From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nintendo DS Lite
Manufacturer	Nintendo
Product family	Nintendo DS
Type	Handheld game console
Generation	Seventh generation era
First available	JP March 2, 2006 AU June 1, 2006 NA June 11, 2006 EU June 23, 2006 CH June 29, 2006 SK January 18, 2007
CPU	67 MHz ARM946E-S and 33 MHz ARM7TDMI[1]
Media	GBA cartridges Nintendo DS Game Cards
System storage	Cartridge save
Connectivity	Wi-Fi, LAN
Online service	Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
Units sold	17.33 million (Worldwide) as of December 31, 2006:[2] 7.89 million (Japan) 4.84 million (Americas) 4.60 million (Other)
Top-selling game	Nintendogs (all versions combined)
Predecessor	Nintendo DS (concurrent)

The Nintendo DS Lite (ニンテンドーDS Lite, Nintendō Dīesu Raito^?, sometimes abbreviated DSLite, or simply Lite, sold as the iQue DS Lite in China) is a dual-screen handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It is a slimmer, brighter, and more lightweight redesign of the earlier Nintendo DS model, designed to be aesthetically sleeker to complement Nintendo's Wii, and to appeal to broader commercial audiences. It was announced on January 26, 2006, more than a month before its first launch in Japan on March 2, 2006 due to overwhelming demand for the original model.^[3] It has been released in Japan, Australia, North America, Europe, New Zealand, Singapore, and defined regions in South America, the Middle East and Korea. As of March 9 2007, combined sales of the DS and DS Lite have reached 38.26 million units worldwide.^[4]

Contents [hide] 1 Features 2 Colors and limited editions 2.1 Colors 2.2 Limited editions 3 Launch 3.1 Japan 3.2 Australia 3.3 North America 3.4 Europe 3.5 China 3.6 South Korea 3.7 Availability 4 Image gallery 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Features

• Weight: 218 g (21% lighter than the original Nintendo DS).
• Dimensions: 133 mm × 73.9 mm × 21.5 mm (vs. 148.7 mm × 84.7 mm × 28.9 mm - 42% less volume than the original DS). In Imperial units, the DS Lite is 5.24 in × 2.9 in × 0.85 in.
• Extended battery life compared to the original DS, with a full charge on the lowest brightness setting Nintendo quote between 15 and 19 hours, on the highest brightness setting five to eight hours are quoted (both are dependant on the type of game activity). After five hundred charges, the battery life drops to 70%.
• Brighter, more durable top and bottom LCD screens, with four options of brightness. However, though more resistant to shock, they still scratch quite easily.^[5]
• Larger stylus, but easier to hold^[5] (stylus dimensions: length 87.5 mm × 4.9 mm vs. 75.0 mm × 4.0 mm of the original Nintendo DS).
• Sturdier top hinge.
• In Japan, the wrist strap no longer includes a thumb stylus; in North America, Australia and Europe, the wrist strap is omitted entirely (but there is still a place to tie it on).
• The D-pad was reduced to 18.6 mm across (16% smaller than the original Nintendo DS), but the A/B/X/Y buttons retain same dimensions.
• The Nintendo DS Lite mimics some of the design features of the Wii: a D-pad with lines (also shared by the Game Boy Micro) and the typeface (Century Gothic) on the buttons.
• Five colors: Ice Blue, Enamel Navy, Polar White (Crystal White in Japan), Coral Pink (Noble Pink in Japan) and Onyx / Black (see Colors below).
• Capable of receiving Wi-Fi signals from other Nintendo DS Lites, the original Nintendo DS system, and Nintendo's Wii console.
• New external extension connection, rendering it incompatible to accessories for the Game Boy Advance EXT2 port (power cords and headphone adapters).
• The power button is moved to the side as opposed to the original DS, which had it directly above the D-pad; this caused problems, since the button would sometimes be pushed accidentally during play.
• The decrease in volume of the system has resulted in Game Boy Advance games to protrude out of the system by 1cm.
• It uses the same processors as the original DS, but made on a smaller custom process so they require less power.
• The DS Lite has a built-in microphone located between the top and bottom screens, whereas the microphone on the original DS is located below the left side of the bottom screen.

[edit] Colors and limited editions

[edit] Colors

On February 18, 2006, Nintendo revealed the color schemes of the Nintendo DS Lite set for launch in Japan: Crystal White, Ice Blue and Enamel Navy.^[6] However, due to manufacturing problems only the Crystal White was available at its launch; the other two colors arrived on March 11, 2006. Nintendo released a Noble Pink version in the region on July 20, 2006, and an Onyx Black version on September 2, 2006.^[7]

In Europe, in addition to the white version, a black version (named "Smart Black") was available at launch, a color unique to the region at the time. On October 27, 2006, the Coral Pink (Noble Pink) edition was released in Europe.

In North America, the Nintendo DS Lite was only available in white (renamed "Polar White" for the region) at launch. On August 24, 2006, Nintendo of America announced two new model colors, Onyx (Jet Black) and Coral Pink (Noble Pink). They were released in North America September 12, 2006.^[8]

In Australia, the DS Lite was also only available in white (Polar White). On September 21, 2006, the Jet Black (Onyx) color was released. On October 16, 2006, Nintendo Australia announced that the Coral Pink color (renamed Pink Nintendo DS Lite) would be released on November 2, 2006, alongside Nintendogs: Dalmatian & Friends.

Other colors may eventually be released, as is customary with Nintendo's handheld gaming systems.^[9]

[edit] Limited editions

On July 12, 2006 it was announced that a limited edition Nintendo DS Lite would be released in conjunction with the release of the Final Fantasy III remake. This package would feature a crystal white Nintendo DS Lite, with artwork of Final Fantasy III by Akihiko Yoshida. The initial cost will be Ą22,780 (193.76 USD).^[10]

On July 13, 2006 it was revealed that, in conjunction with the promotion for the upcoming Pokémon Diamond and Pearl games, a limited run of special Nintendo DS Lite packages would be available through a drawing open to members of the Japanese Pokémon DAISUKI Club. These packages would feature Crystal White Nintendo DS Lites with the popular Pokémon character Pikachu artwork on the front.^[11]

On September 1, 2006, Nintendo announced another Pokémon-styled DS Lite. The Pokémon Center has released a Pokemon Diamond and Pearl limited edition DS Lite featuring a glitter design of the two new legendary Pokémon, Dialga and Palkia on the front. Unlike the Pikachu DS Lite, this one is Jet Black, rather than Crystal White. It retails for Ą16,800 (142.89 USD) and was available from September 28, 2006. ^[12]

Nintendo also released a limited edition DS Lite with the game Jump Ultimate Stars. It has the words "JUMP ULTIMATE STARS" printed on its case, along with the Weekly Jump mascot, the Jump Pirate.

There is also a limited edition DS Lite Love and Berry bundle based on a popular Japanese arcade game, and it is metallic pink and comes with a card reader and cards.

There is also a limited edition DS Lite Winning Eleven Jet Black bundle, which comes with the soccer game Winning Eleven.

There will be a Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings "Sky Pirates Edition" DS Lite bundle set for release on April 26, 2007 in Japan.

It has also been announced that a Nintendo DS Lite bundle will be released at the end of 2007 with the conjunction release of MapleStory DS. This DS will launch in Korea first.

[edit] Launch

[edit] Japan

The Nintendo DS Lite's suggested retail price in Japan is JPĄ16,800 (~$145 USD), but due to lack of supply and excessive demand of Nintendo DS systems at retail price following the Nintendo DS Lite's launch in Japan, many Asian electronics distributors raised the retail price of the redesigned handheld console to JPĄ23,300 (~$200 USD). On some Japanese auction sites it was being offered for prices as high as JPĄ40,000 (~$340 USD).^[13] Even though Nintendo managed to release 550,000 units in March (which was above their initial projections), many excited Japanese gamers were left empty-handed soon afterward. The shortage was supposed to be eased after Nintendo released 700,000 Nintendo DS Lites during April of 2006. However, retailers in Tokyo sold out yet again by late May 2006.^[14] This shortage would last for most of 2006 with retailers all around the country having permanent ads apologizing for the shortage and announcing the ignorance of when a restock would arrive. No Nintendo hardware had ever sold out. When the product arrived, it would sell out within days. Since the restocking was erratic and not constant, looking up for the product would take several visits to different retailers, and most of the time finding the product would be unsuccessful. This is still the case in crowded areas such as Tokyo as of February 2007 with stores turning away potential customers everyday and selling out quickly whenever one of the unannounced shipments came in.

[edit] Australia

The Nintendo DS Lite was released in Australia on June 1, 2006, for AU$199.95. The Polar White color was available at launch. The black color was released on September 21, 2006. The pink color joined the range on November 2, 2006.

[edit] North America

The Nintendo DS Lite was released on June 11, 2006, for USD$129.99 in the US, and CA$149.99 in Canada. Only the Polar White version was available.^[15]

There have been various reports of North American Target, Wal-Mart, Kmart, and Meijer stores having sold Nintendo DS Lite units as early as May 30, 2006, breaking the official launch date.^[16]

On June 12, 2006 GameSpot reported that North American Nintendo DS Lites had sold out at major online retailers, as well as several brick-and-mortar stores.^[17]

On June 13, 2006 Nintendo announced that 136,500 units were sold in two days since the DS Lite went on sale in North America, and seemed to be on pace to the 500,000 sold by the original Nintendo DS in its first ten days.^[18]

On September 12, 2006, two new colors were released in North America: Onyx Black and Coral Pink.

[edit] Europe

The Nintendo DS Lite was officially released in Europe on June 23, 2006, for GBŁ99.99 in the UK, €149.99 in the Eurozone. In Finland and Sweden DS Lite was released on June 22, 2006, due to the Midsummer. Black and white units were available at launch. In just 10 days, Nintendo announced it had sold 200,000 Nintendo DS Lites in Europe.^[19] As of April 2006, the "Nintendo DS: in touch with original comedy" advertisements shown in the UK on Channel 4 have been changed to include the Nintendo DS Lite. The black colour is now available in other regions.

During October 2006, Nintendo launched a promotion of the Nintendo DS Lite in the UK which consisted mainly of bus shelter advertisements, as well as a new television promotion, which ended with the release of a pink version of the Nintendo DS Lite on October 27, 2006.

Following the wake of the Nintendo Wii, the Lite has experienced a surge of popularity, more notably the black version of the system. On the run up to Christmas 06, DS Lites were sold out in most retailers and even online, leading to marked up units being sold on eBay and Amazon's marketplace.

On January 22 2007 it was reported that 10 Million units (both original and lite) had been sold in Europe alone,^[20], making it the fastest selling handheld and video gaming device in Europe to date.

[edit] China

On June 12, 2006 Chinese media organization Sina reported that a container intended for shipment to Europe was stolen, which contained HK$18 million (US$2.8 million) worth of goods, including black Nintendo DS Lites and games.^[21] Later, Eurogamer#GamesIndustry.biz reported that Nintendo had indeed confirmed that "A number of White DS Lite made for the UK market were stolen while stopping at a port in Hong Kong."^[22]

On June 29, 2006, iQue company officially released NDSL as "iQue DS Lite" in China, for CNҰ1198. White and dark blue versions were available.

All colors released in Japan (arctic blue, white, pink, black, navy blue) are available for sale in Hong Kong.

[edit] South Korea

Nintendo opened its latest subsidiary, Nintendo of Korea, led by Mineo Kouda, on July 20, 2006. The DS Lite is the first system to be released in South Korea by the subsidiary^[23], being released on January 18, 2007^[24] for ₩150,000 (US$159). Popular Korean actor Jang Dong-gun has been enlisted to help promote the system. Four colours (Crystal White, Ice Blue, Noble Pink and Jet Black) were released.

[edit] Availability

There had been reports that there had been DS Lite shortages due to its popularity all around the world, particularly in Japan. Nintendo is attempting to ship more, but the high demand results in frequent shortages.

Around the Christmas season, many stores began to lose much of their units due to high customer demand again in the region.

[edit] Image gallery

The Nintendo DS Lite closed.	The Nintendo DS Lite turned on and fully open.	The Start/Select buttons have been moved below the A/B/X/Y buttons.	The front with volume on left side, headphones on the right and Game Boy Advance slot in the middle.
Remodeled Stylus and relocated power switch.	The Game Boy Advance filler cart and stylus below the Nintendo DS Lite.	Brightness Level Comparison

[edit] References

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nintendo DS
Manufacturer	Nintendo
Product family	Nintendo DS
Type	Handheld game console
Generation	Seventh generation era
First available	NA November 21, 2004 JP December 2, 2004 AU February 24, 2005 EU March 11, 2005 CH July 23, 2005
CPU	One 67 MHz ARM946E-S (ARM) and one 33 MHz ARM7TDMI
Media	GBA cartridges Nintendo DS Game Cards
System storage	Cartridge save, 4MB RAM
Connectivity	Wi-Fi and Local Wireless
Online service	Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, LAN
Units sold	Worldwide(including DS lite): 36.8 million+ see below[1] NA 10,419,000 as of January 31, 2006[2] JP 15,383,087 as of February 25, 2007[3] Other 11,000,000 as of December 31, 2006[1]
Top-selling game	Nintendogs
Predecessor	Game Boy Advance - technically; The DS is not the successor to the Game Boy line[4][5][6][7][8]
Successor	Nintendo DS Lite (redesign)

The Nintendo DS (ニンテンドーDS, Nintendō Dīesu^?), sometimes abbreviated NDS or DS, is a handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo, and first released in 2004. The console features a clamshell design, with two LCD screens inside - one of which is a touch-sensitive screen.

The DS can stand for "Dual Screen" or "Developers System," from Nintendo's belief that the system "gives game creators brand new tools which will lead to more innovative games for the world's players." ^[9]

On March 2, 2006, Nintendo released the Nintendo DS Lite in Japan, a redesigned system which is slimmer and lighter with brighter screens, a longer and thicker stylus for the touch screen, an improved battery, and a relocated microphone. It was released later the same year in North America, Europe, Australia, and China.

Contents [hide] 1 Design and specifications 1.1 Input and output 1.2 Hardware specifications 1.3 Media specifications 1.4 Firmware 1.5 Download play 1.6 Compatibility 1.7 Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection 1.8 Battery life 1.9 Regional division 2 Accessories 2.1 Rumble Pak 2.2 Nintendo DS Headset 2.3 Opera Internet browser 2.4 Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector 2.5 Nintendo MP3 Player 3 Marketing and sales 3.1 Available colors 3.2 Pricing history 3.3 Special editions / promotional packages 4 Nintendo DS Lite 5 Software development 5.1 Hacking 6 Trivia 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

[edit] Design and specifications

[edit] Input and output

The lowest display of the Nintendo DS is overlaid with a touch-sensitive screen, designed to accept input from the included stylus, or a curved plastic thumb tab attached to the optional wrist strap. The touch screen allows players to interact with in-game elements more directly than by pressing buttons; for example, the stylus is used in Trauma Center: Under the Knife as a scalpel to make an incision in a diseased patient, in Pokémon Ranger to capture Pokémon, to change view in Bionicle Heroes and as a writing tool in the included chatting software, PictoChat.

Traditional controls are located on either side of the touch screen. To the left is a D-pad, with a narrow Power button above it, and to the right are the A, B, X, and Y buttons, with narrow Select and Start buttons above them. Shoulder buttons L and R are located on the upper corners of the lower half of the system. The overall button layout is similar to the controller of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

The Nintendo DS features stereo speakers providing virtual surround sound (depending on the software) located on either side of the upper display screen. This is a first for a Nintendo handheld, as the Game Boy line of systems has only supported stereo sound through the use of headphones or external speakers.

A built-in microphone is located below the left side of the bottom screen. It has been used for a variety of purposes, including speech recognition (Nintendogs), chatting online between gameplay sessions (but not during gameplay) in some games (Metroid Prime: Hunters), and for minigames that require the player to blow or shout into the microphone (Feel the Magic: XY/XX, Wario Ware: Touched, etc).

[edit] Hardware specifications

• Mass: 275 g (9.7 oz.)
• Physical size: 148.7 x 84.7 x 28.9 mm (5.85 x 3.33 x 1.13 inches).
• Screens: Two separate 3-inch TFT LCD screens, resolution of 256 x 192 pixels each, with dimensions of 62 x 46 mm and 77 mm diagonal, and a dot pitch of 0.24 mm. Note that the gap between the screens is approximately 21mm, equivalent to about 92 "hidden" screen lines. Some games take this separation into account and treat the missing screen area as part of the play field, while others ignore its existence. This has created some debate over which method is best.[1] The lower display is overlaid with a resistive touch screen, which allows for touch contact with the screen (either with the included stylus, the player's finger, or the wrist strap's thumb pad) to be registered. The system is only capable of measuring one point on the screen at a time; pressing in multiple locations will result in a point in the middle of all the locations being registered.

• CPUs: Two ARM processors, an ARM946E-S main CPU and ARM7TDMI co-processor at clock speeds of 67 MHz and 33 MHz respectively, with 4 MB of main memory which requires 1.65 volts.

The system's 3D hardware performs transform and lighting, texture-coordinate transformation, texture mapping, alpha blending, anti-aliasing, cel shading and z-buffering. However, it uses Point (nearest neighbor) texture filtering, leading to some titles having a blocky appearance. The system is theoretically capable of rendering 120,000 triangles per second at 60 frames per second and the pixel fill rate is 30 million pixels per second. Unlike most 3D hardware, it has a limit on the number of triangles it can render as part of a single scene; this limit is somewhere in the region of 4000 triangles. This is partly down to its use of a form of Scanline rendering. Overall, its 3D visual quality is somewhere between the Nintendo 64 and the original PlayStation, though the DS is generally capable of smoother framerates than the former. The 3D hardware is designed to render to a single screen at a time, so rendering 3D to both screens is difficult and decreases performance significantly.

The system has two 2D engines, one per screen. These are each quite similar to the Game Boy Advance's single 2D engine, though more powerful.

The unit has built-in Wi-Fi functionality, which allows communications with a standard access point to access the Internet, and with other DS units through a modified WiFi protocol created by Nintendo and partially secured using RSA security signing. The latter is used by the built-in wireless drawing and chat program, by games in non-online multiplayer mode, and to download game demos or multiplayer game software (used for DS Download Stations and multiplayer gaming with only one game card). The Internet capability is used to access the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, where users can compete with other users playing the same Wi-Fi compatible game and access other services.

[edit] Media specifications

Nintendo DS Game Card

Nintendo DS games are on small, thin "game cards", as opposed to the larger cartridges used by the Game Boy line and other previous Nintendo systems.
Media type:	solid state ROM
Capacity:	Up to 1 gigabit ( = 1024 Mb or 128 MB).
Write mechanism:	flash media/EEPROM
Developed by:	Nintendo
Physical dimensions:	33.0 × 35.0 × 3.8 mm
Weight:	~4 g
Usage:	Nintendo DS media (data & storage)

Games use a proprietary solid state ROM "Game Card" format resembling the memory cards used in other portable electronic devices such as digital cameras. It currently supports cards up to 1 gigabit^[10] in size. The cards always have a small amount of flash memory or an EEPROM to save user data, for example progress in a game or high scores. The game cards are 33.0 × 35.0 × 3.8 mm, and weigh around 3.5 g (1/8 ounces).

The system's code-name was "Project Nitro," which is where the letters NTR in the serial number written on the back of game cards and the system itself come from. NTR-XXX indicates the model numbers found on the original Nintendo DS and its accessories. Examples of common Nintendo DS model numbers:

• NTR-001 = Nintendo DS system
• NTR-002 = Nintendo DS power supply
• NTR-003 = Nintendo DS battery pack
• NTR-005 = Nintendo DS game card design

[edit] Firmware

Nintendo's own custom firmware boots the system. First, the user is presented with a "Health and Safety" reminder screen which must be bypassed with a button press or by touching the lower screen. Afterwards, the system boots into a custom touch screen interface, giving the player access to run either a Nintendo DS or Game Boy Advance game, use the built-in Pictochat software, or search for software to download via DS Download Play. The user can also choose to have the system automatically start any inserted game following the Health and Safety screen, bypassing the menu.

The PictoChat program, which is permanently stored on the unit, allows users to communicate with other Nintendo DS users within a small range over the wireless network by text, handwriting, or drawings, using the DS's touch screen and stylus for input, or a small visual keyboard on the screen. If one is to enter a chatroom with a gamecard inside, but then pulls it out while still in the room, both DS screens will display one single fill of color, and the system must be reset.

The DS's main menu also features an alarm clock and the ability to set preferences for boot priority (booting to games when inserted, or always booting to the main menu), Game Boy Advance game screen usage (top or bottom), and user information (name, date of birth, favorite color, time, etc.)

Nintendo has stated that DS firmware and games could be expandable with the Wii, thanks to the console's WiiConnect24 internet service.

[edit] Download play

Main article: DS Download Play

In selected titles (Including but not limited to Mario Kart DS, New Super Mario Bros. and Meteos), it is possible to play multiplayer games with other Nintendo DS users using only one game card. The maximum distance for this to be effective is about 60 feet. The Nintendo DS unit downloads the necessary data from another unit running the game. There is also a multiplayer Wi-Fi feature. At certain hotspots, or Wi-Fi enabled areas, you can hook up and play with DS owners around the world.

DS Download Play is an adaptation of the Game Boy Advance's popular "single cartridge multiplayer" feature, adapted to support the system's wireless link capabilities; players without the game search for and download content, while players with the game broadcast it. Some games also use this feature to transmit a playable demo of the game to players who do not own a copy. The downloaded data is available as long as the DS is turned on.

Also, in November 2004, Nintendo announced plans to make download kiosks available to certain retail stores and other public places that would transmit a signal for a Nintendo DS in the area to download a demo of a game using the DS Download Play feature. As of 2006, there are now download kiosks placed in select EB Games, GameStop, Game Crazy, Toys R Us, Wal-Mart, and Target stores. As with normal Download Play, the downloaded demo(s) are not permanent, and will be deleted when the system is shut down. Nintendo has also said that they may begin providing downloadable demos or other content directly from a user's Wii console system using the online store channel built into the system.

[edit] Compatibility

The Nintendo DS is compatible with Game Boy Advance (GBA) cartridges; the smaller Nintendo DS Game Cards fit into Slot 1 on the top of the system, while Game Boy Advance games fit into Slot 2 on the bottom of the system. The Nintendo DS is not compatible with games for the Game Boy Color and the original Game Boy, due to a slightly different form factor and the absence of the Zilog Z80-like processor used in these systems.

The Nintendo DS only uses one screen when playing Game Boy Advance games. The user can configure the system to use either the top or bottom screen. The games are displayed within a black border on the screen, due to the slightly different screen resolution between the two systems - (256 × 192px (approx. .05 megapixels) for the Nintendo DS, and 240 × 160px (approx. .04 megapixels) for the Game Boy Advance).

Some Nintendo DS games inserted into Slot 1 are able to detect the presence of specific Game Boy Advance games in Slot 2. In many such games, extra content can be unlocked or added by starting the Nintendo DS game with the appropriate Game Boy Advance game inserted. Also available are "Option Paks", namely the Rumble Pak that vibrates when used with compatible games, and the Nintendo DS Memory Expansion Pak, which supplies extra RAM for the Nintendo DS Browser.

[edit] Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection

Main article: Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection

The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection is an online service run by Nintendo to facilitate free Internet play in compatible Nintendo DS and Wii games through a wireless internet connection. The service was launched in North America on November 14, 2005 with the release of Mario Kart DS and Tony Hawk's American Sk8land, and later in Europe and Japan. The Nintendo DS Browser, a version of the Opera browser, allows the system to be used to read web sites.

[edit] Battery life

The Nintendo DS contains a rechargeable lithium ion battery. The expected battery life ranges from six to ten hours on a full four-hour charge.^[11] After five hundred charges, the battery life drops to seventy percent. It is recommended that the battery be replaced after five hundred charges. Battery life is affected by multiple factors including speaker volume, use of one or both screens, back lighting, and use of the built-in Wi-Fi. The biggest effect on battery life is caused by using the backlight, which can be turned off in the main menu screen, or within selected games (such as Super Mario 64 DS).

The battery is designed to be removed only when it expires and must be replaced. It is removable with the use of a Phillips-head screwdriver. Removing the battery will cause the Nintendo DS to prompt the user to re-enter all of the unit's settings (user's birthday, user's name, etc.), unless the battery is swapped within seconds of the previous battery's removal, but it will not affect saved data on Nintendo DS Game Cards or Game Boy Advance Game Paks.

To sustain battery life in the midst of a game, users can close the Nintendo DS system, which will then put the DS in sleep mode with the game being played paused. A system in sleep mode can run for several hundred hours without completely draining the battery. However, sleep mode does not function with Game Boy Advance games; the game will continue to run normally, including the back light. Certain DS games (such as Animal Crossing Wild World) also will not pause, but the backlight, screens and speakers will turn off.

[edit] Regional division

The Nintendo DS is region free in the sense that any console will run a Nintendo DS game purchased anywhere in the world; it is the same system everywhere. However, the Chinese version games can only be played on the Chinese iQue DS, whose larger firmware chip contains the required Chinese character glyph images. Nintendo DSes from other regions cannot play the Chinese games, but the iQue DS can play games of other regions. Also, as with Game Boy games, some games that require both players to have a Nintendo DS Game Card for multiplayer play will not work together if the games are from different regions (e.g. a Japanese Nintendo DS game may not work with a North American Nintendo DS game, though some titles, such as Mario Kart DS, are mutually compatible). With the addition of the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, certain games can be played over the Internet with users of a different region game.

Some Wi-Fi enabled games (e.g. Mario Kart DS) allow the selection of opponents by region. The options are Continent and Worldwide, as well as two non-location-specific settings. This allows the player to limit competitors to only those opponents based in the same geographical area. This is generally determined through the internal region of the software (i.e. Japanese releases will automatically search for other users of the Japanese version, and so forth).

[edit] Accessories

Main article: Nintendo DS accessories

Although the secondary port on the Nintendo DS does accept and support Game Boy Advance cartridges (but not Game Boy, and Game Boy Color cartridges), Nintendo has emphasized that its main intention for its inclusion was to allow a wide variety of accessories to be released for the system, the Game Boy Advance compatibility titles being a logical extension.

Nintendo announced at Eł 2005 that it would launch "Headset Accessories" for VoIP enabled games. (This will plug into the VoIP plug next to the Ear Phone jack, not the Game Boy Advance slot.)

[edit] Rumble Pak

Main article: Rumble Pak

The Rumble Pak was the first official expansion slot accessory. In the form of a Game Boy Advance cartridge, the Rumble Pak vibrates to reflect the action in compatible games, such as when the player bumps into an obstacle or loses a life. It was released in North America and Japan in 2005, as a separate accessory and bundled with Metroid Prime Pinball ^[12] A specially designed Rumble Pak was released in Japan in late May 2006 for the Nintendo DS Lite^[13] The cartridge is about 1 cm shorter to prevent it from protruding out of the Nintendo DS Lite as standard Game Boy Advance cartridges do.

[edit] Nintendo DS Headset

The Nintendo DS Headset is the official headset for the Nintendo DS. It plugs into the headset port (which is a combination of a standard 3.5mm headphone connector and a proprietary microphone connector) on the bottom of the system. It features one earphone and a microphone, and is compatible with all games that use the internal microphone. It was released in Japan on September 14, 2006.^[14]

[edit] Opera Internet browser

Main article: Nintendo DS Browser

On February 15, 2006, Nintendo announced a version of the cross-platform web browser Opera for the DS system.^[15] The browser can use one screen as an overview, a zoomed portion of which appears on the other screen, or both screens together to present a single tall view of the page.^[16] The browser went on sale in Japan^[17] and Europe ^[18] in 2006. Releases in other regions are expected in 2007. A release date has been set for the US release June 4th, 2007. Read: http://ds.ign.com/articles/771/771323p1.html for more information.

[edit] Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector

Main article: Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector

This USB-flash-disk-sized accessory plugs into a PC's USB port and creates a miniature hotspot, allowing up to five Nintendo DS units to connect to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service through the host computer Internet connection.

[edit] Nintendo MP3 Player

Main article: Nintendo MP3 Player

On December 8, 2006, Nintendo launched an MP3 player accessory for the DS in Europe for a €30 price tag. The add-on uses SD cards and an odd 8-bit style GUI. The cause for such a low bit GUI is that to run MP3s the DS is forced to use the ARM9 processor, which is also used for running the GUI and most of the game code. Running MP3s on the ARM9 will use about 95% of it.^[19] Other non-Nintendo brand compact flash (CF) memory card readers which claim to turn the DS into a "multimedia powerhouse" have been released and are available at retail stores such as Walmart. The CF readers can view MPEG4 videos and play WMA and MP3 music files. They retail for $40.

[edit] Marketing and sales

Life-to-date Number of units sold

Quarter	Japan	Americas	Other	Worldwide
Q4 2004[20]	1.45 million	1.36 million	0.03 million	2.84 million
Q1 2005[21]	2.12 million	2.19 million	0.95 million	5.27 million
Q2 2005				6.65 million[22]
Q3 2005[23]	3.63 million	2.87 million	2.34 million	8.83 million
Q4 2005[24]	5.70 million	4.63 million	4.10 million	14.43 million
Q1 2006[25]	6.91 million	5.11 million	4.71 million	16.73 million
Q2 2006[26]	9.24 million	5.90 million	6.13 million	21.27 million
Q3 2006[27]	11.52 million	7.51 million	7.79 million	26.82 million
Q4 2006[1]	14.43 million	10.18 million	11.00 million	35.61 million

On January 5, 2006, Nintendo issued a formal apology after the Nintendo DS sold out throughout Japan,^[28] as no Nintendo system had ever sold out in Japan before.^[29]

On February 15, 2006 Nintendo announced that in Japan the Nintendo DS reached 5 million units sold in less than 13 months after its launch, which marks the fastest-ever pace for a video game system in Japan.^[30]

On November 21, 2006, Nintendo announced that the Nintendo DS had reached over 7 million units sold in Europe.^[31]

On November 29, 2006, figures released by Chart-Track indicated that the Nintendo DS had sold over 2 million units in the UK as of November 12, 2006.^[32]

On December 1, 2006 Nintendo of America released launch-to-date information indicating that the Nintendo DS had sold 6.63 million units in the United States.^[33]

On December 18, 2006 Nintendo of France announced that DS sales in France had reached 2 million. ^[34]

In early January Nintendo announced they had revised their sales forecasts again and now expect the DS and DS Lite to have sold 23 million by March 31, 2007 which would bring worldwide sales of the system to 38 million units.

The system's promotional slogans revolve around the word "Touch" in almost all countries, with the US slogan being "Touching is good."

The Nintendo DS is currently seen by many analysts to be in the same market as Sony's PlayStation Portable, although representatives from both companies have said that each system targets a different audience. At the time of its release in the United States, the Nintendo DS retailed for $149.99 USD. The price dropped to $129.99 USD on August 21, 2005, one day before the anticipated North American releases of Nintendogs and Advance Wars: Dual Strike.

In June 2006, Nintendo announced it was discontinuing production of the original Nintendo DS to focus on the Nintendo DS Lite.

On October 3, 2006 Nintendo announced a 20.5% raise in net profit forecast partially attributed to strong DS sales. The company also raised its estimated DS sales forecast by 18%.

On January 25, 2007 Nintendo announced 10 million sales in North America of the Nintendo DS.

[edit] Available colors

Eight official colors of the Nintendo DS were available through standard retailers. Titanium (silver and black) was available worldwide, Electric Blue was exclusive to North and Latin America. Fire Red, Graphite Black, Pure White, Turquoise Blue and Candy Pink were available in Japan featuring white outer hardware and white styluses, as opposed to black. Mystic Pink and Cosmic Blue were available in Australia and New Zealand. Pink and blue versions of the DS were available in Europe and North America through a Nintendogs bundle, although they differ from the Japanese pink and blue versions and feature black hardware and styluses. Japan's Fire Red also came to America as part of a Mario Kart DS bundle , but included optional flame stickers and an optional "'05" decal. However, these colors were only available for the original Nintendo DS model; a different and more-limited set of colors have been used for the Nintendo DS Lite.

[edit] Pricing history

United Kingdom:

• 11 March 2005 - October 2005 Ł100
• October 2005 - June 2006 Ł95
• June 2006 - October 2006 Ł90
• October 2006 - present Ł100 (new DS Lite price)

United States:

• 21 November 2004 - November 2005 $149.99 (MSRP)
• 21 August 2005 - present $129.99 (MSRP)

Canada:

• 21 November 2004 - November 2005 $199.99 (MSRP)
• 21 August 2005 - present $149.99 (MSRP)

Japan:

• 2 December 2004 - present 15,000 yen (original DS)
• 2 March 2006 - present 16,800 yen (DS Lite)

[edit] Special editions / promotional packages

Main article: Special versions of the Nintendo DS

Many special editions and promotional packages have been available for the Nintendo DS, starting with the first Nintendo DS bundle of a Metroid Prime: Hunters demo version, which was included in the first line-up of US shipments. Other adjustments have been made to the DS / DS Lite including color and laser engravings made for promotional events. For example, during the release of Mario Kart DS in North America, a "Red Hot DS Bundle" was available, which was a red colored Nintendo DS, with the game Mario Kart DS packaged along with it.

[edit] Nintendo DS Lite

Main article: Nintendo DS Lite

The Nintendo DS Lite (sold as the iQue DS Lite in China) is a dual-screen handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It is a slimmer, more lightweight redesign of the earlier Nintendo DS model; aesthetically sleeker to complement Nintendo's Wii, and to appeal to broader commercial audiences. The DS Lite is also able to use the e-Reader, unlike its predecessor. It was announced on January 26, 2006, more than a month before its first territorial launch in Japan on March 2, 2006 due to overwhelming demand for the original model.^[35] The Nintendo DS Lite is available in Japan in white, arctic blue, pink, black, and navy blue; in North and South America, as well as Australia, in white, black, and pink; and in Europe in black and white. A pink version was released in Europe on October 27, 2006.

[edit] Software development

Nintendo only accepts official companies with a game development team, and sufficient experience in certain areas for their official developer support program. Additional information is available from the Nintendo Software Development Support Group.^[36]

[edit] Hacking

Main article: Nintendo DS homebrew

Throughout the years the Nintendo DS has been released, a great deal of hacking has occurred involving the DS's firmware, Wi-Fi, game cards, and software use. To this date, many Nintendo DS Emulators for the Nintendo DS such as the R4DS and DS-Xtreme can run every commercial game released. Nintendo DS emulators for the pc are also in early stages of development, and few commercial games are playable thus far.

[edit] Trivia

• The Nintendo DS bears a striking resemblance to Nintendo's first handheld, the Game and Watch, specifically the Donkey Kong version. This similarity was mentioned in the animated cinematics for Wario Ware: Smooth Moves.
• Time Magazine awarded the DS with a Gadget of the Week award.^[37]

[edit] See also

Handheld game consoles
Early units
See Microvision and Handheld electronic games
Nintendo handhelds
Game & Watch | Game Boy (Pocket | Light) | Game Boy Color | Game Boy Advance (SP | Micro) | Nintendo DS (Lite)
Bandai handhelds
WonderSwan | WonderSwan Color | SwanCrystal
GamePark/Holdings handhelds
GP32 | GP2X | XGP | XGP Mini | XGP Kids
SNK handhelds
Neo Geo Pocket | Neo Geo Pocket Color
Sega handhelds
Game Gear | Nomad | Mega Jet
Sony handhelds
PocketStation | PlayStation Portable
Other handhelds
Atari Lynx | Gamate | Watara Supervision | Mega Duck | Game.com | Gizmondo | N-Gage | TurboExpress | Pepper Pad | GameKing | iRiver G10 | Ez MINI | OQO Model 2
Comparison

• Nintendo DS Lite
• Comparison of handheld gaming consoles
• History of video games
• Nintendo DS launches
• List of Nintendo DS games
• List of Nintendo DS WiFi games
• List of Nintendo DS Rumble Pak games
• List of Nintendo DS downloadable games

[edit] References