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Rumour: New DS Design At E3?

Posted by Tom Phillips - Apr 12th 2008 12:46

Could this July bring another re-design for the DS?

We're rather unsure about the veracity of these reports, but Bloomberg News in Japan has reported that the word from the Famitsu camp is that Nintendo are readying a new version of the DS to be shown at massive gaming convention E3 in Los Angeles this July.

Reports are unclear as to whether it is just another re-design, or a totally new system. We'd seriously doubt the need for Nintendo to make a new handheld system at this point with the DS Lite's worldwide awesome sales, though another re-design wouldn't be too unlikely.

We'll keep you posted.

Source: PALGN

Swan Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 07:54 \|\| Total Comments: 316

i think one of the high-ups from nintendo hinted at more possible re-designs quite a while back ... so the rumour's not completely without merit.

it wouldn't be a new handheld though, that wouldn't make any sense whatsoever. a redesign i could buy, smaller lighter slimmer etc. a small hardware boost might not be completely out of the question either, just for future releases' sake.

Emasher Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 09:04 \|\| Total Comments: 197

I hope this is true, I've been holding off on buying a lite incase they do this. If not I'll have to stick with my original. Though then I'll be buying a new monitor so it works for me either way.

They wouldn't do a hardware boost, developers would just take advantage of this and the games wouldn't work on the old one, so if they were going to do that they might as well just release a whole new system. Though perhaps they could release it with a new OS, DS channels or something. Perhaps if they did that and released it with a gig or two of flash memory the DS VC could be exclusive to it. Or perhaps to use it on the original and lite models you would need a special card or something.

Mas9dj Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 09:55 \|\| Total Comments: 26

My bet is that Nintendo indeed has to have something big in store for this E3, specially regarding the handheld market. Wether it's an NDS redesign or who knows, NDS 2, I really think that Nintendo and its fans need something to look forward to in this respect as in my opinion the NDS is, despite its great success and its great sales, getting near the end of its life cicle.

Regarding Wii by the way, I would totally bet all my money in that there will be an F-Zero anounce. There's gotta be something out there because almost all of the franchises have already had at least one iteration on the wii except for this one. I'd also love to see some new IP, and why not, even a wii redesign could be possible with integrated HDD and better movement recognision!

All in all it's just pure speculation, but it's kind of fun to keep on dreaming until we get the real thing in the next E3!

DarkPGR3 Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 10:47 \|\| Total Comments: 118

a DS Redesign? I don't think there's much to improve on the actual DS Lite, well maybe the GBA slot but that's all, although, I would love to see an announcement of the long rumored and waited PictoChat with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and Voice Chat Support, that would be awesome.

Also, wanted to say thanks to N-Europe, my Mario & Sonic At the Olympic Games prize arrived today! Thank You! :D

Sean161 Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 11:37 \|\| Total Comments: 90

this is defo a new Handheld for sure, the DS has been out for 3 years now. plus there is nothing more you can do on those old graphics now, Zelda was teh best graphically i think! :) so yeah its defo a new DS or Gameboy or something i reckon!

Pod Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 11:40 \|\| Total Comments: 1177

Fingers crossed for updatable firmware.

Nirual Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 12:05 \|\| Total Comments: 92

I really wonder where they could go after the DS lite. Built-in Browser and Music Player?

Kagato Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 12:30 \|\| Total Comments: 683

I was saving up for one of those red and black DS's but if theres a new one on the way i may just hold off. Im sure my girlfriend will take my old DS lite off my hands ^ ^

Auntnadia Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 12:49 \|\| Total Comments: 854

"it wouldn't be a new handheld though, that wouldn't make any sense whatsoever"

you're right, but nintendo always said they were working on a gba2 to be released alongside the ds. they put it on the shelf when the ds proved a success.

personally, i expect this to be a redesign. all the gamevoys went through 3 redesigns, so this would make more sense.

Mas9dj Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 13:00 \|\| Total Comments: 26

For a redesign, I would bet they will take the gba compatibility away, it's a big part of the DS so they could make it even slimmer, maybe ipod-touch like! Some improvents could be of course the ones DarkPGR3 mentioned plus maybe some added functionality such as PDA.

For_Gods_Sake Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 14:56 \|\| Total Comments: 95

My god you guys dont have any memories do you.

I think the news was posted on this very website about a larger version of the lite for old people, so they a see it easier. What with their failing eyesights etc. Biger screen so they can find it easier to do brain training

The DS Large yet lite would be a cool name

Seamus_aran Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 15:16 \|\| Total Comments: 263

I bet you it will be a redesign by a phone company - something to rival the iphone if you will.

Denmengnash Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 15:28 \|\| Total Comments: 101

They can't get rid of GBA compatibility!

How would Guitar Hero: On Tour or the arcade game with the paddle thing work?

Falcofire Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 15:35 \|\| Total Comments: 132

I agree with Denmengnash.
The GBA slot is essential for some games and the Web Browser
Why redesign, the Lite is awesome.

Randavance Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 17:39 \|\| Total Comments: 58

What they should do is offer a new DS with a higher level of hardware, and then release an overpriced upgrade pack for the GBA slot of the DSlite. Then have new firmware including DS channels, and VC games transferable from the Wii.

What they'll probably do is just release another redesign, maybe a firmware upgrade. Definitely expect something about Wii and DS connectivity. It hasn't been put to too much use yet, and I would love to play some old school VC games on my DS (fingers crossed).

FuBaR Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 19:25 \|\| Total Comments: 107

Hmm, now that you are mentioning it - I havent seen any sales figures in a while...?

Mas9dj Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 20:49 \|\| Total Comments: 26

Come to think of it I totally forgot the web browser and the new Guitar Hero: On Tour so you're totally right to say getting rid of the gba slot could be troublesome.

I just wanted to make my point clear that maybe it's the time to move one step forward an thus getting rid of the gba slot could have proven useful if it were to make an enhanced DS in exchange.

V3N0M1981 Says:
April 13th, 2008 at 03:57 \|\| Total Comments: 22

Maybe it'll be a lite where GBA carts go all the way in?

Or possibly just a new themed Lite - SNES would be good with appropriate coloured buttons etc.

(I'm pretty sure these will have been mentioned above already, but my eyes hurt too much to actually read the comments)

Scythe3000 Says:
April 13th, 2008 at 04:26 \|\| Total Comments: 204

@ Mas9dj

The origonal gameboy came out in 1989 and was only truly replaced when the gba came out.

I'm not saying the DS will be exactly the same but Nintendo aren't exactly known for releasing a new console early or before they've truly milked the last gen.

gba to DS doesn't really count of course as the DS was seen as a "third pillar" back in the day.

Falcofire Says:
April 13th, 2008 at 04:42 \|\| Total Comments: 132

3rd pillar... those were the days!
Will the GBA2 ever see light of day?

Wii needs better SD card compatibility - Brawl allows you to save levels and stuff to them but what about WiiWare? I hope a firmware update is announced for this, or another kind of storage method....

23isnumber1 Says:
April 13th, 2008 at 07:13 \|\| Total Comments: 276

Great! This could be just the excuse I need for getting a new DS! I've knackered the shoulder buttons on my lite playing mario kart waaay too much on wi-fi...

Here's hoping for a built-in web browser and an SD card slot for MP3/atrac.