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Nintendo DS Actually Nintendo Nitro?

Posted by simoniker on from the maybe-possibly-sorta dept.

Tim Butler writes "According to 1UP.com, Nintendo's official developer relations site offers an interesting clue as to what Nintendo's DS dual-screen handheld may be called at launch. Between the GameCube and the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo has a platform called 'Nitro' listed." Though this may be a previous working name and unrelated to the final moniker, 1UP's screenshot of the website is useful, since Nintendo has already changed the image back to read 'Nintendo DS'. We've previously covered what's currently known about the handheld's technical specs. Update: 03/10 22:22 GMT by S : MCV has spoken to a Nintendo representative, who claims "this is a reference to... [the project code name] before the working name Nintendo DS was decided", but the piece also notes: "The final official name for the Nintendo DS... is still to be confirmed."

37 comments

  1. could you be any more vague? by peteshaw · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I mean, the new nintendo handheld is news, but the potential working name that might be used is kind of stretching it a little bit, don't you think?

    --
    www.avacal.com -- the home page of pete shaw
    1. Re:could you be any more vague? by neverkevin · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Well it is probably more then just a potential working name if someone actually went through the trouble of making an image and changing the website. Of course, it doesn't mean that it will be the final name.

  2. Nitro? by b0r0din · · Score: 1

    This is probably just be the codename, like Longhorn for Windows. I wouldn't be surprised if it'll just be the GameBoy DS.

    1. Re:Nitro? by Lord+Graga · · Score: 2, Insightful

      True, as in Dual-Screen... makes more sense than SP, which is still a mystery name to me!

    2. Re:Nitro? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      SP = Super Pretty

    3. Re:Nitro? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think it was named after the type of people who would buy the same game system twice.

      Gameboy for Stupid People :-D

    4. Re:Nitro? by dewie · · Score: 5, Informative

      I believe SP stands for Special Project, which was the internal working name at Nintendo. Apparently, they decided that it was good enough for the real thing.

      Similarly, I think they should stick with DS as a name for the new system. It means something (Dual Screen, in case ya didn't know), unlike "Nitro" which doesn't mean anything, sounds stupid, and conveys an impression of dangerously high velocity.

      --
      Jurisprudence Fetishist Gets Off On A Technicality --theonion.com
  3. With this name by AtariAmarok · · Score: 4, Funny

    With a name like Nitro, kiss your chance of carrying it onto airplane flights goodbye. "Nintendo Small Travel Pillow" would have worked for that.

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
    1. Re:With this name by irokitt · · Score: 1

      How about "Nintendo: Peanut Butter Monkey" (just had to sneak a PA reference in).

      --
      If my answers frighten you, stop asking scary questions.
  4. Nintendo is afraid to use numbers by superpulpsicle · · Score: 2, Informative

    Nintendo technically should call it Gameboy 1, 2, 3, 4 etc. But they don't simply because they know there are too many damn versions out there. Even Gameboy alone has a bent screen version.

    Gameboy
    Gameboy color
    Gameboy Advanced
    Gameboy DS

    1. Re:Nintendo is afraid to use numbers by Phosphor3k · · Score: 1

      Except there is no information that says its a successor for Gameboy.

    2. Re:Nintendo is afraid to use numbers by Stephen+Williams · · Score: 1

      Nintendo technically should call it Gameboy 1, 2, 3, 4

      Why? Because Sony does?

      "Playstation 2", "Playstation 3", "Xbox 2", "Pentium 4" etc. sound so... bland. Product names are more interesting than mere numbers. Of course, a bad name can doom a product, but hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

      All JMHO, of course.

      -Stephen

    3. Re:Nintendo is afraid to use numbers by Guppy06 · · Score: 1

      "Nintendo technically should call it Gameboy 1, 2, 3, 4 etc. "

      "Technically?" What, is there some IEEE platform naming standard I don't know about?

      Besides, "technically" the thing is called a Game_Boy. "Gameboy" looks like it has three syllables, or it just makes you too lazy to reach for the space bar.

    4. Re:Nintendo is afraid to use numbers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Game Boy" is also wrong.

      It's "GameBoy." Reach for the shift key, but not the space bar.

  5. Numbering systems is lame and unimaginitive by Man+In+Black · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Frankly, I think "Playstation 2" is the least interesting name for a console yet. What happened to the days when companies actually thought of cool names for their systems, like the Genesis or Dreamcast?

    Sony will undoubtedly continue their mindlessness by coming out with the PS3, but I really hope that Microsoft and Nintendo put a bit more thought into naming their systems.

    Oh, and you missed a couple of Gameboy's in your list... there was also the Gameboy Pocket (smaller version of the B&W Gameboy), and of course, the most recently released Gameboy Advance SP. Of course, the DS/Nitro/Whatever has little in common with the Gameboy aside from the fact that they're both portable.

    --
    -"One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man." -EH
    1. Re:Numbering systems is lame and unimaginitive by Allison+Geode · · Score: 3, Insightful

      ...which would be a concise argument, if the gamecube weren't their first *original* name for US markets: Nintendo Entertainment System Super Nintendo Entertainment System Nintendo 64 (which was almost named "ultra") going with the gameboy, they're all still gameboys. except the one that fits in your pocket is labeled as such, and the one that had 56 color screen is called the game boy color, and so on and so forth... so its not numbers, but not terribly imaginitive, either. "its calles super so it must be better!" is about as lame as numbering it.... the only company that has consistently given a unique name to each console was sega: master system and genesis... saturn, dreamcast.

    2. Re:Numbering systems is lame and unimaginitive by IntergalacticWalrus · · Score: 2, Interesting

      There's a good reason for that type of naming, and it's called branding. You may find "Playstation 2" to be a sucky name (I do too), but for the masses, it means _everything_. The Playstation was extremely successful, so when people see "Playstation 2", they think "wow! like the already good Playstation, but newer and better than the original!!"

  6. Lawsuit? by Dachannien · · Score: 1

    Maybe they're afraid of getting sued.

    1. Re:Lawsuit? by gasgesgos · · Score: 2, Funny

      Sued by a city in West Virginia? If cities could sue for a company using a city name, about 50% of small businesses could be sued for that reason...
      So, no, they aren't afraid of being sued over using a city's name for a development name... mostly because they can't be sued for that...

      I wish I had mod points right now... :(

  7. Internal Code Name by sarcastodon · · Score: 5, Informative

    This has already been debunked. Sources are reporting that NITRO (besides being the dumbest name ever) was/is being used as the internal name while Nintendo worked on the machine. Similar to how the code name for the GameCube was Dolphin.

    1. Re:Internal Code Name by Pizzop · · Score: 1

      Damn... cuz Gamecube (although descriptive of the shape) is kinda lame. I want something with a sweet name that isn't a pile of crap (like the Phantom)

      --
      How to Speak Leet
    2. Re:Internal Code Name by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Does having a console with a "cool" name make your games more fun?

      Maybe you should double check the reason you're a gamer.

    3. Re:Internal Code Name by MMaestro · · Score: 1
      Similar to how the code name for the GameCube was Dolphin.

      Don't forget, the Gamecube was also momentarily called the StarCube as well. Goes to show why you should take such early speculation of names lightly.

      Then again the sequel to the Playstation was joking called the Playstation 2 for a while...

    4. Re:Internal Code Name by zonker · · Score: 0

      you mean a more descriptive name than 'phantom'? i think that's a great name for something that is still largely vaporware...

      --

      Large print giveth, and the small print taketh away

  8. are these 'slips' intentional? by MBraynard · · Score: 4, Interesting
    I wonder if these kind of slips - "accidently" posting something up and them immediatly changing it, leaking specs to the press, etc., are really intentional and meant to get free advertising (aka 'earned media').

    I've seen this done so often in the past it makes you wonder. And you would also think that with a company as large as N that the people working on the Nitro project and preparing a slideshow-type graphic would be different from the people running the website, and that someone would actually have to hand off that graphic and say 'please post this for about 30 minutes and send an anonymous email to that gaming website to bring it to their attention.'

  9. Is this news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    slow news day for slashdot games? That pic could be for anything. Maybe nintendo is gunna start a wrestling league....

    1. Re:Is this news by Two+Scoops · · Score: 1

      Maybe nintendo is gunna start a wrestling league....

      Just think of the launch opportunities.

      *sets reverb to Carlsbad Caverns*
      *sets bold text as ReverbSpeakerBusterX-TREME*

      "This SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY it's NOA NITRO! Nintendo fans bring your Power Play, cause this tag team match is the biggest in HIS - TOREEE! S-S-S-Sony versus GB A.W.O.Ls live this SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY at the Toy Fair Arena! Guest appearance by Monster Truck Kirbeeee! preorders on sale now offergoodwhilesupplieslast voidinallcountries SUNDAY!!
  10. This proves Nintendo is the WCW of the consoles by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sony = WWE
    Sega = ECW
    Microsoft = GLOW
    Nintendo = WCW

    1. Re:This proves Nintendo is the WCW of the consoles by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I bet everybody in your irc channel thought that was god-damned hilarious. Go read a book, dumbshit.

    2. Re:This proves Nintendo is the WCW of the consoles by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I just read "Hooker" by Lou Thesz! Recommended!

  11. Wow that's awesome by aztektum · · Score: 4, Funny

    I definitively learned that Nintendo's new game device may or may not have a DS on the end of the name.

    I have to go take a nap. *woofda*

    --
    :: aztek ::
    No sig for you!!
  12. Exactly, I don't know how any of us missed that. by Hamster+Lover · · Score: 1

    How could we have overlooked something so obvious?

    Cheers.

  13. Possible name... by RyoShin · · Score: 3, Funny

    They should just call it the Nintendo Two-Way, because you might be able to use the two screens for two-player stuff.

    Why is everyone laughing?

  14. You missed some i think by himitsu · · Score: 1

    1) Gameboy or (Toaster-boy cause its the size of a toaster) 2)Gameboy Pocket 3)Gameboy Color 4)Gameboy Pocket Color (Japan only, but a very nice unit) 5)Gameboy Advance 6)Gameboy Advance SP Sorry to be anal, but no one knows about the pocket color, and that thing was great.

    1. Re:You missed some i think by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      "Sorry to be anal, but no one knows about the pocket color, and that thing was great."

      Wow, so no one has heard about the pocket color?! Might be because there's no such thing you dumbass.
      You might be interested to learn about the Game Boy Light though, since apparently you're not anal enough to know that.

  15. Ah, codenames by metroid+composite · · Score: 1

    GameCube was called several things.

    Project Dolphin (equivalent to Nitro I guess)
    Nintendo Dolphin (equivalent to Gameboy DS I guess)
    StarCube (no equivalent yet, and eeeeeeewwwwww!)
    Gamecube (no equivalent yet)