Nintendo DS TV and WEB

[backin-strachan]

I know the DS WEB was confirmed by DANIEL:p but not only that exciting news for DS owners but

'Owners of Nintendo's DS game gadget could soon be using it to browse the web or watch TV.
By June Nintendo will release an add-on card for the handheld that has Opera's web browsing software on it.

Following this, it will release another card with a TV tuner inside that picks up programmes broadcast for portable devices.

Nintendo boss Satoru Iwata said the add-ons were part of a plan to make the DS appeal to more than just gamers.

Program plan

Speaking at a conference detailing Nintendo's strategy over the coming months, Mr Iwata said the browser add-on card was expected to cost about 3,800 yen (£18.55).

The DS already has built-in wireless networking that lets gamers take each on via a free net-based service.

Although the web browser for the DS will be released worldwide, Mr Iwata said the TV tuner was only intended for Japan. In April, many Japanese broadcasters will start transmitting programmes just for mobile gadgets.

The TV tuner would be available by the end of 2006, said Mr Iwata.

"These products propose a different use for the DS in entirely new fields," Mr Iwata told attendees at the briefing.


Cuteness abounds in hit DS game Nintendogs
He also talked about some of the forthcoming software for the DS, some of which also helps to round out its plan to make the handheld more than just a game gadget.

Included in the new software line-up is a foreign language guide for visitors to Japan, a training program that helps Japanese people improve their handwriting and a cooking guide that reads out step-by-step instructions for dishes.

For the gamers future releases include a version of Tetris for the DS that features appearances by Mario and Donky Kong.

Since it launched in Japan in December 2004, Nintendo has sold more than 14.4 million DS units worldwide. Mr Iwata said it has proved so popular that some shops were reporting shortages.

He added that Nintendo had sold more DS handhelds faster than arch-rival Sony managed with its PSP gaming handheld.

Sony, too, has ambitions for the PSP to reach beyond the core of gamers. Many movies are now released in a format the device can play. Sony has also released a media manager that lets people put music, movies and pictures on their gadget.

Demand is expected to get a boost in March when Nintendo releases the DS Lite, a slimmed down, cheaper version of the handheld.'
Another reason for me to get a DS to add to the other 1000 things on the HAVE TO GET LIST;)

[AfroJoe]

He added that Nintendo had sold more DS handhelds faster than arch-rival Sony managed with its PSP gaming handheld.


This is the part of the article I like the best. :D

[Killer 57]

This could be the final blow to end the most overated handheld ever, the PSP.

[backin-strachan]

Wouldnt be suprised if the PSP crumbeled NINTENDO look like they have sussed SONY out.:)

[AfroJoe]

And it bodes well for the Revolution, as well. If the Revolution can do even half as well in Japan as the DS has done in its first year, then Nintendo will be delighted.

The DS is also selling quite well in Europe, which is usually a really anti-Nintendo community, due to their usual neglect of us. But yeah, the DS's strong sales might mean the Revolution has more of a chance over here than I would have originally thought. Which is great.

[backin-strachan]

Revolutiuon will do excellent. If people realise what NINTY are trying to do they will sell the revoulution no prob

[AfroJoe]

Yeah, you'd think that people would be able to appreciate innovative genius, but sadly things aren't like that.

When something like the PS2 continues to sell absolutely thousands of units every single week, you realise that people in general just don't seem to know what they're doing. :(

[backin-strachan]

If they think their PS2 was good it would be interesting to see their reaction. When FIFA was on in GAME before the XBOX 360 was released the amount of people that came in and said

"Whoah look at that"

They dont bother how it plays they think "Aw cool Ive got FIFA"(even though its tosh)

If these people buy the 360 we will be laughing:D

[Steve]

I believe the PSP has been a sucess. If you compare the sales- well of course the PSP will be lower then the DS, it had a 5 month disadvantage and costs 100 USD more. Not only this but Nintendo will always be a huge phenomenon in Japan. Japanese will be selling million of Revolutions most likely as well, just as long as the prices remain low. Here in the US we all know we love to play our big black box we grew to love and the Playstation, which no matter what will always be number one in the US, so I think as the PSP grows and when a new GTA game comes out it will expand over the Nintendo DS, maybe not in Japan, but worldwide there is a great possibilty. They do however need to answer to DS TV, which I personally think will be pointless on a bad tiny screen. If it was expanded more on the DS Lite or made into a nice LCD or plasma screen that would be great.

[AfroJoe]

Oh yeah, no doubt the PSP will have made the people at Sony happy. The way they just seemed to think they could walk into the handheld market and suddenly take control like they did in the home console market with the PlayStation annoyed me, though.

So, yeah, go DS. :D

[backin-strachan]

The DS is an inferior console in terms of specification but innovation is the name and boy has NINTENDO innovated and this is showing that they arent just the DS they are including new functions, which should strongly help it.

I am not denying the PSP isnt good but I believe it is fairly limited compared to th DS.

So yup, GO THE DS

[Steve]

Well it was meant for a true gaming experience while DS was trying to bring a new approach. In a new sense they are two entirly different peices of hardware- one showcasing media storage and great graphics, while another showcasing more cartoonish playful games to be played with a Stylus. Both I own and both have become beloved by me- Im starting to grow on the DS though for some reason. Until I see a true game that is kind of made for adults and kids alike (like a new Mario or Metroids Prime) I might not buy another DS title for a while. Plus unlike on the PSP you have to watch out for some stinkers like King Kong DS. Thank God I did not fall into that trap! Im just not loving this idea of TV on a 1.5 inch tube screen. Maybe if they got rid of all those speakrs on the side and made it just one nice LCD screen it would be so much more enjoyable.

[Blaze Lord]

I don't think the PSP is meant for a true gaming experience at all. And I have three letters to back this claim up:

UMD.

The PSP doesn't have any stinkers? I was under the impression that, until very recently, its game library was pretty poor.

Oh, btw. 100 posts.

[Steve]

It never had a game with a 3 percent approval rating like the DS has with Elf Bowling. That still cracks me up that Nintendo would release such a bad Idea ever in its exsistence and not do anything to stop it. I mean it is the worst game of all time :P ever put into a gaming package (the GBA Blitz series is definatly up there though). Some games on the PSP are really good like Socom: Fireteam Bravo and GTA: Liberty City Stories. You can really see how the PSP has the potential to make a virtual world for a game and the ability to make a decent First Person Shooter as well.

[backin-strachan]

It never had a game with a 3 percent approval rating like the DS has with Elf Bowling. That still cracks me up that Nintendo would release such a bad Idea ever in its exsistence and not do anything to stop it. I mean it is the worst game of all time :P ever put into a gaming package (the GBA Blitz series is definatly up there though). Some games on the PSP are really good like Socom: Fireteam Bravo and GTA: Liberty City Stories. You can really see how the PSP has the potential to make a virtual world for a game and the ability to make a decent First Person Shooter as well.
Well NINTY up until recently(despite disagreeing) people say they are foor young kids they will buy it. Wouldnt be suprised if it was the Official PS2 mag giving it that but Nnty have to markets to suffice.

Young++Old

So elfy games are for the young and your RESI EVILS for the older so by singling out 1 crap game is unfair the only psp games I would contemplate are
GTA and BURNOUT.

The DS games I would get:
BURNOUT
MARIO KART
ANIMAL CROSSING
MARIO+LUIGI
VIEWTIFUL JOE
METROID PINBALL
METROID HUNTERS

I could go on forever but now with the ds plans I think this will increase the DS over the PSP over muti-media capabilities

[Steve]

But all these games on the DS have less graphics and some are alright. We can both say for both consoles that their titles aren't the best for the both at the moment. I mean Mario Kart DS and Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time are both great games and GTA, Socom and Burnout are all great PSP titles too. But besides that there isn't the amount of selection and choice we all wanted. But Nintendo owns the handheld market because of the Kids. I mean when I was 8 yrs old everyone owned a friggen Gameboy No Color. We all played pokemon together, and it grew on us eventually. The DS and PSP are both trying to make it so that you can never grow old. But back to our original topic, I just dont see the point of putting the web and Television broadcasts on a 1 inch screen that wont make the shows look any better. Good idea for Sony to rip though :P

[backin-strachan]

Nah I have a post for DS and PSP owners but anyway I suppose its personal but NINTENDO know this market like the back of their hand. I dont bother with graphics when it comes to handheld.If you want graphics thats what your 360 is for. You arent thinking"WHOAH GREAT GRAPHICS"when your walking about playing your PSP.

Even so the DS graphics arent far way from the PSP.PSP doesnt really have any open up and play games.GTA and SOCOM and so on need time. Whereas the DS has MARIO 64.

Open up.Couple of stars.WOOHOO.Close and play your 360 or what ever. You dont and shouldnt really be playing a handheld for long.

CAN YOU SEE MY POINT???

P.S Great debate STEVE:)

[Steve]

I do see your point but handhelds are great for well, on the run. And for me I want the best experience I can get out of a handheld possible and in my opinion the DS brings you that experience along with a bunch of other nice features. What the point of having a radio or a TV in your car when you have a PSP? Im happy thought to see the DS do this same approach

[backin-strachan]

Glad too see we agree on something but who doesnt have a MP3 Player and personally NINTY have the FUNNEST game out SUPER MONKEY BALL:p

Just saying I am more impressed in what NINTY has to offer rather than SONY(OPINION:))