Japanese newspaper details new camera-equipped DS

by JC Fletcher { Sep 27th 2008 at 10:14PM }

This is fairly huge, and fairly believable! Japanese business newspaper Nikkei posted an article describing features in an upcoming new DS model set for this year, designed with the intention of competing with the iPhone and other mobile devices. According to the article, the new hardware will include a camera and music playback functionality. The camera will be integrated into gameplay, which suggests that it may be more of a new system than an upgrade. It also features the ability to connect with "information terminals" to get location-sensitive information, which we know Nintendo has looked into. There's even more in the print version of the same article. It states that the device will cost less than 20,000 yen.

A removed article on the site Monex.co.jp (screenshot available at the NeoGAF link) said that the new DS will feature the ability to share data with the Wii via the SD slot, as well as larger screens.

We wonder what that Nintendo Media Summit is going to be about.

[Via NeoGAF, Game|Life]

Tags: nikkei, redesign, upgrade

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Papytendo @ Sep 27th 2008 10:27PM

?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Kibby @ Sep 27th 2008 10:26PM

20,000.00 JPY = 188.688 USD

This is pretty big. Basically a new system for only 70$ more than the current system.

Drew @ Sep 28th 2008 10:19AM

Only about $40 more than my DS Phat.

KaBob799 @ Sep 27th 2008 10:31PM

Why would they make iPhone games then compete with them? o.0

Roto13 @ Sep 27th 2008 10:31PM

Why would it need to share data with the SD slot when they can just connect wirelessly?

KaBob799 @ Sep 27th 2008 10:38PM

At first I agreed with you but then I realized that just means it has an SD card slot, which is rather obvious considering the music and camera features.

Mr Khan @ Sep 27th 2008 10:57PM

Validates all those rumors, i think. And it also validates the worldwide press summit (which is kinda sad, too, as i hoped it was about something more on the software side of things)

Nintendo did promise "new products" for the summit, and this would definitely qualify. But i can't imagine that concept of having these new functions integrated into games, as that would divide the user base quite severely.

kyle hyde @ Sep 27th 2008 11:30PM

I can't wait for the october conference

HairyBalls @ Sep 27th 2008 11:26PM

GameBoy VC would be a nice feature...

NukeAssault @ Sep 27th 2008 11:40PM

Speaking of Game boys... it would be epic if they also had a printer to go with the camera!

TJF588 @ Sep 27th 2008 11:51PM

DS Camera, this Spring 2009!

Nah, but seriously, the first thing I thought with the camera was "BC-FFVII- could actually end up on the _Nintendo_ system". The COMPILATION of FFVII seems to me like a Sony-end endeavor, but with _this_ news... *dawns on him that this may not be a "DS", per se* Hm... I could definitely see FFIVTA getting some portability outside of cell-phone-land. This carries quite a bit with it. Now, I just have to hope that this thing is spic-and-span right from the outset, since I don't want to end up with a second iteration coming out a la the previous DS step-up.

ramuji @ Sep 27th 2008 11:52PM

Ahhh, the "larger screen" and data sharing with Wii were from a different article no removed. That is why I couldn't find them in the Nikkei article.

Regarding the "information terminals" bit, that is a direct translation of the Japanese "情報端末". I'm pretty sure it means PDA functionality. Of course, the functionality Nintendo adds might be limited to only downloading location-sensitive information, so I'm not saying your article is mistaken ... :)

JC Fletcher @ Sep 28th 2008 12:53AM

Ah, is that the term used for "PDA"? My kanji is super terrible.

Also, you're in Japan, right? Would you be willing to do me a favor?

ramuji @ Sep 28th 2008 1:10AM

Honestly, I've found that particular string of kanji to be very difficult to understand in the past. But, this wikipedia entry (http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%90%BA%E5%B8%AF%E6%83%85%E5%A0%B1%E7%AB%AF%E6%9C%AB) and the content of the Monex.co.jp article lead me to believe that they are referring to PDA functionality.

Regarding your favor, do you want to post it here, or should I send you my email address via DS Fanboy contact link?

Zealot @ Sep 28th 2008 12:14AM

I have mixed feelings about this. With the addition of new features that can be integrated into gameplay such as the camera, the momentum of great game development we've seen in the past couple of years could come to a screeching halt as developers attempt to integrate these new features into future titles, throwing us back into a temporary age of awkwardness and gimmickry that followed the release of the DS when many developers felt that integrating the touch screen into gameplay was mandatory.

On the other hand, the prospect of camera/mp3 support/SD slot/PDA/etc is undeniably exciting. Would it be a day one purchase for me? Sure. Makes me glad I held off on upgrading to a Lite (then again, I was considering a PSP but that's out the window now.) Can't wait to see if all of this is true or not.

aj @ Sep 28th 2008 12:16AM

So, will this be a DS2, or is Nintendo pulling a Sony and just releasing a DS MK-III and just adding a camera? Adding music playability really doesn't require changing anything at all, just the ability to interface with a computer in some way and some software to play the music.

And if it is a DS2, what happens to GBA compatibility?

And will the games made for the DS2 be compatible with the DS?

If this isn't a DS2, and just a DS with a camera and some extra crap, will developers jump on the camera as gameplay mechanic, or will it just be a nifty extra to get people to pick up a DS?

Josh @ Sep 28th 2008 2:52AM

I feel like it's a DS Mark III, but at the same time, it's reported to have larger screens. Now, the pixel size on the current 3" DS screens is already possible too large, so increasing the screen size without also increasing resolution? I doubt Nintendo would do that, especially since this DS Mark III will have a camera built-in -- they're going to want a higher resolution.

Now, if the system has a higher resolution, what does that mean for our low-resolution DS games? They will have black borders?

Although it could also be that this truly is a DS2 with new higher resolution DS2 games, of course...

But I'm not feeling that. It seems more like the PSX (PS2 contraption). Lots of functionality built on top of what remains the same system.

So yeah, I'm thinking this new DS is basically going to be the same core DS, just with extra mostly-outside-of-gaming functionality. It's interesting, though, because if it's got a higher resolution than the current DS and if it therefore displays games with black borders on the sides, then that might deter one from actually playing games on it. :P

TJF588 @ Sep 28th 2008 3:52AM

If the resolution's high enough, it _could_ be displayed at the same size, but with each DS1 pixel equating to ~4 DS2 pixels.

Kefka @ Sep 28th 2008 6:16AM

Wait, "pulling a Sony"? Nintendo doesn't exactly have a clean record for re-releasing the same thing with a few extra features or aesthetic changes - particularly not when it comes to handhelds! ;)

aj @ Sep 28th 2008 6:23AM

I call it "pulling a Sony" because even though Nintendo released a bunch of different game boys, there were really only two Game Boys, one game boy colour, and.....okay, the three GBA's were retarded. But this all happened over the course of almost 20 years. Sony has been in the handheld market for 4 or 5, and already has 3 different versions of the same thing.....and it still costs 300$. It's somewhat silly.

But you are right. They are all guilty. And I cannot wait until Microsoft gets into the handheld market and rips their customers off just as much as Nintendo and Sony have.

Mea culpa.

Josh @ Sep 28th 2008 12:02PM

"If the resolution's high enough, it _could_ be displayed at the same size, but with each DS1 pixel equating to ~4 DS2 pixels."

Yeah, I thought about that, too. If each DS Mk.III screen ends up being 512 x 384 (4 times the resolution of each regular DS screen), then I can see Nintendo giving you the option to display games either centered with black borders, or full screen with each 1 DS game pixel being represented by 4 physical pixels on the DS Mk.III screen.

Anyway, the DS Mk.III is definitely coming, and there's a 99% chance we'll hear about it during the Nintendo Media Summits starting this Thursday. Hopefully at that time, we'll get a clear answer about the resolution of the DS Mk.III screens.

...And by the way, I thought about it some more, and I'm almost positive that the DS Mk.III is not a true next-generation successor to the DS; what we know about it just doesn't point to that...

LocalToast @ Sep 28th 2008 12:32AM

Grr, I hope I didn't buy that Face Training game for no reason! I hope I'm still able to play camera-enabled games with it. That would be awesome.

Until more news on this gets out, I'll keep my hopes high. I'd definitely buy an updated DS model, but I hope my CycloDS will work with it!

Laint @ Sep 28th 2008 6:49AM

Arrrgh and I JUST BOUGHT a DS Lite. :(

pas @ Sep 28th 2008 6:56AM

That sounds awesome, i'd buy it !

Cyantre @ Sep 28th 2008 7:58AM

The only way I'd buy this is if it allowed you to use the SD card slot /SD cards to play Virtual Console games.

Andy @ Sep 28th 2008 8:43AM

I wonder if Nintendo will actually upgrade the wireless security while they're updating the DS? The fact that the DS only supports WEP is horrible, since WEP is barely better than no security at all. Plus, I'd actually be able to get my DS online again without compromising the security of my wireless network.

Gennataos @ Sep 28th 2008 8:51AM

New hardware was the first thing I thought about when I heard about the upcoming Nintendo summit. I'd been hoping for it since the rumors before E3.

I hadn't even considered the idea of grabbing virtual console games off the Wii. Wow...that'd be awesome.

Jacksons @ Sep 28th 2008 9:29AM

I'll sit this one out.

LocalToast @ Sep 29th 2008 12:49AM

I'm monkey food if I don't leave!

...Sorry

KaBob799 @ Sep 28th 2008 11:26AM

I hope it is true, then the lite price would drop and I would buy one =D
(because I collect systems)

Nabeel @ Oct 12th 2008 2:09PM

well is this is compatible ad hoc mode with old DS or DS Lite? And can it run Previous nds roms? and does it supports Flash Carts like R4DS CycloDS and M3Simply?

riC @ Sep 29th 2008 11:17AM

Perhaps online Pictochat too, like MSN? That'd be awesome.

xCuteBunnyx @ Dec 23rd 2008 12:18AM

I hope they have an extra thing for the DS Lite where they could connect the camera to the DS Lite. Sigh, My DS lite is fairly new. I got this Feb. And been taking super good care of it. I swear if I take off all the protection and just wipe the screen a bit, someone will ask "Is this new?"