The Nintendo DS will launch on November 21, 2004 for $149 in North America. Featuring two screens, wireless connectivity, and games that can be controlled by voice or touch, Nintendo DS breaks the mold of conventional handheld game systems. Powered by
two processors, one ARM9e one ARM7
, the Nintendo DS is capable of Nintendo 64 quality graphics. The system plays new Nintendo DS cartridges which can store more than 1Gb of data as well as existing Game Boy Advance cartridges. A lithium-ion battery enables 6 to 10 hours of play between charges.
Nintendo Press Release:
[BLOCKQUOTE][BLOCKQUOTE]Nintendo DS Fact Sheet
Nintendo's latest innovation, code-named Nintendo DS, provides userswith a unique game-play experience using features never before offeredby any other home console or hand-held game system. This portablepersonal entertainment and communications unit provides owners with newperspectives on dual screens, new control using both touch and voice,and new connections with two kinds of wireless game play. It's anewfound canvas on which developers can express their creativity.
Launch Date and MSRP: Nov. 21, 2004, in North America ($149.99); Dec. 2, 2004, in Japan (15,000 yen); Q1 2005 in Europe and Australia
Size (when closed): 148.7 millimeters (5.85 inches) wide, 84.7 millimeters (3.33 inches) long, 28.9 millimeters (1.13 inches) tall
Dual Screens:Two LCD screens offer one of the most groundbreaking game-play advancesever developed: experiencing a game from two perspectives at once.
Both screens are backlit, 3-inch,semitransparent reflective TFT color LCD with 256 x 192 pixelresolution and .24 mm dot pitch, capable of displaying 260,000 colors.
Touch Screen:The lower screen will offer something never before provided by any gamedevice: PDA-like touch capabilities. Players no longer have to rely onjust buttons to move characters or shift perspectives. They cannavigate menus or access inventory items simply by touching the screenwith stylus or fingertip. The screen will have a tougher film cover fordurability, and will come with a stylus.
Microphone:An available microphone port means that in the future, players mightneed only to tell their games what to do. DS software could identifyeverything from voice commands to hand-clapping. Players might be ableto move their characters simply by telling them which way to go. Thevoice capabilities also could allow gamers to chat with one anotherover the Internet while playing.
Wireless: DS users will be able to connect with a local wireless network of up to 16 players.
IEEE802.11 and NintendoÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢s proprietary format; wireless range is 30 to 100feet, depending on circumstances; multiple users can play multiplayergames using just one DS Game Card.
The DS technology also provides for a wireless LANconnection, which could allow a theoretically infinite number ofplayers to connect at a hot spot and compete at a central game hub onthe Internet, even if they're thousands of miles apart.
Wireless Game Sharing:If software developers desire, multiple players can compete in wirelessgames, even if only one person has a game card inserted. Players couldalso test-play games for themselves as long as they stayed connected.
3-D: With the newly developed graphics engine, DS can reproduce impressive3-D renderings that can surpass images displayed on the Nintendo 64.Games will run at 60 frames per second, and allow details like fogeffects and cel shading.
Sound:The 16-channel sound allows for greatly expanded use of voices andmusic, and a richer, more immersive game experience. A plug forheadphones transmits stereo sound.
Battery & Power Management: The battery is rechargeable and the unit features alow-energy-consumption design. The DS also has Power Managementfunctions of Sleep mode and Standby mode.
Processing: The unit will run on two processors, one ARM9 one ARM7.
New Media:For its compact cards, the unit uses newly developed semiconductormemory, which allows for lower cost, shorter manufacturing time andmemory capacity of more than one gigabit of information.
Dual Slots: Nintendo DS makes a vast library of Game Boy Advance games readilyavailable. Developers could find ways to make new connections betweenGBA games and DS games. The GBA port could be used for new hardware,enormously expanding the functional expandability of the DS.
Controls:Touch screen, embedded microphone for voice recognition, A/B/X/Y facebuttons, plus control pad, L/R shoulder buttons, Start and Selectbuttons
Other Features:Embedded PictoChat software that allows up to 16 users to chat at once,embedded real-time clock, date, time and alarm, touch-screencalibration.
Battery: Lithiumion battery delivering 6 to 10 hours of play on a four-hour charge,depending on use; power-saving sleep mode; AC adapter
Languages: English, Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Italian
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