Hands-on with the Nintendo DS

[Thrawn]

Sure PSP has cooler looks, but I mean it doesn't have backward compatibility, which is why lots of people liked the PS2.

And what exactly is there for the the psp to be backwards compatible for?

Nothing.

 

[Dabomb18359]

That's my point. If someone is just now getting a DS and wants an old GameBoy Game he/she can get it and play on it. One of my friends has PS2 and PS1 cause the memory card dont work for one Final Fantasy game.

 

[damunzy]

I'm not too worried about backwards comp - I have a gameboy lieing around, my brother in-law gave me his extra when he got his GB SP, and have no interest in playing it.

 

[Dabomb18359]

Although many of the old games are boring, there are many viedo console games $50 suckers that have fun for while then they just sit around next to my online RTSs that have unlimited replay value. Maybe the DS can enhance graphics or do something with that extra screen.

 

[Silverflame]

Nintendo DS gets a face lift, looks a lot less like a giant grey brick now.

 

[Louis XXIV]

Cool, I like that new look.

Personally, I think the wireless aspect is one of the best features.

Since Nintendo has a good reputation for handheld games, and the fact its comming out first, I'll probably get a DS over a PSP. Especially because I don't have a GBA, and I might want to get all the Mario remakes (My version of Mario All Stars is inconvenient to use, because you can't save anything after you turn off the power).

BTW, Can anyone confirm what I heard about the PSP? Basically, because of the CD drive it uses, it will have a rediculously short batterylife for games?

 

[Global Nexus]

I don't know all that much about the PSP's battery life, but it's been said by Sony to be around 2 - 10 hours. I estimate that the 2 hours will be involved with the whole "movie playing" thing, but my estimations have been wrong before...

 

[Silverflame]

I don't know all that much about the PSP's battery life, but it's been said by Sony to be around 2 - 10 hours. I estimate that the 2 hours will be involved with the whole "movie playing" thing, but my estimations have been wrong before...

Yep. I believe Sony said that how much battery life a game takes depends on how much it uses the CPU. I think it means that an RPG with lots of FMVs and loading times would have significantly less battery life than something like Tetris. Movies estimated 2 hours battery life, and songs 8 hours. Of course, this is all speculation.

 

[Dabomb18359]

The DS is going to be for video games, not just "entertainment." I think that it why the GameCube wasn't a DVD player, they wanted people to buy it for the games. The PSP has movies, music, etc... sounding to me like a better Nokia N-Gage, which is crap. I want a pure game portable, not another Palm Pilot.

 

[Silverflame]

Nintendo DS launches in the United States at November 21, for the official launch date of $149.99 US. Battery life is from 6-10 hours with a four hour charging time (SP was about 8-10 hours). Launch date in Japan to be at December 2, Europe will have to wait until next year.

Official launch date and price:
http://ds.ign.com/articles/549/549919p1.html

More official specs:
http://ds.ign.com/articles/549/549922p1.html

Pictochat will also be included with the system. Pictochat is pretty much a wireless instant-messaging system with both text and picture messaging.

Current Game Lineup for the DS:
http://ds.ign.com/articles/535/535076p1.html

 

[Dabomb18359]

Wow!

1: This thread is about 2 months old before you brought it back up but
2: I don't care since I loved hearing that.
3: Why on earth would it come out here before Japan? That's like an oxymoron!!
4: That's awesome how it is only $150.
5: I'd like to know more about all the wireless stuff, because yes it would be cool to have chatting on it wirelessly or like the thing in the picture of Silverflame's first link, but I wouldn't be willing to pay $10 a month just to have that touch-screen chat service...


EDIT: Also, the pictochat software seems to be crap to me... What's the point of it if it's only for 30 to 100 ft away...

 

[Silverflame]

EDIT: Also, the pictochat software seems to be crap to me... What's the point of it if it's only for 30 to 100 ft away...

School.

 

[damunzy]

Good point. Perfect distance to piss teachers off!

$150 seems a bit steep for most kids to be able to afford it though (although I am sure the hardware costs justify the cost).

 

[Dabomb18359]

School.

Maybe so, but that's where cell phones come in.
Also, many high schools are far bigger than 100 ft. So it's still pointless unless you're neighboring jail cells with someone or they are literally next class.

 

[Silverflame]

All right, another Nintendo Press Conference!

http://ds.ign.com/articles/555/555151p1.html

I'll get the bad news out of the way first: "Goldeneye DS" is unfortunately not the N64 port, rather it's the EA version, Rogue Agent. *stabs EA*

Okay, and that's it for bad news.

It's already been revealed that the DS will cost $150, and will include Pictochat and a demo for Metroid Prime Hunters. Now it's been revealed that DS games will cost $30. There are currently 10-12 games slated for launch, not including backwards compatability with GBA games. At the moment, there are about 124 games in development, 20 are from Nintendo.

Titles available in the launch window include Super Mario 64 DS from Nintendo, Madden NFL 2005, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Golf and The Urbz: Sims in the City from EA, and a major title from Activision expected to be Spider-Man 2. Other third-party titles available during the launch period include Ping Pals from THQ, Feel the Magic: XY/XX from SEGA, Rayman DS and Asphalt Urban GT from Ubisoft, and Ridge Racer DS and Mr. DRILLER: Drill Spirits from Namco.

Nintendo's list of DS-specific first-party franchises due for release next year includes a multiplayer Mario Kart, as well as Metroid Prime Hunters, WarioWare, Inc. DS, Animal Crossing, Yoshi's Touch & Go, Advance Wars DS and a new Super Mario Bros. title. Third-party publishers will feature GoldenEye: Rogue Agent and Need for Speed Underground from EA, Viewtiful Joe from Capcom, Bomberman from Hudson Soft, Frogger from Konami, a Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles title from Square Enix, and many more.

http://ds.ign.com/articles/554/554867p1.html

Also for the Japanese launch, a remake of Final Fantasy III has been announced. I heard that Final Fantasy III is the only FF never to make it out of Japan. While no announcements about a US version has been made yet, the chance of the game coming to the US seems likely.

DS is looking awesome so far.

 

[Dabomb18359]

awww man this looks so awesome. I wonder how the PSP will do against DS? Because although DS looks better the PSP has more fans,according to polls and such. Also it has more developers working for it.

 

[Silverflame]

awww man this looks so awesome. I wonder how the PSP will do against DS? Because although DS looks better the PSP has more fans,according to polls and such. Also it has more developers working for it.

From what I can tell, media and more casual gamers prefer PSP, while developers and more serious gamers (ie GameFAQs) prefer the DS. Although I'm not entirely sure what the PSP has going for it, so far it feels like the PSP is exactly what it's name suggests, a portable PS2, that plays UMD's instead of DVD's and has a limited battery life.

 

[Thrawn]

Down with DS! Booooooo!

Going on looks alone, the PSP wins. In my opinion.

 

[Dabomb18359]

No. You're wrong. It's just another PALM PILOT. Get the DS for real good gaming.

 

[Dabomb18359]

I reall think it would be sooo awesome to have like a Super Smash Bros DS, who's with me?
Two screens would make perfect sense. Bottom screen focuses in on you mainly. Top screen provides layout from like the fixed-screen mode from N64. Awesome!!