Enterbrain boss: New DS may be unveiled at E3

by Chris Greenhough { Apr 11th 2008 at 10:30AM }

To us, the DS Lite is perfick -- it's slim, stylish, and beautifully proportioned. Will that stop Nintendo from giving the whole thing a facelift and turning it into something even more desirable? Probably not. Ninty has a history of giving its handhelds a nip and a tuck, and the company will have noted the extra momentum enjoyed by the PSP in Japan since its redesign. Frankly, we'd be surprised if the Lite wasn't updated at some point in the future.

As would Hirokazu Hamamura, boss of Famitsu publisher Enterbrain, who reckons that Nintendo may announce a new DS model at this year's E3. Hamamura's prediction appeared in the latest edition of Weekly Famitsu, and was greeted by a "No comment" from Nintendo. Let the wanton speculation begin!

Gallery: Nintendo DS mockups

[Via NeoGAF]

Tags: e3, enterbrain, famitsu, redesign

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

C02M0 @ Apr 11th 2008 10:37AM

i doubt it , not only this is sound like a tottal lie .
the DS (lite) is perfect (IMO) .
theres nothing i can think of to improve.
replay if you think there is somthing to improve .

TheCoats @ Apr 11th 2008 12:02PM

how about SD card memory-no GBA port (for size) and a built in browser?

ArmorForVictor @ Apr 11th 2008 3:52PM

i too think the ds lite is perfect. since i hardly use it online a browser really is unnecessary for me and i don't use sd cards at all. so yeah if the new ds has that stuff i'll stick with my perfect lite and also if they make it smaller it would be too small.

ArmiMaan @ Apr 11th 2008 10:49AM

These sorts of rumors pop up every year, it seems, but I could see something new being shown this year. The PSP has been trouncing the DS for a while now, and Nintendo may do something to combat that.

Personally, I'd like to see something with bigger screens. I've stopped playing DS as much because of all the eyestrain caused by extended play sessions.

Nigeria: Cody ChesnuTT Defense Force @ Apr 11th 2008 10:57AM

Bigger screens would create dead space for current DS games, and that's not even taking onto consideration all the GBA games.

They could make the D-Pad a little bigger, but to be honest, aside from that, I don't know how they could improve on the DS. It's perfect as it is.

Solar Powered?

MaHe @ Apr 11th 2008 11:06AM

You know, having solar cells on the top lid (where the DS logo is) would be AWESOME. Not feasible for a massively produced device, but still ... awesome.

jsutcliffe @ Apr 11th 2008 11:21AM

Not necessarily too expensive. I charge my DS with a solar device I picked up for $20. It's pretty slow (~6 hours of *strong* sunlight to get a full charge) but it's certainly not expensive.

Eleniel @ Apr 11th 2008 4:22PM

The DSL is pretty perfect... but I'm sure Nintendo can find some way to improve. Here's hoping it comes in matte black?

Plokosh @ Apr 11th 2008 11:07AM

They could make a new ds with 1Gigabyte of flash memory (those are cheap nowadays, right?) and include a GB/GBC emulator and provide games as DLC. Maybe GBA games too, but I doubt that cause they're still fairly recent, but if they wiped out slot-2, maybe some would jump in if the prices were fair enough.

Other than that, I like my ds as it is.

Cheese Muffin @ Apr 11th 2008 11:11AM

I'm aware they're only mock-ups... but some of the designs take away one of my favorite features of the DS... that lovely clamshell. I can toss it into my pocket, bookbag or giant suffocating purse of death without fear of scratching my screens and no weird "gunk" gumming up my buttons.

KamenRiderTakoyaki @ Apr 11th 2008 11:23AM

How about a redesign of the DS phat to match power usage of the lite?
My Lite's gonna be broken if I keep playing action games on it!
A solar panel would be kinda cool anyhow.

Ralph @ Apr 11th 2008 11:43AM

They should make a more durable touch screen. Phantom Hourglass killed mine.

gb @ Apr 11th 2008 12:05PM

try using screen protectors

Sam @ Apr 11th 2008 6:31PM

Oh my god. The same thing happened to me. If they would just have more durable screens and a better sound system, I would buy it. I'm obsessive compulsive like that.

SephFinale @ Apr 11th 2008 8:24PM

Take care of your system better...Phantom Hourglass didn't do any harm to my touch screen.

TheCoats @ Apr 11th 2008 12:04PM

No not yet!!!!!!!

Metayoshi @ Apr 11th 2008 12:15PM

It technically has been 4 years since the DS's launch, so maybe a hint on the next gen handheld system instead of just a pure redesign on the DS Lite?

ecco6t9 @ Apr 11th 2008 1:51PM

Install the rumble,ram, and browser directly onto the system.

Make it smaller for people who really are get up and go types.
The Micro didn't work due to being replaced, the DS is still current.
Either thinner or actually smaller.

Jacksons @ Apr 11th 2008 12:54PM

A second revision, eh? They've done it before, I wouldn't put it past them.

Waffala @ Apr 11th 2008 1:03PM

The redesigns are all fugly.

That said, integrated web browser, a virtual console hopefully but doubtfully compatible with your Wii VC games so you won't have to buy them twice, integrated flash memory or SD memory so it can be used as an mp3/video player, possibly rumble if it doesn't bulk the ds up. Really though, it's for games, the other stuff would be cool, but not really necessary. The Lite is beautiful, no messing with its look.

Jackson H @ Apr 11th 2008 2:24PM

I gotta disagree with ecco. They must not make it smaller unless they redesign the ergonomics of the thing. My DSlite is already so small that it's almost impossible for me to hold down a shoulder pad while pressing buttons with the same hand. (Ever tried power sliding while dragging an item in Mario Kart?).

Kogita @ Apr 11th 2008 8:10PM

sure, just use L for items instead of X. ^_^

Jackson H @ Apr 11th 2008 8:13PM

Actually, that's what what I've been doing. Maybe I should try X instead of L?

XDragon @ Apr 11th 2008 3:05PM

I'd bet on the next DS being smaller, close to the size of the screens and having no gba support allowing it to be slimmer as well.

Lydia @ Apr 11th 2008 3:22PM

I will be pretty irritated if this happens since I just upgraded to a DS Lite. Yeah, finally. I like the GBA slot, too. D:

Shad0wguy @ Apr 11th 2008 3:23PM

This news intrigues me. My DS lite has a broken R button. I may wait to find out if this is true or not before I send it to Nintendo to fix it.

BPM [SSBB: 5026 4120 1186] @ Apr 11th 2008 5:47PM

I'm totally serious in what I'm about to tell you:

Blow into your R button.

Seriously, it happened to my DS Lite's L button. I guess the contacts have gotten dirty or something. So, every now and then, I just have to blow into it, and it works fine again.

vgxtremist @ Apr 11th 2008 3:48PM

I could see this redesign removing the GBA port, as production for such games and sales has ceased, so right now speaking, it's pretty much extra space. Most people that would buy this model would probably have a DS already anyway, so it wouldn't matter that much. I still use my SP for GBA games anyway instead of my DS.

elsng @ Apr 11th 2008 4:17PM

DS Micro. LOL.

TendoMan @ Apr 11th 2008 5:34PM

If. (And I Mean IF) Nintendo brings out a new DSL, it will probably be some kind of hardware upgrade, ala DSL2.

I think if anything they would make the screens bigger, add some more memory, and work on getting the 3D hardware to work overtime, getting something that (graphically) resembles the PSP (?), but sans the horrific loading times.

Now, how to do all that, and still keep a simple and effective media to store and produce the games is beyond me. Larger carts? Discs? Who knows.

*Shrugs* Either way, I guess we'll have to see what Ninty says come E3

RootiePatootie @ Apr 11th 2008 6:57PM

IF this happens I really do NOT want to see it made any smaller. Although my hands are largeish for a female they're smaller than most men's hands. Still I find holding my Lite painful at times, my hand actually cramps badly no matter what or how and I have to stop playing OR switch to my phat. If the screen was brighter on my phat I think I'd never play on my Lite at all.

I'd love to see an integrated browser and one that supports Flash. Extra memory would be cool but not real high on my list. I've the Opera browser for my Lite and it totally sux.....but I'd use it a lot if it didn't.

Oh, and as for the durability of the touch screen, I use screen protectors, on both my Lite and phat, and although I've beaten up a couple while playing Zelda:PHG the screen itself is pristine. Same for the screen on my phat, I bought protectors when I bought it and it's perfect even though it's well over 2 yrs. old now.

It will be interesting to see what E3 brings us DS fans!

SephFinale @ Apr 11th 2008 8:33PM

Here's a thought: Next GameBoy shall be announced?

Aaron @ Apr 12th 2008 10:06AM

Hmm..how can the DS get better...for one, better 3D graphics, analoge stick(s)...oh and did I say better 3D graphics?

Ditikos @ Apr 12th 2008 5:58AM

How about putting an R4-something (now that Nintendo is making a rally against piracy) with a micro sd reader?

They could have a subscription service (call it ds shop) and buy the roms via DLC (having them drm'd or whatever), in lower prices than the boxed version. A win-win situation.

Also a durable / screen (or a smart way to replace the touch screen yourself) could be fine, the touch screen is always scratched and deteriorates.

SamuraiD @ Apr 12th 2008 6:27AM

If I could throw some suggestions in as to what the "next" Nintendo DS revision might entail...

1) Removal of GBA Game Pak slot.

2) SD Card slot introduced in the GBA Game Pak slot's place offering downloadable games that can be bought through the Wii Store and played on the DS - this includes GBA, GBC and Game Boy games as well. (I know I would use this feature a hell of a lot.)

3) Support for WPA/WPA2 and other Wireless Network Security Protocols.

4) Built-in web browser with added online PictoChat functionality with the ability to talk with registered friends (maybe using the built-in mic?) and perhaps some game-launching feature that could be a hand-held first? I.e. Talking to a few friends online via PictoChat and then if your friends have the same Game Card (that features an online gameplay mode) already in their DS, then perhaps some option to start a gaming session?

I know these are just my suggestions, but I seriously think my fourth suggestion, even if Nintendo release something similar, would just sky-rocket the Nintendo DS amongst gamers to all new levels.

Spectre (MPH) @ Apr 13th 2008 4:03AM

the ds lite is perfect.

if anything you should be added:

media (music, movies, pics etc.) expandable memory more ram (for better looking games) ..and built in web browser.

thats all i can think of.

Spectre (MPH) @ Apr 13th 2008 4:03AM

darkjak951 @ Apr 16th 2008 1:39PM

"Nintendo BS" is right! This will NEVER work!

nillaP @ Apr 25th 2008 8:27PM

who knows my bet is that its a whole new system. most systems , handheld and consoles, get about 1 revision after their launch and then move on. if this is the case it will most likely keep the touch screen. i love the lite, but if they make an iphone into a gameboy, im sellin it in a heartbeat