look forward to being able to manage their game progress from two different perspectives, enhancing both the speed and strategy of the challenge. For example in a football game, you can view the whole game on one screen, while simultaneously focusing on an individual footballer's tackle or goal on the other screen. Players will no longer be forced to interrupt game play to shift perspective, such as moving from a wide shot to a close up, or alternating between a character's ongoing battle and a map of their environment. Nintendo DS makes it possible to perform the tasks in real time by simply glancing from one screen to the other.

Satoru Iwata, Nintendo president, explains: "We have developed Nintendo DS based upon a completely different concept from existing game devices in order to provide players with a unique entertainment experience for the 21st century"

Nintendo DS features two separate 3" TFT LCD display panels, separate processors, and semiconductor memory of up to 1 Gigabit. It is scheduled to launch worldwide before the end of 2004. In addition to Nintendo developed software, the company is in discussions with third party game developers around the world.

Nintendo DS will be marketed separately from the existing Nintendo Game Boy Advance portable system and Nintendo GameCube home console.



Just thought someone may be interested...

[Steve-AMN]

<sings> I don't want to grow up...I'mmmm a Nintendo kid...the kewlest toys from Ninnn-ten-do that I can play with <end of singing>

and I know that was gay so go ahead and flame me :P

[Sean-AMN]

lol as they say all press is good test

[Wh|tE gUy]

They also say "Any press is good press" ;)

Anyways, anyone else think this is basically an experiment? It isn't going to be an actual, full fledged console but merely a test to see if they could incorporate this DS idea into the next Gameboy. That way they dont take the risk of ruining the gameboy and giving the market up to Sony if people dont like the idea.

[Santo]

Fall 2004 is NOT the time to test very uncertain business ideas. Nintendo obviously has big plans for the DS has it's being released around the same time as the PSP, which alone is a very risky move.

[[GCA] BMaN]

I wonder how this will be incorporated into the "N5". Maybe the DS will hook up to the N5 like the GBA does to the GC? But then where would that lead to for the next GBA? Would BOTH of them have diff link capabilities? So many question, so little information.

I cant get this futuristic new "non kid" oriented look that the DS may be like. This thing will either be OMG cool or OMG what where u thinking? Innovative nontheless.

This also makes me thing if they are going for such an innovative and kickass new approach to the DS, will they try and make the N5 just as innovative?

SO MANY QUESTIONS!

E3 plz arrive soon :(

[Shoxx]

Nintendo will need to act fast to get this out before the PSP.

[Casey-AMN]

Don't think for a moment Nintendo will let Sony beat them to market, portable or home, ever again. That's a big no-no, as they learned so readily this generation.

[GBA]

They said 2005 that's a year early.

[Santo]

Sony (I think) was saying Fall 2004 for the PSP.

[Shoxx]

The PSP will be lucky to get released by this winter. That's the earliest I've heard.

[Steve-AMN]

I have heard the PSP and the DS being released in 2004

[Eitan]

I don't know if anyone here has read this, but according to an interview done by Game Informer Online's Billy Berghammer, the screens of the NDS will be in a vertical position. I assume this means one on top of the other.

"Billy: Will the screens be side-by-side, or vertical? Also, will the screens be set right next to each other or will they be separate, much like the classic Game & Watch designs?


Beth: They will be in the vertical position."

[Santo]

Vertical position? WTF? I have a vivid picture of the device in my head, and I'm more confused than ever. Nintendo needs to release more information, and now.

[Xtreme CHRI$$]

Whoah, that never came into my mind, and *screams* , i hope it never does again........ But I guess I can see it working out. And I think its probably easier to look vertically than left and right.

[David85]

I like them on top of each other, easier to look at.

[Steve-AMN]

I am more of a horizontal type guy...I bet they did vertical so it would work for compact purposes...although I have complete faith in NIntendo so I am not worried at all.

[Eitan]

After some more research, I also found a similar statement on the Reuters UK website:

"Nintendo Co. Ltd., after months of hinting it would roll out a new game product in 2004, on Wednesday took the wraps off Nintendo DS, a portable video game system with two screens, one above the other."

I can't quite envision how this would look or function well, but again, May is a' commin'!

However, I guess it could be easier to look at the two screens if they were vertical instead of horizontal, but I'm gonna wait until we can see some official pictures.

[4thDimension]

Sounds interesting, but I'm not sure how it will play until I see the unit. The examples they used did not sound that great or unique but there is more to this product than what they've said. I'll wait until E3 to pass judgement. I think the screens might actually be adjustable to be placed where you want them. Its just an idea.

[Shoxx]

I can see where they're going at with the soccer game example. For instance, say we're talking football. One screen on the NDS would display something like you would see on TV, and the other screen, you're actually Brett Favre, and you're seeing everything from his perspective. You make a bad pass like he did last weekend, and you see it from the "TV" view on the other screen. See where I'm going with it? They're making the games in different angles, so you can see 2 angles at a time. I have this all figured out now, and it seems very interesting, and it's definitely going to make a change of direction for the gaming industry.

[Spartacus]

I'd like it if the screens were horizontal, but I'll wait and see.

[Cooolcorey]

I'm not sure if you were mistaken, or not, but for clarification purposes the orientation of the screen is horizontal if I'm not mistaken, it's just that the screens will be on top of eachother instead of side by side.

[Eitan]

Absolutely, I assumed that much, but thanks for pointing it out anyways. There is a possibility of it being misunderstood.

[sidcrazy]

The software is the real test of this new machine. That is where it will sink or swim.

The VB was a big mistake for Nintendo, but comparing this to the VB is just plain wrong. I just can't see anything they have in common.

I wonder is they will use the two screens for a new type of Mario game? Maybe one screen would be pseudo 3d, and the other would be a side view.

[Shoxx]

That's what I'm thinking... I'm thinking that maybe a 2D/3D Mario game is coming for this thing. I don't think we should compare it to the Virtual Boy. So much is different.

[Spartacus]

Wow, the more I read and think about it, Nintendo might have something Great on their hands.

Here’s to hoping!

[Shoxx]

That's what Iwata was hoping for. That not much of the audience would like it at first, and then the interest started to gather. They PROBABLY announced it early so that people would get hyped about it before E3, so that when E3 rolls around, everyone will want it, and by the time it comes out at the end of the year, the sales will be in great numbers.

[Eddz]

Well I like it

[Freak of Kane]

I can see this affecting the GBA market. Screw what Nintendo says about this not being a successor to the GBA - there's no doubt that this will affect GBA sales or vice versa.

EDIT: Didn't Nintendo say worldwide launch towards the end of this year? If so...why are they "in discussion" with developers around the world? Looks like there's going to be only a few first party titles to start the system off and possibly a few bad, rushed games. Reasonably, the developers have like 10 months or so to create a game for it - and according to IGN, the dev kits are going to be sent out soon...which would mean third parties haven't started making any games yet.

And from gamesindustry.biz:

"Sub-£100 price point puts new handheld at the low end of the market.

Nintendo's newly announced console is likely to cost under £100 (€148) at launch, according to an analyst estimate, while further details of the Dual Screen device's hardware configuration continue to emerge.

The pricing information, which was reported by news agency Bloomberg, is thought to be speculation rather than being based on inside information from Nintendo - but it's a fairly safe bet, given the low specification and "toy" concept behind the device.

If the system does arrive at under £100 (20,000 Yen in Japan), it will at least partially confirm Nintendo's assertion that the DS is not designed to compete with Sony's PlayStation Portable - which is set to be priced at over £200 when it launches.

Meanwhile, further details regarding the hardware have continued to emerge, with confirmation that the CPUs in the device will be supplied by British chip designer ARM, and that the screens in the device will be arranged vertically, rather than side by side. It's also been reported widely that the DS will be playable on Nintendo's stand at E3."
The price is attractive - but then again, with that price, will the machine be able to do much? This price point isn't stated by Nintendo - just analysts (you know, the guys who are always saying Nintendo is doomed and get payed for doing so) who are usually wrong. But knowing Nintendo, they're going to want to put this product at an accessible price point.

[Santo]

I was just thinking how cool it would be if Nintendo incorporated something like bluetooth technology, so two people (no matter the location) or more could wirelessly compete against each other. This would allow for an online-esque system and would most likely attract a lot more people.

[GCA-Matt]

speaking of multiplayer...

I was wondering about the configuration of the buttons, and wondering whether extra buttons would be supplied for 2 people. What i mean is, imagine having 1 person at the top of the machine and one at the bottom (since we know the screens are one above the other).

Each player could have their own buttons and could play a tennis game across both screens, or some warioware-esque 2 player mini game. you wouldn't need two carts or two machines to play.

Or if the screens fold together, what if they also folded backwards so that the screens faced away from each other. this would allow 2 player strategy games. battleships, for a crap example.

don't know how likely this is, but if it's so i can see this appealing to a wide audience. just chuckin some ideas out there.

[blablamax]

This is the way I see the DS:

http://planet.nana.co.il/bxbm/nintends.jpg


I really hope it will be good and comfrtable, no like the VB on its days. I cant see the two screen been side by side. they must be on on the top and the other above it.

[blablamax]

Think about it, it will be great for RPG and strategy game ...

I really think is a step further from the conection idea bettwen the GBA and the GC - Two screens in One Hardware.

[Luigis_Angel930]

Personally, I don't like the idea. If this is their answer to the PSP then I feel its kinda weak. They really don't need to come up with something new. The game boy is doing well enough that if they just expand on that they will not have to really worry about the PSP. :)

Just my two cents.

[Brian Langlois]

Let me just say that I think too many of us are pre-judging this thing. I mean, what do we know about it? Not much. It does sound kind of weird, but there is no way to know for sure. I try to think about all the innovations that could make this cool. Like, what if it has no buttons at all but rather a touch screen or something like that? Wireless Communication? Motion Sensors? I'm sure Nintendo will do something with this thing to make it cool and original. Let's just all wait and see.

[Santo]

That's exactly what I'm saying. Everybody is jumping to conclusions. While I'm staying positive about the DS, I really have no idea what it will bring. I'm sure Nintendo has thought this out thoroughly.

[blablamax]

You know... Now I filling that the History maybe repeat on itself. When Sony released the PS1 which becmae a great success Nintndo had on the market a very strange machine which became a disaster on economics terms. The VB had two screen. It's biggest problem was it injure any one who played it more than 10 minutes. Now Sony entering to the HH market ... Nintendo,to compeat release again, two screen machine.

What do you think?

[Santo]

The problem with the VB, besides the fact that you could get injured playing it, is the lack of software. I personally enjoyed the tennis game for VB. I think the battle will be getting developers and publishers to sign up for their system.

[Lovebird]

blablamax....all my respect for you has just gone down the toilet....to even compare anything in the world with virtual boy....it's sad, nintendo knows it was a mistake and they ain't gonna do it again....it's not gonna be anything like VB....nintendo would NOT make the same mistake twice

[Brian Langlois]

While I don't think Nintendo will repeat their Virtual Debacle, they do have a track record of making slightly odd products that never quite catch on but seem cool years down the road. Examples:

R.O.B.
Power Pad
Famicom Disk System (Japan Only)
Super Scope
Satelliview (Japan Only)
Virtual Boy
64DD (Japan Only)
Voice Recognition System (N64 Pikachu Game)

There are others, I'm sure. The thing about all this stuff is that it is cool, but it never really caught on either through lack of supprt or consumer ambivalence. Most SNES owners had the Super Scope, but how many games were there that actually supported it? R.O.B. has two games, but the prize of my game collection is a working R.O.B. with all Gyromite peices. This is the reason why I love Nintendo so much. They are willing to take the risks, to dare to do something different in order to spur the game industry into the future. The majority of their innovations become industry standards, just a few get relegated to the quirky invention status. Nintendo is a leader, not a follower, and I can't wait to see what they have for us at E3 because I know I'll love it whether it a successful trend setter or a weird peice of Nintendo memorabilia.

[Sean-AMN]

I have just contacted a few developers I know and they are even stumped

[Casey-AMN]

Of course they are. Nintendo keeps their cards close to their chest. They'll keep the dev's in the dark until the last minute so as to keep leaks at a minimum... to the press, or (potentially worse) to Sony. Until the dev kits ship out in a month or so, the developers won't and shouldn't know a thing.

[Lovebird]

well, it will be a great system for RTS with the two screens....CAN"T WAIT! i'm pissin my pants over here! but giftpia is my number one priority rite now...but what do you guys think the graphics will be like? ngage like? n64? better perhaps?

[Spartacus]

Not only can this go for innovation, but it can be a handheld (if it is a handheld) with a really big screen!

Billy: I also read that developers can use both screens as one if they so choose.

Beth: Yes, you can use the two screens as one big monitor. I think it’s one of those things that the developer will have the freedom to do what they want to do.
PlanetGameCube (http://planetgamecube.com/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=7&threadid=7760)


Not sure if this is real, but if it is, another score!

[Sean-AMN]

new poll on the main page about nDS

[Wh|tE gUy]

If you can use both screens as one image I doubt any developer will opt to make 2 seperate images. Its probably easier just to have one big screen.

[Cooolcorey]

I'm sure Miyamoto can come up with some pretty ingenious ways to use the dual screens.

[Santo]

I think this article (http://www.1up.com/article2/0,4364,1455229,00.asp) from 1up sums up pretty much everything we've (collectively) been thinking about the DS.

[Shoxx]

Well, they've got mixed reactions.

[crosshair]

Sounds kinda lame. I bet it's expensive.

[Silliw 2]

Wtach this thing turn out to be fudgin' awesome, and then we all buy it.

[Brian Langlois]

Here's a thought I had that I don't think anyone has mentioned. What if the two screens can separate? The user could actually pull the unit apart and have them connceted wirelessly or maybe use that for two player games. Remember that word "Connectivision" that was floating around? Just a random thought that has no basis in fact but I think Nintendo will have something very cool for us at E3 and this is another possibility.

[Santo]

So basically you're saying, "what if the DS can transform into the SP?" I'm not feeling it.

[Brian Langlois]

Well, I don't mean like the SP really. I figure this system is going to offer a unique type of game. Supposing that these games involve motion sensing or something like that then if the system separated you could hold one half in each hand. Also, playing two player games in this manner would be different from the SP. I'm just trying to think as off the wall as Nintendo obviously does.

[Boondock Saint]

Originally posted by Silliw 2
Wtach this thing turn out to be fudgin' awesome, and then we all buy it.

watch it end up sucking and losers like the people who only love nintendo end up buying it anyway...and telling everyone how AWESOME it is to see a HANDHELD game from two perspectives.

[sidcrazy]

It is so early, we barely know anything about the DS system.

Nintendo has made some really strange accessories, does anyone remember R.O.B. Robot Operating Buddy? It only worked for two games: Gyromite, and Stack Up.

[Brian Langlois]

I got a R.O.B. last year on eBay. Complete working order with all parts for Gyromite and Gyromite game included for only $50! It is the crown jewel in my Nintendo collection. A Stack Up game complete with all peices goes for hundreds of dollars, but I would love to have it. Wacky Ideas is one of the reasons I love Nintedo so much even if they aren't always successful. Looking back, far more of their radical ideas have been hits rather than misses. Hopefully the DS will be a hit!

[Boondock Saint]

Originally posted by Brian Langlois
Looking back, far more of their radical ideas have been hits rather than misses. Hopefully the DS will be a hit!

actually, i don't remember a truly stupid idea that nintendo's had except for maybe the powerglove that has really ever caught on...

i mean, not everyone had a powerglove, but they all wanted one. even freddy krueger had one in one of the nightmare films...i think it was five or something like that...

[sidcrazy]

The power glove was developed by Mattel for use with the nes. It was not made by Nintendo

[Brian Langlois]

Boondock,

Actually there have been quite a few, though only one was a real disaster (Virtual Boy). Also, the Power Glove was made by Matel Toys, but was endorsed by Nintendo.

I think I covered this, but here's a list of ill-fated Nintendo Products:

R.O.B.
Power Pad
Famicom Disk System (Japan Only)
Satelliview (Japan Only)
Virtual Boy
Game Boy Camera and Printer
64DD (Japan Only)
N64 Pikachu Vocie Recognition System

All of these things met with severe challenges but were all unique and innovative ideas. Nintendo has had many other radical items that did meet with mass acceptance and much success.

D-Pad controller
light gun
4 player adapters and eventually consoles
Game Boy
analog joystick
rumble feature
Wavebird
GBA/GCN Connectivity
eReader

All of these were risky ideas but they have all been successful and most have been copied by other companies. Nintendo has shown time and again their ability to innovate and think outside the box. DS is just another step in giving the industry what it needs to move forward.

[Boondock Saint]

yeah...four player adaptation really caught on after nintendo didn't make it in the arcades...what? are you retarded?

anyways, most of nintendo's innovations remind me of this little "next wave" of goodness...atari's wonderkind:
http://www.tripoint.org/kevtris/Projects/5200jr/images/5200jr_controller.jpg

MORE BUTTONS THAN YOU COULD POSSIBLY NEED!

[Brian Langlois]

Originally posted by Boondock Saint
yeah...four player adaptation really caught on after nintendo didn't make it in the arcades...what? are you retarded?



All I meant was that Nintendo offered the first home consoles with 4 player capabilities through controller adapters and eventually made it a standard on all consoles. No need to get testy.

[Santo]

Yuck, that is the worst controller design of all time. WAY too many buttons, looks like a freaking cell phone.

[Casey-AMN]

Hey, I found a mockup of the system... NOT Ninty official, just concept art, but worth seeing... I personally don't think it'll look like this at all, but I'll let ya'll make up your own minds about it. Without further adue:

http://www.dojomediaserver.com/media/misc/NDS_mockup_ver1.jpg

There ya have it, ladies and gents. Good day:)

[Santo]

Like you said, I doubt it'll look like this. But still, that thing actually looks pretty cool. A lot more compact than the image I was thinking of in my head.

Hype level: raised 10%

[Casey-AMN]

Too bad it's not this! :
http://www.cubed-3.co.uk/staff/jesusraz/connectevision.jpg

[[GCA] BMaN]

LOL

Thats tight.

[Spartacus]

A lot of thought went in to that. Lol

[Shoxx]

I think I know how Nintendo will make this thing small enough. Supposedly, the two screens will be stacked vertically. So instead of making the top of this thing six inches tall, they make the top screen slide into the bottom one, allowing for more portablity. I'd do a sketch right now of this, but, I'm too tired.

[DarkKenshinX]

A LOT of though and design was put into that GBA Enhanced thing. But remember, the DS isn't a GameBoy, it's a different type of system.

[Just Gabriel]

That GBE pic DOES look cool, but it is definately too bulky... And it seems like Nintendo dropped the whole "streamlined" idea and went for a more sleek-laptop look.

[Shoxx]

That's not an official pic, though, Gabriel.

I like that GBE thing... wouldn't that be awesome? Maybe cubed-3 should send an email to Nintendo saying: This is what we want.

[Santo]

Yeah, I agree that the GBE mock-up looks decent, but the bulky issue needs to be dealed with.

[blablamax]

Originally posted by PatrickMugan
blablamax....all my respect for you has just gone down the toilet....to even compare anything in the world with virtual boy....it's sad, nintendo knows it was a mistake and they ain't gonna do it again....it's not gonna be anything like VB....nintendo would NOT make the same mistake twice

Sorry, but we so lot of Nintendo mistakes back in the past - the VB, the way the GC released, the 64DD and maybe more. Let the respect back to me ;) In any case I really hope you right ... I want to believe that my fears about it wont come true. And yes, I really trust on Nintendo,despite their decisions which I dont agree with them.

In any case, we will wait for E3 and see who right, May the power be with you --~

[blablamax]

The GBE looks pretty great indeed.

Maybe the DS will use "StarWars technology" :D http://www.gmrmagazine.com/article2/0,4364,1457657,00.asp

As for the the name, DS is only a code name if I dont mistake ... any one have ideas for the offical one?

[Santo]

DS, as I'm sure you know, simply means Dual-Screen. I have no idea what the official name will be, especially if it incorporates 3D technology.

[Freak of Kane]

I won't be surprised if the final name is DS. I'd like to see something a little more creative though.

[blablamax]

Yes, the DS name is pretty boring ....

Some new mockups:

http://www.islavirtual.com.mx/discovirtual/harukiya/nds_final1.jpg

http://www.alphatwo-web.com/layout_images/DS.jpg

[Shoxx]

That top one is the worst I've seen. Where does it connect to the top one?

[Sean-AMN]

did you all vote on the poll thats on gcadvanced.com?

[Jaga]

yeah i said WTF...hehe... maybe I'll change that opinion when I actually see it for myself...

[Shoxx]

Originally posted by Sean-GCA
did you all vote on the poll thats on gcadvanced.com?

lol, I rarely look at the front page, but I will do so now.

[Santo]

Originally posted by blablamax
[B]Yes, the DS name is pretty boring ....


Unofficially boring. hehheheheh. Get it?

Anyway, I voted Nintendo, always so innovative! Glad to see that the majority didn't vote Virtual Boy 2.

[Shoxx]

Yeah. I hope Nintendo puts innovation into it. The dual screen concept itself is innovative, but what else will Nintendo do to make it innovative?

And, will the price be set at a reasonable price? On GCA, it said that in Japan, it'll sell for the equivilent of $179, or something like that. I'm sure people will buy it, because it's only $80 cheaper than the GBA, but...will it be worth it if the games aren't good?

[Santo]

Obviously it won't be worth it if the games aren't good. I think the price point seems like the perfect amount. The thing wasn't going to debut for the same price GBA SP is NOW, if you think about it. And I have high hopes for the games, even if few third parties jump aboard. Just the first party Nintendo games should provide for hours on end of entertainment.

[Shoxx]

It does need the third party support though, or else it will not compare to the PSP when it comes out.

[[GCA] BMaN]

You get what you pay for. Im glad its not a cheap piece of crap.

[NickTheGamer]

is there gonna be a DS advanced.com?

[[GCA] BMaN]

Time Will Tell ^o^

[Shoxx]

Probably not, I'm guessing.

[Eddz]

Hold your horses! It's only just been announced!

[Shoxx]

Yeah. But the more we talk about it now, the more they'll think about it.

[blablamax]

MMmmm ... If the DS will lunch as planned, it wont get much 3rd titles I believe .. while the development for it will start only on May (not include first parties) .. I fear the release of the DS will be bad as the Gamecube release.

Another thing that I fear from, is the Next Gameboy problem. The Next GB should compeat the PSP, as Nintendo said,the DS is-not. The problem is that the DS should release like the PSP (both on Q4-December2004) and the Next Gameboy stayed on the shadows. As for the rumors and as much as I have read, the development for the Next GB already started which make me think that Nintendo will must release TWO handheld console this upcoming fourth quarter of the year - which is be pretty difficult I believe and it will may cost one of them (DS/GBElite) to get poor sales and all the investment will go hell.

[Shoxx]

I don't think the next Gameboy will be released for about a year or two. They want the DS to compete with the PSP. That way, when Nintendo releases the next Gameboy, they can set it at a price cheaper than the DS and the PSP, and then it'll sell better. That's what I think.

[Eddz]

...Or just make a surprise announcement at E3. If not, there's the Ects at London later on.

I think Nintendo is doing the right thing. They know that they are going to stun us all, and if developers are developing a game, they have more options from Nintendo with connectivity flowing through three consoles..

Are none of you thinking about this? Connectivity is going to be incredible with the tree consoles working hard together. You can sit and play the game on your 'Cube, then when you need to go out, play on your GBA. Then you have the options of removing all the annoying screen-filling menus with the DS.

Mario Kart: DD!! = Position, lap time, race time, map, who is in what places, lap number, item 1, item 2, speed etc. Wouldn't you just love to race on a plain screen with all the stats shoved into another screen?

And how about this? Splinter Cell = You want to lay a security camera? With the DS you can view your character on one screen, and on the other screen you can view your camera.

This thing will work with many FPS/action games too. You can scroll though the menus without disturbing your gameplay. Imagine Zelda with no pausing! WOOOH!

[Shoxx]

That would be pretty cool.

[Santo]

It's going to be announcement overload at E3 if a new Game Boy is coming... just thinking that we already have a confirmed PSP and DS to debut at the show.

[alegoicoe]

I think that the nintendo ds idea is a great one for us nintendo fans, now with the Gamecube, GBA and the new DS, more companies will startmaking more games for nintendo.

[Shoxx]

That's not true at all. Just because they have more consoles, doesn't mean that more people will make games for them. If you think about it, most 3rd Party games on the GBA are horrible. They don't seem to put a lot of work into them. I would much rather have more 1st and 2nd party titles that turn out much better than most of the third party titles do.

Now, I do know for sure, and it was said I believe here on GCA, that Namco will be supporting the DS. Soul Calibur DS, anyone?

[Wh|tE gUy]

Originally posted by codeMatrix
Soul Calibur DS, anyone?
Great, now i can have one screen focused on the action and the other one focused on Ivy's chest :rolleyes:

[Cooolcorey]

Originally posted by [GCA] BMaN
You get what you pay for. Im glad its not a cheap piece of crap.
Nah, the XBox and PS2 started at $300, remember?

[prime_timer]

this will be just like any other system: if you can put the right game on it, it will be great. stealth action titles, FPS, RPG's, hell, even sports games would work on this. i think this machine will enjoy fair sales, at LEAST 2 million world wide, AT LEAST.

[Wh|tE gUy]

Gamecube barely has 6-7 million worldwide...

[Casey-AMN]

...for this year. Total sales are somewhere around 14 million.

[Shoxx]

Originally posted by prime_timer
this will be just like any other system: if you can put the right game on it, it will be great. stealth action titles, FPS, RPG's, hell, even sports games would work on this. i think this machine will enjoy fair sales, at LEAST 2 million world wide, AT LEAST.

It'll be more than 2 million. If it's like a Gameboy, it'll sell.

[Wh|tE gUy]

Originally posted by codeMatrix
If it's like a Gameboy, it'll sell.
What if it's competing with Gameboy but is more expensive, will it still sell

[Shoxx]

It's not going to compete with the Gameboy. Nintendo wants this to be separate from the Gameboy market. This is just something to hold us over until the new Gameboy arrives. But, if it were competing with the Gameboy, but more expensive, it would still sell. Mainly because of Nintendo's good games for it.

[enediol]

Im just interested in what it looks like.

[Eddz]

I don't see why no-one understands the potential. The connectivity has been great in many games so far. Pacman VS is fantabulous and with the 2-screen DS this can only be made better.

[Steve-AMN]

Pacman Vs was an excellent game. Even if it has only 6 levels. But the DS has so much potential...there is so much we havne't found out yet about it. Keep in mind Nintendo said that there is much more the DS can do we just won't find out till E3.

[Eddz]

Great! At least you see the potential :)

I would like to see the DS being two hand controllers that operate simutaneously. So it feels like you have two mobile/cellphones in your hands. Remember that Nintendo mentioned something about wireless technology.

And what was all that hype about the motion technology? Lets hope this is incorporated!

[Steve-AMN]

motion technology? where was that said?

[Eddz]

It was announced that Nintendo were to be using motion technology.. I'm sure of it :)

[Steve-AMN]

If you could find a link I would love to read it...but I have not read anything about that anywhere myself.

[Eddz]

I think there is probably something floating about on this forum somewhere..

It got me all hyped up as I started thinking "virtual reality".. How wrong was I?!

[Steve-AMN]

oh I read what you read on this forum...that was just a rumor that was not an offical release statement at all.

[Eddz]

Nooo!

Imagine Marble Madness/Super Monkey Ball/Kirby's Tilt And Tumble on a motion-sensoring Nintendo DS!

[Steve-AMN]

I would hate that...I never liked that and it would be less fun ecspecially with Monkey Ball :(

[Eddz]

Not a Monkey Ball fan, eh?

[Steve-AMN]

No I love Monkey Ball a lot...but imagine playing the game with motion sensors...ewwwww that would suck so much.

[Eddz]

I think it would work great with Monkey Ball..

Imagine having to tilt the controller to move the ball.. Fantastic!

[Steve-AMN]

it is hard enough to control the Monkey with an analog stick let alone moving a WHOLE unit along with it...making percise moves would be horrible. Then the screen would go left right up down really quickly...ew ew ew ew ew...horrid.

[Eddz]

Hehe..

I know a guy who managed to get the "Master" mode on SMB1.. He's a Monkey freak :)

[Steve-AMN]

Yeah Master mode is DIFFICULT

[blablamax]

codeMatrix - I think you wrong.
First you said the DS should compeat the PSP. Nintendo itself said it wont.
Second - The DS is not a "pass" console for Nintendo to hold us over until we get the GB Elite, Nintendo will market and want it to be--The DS I mean-- an all new gaming market!

Eddz - I think you are too excited from the Connectivity idea. Till now, only Pacman VS. and maybe FF:CC succeed to use it and make gamers enjoy it - And that after more than two years the idea exit, and this generation coming for end. Maybe its a good start, but for now, the Connectivity idea is just bad decision of Nintendo to how marketing their GBA-GC options.

I believe Nintendo have something with motion which connected to the DS. After all, Iwata said that will be a new way of gaming look,fealing and playing .. or something... --~

[Steve-AMN]

Wait till you see what it is...:)

[Eddz]

3rd party developers haven't used Connectivity properly. When they start using the DS/GBA as spy cameras on Splinter Cell or as other views in games then Connectivity will catch on.

Right now, Nintendo has to make it happen. And Nintendo are going to try their hardest.

[Steve-AMN]

Iwata and Miyamoto are doing amazing things with Nintendo...I have more faith in them then I have in a long time.

[Eddz]

Lets hope that Nintendo don't fall on their faces here.

[blablamax]

Originally posted by Nintendo Steve
Wait till you see what it is...:)
Do you want to tell us something .... :eek: ;)

[Eddz]

Damn Steve, don't give it away! It's our secret, okay?!
Just because we have spycams in Shigsy's office it doesn't mean that we can start to drop hints on what the new console is! ;)

[blablamax]

Ok Now is see the all picture:
A NEW REALITY T.V. SHOW WITH Shigy Staring!!!!!!

WTF?@$^?^#$!?&@#$*??^(?%&(#%?$%?@#$^?#$34

[Eddz]

:) Kinda..

[MadSkill]

Dang, this thread sure did kick off fast.

[Steve-AMN]

YEah it did...

And no there is nothing I want to say

[Eddz]

Maybe you should start a mockup-making compo for GCA members, Ken?

[Steve-AMN]

compo?

[Eddz]

competition

[Steve-AMN]

I am still lost...I feel really stupid right now.

[Casey-AMN]

Have everyone make a mock-up and submit it. Whoever has the closest representation to the real product when it comes out at E3 gets a prize! That'd be cool:D

[Steve-AMN]

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I get it...

your a gay robot? <-----inside joke

[Boondock Saint]

i would like a prize for letting everyone know how much it's going to suck, and then when it actually sucks and everyone goes, "man, this sucks".

can i get a prize for THAT prediction? i don't give a crap what it looks like...

[Casey-AMN]

Yes, you get the "Sit Down and Shut Up" award... read my editorial tomorrow, then you'll understand why comments like that piss me off so much.

[Lovebird]

boondock, give me one good reason why it is going to suck...

[Shoxx]

It's not gonna suck. I trust Nintendo to not make this into the next Virtual Boy.

[Xtreme CHRI$$]

I trust them too. I really think they got something amazing up their sleeves. Man I can't wait to E3

[blablamax]

Im too. You all convinsed me.

[Lovebird]

of course it's not going to suck, don't listen to people like boondock, they're too negative.

[LucifersLegend]

I think it would be pretty awesome because it goes against the game development concept. YOu'd have to make games entirely different than in the past. Like take for example a first-person shooter. I personally hate the first person perspective but if you have a second screen to see the third person view, it would open for much more action/explortation etc... Ooo the possibilities.

[Lovebird]

wow, that's a pretty snazzy idea...what do you guys think the grafics will be like,(i don't remember if we talked bout this) i think they'll be like 64, but slighty smoother, catch my drift? i dunno, i mean, how good could the graphics possibly be for a 3 inch screen? even if they are amazing, it's still a three inch screen...

[LucifersLegend]

I think the graphics could be awesome. I think the whole myst surrounding this thing is that it would be super powerful. Why wouldn't they--they have been invested and receiving their investments 1,000 fold in the handheld market. Let's see what they can give us.

[bamf226]

Personally, I see the DS as having limited uses. Their analogy of using the dual screens in a sports game just don't make sense. I see the second screen as only being useful in games where you need to handle inventory or see an overhead map (RTS, FPS, RPG) Why do I need to see the overhead shot of a football field while I'm being tackled?

[blablamax]

MMmm I hope it will have atleast N64 graphic abilities...

[Shoxx]

I hope it has better.

[Xtreme CHRI$$]

Now I doubt that'll happen. The GBA is still in 16-bits remember. A jump to 64 is already big enough but beyond, nahh.

[Lovebird]

uhhh gba is 32bits, and the "jump" to 64 would be easy...not only did the 64 come out 6 years ago, but they can putit on mini discs, so i think the graphics will be like n64 that are smoother...

[Wh|tE gUy]

well the PS1 is 32 bits and compare its games to the GBA games.

[Lovebird]

gba was cartridge, psone was disc, nuff said. plus, gba is never used to it's fullest potential anyway. but it's mostly the difference between disc and cartridge dude, which is why it sometimes seems strange when n64 and psone have similar graphics the difference between disc and cartridge.

[Xtreme CHRI$$]

Good way to put it. The GBA is about equal to the SNES, and many people don't think its even that good.

[Cooolcorey]

Technically speaking, the GBA is more "advanced" than the SNES, it's just that most of the games have been SNES ports, so we don't really know how much it can do. Unless you look at Golden Sun...

[Lovebird]

yeah...some games are amazing, some aren't that simple...but nds will probably be like the 64dd would have been

[Xtreme CHRI$$]

Yeah, Golden Sun is really something but it can't compare to the ps1. I guess its all about disks vs. cartridge really.