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The launch of any new Nintendo console is sure to set the fan community alright, but there was something extra special, extra daring about the double-screened handheld Nintendo was setting on the world. The excitement was infectious. But four months after Reggie threw down the guantlet, are our readers still enthusiastic about the DS?

[Note: this Public Roundtable was taken before this week's blitz of DS goodness. But hey, the reaction's still good.]

Does DS still excite you as much as it did at E3?

oldie:

More so actually. The more they reveal the more I like. Well, whether or not the Wi-Fi will be fully used or not could be an issue, could be.

Nevertheless the general trend is a good one and Nintendo look like they're realising the importance of 3rd parties, really looking like they're doing this well. I hope it does well and I look forward to getting one myself, which is quite a thing as I've never owned a GB!

Cube_Chris:

The DS has gone from strength to strength, with various tantalising titbits leaking out slowly since E3, and the new design really is great. The games are innotive, and fresh, and I'm looking forward to playing these new experiences. Yes, I'm looking forward to it even more so than E3.

Sooj:

Satoru Iwata had once said that the upcoming '3rd pillar' won't excite/appeal to all gamers. He said that if only 10% of gamers were interested then he will be happy and the rest will follow. He said that before the announcement. I know that isn't what he said exactly but it was some time ago so I can't remember it word by word.

Anyway, Yes I'm just as excited about the Nintendo DS as I was back at E3. Be I be bold and say I was more excited about the 3rd pillar before it was announced. I believe the DS will revolutionise gaming for the better. I can't wait to thrash the americans that I've been talking to for over 1/2+ years. :p

Also, the games is where it's at. Nintendo will obviously bring us pure quality gaming but the 3rd party support is simple...beautiful. I can't wait.

ERaZer:

Yeah, I'm as excited as I was at E3. That means I'm really really friggin' *excited*!!! [Alright, calm down mate - Conor]

Can't wait to get my hands on my own preciousss DS!

With more and more third party committing themselves to the DS, and the Warp Pipe 'net roumors, the single and multiplayer Metroid: Hunters demo, more and more of my friends saying they will buy the DS. I'm getting really pumped up about the DS.

Who could've forseen such healthy 3rd party support this early?

Hero-of-Time:

Personally I can't wait for the DS. I wasn't that bothered when it first got announced, I mean I already had a GBA but now reading all these rumours I'm getting all hyped up for it. I would have picked one up whether I was enthusiastic about it or not as I love all things Nintendo but all of this talk is just sweetening the deal.

Hopefully it will lauch with a strong line-up of games and blow the PSP out the water......Roll on October 7th can't wait for all the announcements concerning this little beauty! [Hopefully you weren't disappointed - Conor]

stubbietubbie:

No, but really people, how excited were you when you first glimpsed the DS being held by Reggie? I had a ear-to-ear grin for the rest of the day, anyone silly enough to walk in my field of vision was instantly ensnared in my badgering them to have a look at the future of gaming. It was a day marked in history for Nintendo to me and reinstated my fading (but still strong) love for the big N.

When I did see the new design, after taking peoples reactions months after its initial showing, I was relieved that Nintendo fixed its obvious blandness, but keep in mind, Ninty did say it wasn't the final version (E3 DS that is), and any real contrasts between them by journalists and so forth was futile.

I admit I wasn't as excited when I saw the final model as I was when seeing it for the first time and I doubt many feel different about that.

So good question, some of the others didn't catch onto how deep that question really was.

Choze:

Easily more excited now. E3 was good and all but DS has moved upwards constantly.

PSP has been hindered by its problems. DS has had smooth sailing in comparison. Well designed machine. Never going to be the next GBASP but I never expected that at any time as its going to be quite different and special I may add. I am really looking forward to features such as the touch screen and wireless connectivity. The first launch being in the US is also very interesting. Especially as Nintendo is a japanese company! Wonder what the japanese think?

Meanwhile, the E3 titles keep sounding better

Hellfire:

The DS excites me much more now, because of the design change and this recent mistery around warp pipe. I really can't wait for it, I hope it's as fresh as it seems and that is has games backing it up. Way to go Nintendo, you're revitalizing the market!

D.Lo:

Yeah, but it's weird for a system we only heard about a short time ago to be a reality so soon! Good though.

Also, isn't it funny that the DS keeps getting better in features and expectations as time goes on (e.g. it's more powerful then first thought, 2 screens used well, the new design, cheap price, quick release, massive developer support, online confirmed etc), yet the PSP seems to get worse (e.g. lowering the specs - the d-ram in particular, still no info on batteries or price, rumours that the units at E3 were faked and no hard evidence against them, features deleted etc)?

And the Retro styling of the logo, and to some extent the device) is sooooo now. It looks like the Donkey Kong handheld of the future we pictured ourselves paying now: in 1985!

Nintendo is on a winner in my books!

So then, a positive reaction from our readers - bet it'd be moreso if we asked the same question now. Hmm, let's test that theory. What do you guys think of the DS now that you've had a few months and more information to go on?