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Nintendo DS to Feature Wireless Connectivity?
Decaffeinated Jedi writes "As reported by GameSpot, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata indicated in a recent interview (Japanese-language) that the company's upcoming dual-screen portable (previously covered on Slashdot) will feature wireless Bluetooth-esque connectivity for multiplayer gaming. Iwata goes on in the interview to describe the Nintendo DS as a 'unique' machine, noting that 'not everybody will understand it right away. There might only be 10 to 15 people applauding during its unveiling at the E3, but they'll understand it once they touch it. At the least, it should serve as a hint towards [our] next-generation console.'" Although we've covered Iwata interviews recently, this now makes a little more sense given the context of the DS announcement.
I just read an interview on IGN yesterday with Nintendo of America's vice president of corporate affairs Perrin Kaplan.
He hinted that the DS would have some fancy features other than just the dual screens. Good to see that there may actually be meat behind this little handheld.
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I knew it would have wireless to be awesome. However, to be even more awesome both screens have to seperate from each other. If two people can play one game with one system and one cartridge and the two halves of the system connect wirelessly it will be the king of handhelds. Imagine the possibilities that before were difficult. Like battleship for instance.
I'm definitely buying one. At best it rules and I get my moneys worth. At worst its another Virtual Boy and I can be that one guy who still has a working Virtual boy. It's a win/win situation.
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o please. that is like saying the super nintedo was released to compete with the regular nintendo. it wasn't, it was released to REPLACE IT. Just like the gb color(pocket?) replaced the gb pocket, the advanced replaced the color, the advanced SP replaced the advanced. Each being a better handheld system than the one before it.
NOW, for the first time, Nintendo is releasing a system that is unlike any handheld we have see, and they do this in such a way that, if all hell falls on them, they can 'revert' to the amazingly great gameboy advanced sp.
And no, the sony handheld won't kick anyone's ass. A $200-250 consol versus a sub $100 with a library of games 100 times the size of sony's new system? Please.
The Gameboy's biggest competitors in the handheld gaming history (lite) :
Game Gear : Color screen. Nuff said.
Wonderswan : Received Final Fantasy remakes (basicly selling an instant 5000+ units just for that). Again, had color screen and better resolution.
NeoGeo Pocket Color : The little system that should've but didn't. A little joystick instead of a D-pad (FINALLY, lets see this happen some more), top notch SNK games like Metal Slug, and a battery life which outdid the Gameboy Advance's (not the SP's though.)
Just because Sony is trying its hand at the handheld business doesn't mean they'll succeed either. So far the score is something like 5+ wins - 0 losses - 1 tie with Game Gear which did "fairly" well (debatable).
Unless Sony can fit powerful hardware (a la Xbox sans the size), a SERIOUS gaming library (having all the third-party developer support in the world is useless if all the games are crappy and come out late), and a good launch success (the PS2 launch(es) couldn't have gotten worse) while fitting everything in a slick, cool handheld (ie. not N-Gage looking) yeah they have a CHANCE. Oh and, don't forget Tetris.