Rumour: Nintendo DS SP announcment

RE*AC*TOR

Joystiq is saying that Nintendo are going to reveal a revised Nintendo DS on the 16th of January.

Story here

Note - the picture on that page is only an unofficial mock-up, nothing to do with nintendo.

Its nice to hear - but I don't know how they can save that much space really, without cramping the buttons etc.

flogen

Bastards!
Next up, the DS micro!
I agree with what you mean about the cramping, the buttons are small enough, the best they can do is round the edges a little, but that won't be enough to get people to invest, they need something new.
Any ideas on what extra they might throw in besides a new casing? mp3/video support, higher quality screen, browser/pda software?
I just hope they don't make the screens smaller, and I don't intend on buying one unless they give me an amazingly good reason at an amazingly good price.
The GBA - GBA SP leap was big enough and worth it generally, but I just don't see what changes can be made besides superficial.

KdjaCL

Indent the Dpad and give it larger rounder face buttons would be nice.


kdjac

honru

mfs.

Although I agree with flogen; I can't see the changes being as much of an improvement over the SP from the original GBA. Judging by that concept pic it would appear that Nintendo are making a more attractive update for the iPod-buying/gadget market. This was inevidable folks! We'll just have to wait and see.

Attol

A joystick would be nice I think. Even if it replaced the D pad.

mise

Read that the other day, and couldnt see how they could make it that much smaller without squashing the buttons. I like the design at the mo, fits my hands perfectly. Don't think I would like it any smaller, but we'll have to wait and see.

Retr0gamer

The idiots at nintendo better leave in the headphone jack this time.

Kristok

Sure wasnt this announced months ago, read some nintendo spokes man saying it will have screens of the quality of the micro and smaller than that current ds.

flogen

Kristok wrote:

Sure wasnt this announced months ago, read some nintendo spokes man saying it will have screens of the quality of the micro and smaller than that current ds.

Nah, the most official statement on it so far was Reggie saying that designers have been looking at a redesign since the original was made. He didn't say it was going to happen, but if they're spending money looking into it then of course it will be.

I'm beginning to agree more and more with a friend of mine about the DS, that it was a rush job to compete with the PSP, without that I'd say the DS would only be coming out now and it would at least have a better design (I'm used to it now but it isn't that comfortable for playing with the buttons) and maybe even better graphics.
I'd be gutted if they upgrade the DS's power, like the N64 memory extension. That would just mean the best games would require the new ds, so you'd have to upgrade.

Retr0gamer

Could be revealed as early as next week according to Eurogamer.

MontgomeryClift

flogen wrote:

I'm beginning to agree more and more with a friend of mine about the DS, that it was a rush job to compete with the PSP, without that I'd say the DS would only be coming out now and it would at least have a better design (I'm used to it now but it isn't that comfortable for playing with the buttons) and maybe even better graphics.
I'd be gutted if they upgrade the DS's power, like the N64 memory extension. That would just mean the best games would require the new ds, so you'd have to upgrade.

Why would they need to? Have you seen the Japanese sales charts? DS games take the top slot and about 80% of the chart.

It's a bit early for a new version, but they might add anti-aliasing so the games look better, but the games would also work on an old DS. In fact I think this would be a good idea and I only wish Nintendo paid me for having such ideas.

But you have to expect this kind of thing with handhelds. It's a different market to the console market, and the size, shape and quality of the hardware matters much more.

flogen

MontgomeryClift wrote:

Why would they need to? Have you seen the Japanese sales charts? DS games take the top slot and about 80% of the chart.

It's a bit early for a new version, but they might add anti-aliasing so the games look better, but the games would also work on an old DS. In fact I think this would be a good idea and I only wish Nintendo paid me for having such ideas.

But you have to expect this kind of thing with handhelds. It's a different market to the console market, and the size, shape and quality of the hardware matters much more.

I'm not saying they need to, but even with the original GBA, when there was no real competition and sales were high they replaced (or offered a new version of) it.
I hope they don't split the userbase with a more powerful machine, and I'd expect that they won't. Maybe making the screen higher quality will be one thing, hopefully not smaller though, bigger if anything. Bigger buttons too, but this isn't going to happen unless the machine is made bigger, which is something they'll avoid.
I'd be interested to see if what you say about this being the norm with handhelds is true, it has been the norm with Nintendo (GB - GB pocket - GB colour -> GBA - GBASP - GBAmicro -> DS - DSSP(?)), but I don't think Sony will do anything other than change the colour of the PSP until a PSP2 is released.

MontgomeryClift

I wasn't just thinking of Nintendo. SNK released a newer Neo-Geo Pocket Color, after the b&w one. Wonderswan released a Wonderswan crystal/color after the b&w one and Nokia tried to re-do the NGage. I'd say you're right about the PSP. I get the impression Sony aren't as bothered about refining the PSP, since they're less interested in portability than features and the "look what it can do" factor.

Mr E

Officially denied by Nintendo .... for now....

Rhyme

We can only pray.