Nintendo DS

Nintendo DS ニンテンドーＤＳ Nintendō DS

Games No. of games No. of launch titles {{{launch_games}}} Best-selling game {{{best_games}}} Last game

Technical details Media Storage capacity CPU Model no. {{{model}}}

Compatibility Can connect with Wii Input {{{input}}} Backwards compatible with Game Boy Advance Services provided Nintendo Wifi

Time Launch date November 21, 2004 (NA/JP), March 11, 2005 (Europe) Discontinue date Units sold {{{sold}}}

Lineage Predecessor Successor Game Boy Advance Nintendo 3DS

The Nintendo DS (Japanese: ニンテンドーＤＳ Nintendō DS) is Nintendo's fifth series, seventh generation handheld game console. Released on November 21, 2004 in North America and Japan, and on March 11, 2005 in Europe, the Nintendo DS represented an experimental new era for Nintendo's game consoles.

History

It was originally stated that a new system was being developed on November 13, 2003, though no details were announced. On January 20, 2004, however, the system was announced with "Nintendo DS" being its codename - again, with minimal details. Later on, the codename was changed to "Nitro", but changed back when the system was shown at E3 2004; the "Nitro" codename can still be seen in the product codes for all Nintendo DS-related items, such as the system's code itself: "NTR-001". The system shown at E3 was an older version of the system, much blockier and the existing version of the standard system which was shown on July 28, 2004, when the name was officially said to be finalized as "Nintendo DS".

Unlike previous consoles, the Nintendo DS was not given the "Game Boy" moniker, likely because Nintendo did not want to tarnish the brand name in case of bad sales, as had happened with the earlier Virtual Boy. Marketed as a "third pillar" to Nintendo's console lineup, the DS was initially said by Nintendo not to be a replacement for the Game Boy Advance, but a partner to it.

Despite this initial strategy, however, and perhaps because of the inclusion of the secondary Game Boy Advance slot on the console itself, the DS did in fact serve as the replacement of the Game Boy Advance, and as of 2010, the end of the Game Boy line. Developers and gamers alike flocked to the console, which featured a significant difference from any previous gaming console: a second screen. This second screen, which doubled the real estate that developers had to work with for displaying menus and gameplay, was also touch-sensitive, and could be used to select items without pressing buttons. In addition to this, the more "standard" upgrades, such as the addition of a second speaker for true stereo sound and a microphone, were included with the console.

Most enjoyed by gamers, however, are the DS's wireless DS-to-DS and Wi-Fi capabilities, which allow gamers in close proximity to play with each other without the need for the link cable that the Game Boy line required, and for the first time, allow players to compete around the world with each other through the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. This made the Nintendo DS the first handheld gaming system to support online play; the first gaming system overall to support online play was Microsoft's Xbox.

Game Boy Advance games can be played on the system, with players able to set in the DS's firmware menu whether the GBA game should be played on the top or bottom screen. Multiplayer functions for GBA games are not supported, as the system's native wireless is different from the technology included in the wireless adapter that came included with Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. Game Boy and Game Boy Color games are unplayable on the system, as the processor that runs them is not included in the system, and the GBA cartridge slot will not accept them.

Like previous handhelds, the Nintendo DS later received a revised form in the smaller and sleeker Nintendo DS Lite, which shares its overall design with the Wii, and features a stronger backlight that can be set on varying brightnesses, rather than the simple on-off light the ordinary DS, called by fans the "DS Phat", has. A second revision, the Nintendo DSi, featured a redesign of the system's menus, removed the GBA slot in favor of a smaller design, and added the ability to play music, take pictures, and more. The DSi's own revision, the Nintendo DSi XL, returns the system to the size of the DS Phat, at the same time increasing its screen size to nearly double that of the DS and DS Lite.

Features

Dual Screens

The Nintendo DS has twin 3-inch backlit color liquid crystal displays. The lower display is touch sensitive and is operated with a stylus. The upper panel has stereo speakers on either side of the upper display. The lower screen's touch capability is utilized in most games, and many games utilize it as the primary, and sometimes only, method of control, as seen in Phantom Hourglass or Nintendogs.

Wireless

The system comes with built-in 802.11 wireless capabilities, allowing the system to link with other systems for multiplayer games and applications, such as the system's built-in PictoChat. The wireless also allows the system to connect to the Internet and take advantage of the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, Nintendo's online gaming service, allowing for Internet play of many of the Nintendo DS' games.

Other Features

The system features a microphone which can be used to pick up various sounds for whatever function the game developer chooses to use it for, be it voice-recognition (as seen in Nintendogs), voice chat (as seen in Metroid Prime Hunters), or many other potential applications.

It also features an extra game slot capable of playing Game Boy Advance games. Game Boy and Game Boy Color games are incompatible due to size issues, but the slot is also utilized for certain games that feature extra add-ons such as a Rumble Pak. All of this is run on a single rechargeable lithium ion battery, allowing for up to 10 hours of gameplay on a 3 to 4 hour charge.

Phantom Hourglass makes use of the DS internal clock. Certain events will take place at midnight according to the internal clock of the system.

Reception

As of September 2008, combined sales of Nintendo DS and Nintendo DS Lite have reached more than 84 million units worldwide. By the end of January 2010, that number increased to over 125 million units sold worldwide, making it Nintendo's best selling console of all time.

Quotes

• "Touching is good." - Original advertisement slogan for the Nintendo DS

DS Lite

The Nintendo DS Lite (ニンテンドーDSライト, Nintendō Dīesu Raito) is a redesign of Nintendo's popular handheld gaming console. It improves on the original Nintendo DS in almost every way, and replaced the original upon its release. Nintendo originally announced it on January 26, 2006 before releasing it in Japan over a month later.

Differences between the DS and DS Lite

• It's roughly 42% smaller, and 21% lighter, while retaining all of its features and screen size.
• As opposed to the original's on-or-off backlight, the DS Lite's backlight is always on, and has four adjustable brightness settings.
• The aesthetics have changed slightly; the system is shinier, the speakers take up less room, and several buttons (and the microphone) have been moved around.
• The stylus has an increased size over the original DS system's.
• Due to the system's decreased physical volume, the Game Boy Advance cartridges protrude from the system. To create a seamless surface, a filler cartridge is included, intended to be placed into the Game Boy Advance slot when no Game Boy Advance game is being played.

DSi

The Nintendo DSi (ニンテンドーDSi, Nintendō Dīesuai) is the third version of the Nintendo DS handheld gaming system. It was announced during the Nintendo Conference 2008 on October 2, 2008 in Tokyo, Japan. While it is a part of the DS series of handhelds, it has been stated that the DSi should be considered as a separate console next to the DS Lite and the Wii within the United States. The DSi is somewhat larger in size, but is thinner in depth. It is likely that it is this decrease in size is likely what forced the removal of the Game Boy Advance slot, as the bottom portion of the DSi is roughly 12mm. It introduces several other new features over the Nintendo DS Lite.

Differences Between the DS Lite and the DSi

• It is 12% thinner.
• Game Boy Advance slot removed.
• Contains two 640x480 resolution digital cameras, one on the outside face (3 megapixels) and one facing the user on the inside (0.3 megapixels).
• Improved speakers.
• Larger screens.
• Power switch replaced with a power button, with the added ability to simply reset the system back to the menu by lightly pressing the button.
• Has a new slot for SD cards for storing images and software.
• Built-in 256 MB of flash memory.
• An online shop, much like the Wii Shop Channel, that allows for the downloading of various DSi applications and games, such as a re-worked Brain Age.
  • The points used for downloading content are system-unique. Meaning that one cannot transfer points between the Wii and DSi.
• Due to higher power consumption, the battery life is shorted considerably from the DS Lite.
• All DSi-specific software will have regional lockout and will not be compatible on a DS Lite.
• Within the United States, the DSi will not be a replacement for the DS Lite. They will both be sold concurrently for an extended period of time.

DSi XL

The Nintendo DSi XL (known as the Nintendo DSi LL in Japan) is a handheld game console produced by Nintendo and the fourth iteration of the Nintendo DS handheld gaming console, being the direct successor to the Nintendo DSi Nintendo Japan site states that the DSi LL is not a successor to the DSi, but an alternate system and that both systems will sell alongside each other.

Hardware

Specs

	DSLite	DSi	DSI XL
Dimensions	133.0 x 73.9 x 21.5 mm (5.24 x 2.91 x 0.85 in)	137.0 x 74.9 x 18.9 mm (5.39 x 2.95 x 0.74 in)	161.0 x 91.4 x 21.2 mm (6.34 x 3.60 x 0.83 in)
Volume	211 cm3 (12.9 in3)	194 cm3 (11.8 in3)	312 cm3 (19.0 in3)
Mass	218 g	214 g	314 g
Screen	3.0 in	3.25 in	4.2 in

As it is only a minor hardware revision, there is no reason to believe that the resolution will change from 256x192 pixels per screen. The reason for the larger screens is mainly attributed to allowing easier play on games that feature small text and precision gameplay. Another reason, according to Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, is "to offer a new play style, where those who are surrounding the game player can also join in one way or the other to the gameplay."

The Japanese version will launch in three colors: Wine Red, Dark Brown, and Natural White. No announcements have been made regarding color for any other region.

The DSi XL, like every other DS, includes a stylus that fits into the unit. The DSi XL stylus is 96mm long, just 4mm longer than the stylus on the DSi. The XL also includes a 129.3mm-long pen-shaped stylus, which does not fit inside the console. In addition, for the first time in the DS line, two DS models will share a common AC adapter. The DSi XL will use the same AC adapter as the DSi.

Despite the increased size of the displays, the battery in the DSi XL supposedly outlasts that in the DSi. Nintendo claims 13-17 hours of runtime on the lowest brighness setting, compared to 9-14 on the DSi. On the highest brightness, the DSi XL supposedly lasts 4-5 hours, one hour longer than the range for the DSi.

Software

Preloaded on the internal memory: the DSi Browser, Flipnote Studio, Brain Age Express: Arts & Letters, Brain Age Express: Math, and Meikyou Kokugo Rakubiki Jiten, a dictionary program. Contents for the North American and European releases have yet to be confirmed.

As a DSi, the XL will be able to play DS cartridges, including those designed only for DSi and those enhanced for DSi. It will also be capable of downloading and playing DSiWare. Like the current DSi, there is no slot for Game Boy Advance cartridges.

References

Console Hardware Console • Nintendo DS Lite Nintendo DSi • Nintendo DSi XL Components Game Card (DS • DSi)
Accessories Accessories Rumble Pak • MP3 player Digital TV Tuner Nintendo DS Headset Wi-Fi USB Connector Pokéwalker Add-on devices Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Nintendo Zone
Software Games Retail games (Touch! Generations) DSiWare (Flipnote Studio) Game Boy Advance games Pre-loaded software Nintendo DSi Browser

Home consoles Console Famicom • Disk System Model NES-101 M82 Accessories Games VC games FDS games Console Model SNS-101 Nintendo Super System Accessories Games VC games Console iQue Player Accessories Games (by serial code) VC games Console Panasonic Q Accessories Games Console Family Edition • mini Accessories Games Wii Channels WiiWare Virtual Console Console Accessories Games Virtual Console Console Lite OLED model Accessories Games
Handhelds Hardware Games Console Pocket • Light Accessories Games VC games Console Games Console Accessories Games VC games Console SP • Micro Visteon Dockable Entertainment System Accessories Games Console Lite DSi • XL Accessories Games DSiWare Console XL • 2DS New Nintendo 3DS • XL • 2DS XL Accessories Games Virtual Console
Other Standalone consoles Arcade Pokémon Classics Cancelled Color TV-Game 6 • 15 Racing 112 Block Breaker Computer TV-Game Computer Mah-jong Yakuman Nintendo Vs. System Nintendo PlayChoice-10 Nintendo Super System Triforce Games VC games Pokémon Pikachu • 2 GS Pokémon mini Games NES Classic Edition • Nintendo Classic Mini: Famicom Super NES Classic Edition Game Boy Advance predecessor IRIS