Hi Definition Nintendo DS Successor With Motion Sensor In The Works

[AdrianMorales]

It just keeps getting better and better. At first I wanted to buy the NDSi until I heard about the NDSi LL/XL. Now, I suppose I will just have to wait for this new unit. It is kind of lame having to upgrade on a yearly basis so that is why I am waiting for a definite model. Hopefully this will be the one.

http://www.siliconera.com/2010/01/05/hi-definition-nintendo-ds-successor-with-motion-sensor-in-the-works/

[Gen Eric Gui]

having to upgrade



NDSi LL/XL


You do realize that the only difference between the DSi and the LL is the fact that it's less portable from being so much bigger, right? And that article is talking about a possible future machine, what Iwata said in no way insinuates that we're going to see such a device anytime soon. If you want a DSi, just get one, geeze.

[AdrianMorales]

to Gen Eric Gui:

NINTENDO

NDS phat - 2004
NDS Lite - 2006
NDSi - 2008
NDSi LL - 2009

Do you detect a pattern here? 1-2 years between basically the same product.

It is the same with SONY’s PSP and Apple’s iPhone/iPod. Another year, another hardware revision.

[four_black_hearts]

Welcome to today...

[Gen Eric Gui]

Yeah, but my point is that for the most part, since each new device isn't much better then the last, you never "need" to upgrade. I got a DS when it first came out, and then upgraded when the DSi came out. I saw no need to upgrade the device because the previous versions worked just fine.

The system he is talking about in the referenced interview is a totally new device, not a DS revision. He's talking about literally the next GEN of hardware, which is why "putting off" buying a DS further because of this news specifically is ludicrous. Just like putting off buying a DSi because of the LL. It's a freaking inferior product.

[Tivor]

Personally I find LL/XL to be much more appealing than regular DSi. ;) I hardly play my DS outside my home anyway, so size/portability isn't a huge issue for me. And when I do take my DS outside, it's usually when I'm taking a plane ride (like the 11+ hour flight I'll be taking in about 11 hours), so the extra battery life that comes with the larger size of LL/XL is appealing to me.

In any case, I agree with Gen. There is absolutely no need to upgrade with each DS iterations. I still use my DS Phat, and while I find the various DS revisions appealing, I'd rather spend the money on new games than on a new DS which will be used to play the same games I was already playing.

Just pick a model that appeals to you and go with it, instead of trying to have the latest and newest.

[Camanche]

So this will play all the old DS games? There won't be any games that can exclusively be played on it?

[Kain Mare]

I read something about this a while back. It honestly doesn't appeal to me. I enjoy my DSLite for what it is; A hand held gaming system. I, personally, don't need something that has all of the bells and whistles that the article is talking about (or the one I read a while back).

I agree with Gen. He pretty much said what I was thinking when I read the OP.

[Vyse of Arcadia]

The only reason I upgraded to a DSLite was because my original DS broke. And since the removal of GBA support, I haven't wanted to "upgrade" at all. The very few promising DSiware titles I've seen have not made the GBA tradeoff worth it.

I do wonder, though. When he says "outputs high definition" does he mean 480p like the Wii? Or are we expected to believe that the next handheld will eclipse the graphical capabilities of a current-gen console?

I'm not so surprised about the bit about motion. Nintendo's been playing with motion on handhelds for a while. Kirby Tilt 'n Tumble, Wario Ware Twisted!, Yoshi Topsi-Turvy...

[Fatney]

When he says "high definition" he probably talks about a resolution similiar to the iPhone or maybe a bit more, which is perfect for such small screens.

If this is supposed to be like the DS 2, I'm looking forward to it.

[marche1990]

Looking really forward to it, seems to be sleek

[Gen Eric Gui]

So this will play all the old DS games? There won't be any games that can exclusively be played on it?

I assume all the new games made for it will be exclusive, since it's the NEXT GEN handheld he's talking about. You didn't expect GBA games to be playable on a GB Color, did you?

[Neveryll]

I've actually been under the impression that the DS is Nintendo's main console even if it is portable. I mean honestly the software library for it is superior to the Wiis, I always thought it was odd given that the console should be the companies biggest selling point but to me the Wii apears to be the red headed step child of consoles.

Case in point we own about a dozen or so Wii titles that I consider fun and worth playing but for the DS we own more than 50 different games.

Personally I looked at the DSi when it was announced and after hearing about the battery life and the scope of its "special" software I was unimpressed. I figured I would just wait for the next thing to come along and six months later I started to hear about the newest DS successor. I have been more than happy with my DS lite and will probably get a couple replacement batteries soon for mine and our kids.

All in all I think Nintendo has a great successor to their Gamecube. Sadly, I would name the DS as being its flagship console. LOL

[Gen Eric Gui]

The DS isn't Nintendo's flagship console at all. It's just that with the way the Japanese market is right now, third parties don't want to invest in a Wii game. It's much safer to make handheld stuff because they're so much cheaper and more people own handhelds then they do consoles over there.

If you'll notice, Nintendo doesn't push one or the other more. They publish fairly equal amounts of games for both systems, and advertise them about equally. What you are seeing is purely an effect of third party developers.

[TheDoctor]

to Gen Eric Gui:

NINTENDO

NDS phat - 2004
NDS Lite - 2006
NDSi - 2008
NDSi LL - 2009

Do you detect a pattern here? 1-2 years between basically the same product.

It is the same with SONY’s PSP and Apple’s iPhone/iPod. Another year, another hardware revision.

What he article talked about was probably the next generation of the DS, think of it how the GameBoy to the GBA, so it's not another hardware revision.

It's true that Nintendo made different versions of the DS but they're basically the same product, I honestly don't know who would be buying all the different versions because they all play DS games. I personally didn't see the DSi as an upgrade but it was for some people, it depends what you want out of your DS.

I'm keeping my DSLite because of GBA support but the DSiLL looks pretty interesting to me.

[Soushi_Grapple]

Im fine with my DSLite. These upgrades are kinda dumb... just wait a little longer and put out one that does everything instead of five. >>

[Vyse of Arcadia]

I kinda hate how everyone is complaining about multiple revisions of the DS like it's a new thing. To me it mirrors the GameBoy line of old. You had the GameBoy, the GameBoy Pocket, and the GameBoy Color all in relatively quick succession.

The GameBoy was the original, the GameBoy Pocket was smaller, with a better screen (sound familiar?), and the GameBoy Color was a backwards-compatible system with a few new features and exclusive games tacked on (also sound familiar?)

[unknown]

The Gameboy Color had ####ING COLOR though.

DSi offers nothing better then the DS Lite.

[Vyse of Arcadia]

The Gameboy Color had ####ING COLOR though.

DSi offers nothing better then the DS Lite.

Camera, DSiware, SD card slot. The CPUs are clocked about twice as fast as the DS Lite, and the DSi has four times the amount of RAM. There's as much difference between the DS Lite and the DSi as there is between the Gamecube and Wii. Anyone could easily make games that take advantage of the hardware and run exclusively on the DSi, but no one has the nerve, save for DSiware. Or maybe Nintendo refuses to let others take advantage of the hardware for some arcane reason.