Malik
(7/28/04) A
Final Name and Image for the DS Nintendo
has finally released images of the final version of their new
handheld, as found
on Gamspot.com. On top of that, Nintendo has finally given a
title to their system (the prior name of Nintendo DS was just the
project name); which, anti-climatically, is the "Nintendo
DS". So, much for that excitement. The
new and finalized version of the DS includes about the same stuff we
saw from the DS at E3, but with a more hip look to it, and an
increase in the size of the buttons...on top of a slightly changed
placement for the buttons. The console still yields two screens,
with the bottom one having touch screen abilities. Nintendo's
president, Satoru Iwata, is still holding the highest of hopes for
the new handheld; "The
Nintendo DS will change the future of handheld gaming," he
mused. "Dual screens, chat functions, a touch screen, wireless
capabilities, voice recognition--these abilities surpass anything
attempted before, and consumers will benefit from the creativity and
innovation the new features bring to the world of video
games." Ironically
enough, with the news of this potentially ground breaking new
handheld, Nokia has finally shipped their N-Gage QD to American
merchants today. In the world of geeks, you win some and you lose
some. Anyway,
the DS is on schedule for launch in the US sometime this fall, with
at least 120 games in development (in total...details of which will
make it to the US are vague so far). I
personally would like to see this system do good (I think Nintendo
is still the only console maker who has a good vision for their
products...that is, they envision games before other forms of
entertainment), but I still have my fears of the touch screen
use...especially after hearing from E3 that the action on the new DS
Metroid game will be seen on the touch screen and you use the touch
screen to control Samus (I like to be able to see what I'm controlling,
and if I'm using the touch screen, I know my hand is going to block
at least part of the action...it's common sense). Malik
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