Nintendo DS: Reasons to care

By Tom Bramwell Published 21 January, 2004

Tom is as sceptical as anyone else, but there is plenty of incentive to give it a chance, he argues.

Just like you, I was surprised and intrigued when I arose this morning and found a Nintendo press release blinking in my inbox. Indeed, I had fully anticipated the speculation surrounding the Big N's "mystery product" to last us all the way to the E3 trade convention in Los Angeles this May, and perhaps even beyond. To have it unmasked out of the blue on a cold January morning feels rather anti-climactic, even if it is in keeping with Nintendo's penchant for low-key revelations. Remember the GBA SP's unveiling after a year of speculation?

However it hasn't taken long for sceptics to substitute Nintendo president Satoru Iwata's claim of "innovation" for one of "gimmick". It's easy to see why. Consider what we actually know: It might be called Nintendo DS, it uses two backlit three-inch LCD screens aligned vertically rather than side by side, and two processors - an ARM9 with an ARM7 sub processor - with up to a Gigabit capacity on reportedly rewriteable media, and it's due out by the end of 2004. That's it.

On the other hand, we don't know what it looks like, whether the two screens will fold out ala the Game Boy Advance SP or the Game & Watch consoles of old, what sort of power or battery system it will rely on, whether it will support existing Cube or GBA titles as Mr. Iwata has hinted, whether it will link up with any existing device, what sort of games we can expect to play on it, how many third parties are interested in developing for it, how much it's going to cost, or even how long Nintendo has been working on it. And while it's going to have taken Sony 19 months from announcement to launch in the case of the PSP (and they're still wrestling with the specifications even now), Nintendo aims to have the DS up, running and in stores within the next 12.

Until we see it in action, the next few months will be a minefield of rumour and speculation, as gamers dream up new and ambitious projects that could benefit from the dual screen approach. Already people are suggesting RPGs that allow you to navigate, talk and fight on the one hand whilst viewing character and equipment statistics on the other (and some far-fetched speculation already has Square Enix developing a multiplayer Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles port in time for launch - giving the notoriously peripheral-hungry Cube RPG a proper chance to shine), while it certainly has the potential to deliver multiplayer Wario Ware in cramped quarters. Meanwhile Nintendo's own example, a football game with the usual side-on or close-up view in one hand and a top-down overview in the other, has singularly failed to excite even me, and I almost cried when I saw the Spurs/Liverpool result on Saturday afternoon. Useless Reds. Such a gimmick just doesn't seem to be worth an entirely new product.

Then again, Nintendo is notoriously fond of breaking the mould in search of new gaming ideas, and although a lot of people would highlight things like the tilt function in some GBA carts (as witnessed in Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble), the Virtual Boy and the company's promotion of handheld/console connectivity as failures in this area, it's all too easy to forget that Nintendo also pioneered 3D platformers, D-pads, shoulder buttons, the diamond button formation, the analogue stick, and rumble packs, which have enjoyed far more success. They were also the first platform holder to launch an official wireless controller, the WaveBird, and its monopoly on handheld gaming has resisted many challengers over the years despite the odd design quirk. And although FreeLoader broke down borders between regions (praise be), piracy of Nintendo's home console games has always been a far blacker art than for any of its CD or DVD-based competitors.

It's also worth remembering that this is neither the successor to GameCube nor Game Boy Advance, and that Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has publicly stated that the company will be happy if just ten per cent of people find the DS interesting enough to buy. In other words, Nintendo is prepared to see it do badly. As Rob joked this morning, for all we know at this point they may well have designed a game that needs a pair of screens and built a console around it. With Nintendo, the only dead certainty is that whatever their plans, games will be the key concern, and I'd be very surprised to see any multimedia functionality at Nintendo's E3 press conference, despite the potential to play something whilst watching something else. Ultimately while I'm still sceptical about the DS' potential, I think it would be unwise to dismiss it at such an early stage, and I'm more than prepared to be convinced in a few months' time.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (44) Latest comment 7 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • FWB #1 8 years ago

    whether it will link up with any existing device

    Hahaha. Oh, Tom. I know you're the journalist here, but even I can see this one. It'll link alright: to the SP and GC and you'll need 50 of them to unlock an extra suit for Samus in Metroid Prime 2.

  • ssuellid #2 8 years ago

    Surely Nintendo must have thought of numerous uses for a dual screen console - otherwise why would they make it? Only problem is that I cannot think of any use of a second screen except as a glorified VMU.

  • tiddles #3 8 years ago

    If the DS has even just one game as good as Mario & Luigi, I'll buy it.

    Anyway, if it flops, think how much it'll raise on Ebay in about 10 years' time.

  • Retroid #4 8 years ago

    Hmm.... here's an idea.

    I wonder if this is going to by their attempt to jump-start the connectivity idea by producing a console which can have full games downloaded to it? If it takes memory cards, as hinted at, then perhaps Nintendo games from yesteryear for a few quid aren't that far off. Games included in GC titles, like Animal Crossing, which you won't lose when you switch off your GBA.

    /Dreams

  • renzo #5 8 years ago

    The best games on the GBA are all 1st-party Nintendo titles, and I think it'll be the same, if not more so, for this DS console. Nintendo obviously have quite a few titles/ideas that would utilise the dual-screens properly.

    Nintendo may make some daft business decisions, but when it comes to making good games, and utilising their own hardware properly, they do things quite well.

  • rainbows #6 8 years ago

    I can kinda see a place for it in a Zelda-type game, have your dungeon map or inventory on the bottom screen and have the action on the top screen. sounds a bit gimmicky but i'll buy one anyway, if its got one good game it'll be worth it. it would have been better to get a more powerful handheld that could handle n64/GC type games. but this should be fun.

  • dudley #7 8 years ago

    still can't beat that blasted omega pirate!

  • Tiger_Walts #8 8 years ago

    Wait till you see the metroid prime!

  • Blerk #9 8 years ago

    The difference between this 'innovation' and their others (such as d-pads, shoulder buttons, analogue sticks, wireless controllers, etc.) is that all those things had good, easy-to-see practical applications for almost ALL games. But twin screens? Yay - I can see my stats without having to press a button. Whoop.

    I said the Eye Toy would be a dismal failure and I was wrong and I held my hands up and admitted as such (although I'd be interested to see how many of those Eye Toys are still in use and not shoved to the back of a cupboard somewhere). But I can't for the life of me see how this can be a success - at best I can see the second screen as being woefully under-used by anyone other than Nintendo itself.

  • Killerbee #10 8 years ago

    There's a strange feeling of having entered a backwards parallel universe here - EG article saying "give Nintendo a chance" and EG readers slagging Ninty off for being a bit too niche with their latest product.

    Where did all the Nintendo fanbois go? ;)

    Personally, I think we need to see the games Nintendo has in store for us.

  • jellyhead #11 8 years ago

    i'm cynical but i'll probably get one, as will most people here i'd imagine.
    i'm also waiting to see what games they have in store for this doobry, there's bound to be something special coming along.

    /offers killerbee some popcorn

  • Nemesis #12 8 years ago

    , and I almost cried when I saw the Spurs/Liverpool result on Saturday afternoon.

    We had the advantage of two goalies judging by the telly replays. Still, we outplayed you, so you make your own luck.

    Aaaaaaaaanyway, enough baiting...

    I'm still not sure about the whole two screen thing you know. It just doesn't seem right to me. I don't think it'll get used properly. Why not just ramp up the specs and leave the single screen setup. It's fine as it is. It's a long wait 'til E3, but I'm not very buzzed about it to be honest.

  • renzo #13 8 years ago

    I find it quite amusing how people are already saying they'll buy one, but when a price of £250 for the PSP was mentioned they were "Well feck thaaat!" and "They can go shove it up their arse".

    No-one knows how much this DS console will cost, and yet people are already saying they'll buy one. Nintendo aren't after your money, they'll be giving them away at £100. Pfft.

  • Sid-Nice #14 8 years ago

    Wow Renzo, where did you here that price £250 for the PSP?
    I love the dual screen idea as I'm cockeyed.

  • CyberClaw #15 8 years ago

    renzo, Ninendo isn't after our money? Just because they can't milk us more. A GBASP costs betwen 20-30 Euros to them to manufacture. And in retail it is sold more expensive than the GameCube which obviously has more HW tech. I'm pretty sure that the profit percentage is about the same in the PSP and GBASP. The PSP obviously has way more expensive hardware. I won't get one anyway. It's too expensive to keep in my pocket and play in the shitter.

  • IronGiant #16 8 years ago

    Also seem to have completely forgotten Jumping Flash on the PSOne.

  • Bill Gates is Evil #17 8 years ago

    Anyone recall me making the prediction that Nintendo's next console would be 1) unconventional and 2) a portable GameCube?

    I made that a long, long, long time ago. It was a stretch and still is, but this certainly makes it look more likely. Even Eurogamer editors say...

    whether it will support existing Cube or GBA titles as Mr. Iwata has hinted

  • ssuellid #18 8 years ago

    No, was it hidden somewhere along with predictions: -

    40012434: Nintendo won't make another console
    30034344: Microsoft will buy linux
    302323: more bullshit


  • Blerk #19 8 years ago

    lol! :-)

    The chances of this playing Cube games are so tiny they're not even worth mentioning.

  • DaM #20 8 years ago

    Be cool thought wouldn't it!

  • skybluesam86 #21 8 years ago

    It still sounds shit to me.

    I was expecting something decent, not something that sounds like little more than a glorified GBA with 2 screens.

    That said, as with the article, I'm prepared to be convinced otherwise.

  • JaysonG #22 8 years ago

    did Kirby Tilt 'n Tumble for the GC/GBA ever come out over here?

  • Tiger_Walts #23 8 years ago

    but damn

    PINBALL GAMES!

    Can anyone else say, handheld Ikaruga...

    Mmm, I can feel the blisters now.

  • terminalterror #24 8 years ago

    "Nintendo Europe have apparently confirmed that the two screens will be vertically aligned and flush with each other to create one large screen or two small. "

    Why not just have a bigger screen to start with? You can always split it up in-game

  • beep #25 8 years ago

    To me, this new device from Nintendo is nothing but an attempt to thwart Sony's PSP. Hey, ours has TWO screens, it's TWICE as good! Imagine the possibilities!!!. I can't think of anything worthwhile to absolutely require an additional screen.

    Maybe Nintendo will come through with one or two great games for the device, but all I can see is generic games made awkward and gimmicky.

    Also, maybe it is the second coming of the Virtual Boy. Maybe it will come with a head strap so each eye can have a dedicated screen for true stereoscopic 3D action!!!

  • Trowel #26 8 years ago

    Why not just have a bigger screen to start with? You can always split it up in-game

    I think this is the idea, and something no-one seems to have highlighted: this seems to primarily be a convenient way of getting a larger display into a unit which still proves to be portable. If you're looking to do that it makes perfect sense to design a screen which folds. Wouldn't it be lovely to sit on the bus playing Advance Wars III with a 6" square screen?

    My prediction for the design is a symmetrical clam, folding vertically down the centre of the two screens, like an old-style GBA unit which opens out like a book - I'd bet my lunch money on it.

  • easychord #27 8 years ago

    terminalterror:

    I can think of a couple of reasons.

    Can fold it down the middle so it fits in a pocket.
    Can use standard size screens reducing costs.

  • CunningLinguist #28 8 years ago

    Xactly!

    Good point easychord!

  • renzo #29 8 years ago

    CyberClaw: "renzo, Ninendo isn't after our money? Just because they can't milk us more."

    You seem to have missed the sarcasm in my post.


    Sid Nice: "Wow Renzo, where did you here that price £250 for the PSP?"

    From an EG article, and a few other sites that were speculating over what the price might be. I did say the price was 'mentioned', and didn't state it as fact the way you seem to do.

  • Sid-Nice #30 8 years ago

    I have never stated, Fact PSP £250, Fact Nindendo DS: £100.
    Similar to EG or any other site, I read rumours, of course some are speculation. Fact I need to go to the dentist my face is swolen I've an abscess I'm in agony.

  • CyberClaw #31 8 years ago

    "The only trouble is that my mind is telling me that the Nintendo DS is one or two steps removed from the eReader or Virtual Boy, a sort of high novelty bauble absolutely unmoored from sense and convention. It's like they made a huge cowboy hat with three holes in it in case a triceratops might want to wear it. " -Tycho, Penny-Arcade.com

  • Sid-Nice #32 8 years ago

    Just picked this information up from Gamecube Europe.
    News: Nintendo DS New Info, Including First Game
    By Ash - Jan 23rd 2004 23:21
    ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------

    The first game has been announced for the 'Nintendo DS', and the rough price.

    This news piece has been announced in Japan, and thus it has been translated using an internet translater, so little bits may be incorrect. We apologize for this.

    Nintendo will have two or three in-house titles ready for the launch of the Nintendo DS. The first will be called 'Buzz' and is being worked on by Miyamoto.

    The development kits will be given to developers around May, probably shortly after E3. The Nintendo DS will be launched at a retailing price of 20,000 Yen (roughly €149/£102).


  • TheRealBadabing #33 8 years ago

    They are only looking for 10% penetration at best. What makes you all think they are ever going to release this in Europe anyway? Why bother spending marketing money in Europe (which N hates anyway) to promote a system even Nintendo views as an experimental concept?

    God knows the Virtual Boy never saw the light of day over here yet Nintendo were rather bullish about it's success at the time.

  • CyberClaw #34 8 years ago

    The 3d view was already atempted by nintendo. It was called virtualboy, and you had to wear one of those 3d helmets. I doubt they'll try it again with the DS. Why? Because no one used the virtuaboy on the move (which is what a pocket console is for). And if DS had the images poping out of the screen in 3d, it'd cause heavy eye strain, because of the concentration required when focusing with the eyes. You'd probably be on the bus, jumping arround, while TRYING to play a game. Why are the best GB games turn based? Static action is better and easier on a portable console (which means it's allways "paused";), compared to a franatic Doom, where you can't take your eyes of the screen or else you're dead.

  • Sid-Nice #35 8 years ago

    Optical allusion, Jim Royal mode, true 3D my arse, your eyes would have to be fixed perfectly on the two screens, I don't own an SP but we do have 2 GBAs systems. A few months after buying the 2 GBAs, Nintendo brought out the SP the deal at Game was, your GBA+3 games+£40=GBA SP. With the SPs only enhancements, the back-lit screen and design of course, part exchanging the games had no logic, as the games were exactly the same on both machines. The novelty of the DS: could incorporate 3D images, which will more than likely be on the start up of the DS:, a 3D rotating big N perhaps.
    Playing the GBA, if you don't have the hand held on the right angle, you can't see, the back lit screen on the SP doesn't look that good, on what I've seen on the pod machines in the shops. Nintendo claim the DS: is not in direct competition with Sonys PSP and rumour has it Nintendo are working on a competitor at this very moment. If they are I hope for the new GameBoy they use a disk based medium, look what happened when they went head to head with Sony, cartridge N64, disk PSone.
    I predict the GBA SP to be the top selling system this Christmas, especially if Nintendo reduce the RRP. In my opinion I don't think we'll see either the PSP or the DS: until Easter 2005 in Europe, the new GameBoy will follow a year later, then we'll have the PS3, Xbox 2 and the N5, which I'll not call it a Gamecube, as not knowing what shape it'll be.
    We all better get saving me thinks.

  • dadrester #36 8 years ago

    "If it turns out this system also has wireless connectivity and the second screen is mainly used to handle IM style conversations/alerts between gamers, or view other players screens, or act as a shared playspace... "

    now this sounds like innovation. something that will revolutionise gameplay. two screens has been done (game & watch). why would nintendo claim this to be so different. i think alot of people are missing the point. we don't know how these screens will be used yet.

    does anyone remember those cyber...er...somethings that were being sold in mobile phone shops a couple of years ago. if there was anyone with one in a 2 mile radius of you, or something like that, you could play hangman or snake or stuff like that.

    i reckon it could be used for something like that. imagine the footy game. if it was multiplayer (ie 22 players) you are one specific player. a la liberto grande. one screen follows you, the other follows the rest of the game. makes the concept sound a little more enticing.

    then again they might just be putting together a glorified pda like the gp32 and raiding their back catalogue for downloadable content. but then why would you need 2 screens? oh the mind boggles!

  • Sid-Nice #37 8 years ago

    My friends call me Mini.
    Mini ha, ha.

  • Philip Gumm #38 8 years ago

    She's not laughing now is she the poor cow. - Nice one sid ;)

  • gonrico #39 7 years ago

    DS' touchscreen will be so much more durable then a joystick like the PSP has. We all know how fast joys wear out, and on a handheld, theres no replacing it. And the PSP has soo many useless features. Like UMD movies that cost twice what DVD movies do. And it can look at "Pics" on it. Wowie. Will you really go through the trouble of transfering a pic to it, so you can look at it on the go at only 4 hours of batt life? I think not. And what good is a 4 hour MP3 player, when you can go to a store and get a $30 one that'll play MP3's off of one AA for 20+ hours? Honestly. DS is awesome. I 'can't wait to play MP hunters.

  • caligari #40 7 years ago

    Okay guys, I've always been a bit cold when it comes to importing anything 'video game-ish' (trust me, that word can be found in the dictionary). So can anyone help me out here?

    What the hell do I need to get a freaking gameboy DS in my hands as soon as possible (excluding violence/theft/soul selling please!)?
    I'm guessing I'll need an adapter to adjust the voltage....yadda yadda. So where is the best place on the Net to actually get one of these babies and a copy of Mario 64?

    I'll be ra-ha-ther grateful for any help here guys. Please, feel free to speak down to me, as I am a 'tarded newbie when it comes to import gaming.

  • discoMishap #41 7 years ago

    um, possibly a bit redudant now that the world appears to have Sold Out of DS, erm, esses, but I scored a fat one with gamestop.com. rightly assumed that being a major US retailer they weren't likely to run out on D(S) day. plus, turned out to be a hell of a lot cheaper than all the big UK import players. think i got my DS, feel the magic and mario 64 for slightly less that £150, including import tax. on the day of release as well. made me happy, at least. as for extra peripherals, i use my US stepdown pluggy thing. apparently the standard SP adapter works fine though. don't take my word for this however - don't want you to explode your nintentoy. the horror.

    ps. i live in the uk, and they delivered just fine...
    Edited by 1 at 27/11/04 @ 14:40

  • Loki #42 7 years ago

    well depends where you live caligari
    if you live anywhere out of the US or japan i would have to say pre-order from http://lik-sang.com/ for $169 and you also get a $20 discount for other items.

    p.s. i can see this thread has been up for some time.

  • caligari #43 7 years ago

    Ohh ohhh ohhhh, thanks for the links and hints guys. I will be pre-ordering mine within the next few days...although the 'sellout' does seem to be rather serious, so I guess I won't be seeing it for more than a few weeks. AH VELL, I'm one of those freaks who has NEVER played Mario 64...so the wait will be worth it.

  • #44 7 years ago

    Yep. I don't think they've released any hardware as cool as this .. since.. since the SP !!

  • Ramza #45 7 years ago

    Nintendo DS has now been sold over 513 000 and sony psp only under 200 000