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Rumortoid: New Nintendo DS with camera and music playback?

5:21 AM on 09.28.2008, Jim Sterling 33 comments

Rumortoid: New Nintendo DS with camera and music playback? photo
     Nintendo

Nikkei Net, the online version of Japan's foremost financial paper is reporting that Nintendo will soon be releasing a brand new DS model which includes a camera and the ability to play music. Nintendo is apparently trying to take the DS beyond the realm of the gaming industry with these new additions. 

The new model is also said to be able to use its wireless communication features to hook up to "information terminals" and presumably become a veritable fountain of traveling knowledge.

The printed version of the story suggests that the new DS will retail for 20,000 Yen (roughly $188.) The online story doesn't include this information, so there's a chance that this could be wrong. Other questionable aspects of the story indicate that a larger screen and the ability to transfer data from the Wii or an SD card might also be featured. The new SKU is said to be primed for a limited Japanese release, with an eye to possibly expanding sales in the future. 

Nikkei seems pretty confident in the story, according to all sources, so this may very well have a lot of truth in it. With media briefings being held this coming week, it would be the perfect time to announce a new DS model. This is a rumor until it comes straight from the horse's mouth though, so we'll wait and see.


Next page: More Rumortoid stories




wardrox's Avatar
wardrox at 09/28/2008 05:44
Nikkei is a credible source is it?

I kid, I kid.

Mine already does mp3 playback, and movie playback. Not R4s ftw.
TUoAnonymous's Avatar
TUoAnonymous at 09/28/2008 05:53
I'd heard that the PSP3000 would come with the Camera they'd launched over here as standard - I was just waiting for Nintendo to try and bring the camera back to their handheld. Am waiting for a game that interacts with the dark/lightness of the image picked up by the camera - a platformer or puzzle game I guess.
Mista Smegheneghan's Avatar
Mista Smegheneghan at 09/28/2008 05:55
what's the chance that, if this is true, nintendo will make it so the only music playback possible is for AACs?
sicPOS's Avatar
sicPOS at 09/28/2008 06:03
They keep taking my money!

Here's the Nikkei article: Translated
ceark's Avatar
ceark at 09/28/2008 06:08
hmmm, I wouldn't mind this at all. means I wouldn't have to carry my ipod around anymore.
TUoAnonymous's Avatar
TUoAnonymous at 09/28/2008 06:13
I'd heard that the PSP3000 would come with the Camera they'd launched over here as standard - I was just waiting for Nintendo to try and bring the camera back to their handheld. Am waiting for a game that interacts with the dark/lightness of the image picked up by the camera - a platformer or puzzle game I guess.
naia-the-gamer's Avatar
naia-the-gamer at 09/28/2008 06:17
I may be a simple girl with simple tastes, but all I care about is whether or not there will still be interesting games for it. Also is this the next generation handheld or is this a minor upgrade like the DS Lite? If it's the same thing but with all the features that I don't use on my NOT R4, then there is no point.
sicPOS's Avatar
sicPOS at 09/28/2008 06:20
Gambeboy on the VC
sicPOS's Avatar
sicPOS at 09/28/2008 06:29
Bloomberg and reuters just posted the same info.
Tyrian3's Avatar
Tyrian3 at 09/28/2008 07:22
Mmmh...I'm not sure where they're going with this one, if it'll turn out to be true.
loquax's Avatar
loquax at 09/28/2008 07:31
The word "gameboy" has long been lost, but is waiting in the shadows, gaining strength, soon to emerge...
Holyetheline's Avatar
Holyetheline at 09/28/2008 08:39
@Justice

Like when we all got original Nintendo DS's just so they could go off and release a DS light?
Remo's Avatar
Remo at 09/28/2008 08:58
Hmm I could use a new ds I'm fairly rough on handhelds.
Jetsetlemming's Avatar
Jetsetlemming at 09/28/2008 09:49
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/151627/report_nintendo_to_launch_new_ds_with_camera_music_player.html
And I JUST got a DS lite yesterday. I'd like to be able to take pictures with it.
No big deal, though.
I'm thinking of writing a blog post reviewing a bunch of titles I've tried out on my not R4, which I see a few other dtoiders aren't using.
eternalplayer2345's Avatar
eternalplayer2345 at 09/28/2008 10:05
If the SD card allowed for VC games on the go, then I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
Jaffacakelover's Avatar
Jaffacakelover at 09/28/2008 10:27
@TUoAnonymous: There was a GBA game that had a sunlight sensor in it. What was it called - Boktai? Golden Sun?

All i'd want are bigger screens and more processing power - not bothered about cameras and music players. Don't think it's gonna get more power put in.
In fact, I don't think they'll update the DS yet... may have to hold off Not buying a flash card till friday though, just in case.
Daxelman's Avatar
Daxelman at 09/28/2008 10:48
Pretty sure the game was Boktai.

Anyways, I'd like a DS with slightly wider screens, and SD card support.

VC Games on the Go FTW.

Better yet, I'd like Nintendo to release servers for games that didn't previously have Online Support, but it would be amazing if they did, say, oh I don't know, MARIO KART DOUBLE DASH/64!?!?
Yashoki's Avatar
Yashoki at 09/28/2008 11:18
A little birdy told me that this was confirmed *continues to dance*
parrothead's Avatar
parrothead at 09/28/2008 11:24
I would like a DS with a hard drive if they are going to have music playback
smackifilia's Avatar
smackifilia at 09/28/2008 11:46
holy crap man, make games not trends.
kielejocain's Avatar
kielejocain at 09/28/2008 11:56
I didn't care for it when the PSP shoehorned in a movie player (with a proprietary media format, no less). I didn't care for the news that they were shoehorning in a phone.

I don't know why we can't just make portable consoles. When you try to cram games into phones or (God forbid) mp3 players, you get crappy games. The same will happen in reverse unless you get large, capable companies for each medium working closely together. And then so many people are going to want a piece of the pie that it will make an XBox Elite at launch look cheap. And might still be crap. And I just started a third consecutive sentence with 'and'.
Prince Ghidorah's Avatar
Prince Ghidorah at 09/28/2008 12:27
@kielejocain
In the future, even your toaster and coffee maker will play mp3s and movies. I don't like it. You don't like it. But that's the way the wind is blowin'.
perri's Avatar
perri at 09/28/2008 14:12
I'm interested to see the new form factor/design. SD card has me very intruiged, if only for VC/Wiiware purposes. Camera/music player I couldn't care less about.

Would love some updated Firmware, maybe channels? PDA functionality, more wireless, location based applications.

Maybe the camera can be used with Wii games, like facial mapping and what not?

Hopefully it is worthwhile and pretty!
Dan CiTi's Avatar
Dan CiTi at 09/28/2008 14:20
New firmware(basically the Wiis), a camera, VC support, and multimedia functionality would be nice. I'm glad I never got a DS Lite.
bluemeep's Avatar
bluemeep at 09/28/2008 15:11
I was skeptical about this until the mentioning of VC games on the DS, at which point my mind was blown.
Palidi's Avatar
Palidi at 09/28/2008 15:53
I'm not buying a new one unless it lets me play all my old Gameboy and Gameboy color games.
Springsteen's Avatar
Springsteen at 09/28/2008 18:25
Nintendo has always reigned supreme over the dandheld market. This move is proof that they have learned a lot from being at the top for so long. Nintendo got smarter over the years and it shows.
Remember Game Boy Micro? THAT was a dumb move. Released one year after the release of Nintendo DS, that little piece of hardware sold a million units. Nintendo's doing what they should have done back then.
Nintendo DS's market is not saturated yet. PSP is seeling more, that's a fact. But it's far from a real threat to Nintendo. By releasing this third and final version of their overachieved handheld, they'll be reaching all those that didn't buy Lite waiting for the next one, people who didn't buy either, portable-multimedia-freaks and those who'll buy anything that comes their way.
It won't be amazing. It will probably be sort of dumb, just like Micro. But they must be sure that they've milked every single one of potential DS owners. So that he way is paved for the true next Nintendo handheld, which will most likely integrate such features from DS 3 with all improvements that the feedback will allow.
By the way, DS is reaching its fifth anniversary. It would've been logical if Nintendo shows their new console at least until this date next year, but somehow I think they're expecting the first move from Sony and the turnout of iPhone's gaming capabilities.
Either way, I guess the handheld market is heading towards a very interesting way, and my bet lies on Nintendo, that's shown a pretty interesting sillouette of its upcoming strategy through this announcement. I expect music and video playback, camera, motion-control, precise microphone, touch screen and something new and exciting. Nintendo takes a while to get on the wagon, keeping it simple(as seen on their on-line strategy) while paying primary attention to the games. So, a multimedia handheld with a twist must be on its way. Here's my hoping for some sort of innovative force-feedback. Remember when the rumble pack was promising?
Fully analog stick and buttons would be nice too.
GohanGVO's Avatar
GohanGVO at 09/28/2008 21:29
I am definitely intrigued by the possibilities. Now the Oct. 2nd hype train is going to be massive. :/
Blind assassin's Avatar
Blind assassin at 09/28/2008 23:16
I was going to get an ipod and a DS Lite within the year. Now I'm going to have to hold off on both. The music playback will likely be rather limited (SD cards don't really get bigger than 10 gigs or so right?) but if they allow for more than I expect or if it's wicked awesome then maybe it'll work out nicely.
twister1988's Avatar
twister1988 at 09/28/2008 23:34
Do want as long as i can still not use my not r4 that i dont own
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