Nintendo DS
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The Nintendo DS (ニンテンドーDS Nintendō DS, full known as; Nintendo Dual Screen), sometimes abbreviated NDS or DS, is a seventh generation era dual-screen handheld game console devoloped and manfactured by Nintendo. The Nintendo DS has been released on November 21, 2004. The console features a clamshell design, with two LCD screens inside - one of which is a touch-sensitive screen. The Nintendo DS is the first Nintendo video game console that has been released outside of Japan, which it went first on sale in North America.
History[edit]
It had been announced on November 13, 2003 by Nintendo that they would release a new game product that make it's release in 2004. Nintendo didn't gave any information about their new project and stated that it would not succeed the Game Boy or the GameCube. On January 20, 2004, Nintendo announced the console under the codename "Nintendo DS". Nintendo only gave few information about their project, saying that the console would have two separate, 3-inch TFT LCD display panels, separate processors, and up to 1 gigabit of semiconductor memory. The name got changed into "Nitro" in March 2004 which also the document containing most of the console's technical specifications was leaked. The project name went back to "Nintendo DS" in May 2004 and a prototype was shown at the Electronic Entertainment Expo better known as the E3. Nintendo revealed on July 28, 2004 that the Nintendo DS has gotten a new design and the name of the console is the same as that of the project name.
Cost[edit]
| Country | Cost |
|---|---|
| Japan | ¥15000 |
| North America | $149.99 |
| Europe | £99.99/€149.99 |
| Australia | $199.95 |
Feature[edit]
Wi-Fi Connection[edit]
The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection is a free online game service run by Nintendo which players who owns a Nintendo DS can connect to the service through the Wi-Fi network using a Wi-Fi USB Connector or a wireless router. During the other release of the Nintendo DS series they are more based on the wireless router instead of the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector. The usage of Wi-Fi was launched on November 14, 2005 in North America alongside with the release of Mario Kart DS.
Download Play[edit]
Download Play is feature on the Nintendo DS generations. It is possible for users to play multiplayer games with other Nintendo DS systems with only using one game card. It has the same effect as the Wireless Adapters that has been released alongside with the Pokémon LeafGreen Version and Pokémon FireRed Version. It can only up to approximately 65 feet within wireless range of each other for the other system to download necessary data from the host system.
Multi-Card Play[edit]
As being the same as Download Play, Multi-Card Play allows owners with a Nintendo DS play multiplayer games with other Nintendo DS systems. Unlike Download Play each Nintendo DS console requires a game card.
PictoChat[edit]
This app allows owners with a Nintendo DS systems to communicate with other Nintendo DS users within local wireless range. Users can enter text through the keyboard or sending them handwrite message or drawing pictures through the stylus and touchscreen. There are only four chatrooms (A, B, C, D) which only can allow up to 16 peoples in each chatroom. On Nintendo DS and Nintendo DS Lite systems users can only write messages in black. However, the DSi and DSi XL includes a new function, letting users write in either black or rainbow colored pen.
Compatibility[edit]
The Nintendo DS is backward compatible with Game Boy Advance (GBA) cartridges but not with the Game Boy or Game Boy Color cartridges only with Game Boy Advance cartridges. It gives the same screen display as that of a Game Boy Advance SP which the owner of the Nintendo DS can change the appearance of the game screen through setting which the appearance will be on the upper part or on the lower part of the Nintendo DS system. This compatibility is only so far used at the first Nintendo DS until Nintendo DS lite. Nintendo DSi until Nintendo 3DS doesn't have these backward compatible.
The following two Dragon Quest titles can be played as a result on the DS and DS Lite:
- Dragon Quest Monsters: Caravan Heart
- Slime MoriMori Dragon Quest: Shougeki no Shippo Dan - the first slime spin-off game.
Redesigns[edit]
| Nintendo DS Lite File:Nintendo DS Lite Logo.png |
Nintendo DSi
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Nintendo DSi XL
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| Slot on the bottom labeled as "SLOT-2" | None | |
| Game Boy Advance slot | ||
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Nintendo DS Lite[edit]
The Nintendo DS Lite (ニンテンドーDS Lite Nintendō Dī Esu Raito) is the second version of the first Nintendo DS game console that is developed and manufactured by Nintendo. The Nintendo DS Lite has a much slimmer, brighter, and more lightweight design then of the first Nintendo DS which is designed to be aesthetically sleeker. The Nintendo DS Lite was announced on January 26, 2006 which was more than a month before its first release in Japan on March 2, 2006 due to overwhelming demand for the original model.
Cost[edit]
| Country | Cost |
|---|---|
| Japan | ¥16,800 |
| North America | $129.99 |
| Europe | £99.99/€149.99 |
| Australia | $199.95 |
Nintendo DSi[edit]
The Nintendo DSi (ニンテンドーDSi) is the renewal of the Nintendo DS that has been developed and manufactured by Nintendo. Consumer demand convinced Nintendo to produce a slimmer handheld with larger screens than the DS Lite. Consequently, Nintendo removed the Game Boy Advance (GBA) cartridge slot to improve portability without sacrificing durability. The development of the Nintendo DSi had been started around the release of the Nintendo Wii at the end of 2006. It has a another renewal known as the Nintendo DSi XL.
| Country | Cost |
|---|---|
| Japan | ¥18,900 |
| North America | $169.99 |
| Europe | £149.99/€169.99 |
| Australia | $299.95 |
Nintendo DSi XL[edit]
The Nintendo DSi XL (ニンテンドーDSi LL) is the second version of the Nintendo DSi and the fourth renewal of the Nintendo DS game console series. The Nintendo DSi XL has a much more different appearance than that of the Nintendo DSi. The Nintendo DSi XL's screen is much larger than the Nintendo DSi and the size is also larger than a Nintendo DSi. The length of the Nintendo DS XL is 3.60 inches (91 mm) which the width of it is 6.34 inches (161 mm). The height is 0.83 inches (21 mm) and the weight 0.692 pounds (314 g). The Nintendo DS XL is the longest, widest and heaviest DS model.
| Country | Cost |
|---|---|
| Japan | ¥20,000 |
| North America | $189.99 |
| Europe | £159.99/€179.99 |
| Australia | $299.95 |
Dragon Quest titles for Nintendo DS[edit]
| Game Title | Game Release |
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| Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime |
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| Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker |
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| Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 |
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| Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen |
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| Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride |
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| Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation |
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| Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies |
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| Itadaki Street DS - featuring characters from Dragon Quest and Super Mario. A Japan only title until the 2011 Wii port as Fortune Street |
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Dragon Quest titles for Nintendo DSi Ware[edit]
| Game Title | Game Release | DSiWare Points |
|---|---|---|
| Dragon Quest Wars |
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500 |
Slime Speaker[edit]
The Slime Speaker was a product released to serve as a stand and audio enhancer for the Nintendo DS. A Metal Slime based Speaker was also released for Japan.
Slime Speaker
Metal Slime Speaker.
See Also[edit]
- Game Boy - article on Nintendo's handhelds prior to the DS; includes a listing of Dragon Quest games.
- Nintendo 3DS - article about the Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL, the successor of the Nintendo DS console series.
