the Nintendo DS test report and facts

[johnnyb853]

http://gba.n64europe.com/index.php?id=2641

note this is the E3 version of the nintendo DS


We've acquired a test report containing pictures of the outside and inside of the Nintendo DS.

The document we got our hands on is based on the first publicly introduced version of the Nintendo DS (also known as the E3-edition). Since the device hasn't changed that much (apart from the looks), this might be an interesting read...

Let's start with power supply of the Nintendo DS. Fully charging the Nintendo DS' battery will take about 3 hours. The battery itself can be recharged up to 500 times, using the Nintendo DS AC adapter.

http://www.cube-europe.com/newsgfx/dsreport/battery.jpg

http://www.cube-europe.com/newsgfx/dsreport/battery2.jpg

The Nintendo DS AC adapter can be used with, how predictable, the Nintendo DS itself. However, the adapter can also be used to charge the Game Boy Advance SP.

Let us move on to the inside of the Nintendo DS. To do so, we'll first have to remove the casing. And there she is: the main component of the Nintendo DS. Such beauty devine...

http://www.cube-europe.com/newsgfx/dsreport/inside-small.jpg

http://www.cube-europe.com/newsgfx/dsreport/ds-report6small.jpg

If we look closely, we can still see the remains of the original codename of the Nintendo DS: Nitro. 'NTR-CPU-X2A', together with the Nintendo logo printed on both sides of the motherboard in every Nintendo DS unit.
We can also see for sure that the D-pad won't function as an analogue stick in any way. Even though the recent videofootage of Tim Symons from Cube-Europe.com playing Metroid DS suggested that the DS reacted on small movements, the existance of normal buttons under the D-pad kill off all such rumours.

For those of you who are interested in seeing how the big companies do their testing, here are three nice photo's of the Nintendo DS being tested on electrical charges, netwroking capabilities and such.

And finally, a word of advice. While playing the Nintendo DS using the wireless multiplayer capabilities, keep at least 22 centimeters of distance from anyone using a heart pacemaker (or so the manual prescribes)...

http://www.cube-europe.com/newsgfx/dsreport/ds-report1.jpg

http://www.cube-europe.com/newsgfx/dsreport/ds-report2.jpg

http://www.cube-europe.com/newsgfx/dsreport/ds-report3.jpg

[Kirbimirsha]

Waow, this is interesting.......although 500 possible recharges aren't too much seeing how much i'm gonna play :D

[Da Ruckus]

you could always upgrade to a better battery.

[Agustin]

Whoa... how many months till November now?

[BigBroMario]

Cool stuff, too bad we can't see more pictures of the current model, I'm dying to see what the L and R buttons look like now.

[alegoicoe]

thats pretty good, the sp was about the same

[Reallynotnick]

But I want to know how long the battery will last! Well anyway very good find!

[brian23987]

I'm sure the battery life will be pretty good. Battery life has been one of the biggest reasons that the gameboy has ruled the handheld market and nintendo knows this. Nintendo will not release the ds with a bad battery life.

[agenevil]

Im sure they will make replacement batteries, also. They should know it will get a bad consumer response if you have to buy a whole new DS just for a battery.

[BigBroMario]

Nintendo sells replacement batteries for the SP on their website, so yeah, they'll probably sell replacements.

[Da Ruckus]

that place where they are testing is like a dungeon. Do they like lock people in there for months just to test the DS. Whilst in there the person feeds on doritos and geek foods (aisle 5).

[GCA-Kevin]

yea but they also said the SP was only good for 500 charges as well and mine is well over that. Hell my battery pack from the original Game Boy still works and that's waaaaaaay over that. So it's probably just a safeguard saying 500 (meaning at least 500)

[Daniel]

Isn't that the old design?

I wouldn't understand if its good or bad. I don't get the tec stuff. But there should be more than 500 times that you can recharge it. I mean c'mon.

[Just Gabriel]

Ok, think of it this way, if you charged you battery once every two days (which is about right if you're playing 6 hours a day--but who really plays 6 hours a day steady of gameboy?) that gives you 1000 days, or 3 years. Now, that means if you hibernate in your room and play GBA/DS all the time, you might need a new battery after 3 years. For most (and i mean all but VERY few) people, the battery will be fine long after the system gives way to the next.

I mean, I charge my GBA battery maybe once a month? 500 charges goes a LONG way on that bill.

[Lovebird]

that's what i was gona say....i charge mine 2-3 times a month....though you may thin kyou'll run it out fast....it'll last years...plus, batteries for it are sold everywhere....i have a spare just in case, 5 bucks....that's it! everyone should carry one...well, taht's the way i feel, but anyway, i have my money set aside for it...so i'm ready....man i'm psyched...even moreso than for GiFTPiA which is now most definitely not reaching the states..........:(

[Daniel]

Well at least I'm happy

Here (http://www.gcadvanced.com/article.php?artid=2996)

[Da Ruckus]

I also conclude this is a joyious occasion.

[Daniel]

I thought that the PSP had the upperhand with the chaep games and all that Sony blabbered on about. I was worried. Thinking that the DS would have games of a higher price then the PSP but no. Nintendo is pulling out all stops to remove the PSP from our dirtied mines.

[BigBroMario]

Over at Camp Hyrule in the chat with NOA's localization team, I think it was NOA_Nate that said something like "Just to let you guys know, I've got a DS in front of me." It killed me :P