New Nintendo DS model?

[MaxVance]

From Wired: Nikkei: New Nintendo DS Model Adds Camera, Music Playback

Reports out of Japanese newspapers Saturday indicate that Nintendo is preparing to announce a new version of the Nintendo DS hardware in the coming days, one that adds non-gaming functions to the popular portable machine.

Nikkei Net, the online arm of Japan's foremost economic newspaper, reports that the new model will launch this year in Japan and include a camera and music playback. Nikkei's take on the new machine is that Nintendo is moving outside the boundaries of the "game industry" and attempting to create a device that will compete with more general electronics like cell phones.

The machine's wireless communication functionality will also be strengthened by allowing it to connect to "information terminals," possibly allowing a user to find nearby train stations or restaurants using his DS.

Nikkei does point out that the camera function of DS could be integrated with gameplay, by allowing games to use the photos taken with the hardware.

The online version of the story omits a line that is present in a photograph of the print story, which says that the new model will cost less than 20,000 yen (about $188). The DS Lite costs 16,800 yen ($158) in Japan.

Nikkei says the new model will go on sale in Japan first, this year, and that a U.S. release is "being considered."

And there might be more to this new model -- another version of the Nikkei report, since removed, apparently ran on a site called Monex and said that the hardware would have larger screens and be able to transfer data from the Wii or an SD card.

Note that we may not be getting the full picture of the device's capabilities from these reports; note also that the current version of the story does not confirm the two data points in the above paragraph.

Nintendo will hold media briefings in Tokyo and San Francisco on Thursday. Simultaneous media events generally mean some big piece of news is to be announced, so this would seem like a likely topic of discussion.

As much as I'd like to say the Nintendo DS has had its run, it doesn't look like Nintendo will ever let it die. I can't wait to hear more.

[BP]

Awesome. I smell price drop in the original DS and the DS Lite. A new one of which I need.

But it also sounds like this could possibly be a whole new system. The GBA didn't last as long as the DS has, did it?

[Super Caterina!]

This sounds amazing!
Then I thought it costed much more...Oh, lucky Japanese people! I hope Nintendo will consider also Europe to seel the new NDS, not only Japan and US...

[BP]

You could always import. Nintendo's handhelds aren't region-locked, so you can play games from Europe on a DS from Japan.

[hydrakiller4000]

I don't like this idea for many reasons. First, everyone who has a Nintendo DS probably already has one by now. Second, it feels like they're creating too many new revisions for the Nintendo DS. There's no need for a camera and other things like that, since everyone probably has them already. A Nintendo DS can't compete with cell phones. They're nothing alike, so I don't know what Nintendo's trying to get at. I bought a Nintendo DS to play its games, not play music or use a camera.

All I know is that IF this comes out, I'm not buying it because it will be a waste of my money.

[Kuromatsu]

All it needs now is the further backwards compatibility that would allow it to play Gameboy games.

Then I'd be sold for sure.

I'd Imagine that if it was going to have a music player, it would need to be quite high of quality, which may also mean the same for the system's games. And long have I been waiting for another "game boy camera"; this just may be it.

[Glorb]

I don't see how adding music playback and a camera could hurt. I mean, I don't like having to choose between carrying my iPod and my DS, so an MP3-playing DS would rule. And it never hurts to have a camera on hand. This is all assuming that this is:

a) real, and
b) not substantially more expensive than a standard DS or DSL.

[Robert]

This camera idea kinda remind me the Gizmondo. Unlike the Gizmondo, however, you don't need to be filthy stinking rich to buy one. That being said, this new DS has lots of potential. I thought of a cool laser-tag game for the Gizmondo using the camera, and the would work perfectly with this new DS (if the camera can show video in real time).

But I'm a bit a worried about buying this new device. I haven't played my DS in almost a year, due to the drought of hardcore games. It'll only be a matter of time until Spongebob and minigame collections come to dominate this new system.

[WarpRattler]

"Drought of hardcore games"? SPAC3 INVADERS EXTR3ME, The World Ends With You, FFTA2, N+, Kirby Super Star Ultra, Spore Creatures, FFIV, DQIV (and Izuna 2 and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon if you play Roguelikes)...yeah, none of those games are in any way hardcore whatsoever. Riiight.

I don't need a camera on my game system, and the R4 makes my DS a fully functional MP3 player anyway, so I don't really have any reason to want this device.

[Glorb]

Spore Creatures

=

not in any way hardcore whatsoever

[Kojinka]

If I were to get a second DS, this would be the kind that I would not mind having.

[ShadowBrain]

I always love announcements of announcements. *Rolls eyes*

Yeah... I'm not getting it.

[nensondubois]

Game systems have too short of a life span as it is. I hope this doesn't end the DS but rather expand it.

[Mr. Wiggles]

What griefer though it was a good idea to turn game systems into universal media machines? I will forever hate him.

Also, Fire Emblem DS is coming out soon, and that's a pretty hardcore series.

[Robert]

SPAC3 INVADERS EXTR3ME

Not interested.

FFTA2, FFIV, DQIV

Not quite into those super-hardcore type of RPGs and they don't seem to do anything different from other RPGs/strategy games..

N+

Too hard, plus isn't it just an upgrade of a free flash game?

Spore Creatures

Uh...

Kirby Super Star Ultra, The World Ends With You

They look good, but two games can hardly solve a drought (plus, didn't the latter come out months ago?).

Thank you for the suggestions, though.

[Chupperson Weird]

I'm confused. You just denounced most of his hardcore-declarations (Spore notwithstanding) and then you say that the drought is still there and even acknowledge that there have been good games coming out at least as far back as "months ago". And FFIV is the game to get excited about rather than "other RPGs" if you ask me.

[Glorb]

Why is this conversation even happening? There's a great mix of hardcore and casual DS games out now; the Wii's the one in bad shape.

And why is anyone complaining about the DS getting better? You people are so ungrateful.

[Chupperson Weird]

The Wii's not really even in bad shape, it's just that due to its being a console, it's susceptible to even more garbage games than the DS. But it still has a fair amount of good stuff as it stands now.

[MushroomJunkie]

SPAC3 INVADERS EXTR3ME

This is actually a really good game.  Except I have it for the PSP not the DS.

[Robert]

I'm confused. You just denounced most of his hardcore-declarations (Spore notwithstanding) and then you say that the drought is still there and even acknowledge that there have been good games coming out at least as far back as "months ago". And FFIV is the game to get excited about rather than "other RPGs" if you ask me.

Well, I suppose it's a matter of opinion based on what you like. From a non-biased standpoint, the DS has probably been getting good titles for a while now. But based on my opinion, there's not much to get excited about. I'm generally not interested in games like Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest, N was just too hard, and Space invaders doesn't really hold my interest. I'm sorry. But hey, can't please 'em all, right?

[ShadowBrain]

What I am vaguely considering for the DS right now:

-Dragon Quest IV
-Kirby Super Star Ultra
-Sonic Chronicles

[Glorb]

SC confuses and frightens me. I honestly have no idea if it'll be good or bad (well, not bad, more mediocre). I'm leaning towards good, but I also leaned towards good back before Shadow the Hedgehog came out (no, I don't know why, either).

[ShadowBrain]

Well, Bioware's involved, and I've heard good reviews, so... who can say. If I had a quarter for every Wii/DS game I bought that I thought would be great and wasn't, I could buy SC straight up.

[Glorb]

If I had a quarter for evy DS/Wii game I thought would suck but didn't, I'd have...well, fifty cents.

I could buy a Coke, though.

[CrossEyed7]

"We are always developing new products. However, since nothing has been announced officially, we are unable to comment at this time."

That smells like a confirmation.

[MushroomJunkie]

Smells more like Nirvana if you ask me.

[MaxVance]

What?

[MushroomJunkie]

What?

Smells Like Nirvana

[Glorb]

...What?

[MushroomJunkie]

Glorb if I have to post that link again then I'm going to smack you.

[Lizard Dude]

Well, Bioware's involved, and I've heard good reviews, so... who can say. If I had a quarter for every Wii/DS game I bought that I thought would be great and wasn't, I could buy SC straight up.

There are 140 Wii/DS games you bought that you thought would be great but weren't?

[MaxVance]

Smells Like Nirvana

Oh, so you were trying to be funny.

[ShadowBrain]

As opposed to...?

[Glorb]

...
...
...What?

[MushroomJunkie]

Ok I'm gonna explain the Nirvana thing so you guys can get back on topic

Smells like Nirvana is a parody by "Weird" Al of the song "Smells like Teen Spirit" by the band Nirvana.  Incase you didn't know Weird Al is a musician/artist that just makes parodys of rock songs.  So now if anyone says "what?" again then its obvious they're just trying to be funny.

[CrossEyed7]

I'm going to go ahead and predict that the new model either has complete Game Boy backwards compatibility, or has no GBA slot and built-in rumble and motion sensing. Just in case I'm right.

[ShadowBrain]

Well, less than 24 hours to go. Let's hope we don't see this again:

[Glorb]

Ravi Drums FTW.

I'm going as him for Halloween.

[BP]

Ok I'm gonna explain the Nirvana thing so you guys can get back on topic

Smells like Nirvana is a parody by "Weird" Al of the song "Smells like Teen Spirit" by the band Nirvana.  Incase you didn't know Weird Al is a musician/artist that just makes parodys of rock songs.  So now if anyone says "what?" again then its obvious they're just trying to be funny.

What?

did your original comment have to do with anything?

[Glitchy]

Cool, but...if they called it the DS 2 (which it kind of earned the name of) more people would buy it.

[CrossEyed7]

http://www.dsfanboy.com/2008/10/02/nintendo-announces-nintendo-dsi/

Well, I was right about the GBA slot being gone, and with the Virtual Console-type service for it, there's probably going to be GB and GBC games for download... can those two put together count as being right?

Also, I don't think I said it online anywhere, so I can't prove it, but I'm pretty sure I predicted that it would be like this... E3 for the expanded market, then either TGS or a Spaceworld-type thing for the core (After reading Sean Malstrom, I've sworn off the terms "casual" and "hardcore").

[BP]

Why do I want it? No... no! I don't! I shouldn't! Can't. Why do I need it? I could just get a new M3 for my homebrew needs, and I already have a good camera. WiiWare hasn't amazed me yet (nothing super-appealing to me yet, but LD sent me a crappy game), so DSWare isn't too exciting...



Now if it were this...

[Ultima Shadow]

Just some things I noticed and surmised from the comments from that page; there'll either be no extensions that require a GBA slot (eg: guitar grip for GH:OT, Rumble Pak, miscellaneous other DS option packs) or they'll need to be repurchased for this new DS version.

I think I can see a bit of a parallel forming; remember how the GBA came out, then the SP, the slightly sleeker and sexier version, then the Micro with its lesser compatibility and relative uselessness on the market? Well, I can see the DS line going the same way; despite this DSi having more features, the majority of these features will be totally useless while mobile phones, iPods and the like are still common around the world.

[Chupperson Weird]

This is why I didn't buy a DS Lite.

[Luigison]

This is why I didn't buy an iPod.  Actually, there are plenty of other reasons, but this confirms to me that my decision was correct. 

[ShadowBrain]

I... have no reason to buy this. Maybe, just maybe, if I was given it, I'd be pleased, but I've little interest in any case.

Here's some more coverage:

http://gonintendo.com/?p=57999#comments

[NintendoExpert89]

I... have no reason to buy this. Maybe, just maybe, if I was given it, I'd be pleased, but I've little interest in any case.

You've already confirmed this.

Let's hope we don't see this again:

Yeah... I'm not getting it.

You don't have to keep reminding people you hate Nintendo.

I'm interested in the DSi. My 3-year-old DS is aging, and I don't have a portable camera. I'm interested in the DSWare feature as well.

[CrossEyed7]

Maybe, just maybe, if I was given it, I'd be pleased

You mean there's a slight chance you might appreciate someone spending $180 on you, even if it meant supporting Nintendo? Blasphemy!

[Kojinka]

I thought about trading my old DS for a DSi, but the loss of the GBA slot is kind of a deal breaker for me.

[NintendoExpert89]

I don't have any GBA games at this time, so I'm all right with trading. I still have by GBA if I wanted something.

[Chupperson Weird]

The DS Lite wasn't worth it for me, but all the stuff on the DSi looks attractive, even without GBA support. I have a Game Boy Player and a GBA anyway.
I have to say that AAC being the chosen audio format is highly disappointing. Maybe a Moonshell-like program will be made to work on it.

[NintendoExpert89]

Agreed. I didn't consider buying a DS Lite until a few months ago, but I'm glad I held out on it.

AAC... that's iTunes format, isn't it?

[Chupperson Weird]

Yes. And since most of my music is MP3 (obsolete but more widely used) and Ogg (better and smaller) I wish I could use my music files in the format they already are.

[ShadowBrain]

You've already confirmed this.You don't have to keep reminding people you hate Nintendo.

I don't hate the DSi. Heck, I think those are some awesome features. I just don't think I'll be getting one, is all (and by the way, this conference blew E3 out of the water).

[Glorb]

I'm buying. It finally looks like Nintendo's doing something I 100% agree with.

Besides, I haven't used my GBA slot in forever. I use my GBA for that.

[chucknorris]

it could use a multi touch screen, like on an iphone. Since there is no GBA slot, you cant play Guitar Hero on it.

[Chupperson Weird]

That makes me happy.