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.
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Contest:
5:21 AM on 09.28.2008
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I kid, I kid.
Mine already does mp3 playback, and movie playback. Not R4s ftw.
Here's the Nikkei article: Translated
Like when we all got original Nintendo DS's just so they could go off and release a DS light?
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.
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.
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!?!?
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'.
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'.
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!
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.