Leaked DS specs reveal touch screen, wireless LAN, 3D graphics

By Games Industry.biz Published 11 March, 2004

A very different beast to the GBA.

A document leaked onto the Internet purporting to be a full specification for Nintendo's forthcoming DS handheld includes features such as a touch panel input device, 802.11 wireless LAN and a 3D graphics system.

The one-page specification summary, entirely in Japanese, also provides further confirmation of many things we already knew about the DS (which has recently been revealed to have the codename "Nitro", although it's not clear whether that is purely a development codename or if it will find its way onto the final product branding).

As expected, the system will have two processors, with an ARM-9 CPU running at 67Mhz and an ARM-7 unit running at 33Mhz. Retail DS devices will have 4Mb of main RAM (while debug development units will have double that), with additional chunks of cache and shared RAM for the processors and 656Kb of video RAM.

The real surprises, however, come from things which Nintendo didn't even hint at in its original announcement. The system will possess decent 2D capabilities, but it also has a 3D graphics system which, the spec claims, is capable of drawing 120,000 polygons per second, representing a fill-rate of 30 million pixels per second.

That figure hardly puts it into the same league as the PSP for 3D performance, but it's the first time that a Nintendo handheld has featured hardware accelerated 3D, and should open up significant new possibilities for games on the device.

As, indeed, should the other two revelations on the leaked document - namely the inclusion of 802.11 wireless LAN technology (the industry standard used for wireless networking), and of a touch panel input device.

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata had already indicated that the device would have wireless capabilities of some description, but most commentators expected that to be the short range Bluetooth system, rather that the much faster and longer-range 802.11 protocol. We wonder what kind of functionality Nintendo has in mind that could call for wireless connections over 50 to 100 metre distances...

Sadly no further information is given about the touch panel (the spec simply says "touch panel" in a section on input devices, where it is listed alongside the standard Nintendo handheld input system of D-pad, four buttons (A, B, L and R) and Start/Select buttons), but it seems fair to assume that one of the actual screens may be touch sensitive, which would again open up an intriguing number of possibilities for designers.

The screens themselves are marginally more high resolution than the GBA, with two 256x192 resolution panels included in the spec, compared to the 240x160 panel in the GBA. Speaking of which, there's no indication here that the system will be compatible with GBA games, as has been suggested by many commentators, but equally the possibility isn't ruled out and the system should certainly be more than capable of running GBA titles if Nintendo wishes to do so.

Of course, a single leaked screenshot of a Japanese document doesn't constitute hard proof of any description, and this document should be taken with a pinch of salt - but if it is a forgery, it's a rather good one (at least to our pidgin Japanese reading eyes). The Nintendo DS remains one of the more unusual propositions for a game console that we've seen for some time, but if the document is for real, the inclusion of 3D, wireless LAN and touch panel hardware certainly just made it a lot more interesting.

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Comments (38) Latest comment 8 years ago

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

  • otto #1 8 years ago

    Hmm, sounds a bit niche. :|

  • Dougs #2 8 years ago

    Very niche. Plus it'll depend how open Nintnedo are to 3rd party developers, what with the PSP and all. Yeah right.

  • ruttyboy #3 8 years ago

    Anyone know how good 30 Mill. pixels is in terms of PC graphics cards?

    /prepares lawsuit against N for hand cancer caused by DS Wireless

  • Tiger_Walts #4 8 years ago

    Hmm, sounds a bit niche. :|

    Nintendo alienating large sections of the market? Never!

  • ed #5 8 years ago

    I think wireless LAN is the only thing I would consider "niche", cos which kids really care about multiplayer gaming over distance? The touch screen would be awesome, and perhaps a MASSIVE selling point. Think 3g iPod touchpad overlayed on a HUD, overlayed on a colour 3d screen.

    OH! yeah! wireless connectivity to your pc! watch videos and listen to mp3s anywhere in your home?

    /drools

  • Tiger_Walts #6 8 years ago

    Anyone know how good 30 Mill. pixels is in terms of PC graphics cards?

    About 10 fps at 1024x768x32

  • renzo #7 8 years ago

    Imho it would be suicidal for them to launch the system without any 3D capabilities, considering that the PSP will almost certainly be able to do 3D. Bottom line is: 3D games sell. Give any mainstream gamer the choice between a 3D game, and a 2D one, and he'll choose the 3D one every time.

    How do these specs match up to the specs of a PSone? Is anybody kind enough to draw up a readable comparison? :)

  • Tiger_Walts #8 8 years ago

    Whether a touchpad is over the screen or around the D-pad (like the iPod analus) it will still offer analogue control. This is a better solution than a thumbstick which would catch on the edge of a pocket and would be potentially painful if leaned upon.

  • Rob #9 8 years ago

    Renzo: Yes, but it is also sucidal to have 3D capacilities without the inclusion of more buttons and a analouge control stick. I hope these specs are fake, for Nintendo's sake.

    Yeah, because the PS1 was terrible with no analogue stick, and more buttons always means better games!

    Has anybody actually ever thought about how hard it might be to actually play 3D games on a small handheld screen.
    Edited by 1 at 11/03/04 @ 13:21

  • Tiger_Walts #10 8 years ago

    I have an idea that would revolutionise portable hardware, imagine if you could convert your body's stored chemical energy into electrical energy.

    Then you could stick a power socket on your arm, then your clothing could plug into it and distribute power to the different pockets.

    A blood sugar monitor would make sure the unit doesn't drain you but could also burn up any excess, store it in a main battery and stop you turning into a bloater!

  • mal #11 8 years ago

    but most commentators expected that to be the short range Bluetooth system, rather that the much faster and longer-range 802.11 protocol

    ...not to mention, much more battery hungry. Sounds like it'd be a very un-Nintendo decision, but then they may not be bluetooth fans and are looking for something more standard than that odd TDMA thing they used in the GBA wireless link.

    A touchscreen would also be less durable against the fingers of those little devils, but then maybe the DS is going to be aimed at an older demographic, and if it's a clamshell as everyone assumes it's going to be, a touchscreen would be less risky.

  • Kami #12 8 years ago

    This is good news if true, because it shows that Nintendo are really gunning for a VERY different market with the DS, and it clearly is going to be a radically different beast to the GBA.

    If Nintendo can do online features, like downloading of - as mentioned - MP3's, or do some decent online pocket browser, then PSP might just have a run for it's money.

    That is assuming Nintendo can keep the costs down.

    And as Rim said, it might be possible that Nintendo will change how we see handhelds with the DS - it's already sounding as though it's in a league of it's own, more like a universal pocket device than a handheld console... DS is sounding extremely promising, and I personally can't wait to see what it's capable of.

  • ed #13 8 years ago

    imagine if you could convert your body's stored chemical energy into electrical energy

    OR, you could use your clothing to generate electricity from kinetic energy created by walking, swingning your chair, dancing, and erm.....other stuff.

    A touchscreen would also be less durable against the fingers of those little devils,

    Not if it were more like thi iPod touch wheel

    edit: it would then in fact be MORE durable because there would be no moving parts to get chocolate, jam, mud etc. stuck in
    Edited by 1 at 11/03/04 @ 12:59

  • Pirotic #14 8 years ago

    something which worrys me, is that Nintendo have a habbit of letting Miyamoto design the hardware around a game idea he has. so i suspect Nintendo will have some great uses for this touch-screen but most 3rd party publishers will be baffled as to how it can help mainstream titles such as Fifa etc

  • sickpuppysoftware #15 8 years ago

    It was Nintendo, after all, that invented analogue controls
    Shesh, not that old chestnut. Even the Dragon 32 had analogue controls.

    If the spec for buttons is true does that mean we can expect more butchered Street Fighter games?

    Wireless should provide some opertunities for the hackers to get easy access for running ROMs without the need for klunky interfaces.

    Niche or not though it should at least be interesting even if nobody buys it.

  • Tiger_Walts #16 8 years ago

    I remember playing Pong with dials, sounds like analogue to me.

  • ruttyboy #17 8 years ago

    Analogue stick. Stick

  • Pirotic #18 8 years ago

    Analogue stick's had been around for a while as specialist devices for PC flight sims etc, but it was still nintendo who introduced it to mainstream gaming, they also invented the rumble pack, something which every console since the N64 has used.

  • Razz #19 8 years ago

    phew.. I can finally login now. Anyway what was I saying. Yeh.. surely we can have some sort of retractable analouge stick for 3d adventure games.. could imagine trying to play MArio64 with a D-Pad? I wouldn't even want to. I know the tech's at Nintendo know better than me, but still... perhaps the d=pad will be switchable between analogue and digital and come with some sort of stick attachment.

    Also... MORE BUTTONS PLEASE!!

  • Takashi #20 8 years ago

    This looks like an afordable, almost market sentient hardware decision from Nintendo. I'm pretty sure it's a fake now.

  • Tiger_Walts #21 8 years ago

    wi-fi = internet multiplayer????

    :D~~~

    You may need to use tunneling software, but I guess it's do-able.

  • Lutz #22 8 years ago

    A 3D graphcis system?

    Erm... Landstalker on the MEGADRIVE had a 3D graphics system of sorts.

  • aabyssx #23 8 years ago

    "120,000 polygons per second"

    The PS1(!) was able to render about 350,000 polygons per second. This is only the third of it. 3D graphics cannot be their goal (against the PSP). But I also read somewhere that PSP is not NDS's rival, because they address different area. Is that really that different? /:|

  • Takashi #24 8 years ago

    The released specs also claim it has a microphone (or a plug for one)... What is quite unexpected.

  • Rob #25 8 years ago

    The PS1(!) was able to render about 350,000 polygons per second.

    Erm...no.

  • APR #26 8 years ago

    Erm...yes.

  • funk #27 8 years ago

    "The released specs also claim it has a microphone (or a plug for one)... What is quite unexpected."

    thats it, nintendo are doing an n-gage, hopefully with a new and even more stylish method of side talking

    i'd like to see some good innovation with the product like nintendo have done in the past

  • Trowel #28 8 years ago

    A 3D graphcis system?

    Erm... Landstalker on the MEGADRIVE had a 3D graphics system of sorts.


    As did the Freescape titles on the old 8 bits. Ahh, memories of Castle Master on the CPC464... Why isn't Alan Sugar sorting something out to let me play that on a bus I ask you? Or maybe there's a handheld GX4000 on its way... be still my beating heart...

  • Razz #29 8 years ago

    "Just think A button as the main action button, B for sword and weapons/items on the touch screen - instantly accessible. Excellent!!! "

    WHAT AN IDEA!!!

    /writes to Nintendo

  • WoodenSpoon #30 8 years ago

    This is the first handheld I have ever really been interested in...

    (Except the Gamegear aaaages ago)

  • Sid-Nice #31 8 years ago

    I wonder how much these speculations are down to the fact, of what Satoru Iwata said on how people would view the DS: system at E3. I'll quote what he said, maybe 10 to 15 people might show an interest in the DS: at E3, but when they actually touch it they'll be hooked, well that's what he quoted in Nintendo Dream Magazine. Also Nintendo claim that the DS: isn't in direct competition with the PSP, in another statement Nintendo said, they're only aiming at 10% of the hand-held market with the DS:. Which contradicts the rumours that if the DS: fails Nintendo will be ruined. As well as the DS: Nintendo are working on a sequel to the highly successful GBA SP, which 'will' be in direct competition with the PSP.
    BlankoBlank! wants to know can he touch the screen with his dick?
    Edited by 1 at 12/03/04 @ 04:55

  • Daryoon #32 8 years ago

    Which contradicts the rumours that if the DS: fails Nintendo will be ruined

    I think that was more a statement along the lines of "If the DS fails, it proves the industry is going to be swamped by EA and innovation is no longer required." And if that were the case, if gamers no longer wanted innovative ideas and original games, then yes, Nintendo would be ruined.

  • 3william56 #33 8 years ago

    "Erm... Landstalker on the MEGADRIVE had a 3D graphics system of sorts."

    *cough* Dragon 32 *cough*

    Or more sensibly, the original BattleZone arcade game or Elite on the BBC Micro, 8 bits, 32kb and all. And Sonic 2 had those irritating 3d tunnel bits. 3d isn't tough on any post-Spectrum hardware. QUALITY 3D though - up to modern poly/texture standards - that's a whole other barrel of monkeys - particularly on a widdly little screen (or two).

    And as to the speculation of wireless internet connectivity, MP3 and the like, didn't Ninty specifically rule out multi-media applications as they're not competing with the PSP?

    And even 100m of range isn't enough to beat the statistics and make direct link multiplayer a reality. Only wireless internet can deliver sufficient numbers to play with. But hold on - didn't Ninty rule out internet multiplayer as a viable future too?

    Touch screen is the only promising aspect - as others have said, will make inventory control and other menu-heavy functions a doddle. But it's hardly a revolution.

    Got to hand it to Ninty though - they're stirring up a helluva swarm of interest and speculation from their enigmatic and self-contradictory announcements (and leaks) - albeit if half of us are only looking to be on the touchline to witness the greatest car-wreck in games history.
    Edited by 1 at 12/03/04 @ 06:21

  • Rob #34 8 years ago

    Erm...yes.

    Erm...no.

    You're quoting theoretical spec sheet figures - which Sony (and MS) are well known to band around. In terms of actual, in-game performance the PS1 was capable of 100-150,000 polygons per second. The N64, which the DS looks to be pretty comparable to, was capable of 100-180,000 polygons per second.

    The 350,000 PS1 number is about as true as the 125m XBox number that MS announced. Who was telling the truth then do you think - MS with 125m for XBox or Nintendo with 12m for the GC?

  • Kami #35 8 years ago

    That's very unfair.

    While PSP has it's definate problems, it should still put up a fair fight.

    Nintendo have done a GREAT job on the DS. I won't doubt that, and yes I'll be the first to admit I'll grab a DS before the PSP. But if I have the cash, I'll certainly pick up a PSP as well.

    Thing is, PSP is aimed at a TOTALLY different market to the DS... and while the DS should have the upper hand, I think PSP is going to do pretty well too.

  • Reaper2K3 #36 8 years ago

    I wonder how much of the market that the DS is aimed at actually exists in Europe?? That nad the fact that the marketting departments of both of the companies do vary a lot......

  • Kami #37 8 years ago

    Nintendo do seem more respected here for the Game Boys than their consoles. So I think that a lot of that market is aimed here.

    But I still think both consoles should do well. They are very different systems... DS is trying something new with it's dual screens, while PSP is relying on what is already here with the MP3 player et al.

    It should be very interesting to see what happens. Personally, I think DS will come up trumps again... but I wouldn't really like to predict this one. Both systems sound damned good... (And I'll probably end up with both of them. Coz I'm like that.)
    Edited by 1 at 11/07/04 @ 16:42

  • masterson #38 8 years ago

    BN - Sounds to me that what you need is the Nokia nGage.
    Oh, and simple literacy skills might be handy too...