What an awesome bit of news to wake up to. Nintendo has pulled the wool over our eyes once again and have announced what they just recently claimed wasn’t coming for at least a few months: the redesigned DS. In an email to the press today, Nintendo has revealed to the world the Nintendo DS Lite. From the release: “Nintendo President Satoru Iwata today announced Nintendo DS Lite, a slimmer version of the best-selling Nintendo DSâ„¢. Also featuring brighter screens, Nintendo DS Lite will launch in Japan in March. Nintendo DS Lite will be less than two-thirds the size of the original Nintendo DS and more than 20 percent lighter.”
Japanese release date: March 2, 2006 (for 16.800 Yen, about $145 US)
Weight: 218g (compare to 275g for the current Nintendo DS)
Dimensions: 133mm x 73.9mm x 21.5mm
More details at their (Japanese) site.
Two more images of the Revolution-esque DS Lite open and shut here. Release information for other territories has not yet been disclosed, but something tells me Japan’s gonna have another shortage come March 2nd.
[Source: Joystiq Thanks to all that sent this in!]
Rollin
So i guess we can count on Revolution-DS connectivity. Way to be subtle, Nintendo.
I’m so gettin this.
Nick
I made a mockup that was pretty similar (?) a little while ago.
You decide:
http://tinyurl.com/7tmbm
In other news, I will so be getting one of these 🙂
MuffinGal
U beat me to the punch! (I just hit Infendo to send a tip!) I got an email at 6:46am today from Play-Asia offering me a pre-order of the DS Lite!
Now I gotta decide if I will be pre-ordering it!
MuffinGal
BTW, love the play on DS: DoeS!
Rollin
Hehe. I was comtemplating last minute whether it was too corny.
NeuroMan42
Is the screen smaller too, or just the overall size. I want one but I will NOT get it if they shrunk the damn screen too.
DeepThought
i think i’m calling this the iDS
MuffinGal
Please no “i” references. Leave that to Apple.
InvisibleMan
When? WHEN?? When does it come out???
Nintendo is giving the “micro” treatment to the DS, and it sooo needed it! No more big bulk in my pants’ pockets (oops… erase that!)
Need… DS… Lite… NOW!!
Fireemblem54
Wow. Talk about pulling an Apple. Surprise…
Personally, I’m still trying to collect my thoughts on this one. It really doesn’t seem, uhhh…any different? Smaller? Sure. The general look is the same though, and I was hoping for some changes there. When the GBM was shown off, I sad “I need one.” Even though I have a GBA, SP and a DS, the change was enough to make me want more. I’m not really getting that feeling here. Had they added something like an analog nub, I’m sure I wouldn’t be saying this.
I’d also, though, like to see some actual pictures before making a final call. That could change my mind. I’m also a little iffy on the name. It really isn’t anything that stood out to me. At first, I though we were talking about some lame diet product. I don’t know, just for me, the redesign fell short of what I was hoping for. I wanted to see a little bit of change, not just shrinking.
Maybe over the next few months I’ll change my mind, but for the first time in a while, Nintendo has announced a system, and I’m doubtful to start.
Rollin
If you wanted a redesign, that’s what they gave you. A redesign won’t ever change gameplay function that significantly. Adding an analog nub is just an unrealistic desire. Besides, it doesn’t need one. Many games have proved that.
Anonymous
Redesign? It looke practically the same with a few tweeks. Yawn! I’ll pass.
Fireemblem54
I hardly think an analog nub would change gameplay that significantly. It would have been a huge improvement over the D-pad the DS has now.
After playing MK for an hour or so, the d-pad becomes incredibly uncomfertable. I don’t see whats so unrealistic there. The PSP has one, one of the few good things about that thing.
Does the DS NEED one..probably not. Could it use one? No question.
David
Wonder if they’ll sell it in a bundle with the Revolution. Matching colors, of course.
DeAngelo Guillory
The problem with adding an analog nub though is that certain games have to be programmed to USE the thing. You can’t just magically put it on the system and expect Mario 64 or Mario Kart DS to control like gravy, adding a joystick would simply transmit the signals of the D-pad rather than the levels of analog control.
Also, if the DS lite were to get an analog stick/pad many consumers of the original would feel cheated that the whole or REAL system is the model that came out in March 2, 2006 in Japan rather than the one that came out in November 15, 2004 in the States.
In theory it’s a nice thought if you’re the only one that matters but to the rest of the world it isn’t fair and that’s the kind of mindset Nintendo’s going with.
Anonymous
Nintendo’s gotta stop releasing so many damn hardware updates, especially less than a year and a half after launch, otherwise their launch sales for future consoles are going to drop like mad with people waiting for the gauranteed early redesign and price drops.
syx
Neuroman…
there is a comparison image so don’t sh*t your pants, the screen did not get smaller.
This looks so sleek and sexy, it’s really all I could’ve asked for. It looks like they’re fixing the D-Pad up a bit, so who needs analog.
Wai-Tung Leung
Ah good they’ve finally revealed the long awaited redesign. Now on first look I didn’t think it looked that radically different in appearenece, but looking again it is far more compact which is what I’ve been waiting for. This will definitely be the DS I’ll be getting (I didn’t buy the original DS cus after looking at it I knew they would be a redesign on the horizon).
You know I’m almost tempted to go ingrave mine with an Apple logo to go with my Mac.
frstOne
I like it :), it will fit in my pocket now.
And I don’t need an analog nub, mario kart gameplay with the digital pad is awesome, better than the gamecube version with the analog stick.
Rollin
“mario kart gameplay with the digital pad is awesome, better than the gamecube version with the analog stick.”
Truer words have never been spoken!
Fireemblem54
Rollin:
You’re kidding right? Play the game for a few hours..it hurts. The d-pad seems fine at first, I’ll admit I never saw a problem with it until MK. But after a while, it gets VERY uncomfertable. For snakers (though, I don’t snake, I’ve talked to plenty of them), an analog nub would make life a lot easier.
David
I’m curious to see if they sell this instead of or in addition to the non-lite DS.
If so, then the price for the normal DS should drop, right?
vakerorokero
I consider the Ds to be totally worth of having two. you can play lots of games with one cart. I find the little one way better and sleeker, now If it came in black or matte grey. Nice job nintendo! now those guys that leaked the info about a new DS coming are VERY RELIABLE SOURCES FOR NEWS!!!!
Anonymous
FireEmblem, why would we want to make life EASIER for snakers??? Besides, I think the DS is envisioned as a short-term, pick-up-and-play-for-a-few-minutes device, as opposed to a console. “A few hours” is a long time for the DS, as far as I’m concerned.
I love the design, by the way, I think it’s a great idea to make it match the Revolution.
Rollin
“Fireemblem54 said…
Rollin:
You’re kidding right? Play the game for a few hours..it hurts.”
That’s why they redesigned it! The Lite has the super comfy squishy pad of the Micro, which also makes snaking alot harder, btw.
Are you with me Micro users? ^_^
wii-man
Along with theis GREAT DS face lift
a video would do you guys some good.
Anonymous
YESS!!!! Haha, Now PSP owning people can’t say it looks sexier. I’m defidently buying one, to match my revolution. And I also don’t get why you people get so pissed over a redesign…If you don’t want it don’t buy it.
Fireemblem54
Rollin: Squishy pad is greta and all…but an analog nub would have been far better. It allows for a lot more specific controls.
As far as making life easier for snakers, I didn’t mean make snaking easier, but making it easier on their thumbs. Try snaking, and it kills your thumbs. That’s not healthy. They choose to snake, and as it is part of the game, it’s only fair they arn’t subjected to torture of their thumbs.
A few hours was a bit of an overstatement, my fault. But even play it for an hour. It still hurts if you’re racing straight through that time.
There just isn’t enough in this redesign, from what I’ve seen, to make it really any better than the original. Sure it’s smaller, but that’s about it 😐
Rollin
“Fireemblem54 said…
Rollin: Squishy pad is greta and all…but an analog nub would have been far better. It allows for a lot more specific controls.”
That’s cool. As long as you don’t mind not being able to use it for MKDS or any other game released so far, including soon-to-be releases. Unless you want them to reprogram every single card they’ve sold to this point. That’s worse than a recall. Not so glamorous in reality, is it?
Redesigns are about form, not function.
Anonymous
Fireemblem54, do you mean to say that if I choose to use the DS to kill people they should make the edges sharp for my convenience? Or that if I chose to pour accelerant on it and light it aflame that they should fire proof it for me as well? So that I can kill people with my sharp flaming DS? Do you mean to say that? Do you?
Fireemblem54
Rollin: I understand completely that issue…but it could be solved. There’s ways around that (maybe putting a form of them both? Nintendo’d find a way to make it work) And I disagree…redesigns can be about either. If they were to throw an analog nub on there, would it still be a redesign? Of course. Nobody would claim it was a “new system”.
Ano: I believe you’re missing the point. Nintendo should be looking to improve the gaming experience as much as possible. An analog nub would have helped to do that. If the DS was intended to kill or light on fire, then yes, that’s exactly what I’d suggest. But it’s meant for gaming, and the redesign should have helped that in some way.
InvisibleMan
Firemblem54 (and, actually, everyone else too),
You are not mentioning two other improvements that are really significant with the new design, besides the smaller size and squishy buttons:
– They are applying the new crispier and brighter screens a-la micro;
– The location of the buttons is higher AND the power button is out of the way (I can’t remember how many times I accidentally have turned off the power in the middle of a game and cursed its location in the DS!)
I’m really surprised there haven’t been any comments on those two new features!!
And I’m with Vakerorokero on that one: The DS is totally worth having two in a household!
Rollin
“If they were to throw an analog nub on there, would it still be a redesign? Of course. Nobody would claim it was a “new system”.”
An added analog would give the impression that it’s the 2nd version of the DS. This isn’t the 2nd version, it’s a reimagination of the first.
“An analog nub would have helped to do that.”
You’re not gettin it, man. It’s too much to add. None of the games you have could’ve used it. Seeing as how u’ve been saying “nub” all this time, I think ur just jealous of the PSP. The analog cannot matter that much on its own. You’re missing the point of the DS if that’s the case. It’s not that big an improvement. Have you used the PSP’s? It’s not what u may think it is. Very jerky and unprecise. It’s actually a digital slider, not analog at all.
What game experience would benefit that much from a left analog mechanism that couldn’t be handled by the stylus?
Anonymous
Playstation introduced analogue sticks halfway through it’s life with the dual shock. It’s been done.
Rollin
Anon-
Did all the games suddenly support the sticks? Nope, they didn’t. Trust me, i tried. Try turning on ur Dual Shock’s analog control while playing GTA2 on PS1 and tell me if it does a damn thing. Games have to be programmed to the controls.
FireEmblem-
Think about it this way: Xbox 360. When they announced the Core pakcage wasn’t gonna have a hard drive, ppl got upset. Why? Because their fans are hardcore gamers and the hardcore care about that stuff. But it wasn’t such a dumb move. MS told all their developers to not count on the HDD always being there so everyone would be able to play every game. How would you feel if you had a bulky DS and the latest DS game was using and touting the analog of the Lite? You wouldn’t be able to play it. Wouldn’t u feel wronged?
The Lite isn’t sposed to replace the old DS. It’s another option for ppl who want a diff form factor. Not everyone’s gonna have a Lite, so it shouldn’t have any control differences from the DS. It’s the SP edition of it, not the follow-up. They wouldn’t alienate their current users by adding analog to a redesign that not everyone will buy.
Fireemblem54
Iman: Have you seen these “crisper and brighter” screens? Because I certianly haven’t. I haven’t mentioned them because I haven’t seen them, and can’t make a judgement on it. The DS’s screen is actually pretty decent, so I have a hard time figuring there’ll be too much of a change.
As for the power button, I seem to be the only one who’s never had a problem with it, so it’s not a big enough deal, for me, to warrent a purchase.
Rollin: The addition of an analog nub would be no different then he new screens. A slightly updated redesign. This is, indeed, the second version of the DS. It’s not a new system, it’s an update. DS 2.0. Slightly updated and shrunk down.
Trust me, I’m in NO way jealous of the PSP. I think it’s probably the worst system since the N-Gage. BUT, the analog nub is one of very few things they got right. I have played a PSP, and found the nub (or “digital slider” if you prefer) to be quite helpful. A little iffy? Sure, but only because it’s a relativly new feature for handhelds. Nintendo’d get it down, you and I both know that. And personally, every gaming experiance would. I hate the stylus as a form for character control. The only time I use it like that is in AC.
I realize the issue there, and as I said before, there are ways to solve it. Would it have taken some extra time? Of course, but think about it..did the DS really need a redesign this soon?
InvisibleMan
Yes! I’ve seen the new screens! But not on the new DS: The technology is the same one used in the micro and the new GBA SP. After playing with the micro, I’m even slightly annoyed when playing with the DS screens. I won’t even play a GBA game in the DS for that reason.
The DS came out before Nintendo developed a cheaper way to manufacture the brighter screens, so they didn’t apply the technology to it, but did so in the micro and new SPs.
neko to kuruma
“Playstation introduced analogue sticks halfway through it’s life with the dual shock. It’s been done.”
Although I’ve never heard of it, Vetrex was actually the first console to use analog controls.
—-
As for analog on the DS, I could care less. But if they were going to add it, I’d want an actual stick, not some “digital slider”. When I played my friend’s PSP it was hard to use.
Rollin
” neko to kuruma said…
“Playstation introduced analogue sticks halfway through it’s life with the dual shock. It’s been done.”
Although I’ve never heard of it, Vetrex was actually the first console to use analog controls.“
He meant introduced it to the PlayStation users.
“InvisibleMan said…
After playing with the micro, I’m even slightly annoyed when playing with the DS screens. I won’t even play a GBA game in the DS for that reason.“
Once you go Micro, you never go back-o. Micro is the king of Nin handheld screens.
FireEm-
No different than the new screens? Since when are screens and controls on the same level?
Once you say that the PSP is the worst handheld since the N-Gage, you’ve admitted ur jealousy, i think.
The nub is iffy because of its placement and its size, nothing else. The NeoGeoPocket had a bigger and better one; and that was two thirds the PSP unit’s size. Granted, a flat nub is more pocket friendly, but it was well enough on NGP without sacrificing function.
Adding an analog device is not a slight update. It’s not as simple as popping in Rayman DS and being able to use that lauded analog precision of the N64 version. And stylus control: How many DS games do you know that really need an analog mechanism? How many 3D platformers or whatever else are there on DS? If anything u should tell Nintendo to put that on the next GB. Doesn’t belong on DS.
“Would it have taken some extra time? Of course, but think about it..did the DS really need a redesign this soon?”
That’s a hard question to answer because u have a skewed definition of what a redesign is. In reality, it didn’t and never will need a redesign. It’s pure fan service. They’re gonna change what they can with what’s already there and make it better. Nothing will ever be added to the device. That is what a redesign is.
In your definition of a redesign, when should the “redesign” have taken place?
Fireemblem54
I agree the screen on the Micro is great, but is it enough to make the Lite worth buying? Of course not.
Screens and controls are on the same level, and they always have been. They’re both factors as to what makes the system. The only jealousy towards the PSP is in the nub and the web browser. Nothing else. Those are the two features I’d love to see on the DS.
In SM64 DS, the last levels were absolute nightmares trying to control. A nub, if done correctly, would have made the experience far better.
I don’t believe I’ve skewed anything.
Redesign (Dictionary.com)
To make a revision in the appearance or function of
I don’t see how adding an analog feature wouldn’t fit that definition. All Nintendo did was shrink the DS, and call it a “redesign”. If Nintendo wanted to release a new version of the DS this soon, it should have had some decent changes. Not light the screen, shrink the system and claim it to be anything new. No new features, just updated. Whoopee? That was the problem so many people had with the Micro. The SP was fine, it introduced the flip-style screen and the backlit screen. Those were innoventions, not updates. There is NOTHING on the Lite, that makes it worth purchasing if you already own a DS. Had they added something like a nub, or another new feature, the Lite would have been justified.
Anonymous
I agree with firemblem54, it doesnt realy do it for me just to make it smaller. I like the current ds aswell, i dont want to feel like im holding a piece of paper in my hands.
Rollin
Screens and controls may make the system, but they are far from the same thing. Only one affects the game. And don’t gimme some “what if the screens were blacked out” BS.
“In SM64 DS, the last levels were absolute nightmares trying to control. A nub, if done correctly, would have made the experience far better.”
Woulda coulda shoulda. Adding it in the Lite wouldn’t have made that game any diff. I don’t know how many times it needs to be said, but adding a stick now wouldn’t change a game release a year ago.
“All Nintendo did was shrink the DS, and call it a “redesign”.”
Design pertains to aesthetics. With video game systems, design is the look of the system. Did the psONE add anything new? Did the Slimline PS2 add anything new? No, cause all they were meant to do was make the system more compact and visually pleasing. How about the GameBoy Pocket? Nope. The Micro? Not that, either.
If ur telling me shrinking the DS and making it look like the Rev (instead of keeping the UFO look) isn’t a redesign, then no videogame system has ever been redesigned. If you added an analog stick to the GBA SP, GBA owners would get jipped. A backlight isn’t a fundamental difference. It only makes you see the picture better. GBA owners can still play the same games as SP owners. Now if you put up a wall between them like an analog stick, games designed for that stick will only be played on SPs. What are GBA owners to do then, be forced to buy SPs? Get outta here.
It has no new features because it’s not a new device. Majority rules, and ur lookin kinda minor right now.
Rollin
released* a year ago.
Frisby
Analog…you do not need an analog. Metroid Prime Hunters Prived the screen is far superior to the analog stick. PSP needs another one to make up for the lack of control of one. Mario 64 DS worked fine for me all the way to star 150.
Smaller, slicker, brighter, crisper. Sounds like a redesin to me. The GBA to GBA SP is the perfect example and so is the micro, but i wont make as list because Rollin already did.
It is not as much as a “MUST OWN IT” deal Sas P was compared to GBA, but I was going to buy a second one for my wife and I see a good reason to wait. Those so looks pimp.