Nintendo has scuppered rumours of a new DS re-design which many were hoping was on the cards to be revealed at a press conference in Japan today. Chatter about a DS re-design began to emerge following online retailer Lik-Sang’s announcement - supposedly backed up by Japanese retail sources - that Nintendo was planning to unveil the new unit today. Apparently not.
Speaking to SPOnG this morning, a Nintendo spokesperson dismissed the speculation surrounding the re-design announcement as little more than Internet rumour. However, it’s only a matter of time before we see a streamlined and less clunky DS. Nintendo’s Reggie Fils-Aime confirmed last year that an upgraded DS was on the cards. Additionally, it’s been both a popular and successful strategy for Nintendo with the GBA, with both the GBA SP and Game Boy Micro having sold remarkably well.
However, this is all something of a moot point with Nintendo gamers who, while they seem keen to buy more than one version of what is essentially the same handheld, may well tire of Nintendo’s strategy of continually re-working and upgrading their current handhelds. Let us know what you think about this strategy in the forums below.
In better news, and following hot on the heels of Sony’s Talkman announcement last week – see here – Japanese magazine Famitsu reports that Nintendo has announced the March release, in Japan, for ‘Tabi no Yubisashi Kaiwachou’ – their own translation software for the DS. The hilariously rough translation of the title, courtesy of IGN, is ‘Finger-pointing Conversation Note for Travelling’.
'Tabi no Yubisashi Kaiwachou' will provide both text and spoken translations for a number of phrases. SPOnG is keen to see how the software makes use of the DS’s touchscreen and microphone inputs. There’s no news on a European release just yet, but its bound to follow pretty soon, following hot on the heels of Sony’s Talkman announcement. The Japanese software will come in five different languages: Thai, Chinese, Korean, English and German. Each one, strangely, to be sold separately, at the price of 2,800 yen ($25) a pop. Which, to SPOnG, seems a bit mean.
Speaking to SPOnG this morning, a Nintendo spokesperson dismissed the speculation surrounding the re-design announcement as little more than Internet rumour. However, it’s only a matter of time before we see a streamlined and less clunky DS. Nintendo’s Reggie Fils-Aime confirmed last year that an upgraded DS was on the cards. Additionally, it’s been both a popular and successful strategy for Nintendo with the GBA, with both the GBA SP and Game Boy Micro having sold remarkably well.
However, this is all something of a moot point with Nintendo gamers who, while they seem keen to buy more than one version of what is essentially the same handheld, may well tire of Nintendo’s strategy of continually re-working and upgrading their current handhelds. Let us know what you think about this strategy in the forums below.
In better news, and following hot on the heels of Sony’s Talkman announcement last week – see here – Japanese magazine Famitsu reports that Nintendo has announced the March release, in Japan, for ‘Tabi no Yubisashi Kaiwachou’ – their own translation software for the DS. The hilariously rough translation of the title, courtesy of IGN, is ‘Finger-pointing Conversation Note for Travelling’.
'Tabi no Yubisashi Kaiwachou' will provide both text and spoken translations for a number of phrases. SPOnG is keen to see how the software makes use of the DS’s touchscreen and microphone inputs. There’s no news on a European release just yet, but its bound to follow pretty soon, following hot on the heels of Sony’s Talkman announcement. The Japanese software will come in five different languages: Thai, Chinese, Korean, English and German. Each one, strangely, to be sold separately, at the price of 2,800 yen ($25) a pop. Which, to SPOnG, seems a bit mean.
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Comments
thane_jaw 16 Jan 2006 13:22
1/5
I currently own a ds, I can't see any reason for me to buy a redesigned one. however, in the same way that sony constantly updates and redesigns its home consoles to be smaller, I can't see where the harm is in attracting new customers with a sexy new version.
marmaduke 16 Jan 2006 14:05
2/5
It's unlikely that the new model DS is going to be to the standard DS what the SP was to the original GBA, since the DS already sports rechargability and a perfectly bright display.
Having said that, it is a bit clunky, so I'm waiting until the new model comes out.
Having said that, it is a bit clunky, so I'm waiting until the new model comes out.
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DoctorDee 16 Jan 2006 18:30
3/5
thane_jaw wrote:
I currently own a ds, I can't see any reason for me to buy a redesigned one.
Gadzooks man! If everyone took that attitude, I wouldn't have seven* iPods.
But even the original iPod was 143,658x more attractive than the DS. I'm waiting for the re-design and then (as long as it's not minging) I'm buying one.
*Please note, I am not very insane. Four are my g/f's.
jmcho@hotmail.com 16 Jan 2006 20:06
4/5
Personally,
I am also awaiting the new redesign of the NDS. But, I am hoping (prolly a pipe dream) that somehow new functionality is added -- either the mysterious V-pocket (supposedly a Palm OS variant) or something that brings some practicality to it.
I wouldn't mind tooling around my NDS as a PDA. ;)
John
I am also awaiting the new redesign of the NDS. But, I am hoping (prolly a pipe dream) that somehow new functionality is added -- either the mysterious V-pocket (supposedly a Palm OS variant) or something that brings some practicality to it.
I wouldn't mind tooling around my NDS as a PDA. ;)
John
thane_jaw 16 Jan 2006 21:40
5/5
DoctorDee wrote:
*Please note, I am not very insane. Four are my g/f's.
Only slightly crazy then? I'd love to be able to afford more then one ds, when my non gaming friends see it their eyes light up and it'd really sweet to play mario kart ds wireless. i just can't justify the cost of getting a new one.
i also love the stares i get from people who think "i should know better". maybe if i got a new one they'd want to be my friend. like in the advert. and they'd touch it suggestively. damn it, i'm gonna have to get the new one now.