Nintendo DS New Images and Fact Sheet

September 21st, 2004, 17:36 Posted By: wraggster

Lik Sang have posted a mass of new images of the Nintendo DS and posted a mass of information too:[br][br] Nintendo also released a more complete fact sheet on the hardware. A few notes caught our eye, and we wanted to be sure to point out some bits you may have missed.[br][br]Top Screen: A backlit, 3-inch, semitransparent reflective TFT color LCD with 256 x 192 pixel resolution and .24 mm dot pitch, capable of displaying 260,000 colors[br][br]For comparison, the GBA screen resolution is 240 x 160. So the DS screens are going to have a similar pixel resolution at a slightly larger size, but the difference comes in with the huge increase in the color palette: 260,000 from the GBA's 32,768.[br][br]Wireless Communication: IEEE 802.11 and Nintendo’s proprietary format; wireless range is 30 to 100 feet, depending on circumstances; multiple users can play multiplayer games using just one DS Game Card[br][br]Again, Nintendo reiterates the wireless range and multiplayer functions, but they're still not revealing anything about their proprietary wireless technology. What does stand out here is the first use of the term "Game Card" in reference to DS media. Not that many people ever used Nintendo's "Game Pak" moniker, but it does suggest that the media is more similar to a card for your digital camera than a traditional cartridge. Nintendo also gladly repeats that the DS can handle single-card multiplayer. Let's hope that the increased specs allow it to be used more often than it was on GBA.[br][br]Controls: Touch screen, embedded microphone for voice recognition, A/B/X/Y face buttons, plus control pad, L/R shoulder buttons, Start and Select buttons[br][br]This is essentially retreated water from E3, but it does confirm that there is an internal microphone embedded, even if external mics are released later.[br][br]Input/Output: Ports for both Nintendo DS Game Cards and Game Boy® Advance Game Paks, terminals for stereo headphones and microphone[br][br]All the input and output terminals are listed here, and there's no GBA link port to be found. The press release completely nails the coffin with this phrase: "compatible with single-player modes". So backwards compatibility clearly isn't the biggest goal with the DS, but it does allow Nintendo to toss new gadgets in the slot and play around a bit with connecting software, not to mention touting the hundreds of titles already on the shelf at launch. After the DS is on the market though, are you really going to regret not being able to use cables?[br][br]Also, that "mystery slot" next to the headphone jack is certainly the external microphone port listed here, as photos clearly show an image of a headset with microphone attached. [br][br]More info etc at Lik Sang

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