DS Lite
Latest
Nintendo's DS Lite doubles as MIDI sequencer (again)
Nintendo's DS Lite tends to find itself intertwined in obscure MIDI projects fairly often, so it's no shock to see yet another enterprise linking the handheld to some fairly swank beats. By utilizing a homegrown DS MIDI apparatus along with dStep software, the DS Lite is able to transform into quite the potent little step sequencer. Of course, anything musically-related digests easier with video, so jump on past the break for a lengthy demonstration (and peep the read link if you're eager to replicate).[Via MAKE]
New Nintendo DS coming at this year's E3?
According to reports (translated, possibly misunderstood, clearly speculative reports), come this year's E3, Nintendo could be rolling out a brand-spanking-new DS -- most likely very unlike the one pictured above. If you follow the text in a Bloomberg Japan article, Famicom magazine publisher Hirokazu Hamamura says that the timing of E3 would fall right in line with the two-year stagger the Big N has applied to other handheld releases. Of course, Nintendo is saying "no comment," though we find that's usually the last thing they say before introducing the Wii, Game Boy, N64, Harry Potter Wand, or Ultimate Doomsday Device.[Via Joystiq; Image courtesy Kris/Rakka]
Famitsu publisher thinks new DS will be shown at E3
All you jerks out there who are used to lording your shiny new DS Lites over Phat-owning early-adopters might have to get used to playing second fiddle soon. In the latest issue of Japanese gaming rag Famitsu, publisher Hirokazu Hamamura speculates that a new version of Nintendo's best-selling handheld may be revealed at this summer's E3 trade show.As detailed in a Bloomberg Japan report (sketchy machine translation), Hamamura's comments seem based on nothing more than industry chatter and pure conjecture on his part -- Nintendo predictably offered up a no comment. The timing does seem about right, though -- going back to the Game Boy days, Nintendo has released a new portable hardware revision roughly every two years since 1996's Game Boy Pocket (1998: Game Boy Color; 2001: Game Boy Advance; 2003: GBASP; 2004: Nintendo DS; 2005: Game Boy Micro; 2006: DS Lite). What would you like to see on a potential DS upgrade? Let us know in the comments.[Via DSFanboy; picture source]
Guitar Hero: On Tour grip works with DS Phat
We have to admit that the first time we saw the elegant, though not particularly guitar-like peripheral Activision had created for the DS' Guitar Hero: On Tour, we were concerned. It wasn't the missing orange button (we're fans of anything getting easier, whether it's fake guitar playing or cutting things), no, we were more worried that owners of the original DS (the DS Phat, on the streets) would be excluded from the fun by their system's girth. But now, Activision has dispelled our fears with the announcement that the Guitar Grip will work with both of the models. Now, Phatties, as for actually being able to see the notes in anything but perfect lighting, we're afraid you're on your own on that one. [Thanks, Kaelora]
Guitar Grip gives DS owners the means to rock out
Good news, DS owners! You too will soon be able to shred just like those kids with stay-at-home consoles -- sort of, at least. According to a first look over at Video Games Zone, the summer-bound Guitar Hero on Tour title can be really enjoyed with the aptly-named Guitar Grip. As you can see above, it is limited to just four buttons, but nevertheless, it allows users to hold the DS upright and tap the buttons of the peripheral -- which is suitably fitted into the GBA slot -- and strum the touchscreen to take care of the pickin'. Sure, it's a far cry from wielding a full-fledged axe, but it's not too shabby for shredding on the run. Check out a smorgasbord of pictures and a promo video in the read link below.[Via NeoGAF]
Colorware provides that DS Lite hue Nintendo never appreciated
Quite frankly, we're a bit shocked it took this long for the paint gun-wielding gurus over at Colorware to start fancying up Nintendo's famed DS Lite, but just in case The Big N has yet to unveil a hue that floats your boat, look no further. As with most everything else it sells, you can send in your current unit in order to receive it back in a whole new outfit, but those who've yet to jump on board the bandwagon can acquire their very first DS Lite already modified. Best of all, Colorware lets you paint up the main frame, button pad, front port, bottom, L / R buttons and even the stylus separately (for a cost, of course), so those looking to relive the 70s can toss together some seriously groovy combinations. Go on, hit up the read link and exercise that artistic muscle.[Via CNET]
Hitachi, Sharp raided on DS screen price fixing suspicions
Price fixing isn't ever fun -- unless you're the company doing it and expect to get away with it, and then it's like a total blast, dude. But hopefully that isn't actually the case with Sharp and Hitachi, whose offices were apparently raided by the Japanese Fair Trade Commission on suspicion of fixing display prices for the DS; Nintendo's throw its hands up in the air exclaiming that it was unaware of the supposed screen cartel, and something else about just when they thought were out, they got pulled back in.Update: A spokesperson for Nintendo of America commented that "The Fair Trade Commission in Japan conducted on the spot investigations with Sharp and Hitachi Displays in Japan with the suspicion that these two companies formed a cartel regarding the prices of LCDs that they sold to Nintendo. At this point in time, Nintendo is not in a position to make any comments on this, except to confirm that Nintendo itself is not being investigated by the FTC."
Bape puts its mark on limited edition DS Lites
It's not like there's any shortage of highly desirable DS / DS Lites out there, but we've all ideas this particular iteration will be one desired by many and acquired by (very) few. Japanese clothing company A Bathing Ape (Bape) has apparently signed on to put its spin on Nintendo's darling of a handheld, littering both a gold and white DS Lite with Milo characters. As for pricing, we'll just assume that those that need to ask should simply push this far from the forefront of their minds.[Via DSFanboy]
Nintendo's DS Lite retrofitted into MacBook Air ad
It's hard to deny that Apple's MacBook Air advertisement is pretty catchy, and while the DS Lite doesn't exactly pull off the whole envelope exit quite as elegantly as Cupertino's latest lappie, it doesn't do a half bad job representin'. In the spoof waiting for you after the jump, you'll see a black DS Lite retrofitted into the MBA spot, and while the text, lighting and overall smoothness isn't on par with the original, at least the music is spot-on. Click on though to see for yourself.[Via DSFanboy]Update: Psh, thanks for pulling the video, YouTube and / or user. Well, trust us, it like totally existed. ... Ok, looks like we're back. Thanks EspadaUno.
Cyber Famulator Lite for DS bulks up to get old school
Legitimate (read: legal) Famicom support for your DS Lite may seem like a dream come true for the retro gamer, but Cyber Gadget's Cyber Famulator Lite might be a little much to ask for all but the geekiest. You have to strap on a (barely) pared down "famiclone" system onto your cute little portable, but pulling out and blowing into a dirty old Metroid cart on the go will no doubt be a privilege for some.[Via ExtremeTech]
GAMETECH's Sound Shell bulks up your DS Lite, isn't worth the trouble
You know how rough it is -- trying to procure a couple of those Duke Xbox controllers for your man-sized paws. Thankfully, for folks such as yourself, GAMETECH's busting out the Sound Shell, which takes the apparently dangerously small DS Lite and gives it plenty of fat. Besides adding on a pair of sure-to-be-booming speakers to the rear, this thing also provides a nifty storage nook for your earbuds and a totally necessary kickstand. You could blow ¥3,200 ($30) on this, or you could look a whole lot more hip by just picking up a similarly beefy Game Boy and kickin' it old school.[Via DSFanboy, image courtesy of Technabob]
Cobalt Blue Nintendo DS Lite now available to order
If by some chance you still aren't satisfied with the variety of DS Lite color options currently available, you'll apparently soon have yet another to choose from, with a Cobalt Blue/Black model now up for order on Circuit City's website. Somewhat curiously, the site actually shows two slightly different blue-colored models, although we're guessing that's due to some image processing shenanigans and not evidence of two different blue DSs, though we certainly wouldn't put anything past the big N. No official word on a release date just, but Circuit City will gladly take your $130 now and ship it to you as soon as it's available.[Thanks, Matt E]
DS surpasses PlayStation 2 in Japanese lifetime sales
It's probably news to nobody at this point that during this past year, Nintendo fever swept through Japan like the Great Chicago Fire. Just by looking at a handful of recent hardware sales charts, the Big N's dominance over the land of the rising sun is explicitly clear -- the Wii always sold like hotcakes, and the DS Lite consistently took the top spot on the list. Over the holiday sales season, however, the DS earned its most notable bragging right to date, breaking the PS2 Japanese lifetime sales record by the skin of its teeth.According to recent Media Create sales numbers (as crunched and compiled by NeoGAF), the DS has sold 20,954,157 units to date in Japan, compared to the PS2's 20,901,468. Though Nintendo's touchable handheld hasn't yet approached the worldwide console sales record (an honor which the PS2 still holds by a considerable margin), being the highest selling console in one of the most-gaming centric nations in the world is still a pretty sizable victory. Grats, little guy.[Via DS Fanboy]
Nintendo's DS overtakes PlayStation 2 in lifetime Japanese sales
We already knew Nintendo's DS was quite the popular handheld, and while the PSP recently overtook it in Japanese hardware sales, the most recent numbers show that the Big N's famed DS has actually rocketed above the mighty PlayStation 2 in lifetime sales (in Japan). Notably, the numbers do combine DS and DS Lite units, but there's no mention of how the systems stack up worldwide. Nevertheless, the feat is a fairly impressive one when you consider how much longer the PS2 has been available compared to the DS, and unless Sony somehow lightens the PS2 load even further and starts bundling them in with cereals, we doubt it will reclaim the top spot anytime soon.[Via DSFanboy, thanks J]
DSvision bringing downloadable content to Nintendo's DS
If you're still teetering on the edge of picking up a DS Lite for yourself, here's yet another reason to go ahead and pull the trigger. Dai Nippon Printing has partnered with AM3 in order to offer up a new way to get content / media onto Nintendo's handheld. The system, dubbed DSvision, will enable DS / DS Lite owners to purchase a variety of material through the web, including books, comics, movies, music, etc., and then transfer the files over to the DS for on-the-go enjoyment. The product package will reportedly include a 512MB microSD card, a DS cartridge adapter and a USB adapter (shown after the jump) for use with one's PC. It looks as though the hardware will hit Japanese shelves in January for ¥3,980 ($37), but the web-based content delivery system won't go live until March.[Via SlashGear]
Nintendo enjoys its biggest sales week ever in U.S., breaks record
It seems that Black Friday was very, very, very good to Nintendo, as both the DS Lite and the Wii performed quite impressively in the U.S. over the holiday week. Nintendo has announced that it sold 653,000 DS Lites over the week of November 18-24, setting a new record for the portable, for Nintendo, and for the entire industry. The number of units moved is record-breaking, exceeding the industry's previous record, also held by Nintendo with the Game Boy Advance's sales during Thanksgiving 2005. The Wii also performed quite admirably, selling 350,000 units, a number topped only by the console's launch week. No word on how these sales figures compare to Sony or Microsoft's, but it's not like it's a competition or anything, right? Update: Specified sales figures as pertaining to the U.S., and clarified the record as industry-wide. Read -- Nintendo Sales Go Through the Roof During Thanksgiving Week [GameDaily] Read -- Nintendo Has Its Biggest Week Of Sales... Ever [Game|Life]
Play Famicom games on your DS Lite with 'Familator'
Hideous name, and less-than-hideous hardware. CYBER Gadget's "Familator Lite" plugs into a DS Lite's GBA slot, allowing users to insert their Famicom cartridges and re-live their favorite Nintendo classics in portable form.Would rather re-live the classics on television? The device allows for TV out. Would rather play with the original Famicom controllers? Well... the device doesn't do that, actually. But it does that other stuff!The Familator Lite is due out in Japan in December, but no price has been set. Sadly, the device's form factor means it's only compatible with the DS Lite, and not its phatter older brother.[Via DS Fanboy]
Nintendo's DS Lite Bundles are a real pair
Sometimes those rumors are spot-on. Just like we heard, Nintendo is launching two special-edition Nintendo DS bundles for the holidays. The Gold edition ships with The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass while the Metallic Rose ships with the Best Friends version of Nintendogs. Each comes emblazoned with the series' signature logo, "a shiny nugget that any gamer -- girl or guy -- would be proud to show off." Right, 'cause all gamers love to show off their nuggets. Available on November 23rd for an undisclosed price, though expected to be $150 like the rumor said.
Nintendo denies DS Lite rumors... maybe
Despite what you've been hearing about this fancy, extra "lite" DS Lite coming to town, Nintendo would like to tell you otherwise... sort of. In a response to analyst's claims that a new system -- thinner, with larger screens and on-board storage -- was headed out in the near future, the company said that the news was, "Rumour and speculation and we are not commenting further." Tough talk, right? Well, while that sounds all doom-and-gloom -- it's not quite a denial. If anything, one might conjecture that Nintendo doesn't want all you holiday shoppers holding off on wallet-bashing purchases in the hope that something newer and / or better is just around the corner. Of course, we could just be speculating.
Nintendo has a DS Lite "Lite" redesign ready to go?
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.
