According to at least one analyst, Nintendo's not just resting on its laurels while the DS Lite produces incomprehensible piles of cash. Evan Wilson, an analyst at Pacific Crest Securities, got word from his inside source that a DS redesign is actually already done, and Nintendo's just waiting around for DS Lite sales to cool off a bit -- which, unfortunately for those pining for new hardware, doesn't seem to be happening just yet. The redesign, which has been
rumored before, supposedly is thinner thanks to the absence of a Game Boy Advance port, includes a larger screen and rocks some built-in storage, which we imagine could have some great uses in the right hands. Obviously, Nintendo's Game Boy Advance only made it through three hardware iterations, which begs the question of when we'll see a brand new handheld platform from Nintendo, though we can't say we'd blame them for sticking to this generation for another couple years of insane wealth and staggering stock price.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Beef Supreme @ Nov 15th 2007 9:35AM
How many calories per serving?
mattydread @ Nov 15th 2007 9:39AM
Absence of GBA port? Booo! How am I going to play Super Mario 2, Castlevania, and more importantly Megaman Zero 2 (or however it's named). They need a dongle that converts the current DS slot into a GBA game connection or something.
pokey @ Nov 15th 2007 10:04AM
Or you could drop $50 on a GBA Micro.
Mike @ Nov 15th 2007 10:30AM
If they go this route, expect a few things:
1. There will be something similar to a Wii Shop where you can buy loads of oldschool games.
2. You'll be able to use the nintendo site to type in your serial number on the back of the cartridge and download your game for free. We can already do this for registering a game, but I've always sensed that they wanted to do something more with this. And they would have some kind of security nonsense set up so that the downloaded games would only work on the DSes that you registered on their site :)
Don't worry....expect a 4 and 8gb model. Expect it to try and be a PSP-killer. Expect alot from this one.
Alexander @ Nov 15th 2007 11:07AM
@Mike: I didn't know that each individual GBA game had a serial number that was unique to the game cartridge.
I'm personally thinking that it will be less of registering your cartridge/DS and more of just downloading games straight to the device. And let me just add that THANK GOD that is happening. I'm sick of games on physical media. Flash is so cheap now, that we should be downloading everything and not buying it.
Think about it: No lines at the store, no pre-ordering, no outages of games that are insanely popular... The only downside to this is that all the used-game stores of the world would be hit hard. I think half the buisness they do is trade-ins on old games.
There would still be PS3/360/Wii/PS2/etc to trade in, but it was my thinking that it was mostly the portable consoles, in which the games are shorter and easier to complete, that trade-in was more profitable.
I Could Be Wrong(TM) though.
Bobs @ Nov 15th 2007 2:37PM
Yes, this worries me, what about the DS opera browser? what are they going to do about that? it uses the GBA slot as a RAM card, sooo, what happens then? gotta buy another Browser?
Jack @ Nov 16th 2007 5:47AM
correct, no memory expansion, I can only predict that it wont be needed what with the space onboard, or may even come with a new browser
Jay @ Nov 15th 2007 9:42AM
Personally, I wouldn't mind them ditching the GBA port. I haven't touched any of my games for it in months and If I wanted to, I still have my SP. I would assume by dropping the port they'll compensate for the rumble...either built in or a new expansion port.
Also, built-in memory would be great for VC classic GB games.
Chuckles McGee @ Nov 15th 2007 11:36AM
Yeah, old customers will have their old system lying around to play GBA games if it matters so much to them and new customers won't have any old GBA titles to worry about not being able to play. Everyone's happy!
DelSource @ Nov 15th 2007 9:49AM
Awe dammit! Just bought a Lite!!!!!
Aaaaaah!
Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Nov 15th 2007 11:56AM
Redesign was rumored for quite some time.
Even if it would see a day light - I do not expect that to happen any time soon. Not sooner than in a half year. And reaching US/EU might take even more time.
In the half year, rest assured, DS Lite will pay you back with games all the buck you have spent on it. I was ready to buy new DS - just because I liked Lite so much - right after 3 month: just to get my hand of black one.
Zadillo @ Nov 15th 2007 9:51AM
If they do ditch the GBA port (or even if they don't frankly), I'd love to see some DS compilation carts released with some of the better GBA games. Frankly I wouldn't mind this even with the current DS Lite, as it would be much nicer to carry around a single cart, say, with all the GBA super mario games or GBA castlevania games....
And personally I'd love to see similar compilations of even older GB and GBC games. It's kind of a shame to lose those to the ages just because you can't use the physical carts any more.
It's hard to imagine why Nintendo couldn't do this - I know people complain about constant re-releases, etc. but I personally would love to be able to have a lot of the old games available.
Killian @ Nov 15th 2007 10:39AM
Frankly, I would personally love that too, frankly
jasmine landau @ Nov 15th 2007 3:08PM
they already have this. it's called a flash cart and you can load roms on it. i recommend the ds-xtreme or the R4.
Bobs @ Nov 15th 2007 2:40PM
My names not frank
Austin @ Nov 15th 2007 9:55AM
Personally, I'm willing to bet that Nintendo doesn't go for the built-in storage. A lack of onboard memory is the biggest obstacle for piracy on the DS at the moment. Nintendo wouldn't want to risk having to go through a ridiculous "hacker war" like the one Sony's stuck in with the PSP.
t @ Nov 15th 2007 10:10AM
Nintendo's piracy is even greater! ever heard of R4DS?
Austin @ Nov 15th 2007 10:17AM
Not even close. That's an attachment which has to be bought seperately, and one that you won't even find in a retail store at that. I'm guessing that most people wouldn't be willing to go through the effort of buying an unlicensed add-on sold by a fishy website. It's much easier to just download a crack and put it on your PSP.
Andy S. @ Nov 15th 2007 11:44AM
You can't be serious. Given the proliferation of NDS flash carts, I suspect that there are FAR more people playing illicitly-obtained games on the DS than on the PSP.
I just hope those people are also eventually buying the games, because -- speaking as an owner of both -- if one of those handhelds deserves to be a cash cow, it's the DS.
Deez @ Nov 15th 2007 10:30AM
Actually, Austin, I think more people would prefer to go and buy a separate attachment(that may or may not be fishy) than risk bricking their PSP due to all the hoopjumping involved in "hacking" it.
mmendoza27 @ Nov 15th 2007 11:15AM
Actually Deez, it's really not that difficult to hack your PSP. Never tried hacking the DS, but if it's just an add-on, it sounds just as easy as well.
Tyler @ Nov 15th 2007 12:48PM
I use an R4 on my DS, and it is absolutely unbelievably easy. I am the sort that would happily risk bricking a console or soldering my own fingers together to modify what I buy, but there's something to be said for simplicity. Load ROMS on to a microSD, put the card in the R4, put the R4 in the DS slot. Literally done. The card takes over your system from that point, and runs all the games off of a very friendly (skinnable!) GUI. It even includes a Game Genie like feature that made The New Super Mario Bros interesting for yet one more playthrough.
Point is, I love this thing. The DS and the R4 are bestest best friends.
TIMMAH! @ Nov 15th 2007 4:16PM
Uh the Nintendo DS Browser requires extra memory to run. Currently it's packaged with a memory cart that plugs into the GBA port. (I think there might be a couple games that also make use of extra memory.) So yes, if they're getting rid of the GBA port, they're going to have to add RAM to stay backward compatible with their own released DS software.
TIMMAH! @ Nov 15th 2007 4:17PM
"Not even close. That's an attachment which has to be bought seperately, and one that you won't even find in a retail store at that. I'm guessing that most people wouldn't be willing to go through the effort of buying an unlicensed add-on sold by a fishy website. It's much easier to just download a crack and put it on your PSP."
Yeah, a "fishy" website like Amazon.com?...
tekdroid @ Nov 15th 2007 10:03AM
WPA/WPA2 Wi-Fi encryption in the works?
Smart @ Nov 15th 2007 11:04AM
Lets hope so, its the only thing reducing the security of my home wi-fi network...
ben @ Nov 15th 2007 10:05AM
i'd like to use that onboard flash memory to play virtual console games on the go.
Eddie @ Nov 15th 2007 10:06AM
Man I'd be sad about the dropping of the GBA....but Id still get one :P I guess I am going to hold off on buying a DS then haha.
JosephMohmed @ Nov 15th 2007 10:06AM
Since the DS is going to have built-in storage and no GBA slot, maybe Nintendo is going to launch a service similar to the Wii Shop so you can download GBA games onto your DS. It has Wifi, right?
Paris @ Nov 15th 2007 10:23AM
It would be even better if we could download actual DS games and not just old GBA games. DS games are small in size so it'd be perfect for this kind of distribution.
Larry @ Nov 15th 2007 10:37AM
I don't see why people are making a big deal about the GBA port. I'd love to see a slimmer DS and ditch the GBA port. If you own these games, that means you either own a GBA or a current DS that you can still play them on. Are you playing these 10yr old games that much? If so, why'd you bother buying a DS.
Backwards compatibility is the same reason Microsoft keeps pushing these same old Operating Systems out to us instead of rolling out something new and innovative. Let go of the past.
Eddie @ Nov 15th 2007 11:25AM
Well first using 1 console to play 2-3 consoles' worth of games is by far better than using 2-3 consoles to play the same amount of games. Its not even so much that I keep replaying all my old GBA games, although I do occasionally for the best of em, but that there are more that I would like to still play for the first time. If I upgrade my hardware in the best situation that means my previously bought things carry over to some extent.
For example, I bought a PS2 THIS YEAR. I'd never owned a non-portable console before. You know why I bought a PS2 over XBOX360 or PS3 (and no I don't want to hear "lawl PS3 sux lol!") Its simply because the library of available games is huge. I can play PS1 and PS2 games!
Anyway. My point is that its not about "getting over the past" or "living in the past" its about getting the most gaming outa your hardware.
A nice slimmer, thinner, better, awesomer DS would, Im sure have a great market, just don't misunderstand why some people would miss the GBA port.
Freerefill @ Nov 15th 2007 12:23PM
Yeah, Microsoft and several others (I'm looking at you, Yahoo.. *glare*) have fallen into the trap of adding on absurd amounts of "extras" to their existing software base. The backwards compatibility is nice, but if you don't re-code from scratch with new and better techniques and ideas, you're digging yourself an early grave.
This is different, however. Similar in some aspects, but different in key aspects.
About 10 years ago I got a game from my stepdad. Scorched Earth. Yeah, that game. I have no idea when it came out (too lazy to google it) but when I received it, it was on your standard 3.5" floppy. 5 years ago I got my first PC, and it sported a 3.5" disk drive. I copied the game onto it, opened up DOS, and bam, ancient game up and running. I'll bet you dollars to donuts you can do the same on Vista. But why? Shouldn't Microsoft "let go of the past"? No, Microsoft is moving forward (they're still crap.. just have to toss that in) but they're still allowing the old stuff. That's the difference. You can advance, you can let go of the brick and mortar in favor of carbon nanotubes, but there will always be a place for brick and mortar wherever you go. Just like there will always be a place in our hearts for Final Fantasy 6 (or 3, for us English speaking folk) regardless of how much dust our SNES is collecting. The DS is advanced, but it doesn't forget its roots. Remember guys, the Game Boy line all started with that huge clunky thing with a screen the size of a quarter. We've come a long way, but no matter how far we go, we never want to forget the journey or where we started.
Seriously you guys, how many of you don't indulge in a little Pac-Man now and again? Tetris? Pong? Regardless of how old they are, they're still fun. And if alls it takes to hold onto ALL of those games is a few megs of Flash, why not? The technology is more than up to scratch, and the cost for all that enjoyment is pennies. You'd be foolish to pass up an opportunity like that.
PMcCarron @ Nov 15th 2007 10:47AM
If it has WPA for WiFi I'm going to be even more upset. I got a new DS game last night to find I can't use it on my WiFi network without opening up security and also messing up connections of my neighbors who I share my WiFi with.
I now have to get a second wireless point just to handle DS WiFi use.
kitt2112 @ Nov 15th 2007 10:58AM
WOW just WOW! only you nintendo fanboys would praze a company for takeing OUT BC your so fucken brainwashed you'ds buy shit on a stick if it had marios face on it an nintendo told you you have to have it. lmao
THERE TAKING BC OUT! thousands of games , and for the ppl that think walking around with two systems is cool, you would make the same argument that taking BC from the ps3 was a ripoff.
this is crap.
Robert @ Nov 15th 2007 11:08AM
What? You made absolutely no sense, not to mention the fact that you made my brain hurt trying to read that. WOW! just WOW!
dramamoose @ Nov 15th 2007 11:08AM
Two very different things. I'm not a huge Nintendo fan; haven't touched my DS in months, but here's the difference. The PS3 had BC removed from it for no apparent reason other than sony's money-grabbing hands. Removing the GBA slot from the DS would make it slimmer. In addition, when the DS was released, a large amount of people bought it because it did have the GBA port. Now, however, there are enough DS games for it to be stable w/o GBA games.
CaptSaltyJack @ Nov 15th 2007 11:28AM
Please, for f*** sake, add WPA and WPA2 support. Why is Nintendo always behind the times with wireless stuff?
Deuz Augustine @ Nov 15th 2007 11:29AM
My question is, what about all the DS games that have GBA connectivity? I honestly think an external adapter would be a cool idea.
shifuimam @ Nov 15th 2007 11:32AM
Nintendo's known for hooking up early adopters, though - if they release a new DS with WPA support, I'd wonder if they'll also release a firmware update for the DS and DS Lite to include WPA.
Here's hoping...I live in an urban apartment and am too paranoid to drop WPA from my wireless network. It'd be great to be able to do online gaming with the DS Lite I just bought from a friend two days ago.
Kasuro @ Nov 15th 2007 11:53AM
This doesn't make any sense. You have iPods and cell phones that all have games on them. What is the point of buying a handheld gaming device? People really can't wait long enough to get home? I'm amused enough playing games on my cell phone. I'll save my 200+ dollars for something else. I really don't get why people waste their money on this crap... and before anyone blows the 'you're jealous' horn, I've got a first generation DS laying around somewhere. It's a waste. There aren't any games on it that I couldn't play a better version of online or on a PC, or on a console at home.
Tyler @ Nov 15th 2007 1:20PM
Let's complete this metaphor: why would you ever own an iPod? I can get real stereo imaging, uncompressed audio, and much better bass (let alone comfort) out of just listening to music on my home stereo. Is anyone so impatient that they can't just wait to listen to a vinyl record in their own house?
Oh, yes, 100 million people are. You don't have a future in marketing.
Kasuro @ Nov 15th 2007 3:29PM
You don't understand what I'm saying. There are ALL KINDS OF THINGS that have games on them to play already, like CELL PHONES, and IPODS. Why do you need to buy ANOTHER thing that plays games when most people already have two or three mobile gaming platforms already?
A future in marketing? Why the hell would I want that? I'm sorry, but when I'm in my deathbed the last thing I want to be known for is making people spend money on more shit that they don't need. Give me a break, dude.
Sageco @ Nov 15th 2007 4:43PM
I don't know, do you wanna play Cell Phone Games and Ipod games for 4 hours a day 5 days a week?
It gets old fast.
At least with a DS or PSP, you've actually got engrossing games that make you feel as if you were playing a vibrant console game, not some cheap snake clone.
FearlessFreep @ Nov 15th 2007 11:58AM
Users have already hit the nail on the head when it comes to product positioning here:
Nintendo will drop the GBA port, add built-in storage and enable downloads of past games (for a fee, of course) via the wireless interface - a la the Wii.
Bank on it (pun intended).
ssuk @ Nov 15th 2007 12:47PM
So will this have in-built rumble then? I take it the on-board memory will be for the Opera browser... Let's just hope they up the processor power so the browser doesn't struggle as much. I don't use the GBA port, so I'm actually not too bothered it's going. But I just hope they fix the sound and screen irritations I had with the DSL... Compared to the original DS, it had muffled sound and the screen quality was no where near as sharp as the original DS'.
Concura @ Nov 15th 2007 1:30PM
If you think about it, Nintendo dropping GBA compatibilty on the DS is kinda like Sony dropping PS2/PSX compatibility on the PS3. A more skimmed but..
Oops. Already done.
Christian @ Nov 15th 2007 1:30PM
I don't mind them removing something from the new/revised version of the DS but at least make sure it is at least built in... I thought the GBA port was used for: rumble, extra memory for Opera (am I correct on this one?), SD card reader for music (I remember seeing this gadget here), etc. It'd be awesome if they add more stuff built in to make it look like Wii too such as:
1. Mini-Mii!
2. Contact list
3. notes
4. bulletin board that's shareable to a secured group or something
5. text messaging/pic messaging via stylus
6. picture and video viewer
7. rss feed or even podcast for news
8. local weather report
9. Better wifi security/connection
Just my thoughts they should improve on.
Technex @ Nov 15th 2007 2:32PM
WPA2 Support for all the DS models first please Nintendo! Mind you... I did just buy this USB adapter...
master_sword @ Nov 15th 2007 6:06PM
I think there should be some form of wifi or something like that on the new one, that would be AMAZING!!! im not too sad about no GBA support, i still have the original GBA so im cool with those games. Maybe they could make the flip-screen so its more sidekick-esque, where you could play old-school games you download and store on internal memory and then flip up to play DS games. but thats just me.