Analyst details possible new DS hardware

by JC Fletcher { Nov 15th 2007 at 9:50AM }

Evan Wilson, an analyst with Pacific Crest Securities, says that Nintendo has completed the design for a new DS model. How does he know? "Contacts!" According to Wilson's secret oracle, the new hardware will ditch the GBA slot for an even thinner profile, and add some storage media and enlarged screens.

Could this new model be designed to take advantage of the rumored game downloading service? If GBA games were downloadable, the lack of a GBA slot and the storage would make a lot of sense together.

According to Wilson, Nintendo has been holding off on releasing this new model until sales drop worldwide. The truth is, they were just waiting for me to get a DS Lite. Seriously, it happens every time.

[Thanks, Eztips!]

Tags: analyst, redesign

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Thing� @ Feb 5th 2008 7:48PM

Sounds great, EXCEPT...ditching the GBA slot.
It was lame enough that they dropped original GB game compatibility. Seriously. How much room would that take up?
And I was just about looking into getting a DS for the first time do to the web browser.
But then heard about possible memory and better web browsing on a possible new ds lite. So I waited. But now with no GBA slot...I'm not so sure I want it. Maybe I will just go for one of those iphones (without the phone).

flameofdoom666 @ Nov 15th 2007 10:22AM

I never got a DS lite (I have a phat). I would get a DS lite redesign if it did exist. On board storage sounds great!

RupeeClock @ Nov 15th 2007 10:34AM

They're gonna wait for sales to drop? That could be years.

Where's the sense in waiting a few years for something that was designed now? If they are gonna wait then they could easily improve the model in the coming years.

onepointfivevolt @ Nov 15th 2007 10:32AM

See, I think they need to make MORE use of the GBA slot, not remove it for the sake of downloads. Remember how Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow gave you bonuses for putting Aria of Sorrow in the GBA slot? Why don't they do that MORE? Especially with all these upcoming SquEnix remakes of games that just came out on the GBA within the past couple years. Throw us a bone, man.

onepointfivevolt @ Nov 15th 2007 10:33AM

Actually, as soon as I posted that, I realised it sounded like I was anti-downloads, which I'm not. I'd love a download service. I just don't want to see the GBA slot removed for it.

Donald @ Nov 15th 2007 11:17AM

I believe you have just been made a victim of the Laporte Effect, JC.

Oshus @ Nov 16th 2007 12:01AM

I would buy it becuase I have had my DS Lite for a year now and the touch screen got all scratched (it now makes a grindy sond when you use it). I think a thinner DS might make some games harder to play (Metroid Prime Hunters).
I believe the redesign is a good idea and inevitable. The PSP has soo many more cool featues than the DS, which makes it very applealing to the older gamers like myself. It is just the PSP has very little selection of true quality games. It would be wise for Nintendo to beef up the DS's capabilities before yet another PSP model comes on to the market.

ELIJAH the ChaosDragon @ Nov 15th 2007 11:28AM

Whats the laporte effect? And sure i'll buy it, my question to you nay sayers is; What new gameboy games are you buying.

Donald @ Nov 15th 2007 11:59AM

The Laporte Effect: As soon as someone buys a major electronic product (such as a computer or, apparently, a handheld gaming system), the next revision is announced.

Most notable victim is former TechTV host Leo Laporte.

hvnlysoldr @ Nov 15th 2007 12:18PM

NO! I still haven't played Mag Rider or Face Training! Where are they going to stick those peripherals if they remove Slot-2?

P3T3Y @ Nov 15th 2007 1:01PM

No redesign will sway me from obtaining the LoZ Gold DS. After I got my Red phat DS back in '05 and they announced the Lite shortly thereafter I was steadfast in my belief a gold DS would be released and it would be mine.

Goldilocks @ Nov 15th 2007 1:21PM

Nintendo has responded! Stating the new version of its DS Lite handheld is a �rumour and speculation and we are not commenting further.�

Hrm. I'm not interested (too much) in getting a new DS Super Lite, or whatever they're gonna call it. The only thing about what we've heard that gets me is bigger screens. Are games simply formatted to auto-fit? Would the games look worse, the same, or better?

Garst @ Nov 15th 2007 1:48PM

This is extremely hard to believe. What benefit is there to have on board storage? All the DS games save everything to the game cards themselves. The only way to release a new hand held system is to release the next generation, unless they want their customers to feel jaded.

ehaleen @ Nov 15th 2007 1:54PM

does it need to be more thin? i agree they need to use the GBA slot MORE.

probably would not get one.

Sonic_13 @ Nov 15th 2007 1:55PM

I doubt that the GBA slot is going anywhere. A lot of games (such as Pokemon) use the slot for some feature (whether it be rumble, extra memory, data transfers, MP3 player, slide controller, camera). Any game requiring one of those accessories would become uplayable.

Also, if the expected Guitar Hero peripheral uses the GBA slot, the game would then become unplayable...

Georgemoe @ Nov 15th 2007 3:48PM

Somewhat indifferent on the news. My wife and I just got our first DS's (Lites). Never had a phat or a Gameboy. Never played a Gameboy game so the use of the slot for us would only be for DS accessory needs. We love the 360 downloadable content and if I could download demos onto the DS's from the comfort of my easy chair via wireless I would love that. So if the redesign does show up, we'd get at least one and reserve one of the other DSL's for family and friends.

Xian B. @ Nov 15th 2007 4:02PM

So what's this, a DS Micro? Oh, Nintendo, will you never learn?

Do not want. And if it does exist--if I may be honest?--do not much care.

Almadi @ Nov 15th 2007 4:22PM

I designed a DS for a Joystiq entry call back in 2005:

http://madiart.blogspot.com/2006/04/nintendo-ds.html

But I do hope they go with the module idea:

http://madiart.blogspot.com/2006/09/gameboy-omega.html

forgiste @ Nov 15th 2007 5:51PM

Damnit! I JUST bought a red and black DS lite freaking yesterday!

j-king @ Nov 15th 2007 5:56PM

we care that you don't care, really! thanks for letting us know so that we can all stop caring too!

srsly.

Truth is, I hate carts. I think it's stupid the DS still uses them. I have an assload of DS games and it's becoming a pain carrying them all around (yes, I'm like that. I may want to play any single one of them at any moment).

It has wireless. If they got rid of the slots and added a bluetooth receiver + sd slot, I'd much rather have a download service. FAR more convenient, and you get a common interface for devices.

Guh.

Either way, it sounds interesting if it's not a rumor.

Seph-kun @ Nov 15th 2007 6:16PM

Wtf...WTF. No Nintendo, no. Just no. The Lite is cool enough as is, and an official flash cart would be nice (PlayYan in the US anyone?).

I'm probably being angsty about this cause I just spent $163 (That's with tax and rounded) on a black and red DS Lite bundle...BUT STILL! DO NOT WANT!

Dickson @ Nov 15th 2007 7:50PM

Oh man! I just got my DS Lite 2 weeks ago!

Spectre (MPH) @ Nov 15th 2007 8:56PM

If this is true..
THIS OWNS. HARD...BUTTSEX HARD.

Sold.

Medievalwarrior @ Nov 16th 2007 3:11PM

I haven't gotten a DS yet. If this rumor is true, I will wait for it to come out to get one.

Anthony @ Nov 16th 2007 4:04PM

So is having more onboard storage going to improve the DS Internet - I'm very disappointed with the 8 FRIGGEN MB EXPANSION CARD - that's supposed to allow me to surf the net.. Has to refresh every damn page :x

If they actually install some flash memory on board - like say 2GB or so I'd buy one.

Ben @ Nov 16th 2007 5:07PM

I know how you feel, I always seem to buy something RIGHT BEFORE it's price gets dropped or it gets free stuff offered with it [damn you, circuit city!]

Advent @ Nov 16th 2007 7:15PM

I have just finally got a DS Lite and I do still have a bunch of GBA games that I play on it so I wouldn't buy a new one.....unless it went the way of the new sony psp and was able to hook up to the tv by cable without the use of a console.

nintendolover @ Nov 18th 2007 7:16PM

This seems like the coolest DS yet.
I will get this when it comes out and keep my Black and Red DS Lite.

MarvinK @ Nov 20th 2007 3:45PM

Are they going to add WPA/WPA2 to the new DS model? It's bad enough it wasn't included in the original--there's no excuse for the DS Lite--and its a total joke if Nintendo isnt supporting it for future releases. It's the only way I'm buying one.

The_Pixel_Ninja @ Nov 22nd 2007 4:01PM

Why not just make a Gba cart with an SD slot or something? i'm sure they could easily whore that off on people :p

The_Pixel_Ninja @ Nov 22nd 2007 4:08PM

Oh yeah, to actually answer the question, as soon as my screen falls off i will, I'm serious, it's farked up, bad. o__o;

Eru_Roraito @ Nov 24th 2007 3:35PM

That would just be stupid. They get to working on a new handheld so it won't be rushed and delayed 50 times instead of working on a 2nd redesign.

Barry A @ Nov 28th 2007 1:15AM

I've been thinking about this rumor for a while, and have come up with a few ideas as to why they aren't releasing it any time soon.

1. DS is still going strong (Obviously).

2. PSP redesign doesn't really change the field, because it has the same abilities as the old PSP (Like the DS phat and Lite, I suppose). If the PSP Slim were an evolution of the design rather than a simple refresh, Nintendo might be pressured to update. But at the moment, the PSP Slim isn't forcing a new generation, just keeping them in the game.

3. Microsoft's plans are still in the air. If they are planning an Xbox portable or "Xboy" or whatever they want to call it, it would make sense to hold the next generation of DS until that system is announced, so they can update the design. Like the Micro, putting out a system that brings nothing new to the table is a bad idea. Nintendo probably just wants to see what the competition will put out before introducing a new system.

So yeah, my best guess is that Nintendo wants to see what Microsoft has in store, if anything. The DS2 (That's a good name for it, I should copyright it so Nintendo has to pay me for it), the PSP2, and this "Xboy" are going to be real interesting. But that might not be for a year or two, we'll know more next year.

Double100 @ Jan 20th 2008 11:31AM

It's called the DS exel, as in excel. Like the DS lite/light and unofficially the DS phat/fat, the exel will excel in all the things that make the DS unique. SD support (multiple formats) rather than have onboard storage for use other than firmware and firmware updates. Each system will have an ID that Nintendo will use when downloading games. The ID will also be used to cut down on piracy. Nintendo already plans to ban pirated games from wifi, at least. Extra features will be available when downloading games that carts purchased from stores will not include. This is to extend the life of the ds similar to the attempts to extend the gameboy life (gameboy pocket, then gameboy color). Use of store bought games with the Nintendo DS exel will be optional and will be placed in the same slot as the sd reader cart. There are plans to incorporate a more multimedia experience into the firmware (possibly using an iTunes store-esque service), also there are plans to use cellular internet as well as the building on the pre-existing wireless connection features (adding WAP/WAP2 support, increasing data transfer speed). A browser will be purchasable and function similar to opera for wii. It will include a slot 2 the same size as the ds lite's. It will not be released soon because of both the lite's strong sales and hardware prices, as well as expanding and familiarizing the casual market with the less advanced lite model that sets it apart from the competition (Sony's psp, also the ps3 and xbox 360) before introducing exel. Nintendo would like to price the handheld around 150 USD. There are talks about redesigning the exel for Nintendo's next generation handheld system if the DS lite's sales continue to dominate the market.