This isn’t the most recent news, but Nintendo has improved their most successful system to date, the Nintendo DS. The Nintendo DS Lite is substantially smaller, thinner, more compact than the original DS, and the screens are Brighter! Expected to be as bright (and crisp) as the GBA SP+‘s new bright screen (or as bright as the PSP’s screen), and will allow you to adjust 4 levels of the light setting (just like the PSP!).

Pic from IGN.com

The design kind of resembles something you’d imagine Apple designing - has an iPod look. When released, the DS will come in 3 colors: Ice Blue, Enamel Navy, and Crystal White.

Pics from IGN.com

Nintendo DS Lite will ship March 2 in Japan for 16,800 yen, or ~$140.00US

Pics from ENGADGET.com

Sources:
IGN.com
http://ds.ign.com/articles/683/683728p1.html

IGN.com
http://ds.ign.com/articles/687/687783p1.html

ENGADGET.com
http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/08/nintendo-ds-lite-live-shots/

INFENDO.com
http://www.infendo.com/2006/01/ds-lite-size-comparison-updated-with.html

I’m looking forward to it!  :D

*Concura

Ya nice job concura it looks really nice ty for update

thanks a lot, Gundam! Glad you enjoyed it. And hopefully, I’ve persuaded you to get one when it comes out.  :wink:

The pics of the moc-up DS Lite were from a recent FCC filing, just in case you were wondering. IGN happened to obtain then, too: Engadget edited the extra background out from their pics:

http://ds.ign.com/articles/686/686966p1.html

Now, just add a Play Yan to the DS plus a 2 Gig SD card, and I think this will pretty much replace the PSP in everything it does (well ... almost everything. Maybe not the wireless TV part, or the web browsing, but it’ll cover almost everything else).

Nintendo also announced there will be voice chat with Metroid Prime: Hunters on multiplayer mode over IP.

*Concura

heh i got PSP like it more then DS play it once it while and i dont really wanna throw out 140$ for cooler thing may do it who knows if i have extra cash

seems a shame they did’t push the screen out ot the edges and give it a comparable screen (s) to the PSP

That’s a good point, Gundam. However, don’t forget that the DS has some of the top-selling portable games on the market. Games like Sonic Rush DS, Meteos, Mario Kart DS, Animal Crossing DS, and so many others out there—- Metroid Prime: Hunters is coming out in just a few months!

There are no load times with the DS, too, so you could just pop it out of your pocket, play a little while, pop it back in your pocket after saving, and no worries! Add to that the addition that of the TV Tuner that’s just been announced by Nintendo recently, and the Internet Web Browser software made by Opera (officially endorsed), I think that covers most of the fields the PSP covers, but at a better value and a more sturdier system for half the price.

[quote author=“japaneseimportscomau”]seems a shame they did’t push the screen out ot the edges and give it a comparable screen (s) to the PSP

True, it would be nice if they had a bigger screen. I think the advantage of the smaller dual screens is the reduction of size plus the ability to have a larger viewing area while still being able to fit in your pocket. It’s a “built-in screen-protector” if you think about the clam-shell design.

The new Nintendo DS Lite’s shiny, more compact design makes it a more attractive piece of hardware that is already pushing far beyond the potential anyone thought it could have. You could play your old GBA games on the system, or the higher-end (and higher-price) DS games on the same machine - all about options and huge variety.

Bored? Now you’ll be able to pull it out and watch wireless TV with it:

Note the touch-screen panel features channel select pad

Somehow, it just resembles more of an iPod look. If you can afford an iPod video, what’s stopping you from considering a DS Lite? It’s crazy! 

I’m sorry, I’m just getting a bit too excited with all the recent announcements about the DS! It’s just what I’ve dreamed about being able to do on the little system, and now it’s all coming true. And it makes sense - the PSP has been a bit too fragile for me to just “tote” around while travelling. With the DS, at least it doesn’t cost as much, but is still sturdier not for me to worry about beating or scratching up!

Just imagine posting here in the SonyTR forums through your DS while you’re just sitting in your couch in the living room:

Even though you’re able to on the PSP, it just feels like it’ll be a huge step forward with the DS being able to use the touchscreen to enter or virtually type the web address or any text instead of selecting it manually like SMSing. Does it make any sense to you, yet?!!

Sorry, just a bit excited about this news! It’s becoming more like the PSP every time, but .... somehow ... better. (personal perspective)

If you want more info on the DS web browser and TV tuner, you can check my post out here: http://www.siliconpopculture.com/sonytr/viewtopic.php?t=5954
However, the TV Tuner and Web browser is compatible with the current DS systems, if anyone owns one here? So it’s not necessarily exclusive to the DS Lite.

Picture source:
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20060215/nin3.htm

*Concura :

I’ll state up front that i don’t have either a PSP or a DS…yet.
But mucking around on them both for ages in shops I can’t for the life of me see what you need the two screens for?!

Now don’t flame me yet, i’m no games designer, but i really want to be told what is the advantage? Showing a little radar or some such thing is OK, but so far it just seems a waste to me. Even channle selecting could be done with a button, why do you need touch screen? Is there any game out there really using it?

Well, other than the novelty of Nintendogs, there are quite a few titles that make great use of stylus/touch input.

One type of game that comes to mind is ZooKeeper which is essentially a modified version of Bejeweled. It a very addicting game that appeals to lots of different market segments. There’s no way you could simulate the frantic gameplay without direct input.

Kirby’s Canvas Curse also makes unique use of the control that is integral to game play.

Another area where the stylus can’t be replicated is the “adult brain training” games. It allows people to interact naturally with the interface and the puzzles. For instance, you simply write in your answer or draw a character, etc. It’s just a brand new way to play.

Don’t forget to throw in the novelty of being able to write messages very fast in the PictoChat instant messaging tool which makes for a lot of fun.

Granted, a lot of games make only basic use of the feature but the ones that use it as the basis of their game control tend to be extremely unique and fun to play.

The two screen concept isn’t fully being exploited but there are some titles where it makes sense. For instance, Metroid Pinball is a title perfectly suited for the dual screen. You can better keep your eye on the entire board especially if you’re trying to play multiple balls at once.

Just a few examples… :wink: