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Rumortoid: Will E3 bring news of a redesigned Nintendo DS?
1:01 PM on 04.11.2008, Chad Concelmo 51 comments

Rumortoid: Will E3 bring news of a redesigned Nintendo DS? photo
     E3

According to Hirokazu Hamamura, head honcho at Famitsu, Nintendo is going to reveal a redesign for the DS at this year’s E3 (Los Angeles Convention Center, July 15-17).

This comment, when paired with the fact that Reggie Fils-Aime has promised some megaton announcements at the annual trade show, could hold some validity. Nintendo is known for tweaking its handhelds every few years, so a DS redesign is most definitely not out of the question. Not surprisingly, Nintendo refuses to comment.

The question is: What would they change? Larger screens? Different shape? Two touch points on the bottom screen (that’s my vote!)? I am perfectly happy with the model I have right now, but would be open for change.

How about you guys? Would you be excited about seeing a sleek new DS design come down the pipeline? What would like to see changed, if anything?

[Via GamePro]


Next page: More Rumortoid stories




UselessKor's Avatar
UselessKor at 04/11/2008 13:03
The only thing I could possibly want more out my DS is longer battery life.
Projectexodus's Avatar
Projectexodus at 04/11/2008 13:03
Perhaps its an ultra-thin version with removed GBA backwards compability?
ceark's Avatar
ceark at 04/11/2008 13:04
a battery meter?
sicPOS's Avatar
sicPOS at 04/11/2008 13:05
Well it would be nice to upgrade from my phat. If the GBA slot is kept, then it would be nice if they games didn't stick out like they do on they lite.
king3vbo's Avatar
king3vbo at 04/11/2008 13:09
DS 3.0? If its as revolutionary as DS Lite then I might get one
daCuk's Avatar
daCuk at 04/11/2008 13:09
Anti R4/M3/Acekard/Supercard technology.

$100 price.

And that's it.
Shalashaska's Avatar
Shalashaska at 04/11/2008 13:09
I'd bet this version would be similar what Nintendo did with the GBA micro. Make it smaller, take the GBA port out
brainderailment's Avatar
brainderailment at 04/11/2008 13:10
IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT!

Nintendo fucked up the advance for me when they put out the sp.

I couldn't hold a gameboy advance I could see, and I couldn't
see a gameboy advance I could hold.
jorge's Avatar
jorge at 04/11/2008 13:14
At least this would cause the DS Lite to drop in price.
Tubatic's Avatar
Tubatic at 04/11/2008 13:16
I think Anti R4 is DEFINITELY on the menu for this round

I'll bet they'll go Sidekick slide/swivel screen with this one. spring loaded/ swivel/ slide out "wings" for the d-pad and face buttons. make it as compact as the GBA SP
Chad Concelmo's Avatar
Chad Concelmo at 04/11/2008 13:23
@daCuk,
Oh, anti-R4, good call! Uh oh.
CelicaCrazed's Avatar
CelicaCrazed at 04/11/2008 13:23
Umm...flash drive?? For GameBoy downloads?? Is it too much to ask for?? My pokemans, I don't have them all :(.
necrozen's Avatar
necrozen at 04/11/2008 13:24
Well, I already have 3 of the little bastards, but if they gave me bigger screens, better speakers, an even longer battery life an a nonstick surface with grooves to cut out the fat, I think I'd be on board.

But if they cut out the GBA slot it's a no for me. I'm still exploring the GBA library and also have some favorites that I still play.
naia-the-gamer's Avatar
naia-the-gamer at 04/11/2008 13:26
I'm not sure how I feel about this. It's kind of time to show the next portable I suppose and not really just a minor upgrade to the DS. If it's going to "fight" the pirates, it won't last. Everything is hackable.

Aren't they releasing the DS Vision which is essentially an R4?
h3lios's Avatar
h3lios at 04/11/2008 13:27
This is just a way for them to block out R4/M3/N5 tech. Dastardly smart move from the Big N.
Shin Oni's Avatar
Shin Oni at 04/11/2008 13:31
i'm with Naia. Yet i'm kinda not. I'm all for the next portable but i'm also all for Nintendo to stop wasting constant rehashes of portables and bring out a big color variation.

Since Game Boy Color's late addition to the color codes, we haven't seen anything in America with a wide variation of handheld colors.

though if it's just to cut out R4, there's just going to be a new product out to kill the new updated software. Either way, DS lite is fine as it is. I want colors over a new rehash.
Mustin's Avatar
Mustin at 04/11/2008 13:44
Damnit, and I just got one for my birthday.

I knew they'd do this! [shakes fist]

Alas, I'm excited to see what it'll be.
loki d20's Avatar
loki d20 at 04/11/2008 13:52
I think they can improve the d-pad and the Left Right buttons, but not sure how they're going to really improve it otherwise. The thing is pretty good as is IMHO.
Chocobo Knight's Avatar
Chocobo Knight at 04/11/2008 13:56
Since my DS Phat seems like it's ready to retire, I wonder if I should wait to see if this rumor becomes something more.
Rainbowblack's Avatar
Rainbowblack at 04/11/2008 13:57
I'm excited to see what Nintendo does with the DS. but i have no desire to upgrade from the last redesign, IMO it's perfect
Cheeburga's Avatar
Cheeburga at 04/11/2008 14:08
Another one?! I'm not buying a new one.
Arugala9's Avatar
Arugala9 at 04/11/2008 14:14
I still haven't picked a Lite yet, I guess I should wait. Wasn't this rumor going awhile back and wasn't there talk of cutting the GBA slot.
Remo's Avatar
Remo at 04/11/2008 14:19
The DS needs only one improvement.
Padded corners.
nilcam's Avatar
nilcam at 04/11/2008 14:27
There are 2 things that would convince me to buy a new DS:
1. Ice blue Lite
2. Kill the shoulder buttons and put all six buttons on the face. Face buttons>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Shoulder buttons
eternalplayer2345's Avatar
eternalplayer2345 at 04/11/2008 14:29
It better have some major firmware upgrade and some virtual console compatibility !
DynamicSheep's Avatar
DynamicSheep at 04/11/2008 14:43
The only thing that would make me buy a new DS is if it had connectivity with the wii. For instance, you could download a few Virtual Console games to an internal harddrive (20GB?), and take your old school gaming on the go. Also, a built in picture viewer/mp3 player that reads from and SD card. Beyond that if they added in the ability to play certain Wii games with the DS as your controller, I'd buy a new one.
Anus Mcphanus's Avatar
Anus Mcphanus at 04/11/2008 14:47
I don't think they'll block the R4. I mean how would they do it since it's the same size cart as a regular game and let's not forget that the R4 is actually legal.

I for one am glad for a redesign because I've suffered from 2 cracked hinges and one of those times the hinge came clean off. I think it's time Nintendo addressed that fault in design.
PetiePal's Avatar
PetiePal at 04/11/2008 15:14
Longer battery life. Dedicated internet browser. VC downloads. Improve the shoulder buttons!
Dexter345's Avatar
Dexter345 at 04/11/2008 15:24
I honestly don't want them to implement multi-touch in the DS, because that would result in some games only being playable on the new version. Considering I've already purchased TWO DSs, I don't particularly want to have to buy another.
infinity's Avatar
infinity at 04/11/2008 15:38
i haven't even bought a DS yet, so i don't really care if they come out with redesign. besides, i'll probably still end up getting a DS lite eventually, unless the redesign were really impressive.
Kaspar's Avatar
Kaspar at 04/11/2008 15:55
You do realise that they couldn't change key elements of the console?

A bigger screen would supposedly fuck it all up for Phat and Lite users
Pyro1574's Avatar
Pyro1574 at 04/11/2008 15:55
Well if it looks anything like this: http://gizmodo.com/339601/nintendo-ds-2-the-3d-mock+up-makes-us-drool-even-more

then i'll be all over it
=)
Mxyzptlk's Avatar
Mxyzptlk at 04/11/2008 15:58
Glad I still haven't picked up a Lite. I'd be shocked if they did away with the GBA slot, considering it would lock out the upcoming Guitar Hero game, Rumble Pak support, and make the Opera browser unusable. Online Pictochat would be a nice addition, but I have a feeling the firmware is going to be identical. I really can't think of much they can do to improve over the Lite honestly, but we'll see what they have in store.
kalidanthepalidan's Avatar
kalidanthepalidan at 04/11/2008 16:04
I'm very happy with my DS Lite. It would have to be some big improvement/addition included for me to buy a new version.
Novakaine's Avatar
Novakaine at 04/11/2008 16:11
I don't really see how they can improve upon the Lite, at least enough to warrant a major redesign. Unless I see something that makes me spooge, I'll be happy staying with my DS Lite.

This does raise the stakes for this year's E3, though. I think this year could be one of the most thunderous in memory, for all three console companies.
Chad Concelmo's Avatar
Chad Concelmo at 04/11/2008 16:17
@Pyro1574,
*jaw drops*
mikeyed's Avatar
mikeyed at 04/11/2008 16:28
I can't wait to buy a DS of any kind.
The-Excel's Avatar
The-Excel at 04/11/2008 16:44
Maybe they're introduce a variant with screens that don't blur with fast scrolling.
Nogarda's Avatar
Nogarda at 04/11/2008 16:54
ngbdsm - nintendo gameboy dual screen micro.

i dont mind nintendo but i do mind when you bring out 60 different iterations of the same damn thing.

they just need to focus on third party titles not the 7th version of the DS.
Dan CiTi's Avatar
Dan CiTi at 04/11/2008 19:18
DS 2? Anything Anti-R4 would suck for everyone. Or a new GameBoy. Nintendo better have a lot of damn good stuff at E3.
Kapkomi's Avatar
Kapkomi at 04/11/2008 19:33
I'd hope so, my DS is acting weird and i need a good excuse to get a new one
BlackSunEmpire's Avatar
BlackSunEmpire at 04/11/2008 19:34
I agree with Dexter345, they wouldnt implement multitouch screen because it would be more expensive and they wouldnt be able to use it without making older versions of the DS obsolete.

I also would be surprised of a HDD given that the Wii was an obvious choice for this and was not given one, and Nintendo's general policy regarding customers seems to involve Nintendo telling you exactly what it is that you want.

They'll probably just make the screens brighter and the battery last longer.

And then I'll want one anyway. Well played Nintendo, bastards.
Cowboy TTop's Avatar
Cowboy TTop at 04/11/2008 20:12
I'll be shocked if the happens, something that's not needed, when we'd rather have a Wii hard drive.

DS lite is fine IMO.
dprime's Avatar
dprime at 04/11/2008 20:37
Dan CiTi says:
04/11/2008 19:18
DS 2? Anything Anti-R4 would suck for everyone (who is a theif). Or a new GameBoy. Nintendo better have a lot of damn good stuff at E3.

-

FIXED
dprime's Avatar
dprime at 04/11/2008 20:53
When the hell does Nintendo tell you what you want? Because they're targeting a different demographic than you BlackSun?

I guess the company that makes Barbies is doing a bad job telling me what I want because I don't like Barbies. Assholes.
BlackSunEmpire's Avatar
BlackSunEmpire at 04/11/2008 21:50
@dprime I was referring to Nintendo not listening to their customers when it comes to things like installing a HDD in the wii, or a less cumbersome online system with possibly voice chat and their messed up release schedules outside of Japan and the US.

I think a HDD in the DS would be a great idea and VC downloads onto it would be too, and this is why I feel that it's unlikely to be implemented.

I actually own Nintendo's systems, I have no problem with the system, but I think they leave a lot to be desired when it comes to supporting/listening to their consumers. Nintendo is far more comfortable going the easy route.

But way to get riled up over nothing anyway, I guess I bought up painful memories with the fact you don't like your Barbie anymore.
jus10j's Avatar
jus10j at 04/11/2008 23:52
DSLite is pretty perfect the way it is. Only mine isn't. Cracked hinges FTL. If it eliminates the GBA slot, making it even slimmer, my current DS will get traded in to make room for the newcomer.
skullivan's Avatar
skullivan at 04/12/2008 10:16
"Reggie Fils-Aime has promised some megaton announcements"

Reggie ALWAYS promises megaton announcements and almost never actually delivers. WiiFit was their megaton announcement last E3.

That said, this does make some sense seeing as DS sales are finally starting to trail off in Japan(which was bound to happen once every single person in Japan owned one:).
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