Nintendo DS Details Revealed

[WizarDru]

At a press conference today (presumable at the Tokyo Toy Show, now in progress), Nintendo revealted details of their new handheld system, the DS.

• Launch Date and MSRP: Nov. 21, 2004, in North America ($149.99), Dec. 2, 2004, in Japan (15,000 yen), Q1 2005 in Europe and Australia
  
• Size (when closed): 148.7 millimeters (5.85 inches) wide, 84.7 millimeters (3.33 inches) long, 28.9 millimeters (1.13 inches) tall
  
• Top Screen: A backlit, 3-inch, semitransparent reflective TFT color LCD with 256 x 192 pixel resolution and .24 mm dot pitch, capable of displaying 260,000 colors
  
• Touch Screen: Same specs as top screen, but with a transparent analog touch screen
  
• Wireless Communication: IEEE 802.11 and Nintendo’s proprietary format; wireless range is 30 to 100 feet, depending on circumstances; multiple users can play multiplayer games using just one DS Game Card
  
• Controls: Touch screen, embedded microphone for voice recognition, A/B/X/Y face buttons, plus control pad, L/R shoulder buttons, Start and Select buttons
  
• Input/Output: Ports for both Nintendo DS Game Cards and Game Boy® Advance Game Paks, terminals for stereo headphones and microphone
  
• Other features: Embedded PictoChat software that allows up to 16 users to chat at once, embedded real-time clock, date, time and alarm, touch-screen calibration
  
• CPUs: One ARM9 and one ARM7
  
• Sound: Stereo speakers providing virtual surround sound, depending on the software
  
• Battery: Lithium ion battery delivering six to 10 hours of play on a four-hour charge, depending on use; power-saving sleep mode; AC adapter
  
• Languages: English, Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Italian
  
  
  [*]Color: Silver and black

The real question: how will this affect Adult Swim?

 

[Ranger REG]

I hope there is a separate earphone/headphone input.

 

[WizarDru]

I hope there is a separate earphone/headphone input.

I'm hoping that "terminals for stereo headphones and microphone" means just that. My biggest disappointment in the SP was the lack of a distinct headphone jack...meaning you either used a special set of headphones or got an adapter.

I think Penny Arcade stated it best , though. (Note: Uses language Eric's Grandman would not approve of).

 

[mojo1701]

I think Penny Arcade stated it best , though. (Note: Uses language Eric's Grandman would not approve of).

Wow. Eric has a GrandMan! I love those things.

One thing they forgot to add to the end is, "or, if you're Michael Jackson."

 

[WizarDru]

Wow. Eric has a GrandMan! I love those things.

Don't mock Grandman! Grandman CRUSH!!!

 

[Welverin]

I'm hoping that "terminals for stereo headphones and microphone" means just that. My biggest disappointment in the SP was the lack of a distinct headphone jack...meaning you either used a special set of headphones or got an adapter.

I've found it to be totally irrelevant and completely untroublesome. Of course I turn the volume down, typically all of the way, ninety percent of the time.

 

[WizarDru]

Not me: a lot of the games have good music and sound effects, and sometimes I really want to listen to them. Plus, when you're giving them to the kids for a car trip to watch Spongebob or some other cartoon on them, they want to hear the shows.

 

[stevelabny]

the specs only state that it plays DS and Advance games...no mention of the old school GB and GBC games. Are they assuming that I will assume that since the GBA played the old games, so will this slot, or was this omission done on purpose?

 

[Welverin]

Not me: a lot of the games have good music and sound effects, and sometimes I really want to listen to them. Plus, when you're giving them to the kids for a car trip to watch Spongebob or some other cartoon on them, they want to hear the shows.

I'm just different, I almost never like the music in any game and it's only in the past five years or so when listening to what's going on has become essential that I've started to pay any attention to the sound at all.

the specs only state that it plays DS and Advance games...no mention of the old school GB and GBC games. Are they assuming that I will assume that since the GBA played the old games, so will this slot, or was this omission done on purpose?

That's an intentional exclusion, the DS will not play GB or GBC games.

 

[WizarDru]

That's an intentual exclusion, the DS will not play GB or GBC games.

That's correct...there will be no backwards-compatability for the GB and GBC. And frankly, with the number of GBA games available, I'm not really going to miss them.