DS Pre-Orders Stopped as Sales Soar

GamesIndustry.biz has the story that major retailers Gamestop and EBGames are likely going to stop DS Preorders because they're coming so fast that they won't be able to meet demand when the system launches. From the article: "It appears that six games will be available on day one - Nintendo's Super Mario 64 DS, Sega's Feel The Magic XY/XX, Activision's Spider-Man 2, Ubisoft's Asphalt Urban GT and two from EA - Madden NFL 2005 and The Urbz: Sims in the City." Gamespot also has details on the handheld shortage.

Comments

Smart marketing?

[fembots]

I don't know if this is called smart or stupid marketing campaign.

On one hand, it's good to create (even an illusional) high demand on DS, but on the other, it might have missed the golden opportunity to lock consumers in before other rivals starting coming up with new consoles/games.

I read no mention of increased production before the release, they just promised to ship 4 million units by end of March 2005. This could be a good thing, as rushed products are usually bad ideas.

--
Play iCLOD Virtual City Explorer and win Half-Life 2

Re:Smart marketing?

[PornMaster]

What makes you think it's a marketing campaign?

Every product meets up with delays in getting it to market, particularly technically complex products... if you allow more pre-orders than you can full, then - particularly in litigous societies - aren't you opening yourself up for allegations and possibly lawsuits of misrepresentation or fraud?

Hell hath no fury like a mother who's pissed off that the toy she already paid for won't be available until after Christmas.

Re:Smart marketing?

[RandoX]

Nobody says they've stopped taking preorders yet. This might spur another crowd into the stores 'before they quit'.

Re:Smart marketing?

[Anonymous Coward]

Remember N64? Now I don't know if these things will sell out like those did, but I remember selling my N64 for $400+ becasue there were none left for Christmas and santa promised some very good kids they would get one. :P

I just ordered one, and will probably get another using a different address. EBgames is limiting 1 per customer at the moment. But if I do end up with extras, I do have some nephews that are looking for them this year anyway.

Re:Smart marketing?

[timts]

I dont think ther'es any delay, this is the time nintendo wanted to release NDS long time ago.

Re:Smart marketing?

[Anonymous Coward]

Simply because this isn't the first time Nintendo have ever done this.

Re:Smart marketing?

[Metroid72]

I think this is not a Marketing problem as it is a capacity demand problem. It causes the "the harder to find, the more people want it effect", but if you look at the manufacturing process, companies make sales forecasts, suppliers have a cap, and raw materials are obtained by hedging on prices. Nintendo might say, it's a healthy estimate to have 2MM units for north america because in the next batch we might be able to take advantage of lower prices in components and economies of scale. Personally I wouldn't rush to buy a DS because of the lack of a killer app at launch. It is a sweet piece of technology, but can be priced a bit lower.

Re:Smart marketing?

[MMaestro]

Hell hath no fury like a mother who's pissed off that the toy she already paid for won't be available until after Christmas.

See : PS2 launch week.

Re:Smart marketing?

[Lord_Dweomer]

This has nothing to do with marketing at all. This is them not wanting to deal with pissed customers when the supply of DS's is unable to meet the demand of preorders.

Re:Smart marketing?

[xgamer04]

If you can remember all the way back to 2001, you might recall a situation in which a certain game system didn't meet pre-order sales.

Re:Smart marketing?

[Yer Mom]

Or me - pre-ordered Halo 2 limited edition from Amazon back in August, and decided to add an item to the order today to save on shipping.

Amazon's system combines orders by deleting the two old ones and creating a new order... putting you at the back of the queue for a pre-order. Expected delivery: January. Of course, the site doesn't actually tell you that this will happen when you combine orders...

So, if you've already got a DS pre-ordered, DON'T TOUCH THE ORDER!

(Needless to say, I cancelled the order and put one in elsewhere, but I don't know if that's going to turn up in a reasonable amount of time. Grr. To be fair, Amazon are sending a gift certificate by way of an apology.)

Re:Smart marketing?

[Anonymous Coward]

What makes you think it's a marketing campaign?

Not to imply anything, but this is the sort of question guerilla marketers ask test groups to improve their techniques.

People probably think it's a marketing campaign because of both the timing and the deja vu. Or perhaps because they're naturally suspicious. Who can speak for anyone else? Personally, I'm suspicious just based on instinct, or a "hunch". I, probably like many others, have lived through earlier console launches as a less-experienced youth, and realize now that the shortage - artificial or natural - only made innocent me want it that much more.

Then there's the classic retailers' dilemma of post-xmas sales; the usual technique is price-slashing, but a brief artificial shortage during a high demand period also has the effect of moving units sans discount in the post-xmas rush. A properly hyped 'shortage' will ensure no units remain on shelves even after the stock rolls back in.

Err..

[commanderfoxtrot]

And a DS is what precisely???

Re:Err..

[Opalima]

The DS is Nintendo's new fangles dual screen handheld. One screen for games. The second for adverts which will run continuously whilst viewing the first.

Re:Err..

[PhoenixFlare]

Following the links in the article is too much work, eh? It's a new Nintendo handheld, which you'd know if you actually read a paragraph or two.

Re:Err..

[Anonymous Coward]

Nintendo's new handheld, featuring a pair of screens, and a new control scheme, relying on a D-pad and stylus.

But I've been wondering two things: Why is it so popular that they can't manage all the pre-orders? Nintendo has gone on record saying it's not going to replace the GBA, nor directly compete with it. So it's not just people buying the next-gen (unless, that's what they think it is). Is it the style factor, the wireless connectivity? The hope that it will become so much more?

Also, what is Nintendo's strategy with this device? Testing a market? Trying to figure out what a gamer/consumer wants, so they CAN implement it in the next GameBoy? I mean, it was first revealed this year's E3 (I believe. I don't remember the TGS), and it's already out for the holiday season. It doesn't look like it needed extended hype to get it moving. If someone could just answer the question "What the hell is going on?", I'd really appreciate it.

Re:Err..

[ManxStef]

I think he's referring to the crappy titling of the article. As any journalist worth their salt knows, you should always explain any uncommon acronyms in the first instance, for example "Dual-Screen (DS)", or at least (in the case of headlines where print space may be tight) qualify them in such a way as to generally indicate what it's about. Would adding the words "Nintendo DS handheld..." really have been that hard?

Like others that browse news via RSS feed headlines (using Thunderbird v0.9), I sure as hell didn't know what the article was about. But then, Slashdot's hardly famed for its skilled and professional journalism now, is it...

Re:Err..

[PhoenixFlare]

"Would adding the words "Nintendo DS handheld..." really have been that hard?"

Would (as I just posted farther down) taking a few seconds to Google the name really have been that hard?

If you can take the time to make a post whining about the blurb not having enough info, you can take the time to find it out for yourself.

Re:Err..

[Anonymous Coward]

Nice attitude, moron. I'm sure there are lots of people that didn't know what the fuck a DS is. I didn't. Is it a hand held? Is it a console? Why should....ah, fuck it. It'll take to long to explain it all to you. Let's just agree you're a moron.

Have a nice day.

Re:Err..

[Anonymous Coward]

Its probably because your could use it as a PDA by installing Linux on it! check out dslinux.com

Re:Err..

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, the intelligent approach to this would be to have the author spend the 5 seconds to put in the proper information, rather than expect the thousands and thousands of /. users to spend more time looking up information, that the author already had. Therefore, what is better spent, 5 seconds by one person, or 35 seconds spent by hundreds of thousands of people? Your comment is just plain stupid. You are the same asshole who probably goes off the deepend, whenever you are confronted by strange information, that you do not fully understand (like girls, for instance).

You could look at it from a marketing standpoint. Is it really wise to have your customers leaving your site to answer a simple question that never needed to be asked?

This is the best comment of all!
If you can take the time to make a post whining about the blurb not having enough info, you can take the time to find it out for yourself

Uhh, correct me if I am wrong here, but isn't the whole point of /. to be a resource site for tech/nerd news? Well if I want to find it out for myself, then why the fuck is this site here? Either the site has a purpose (helping to disseminate tech news), or it is just a waste of space, right?

Please, if you are going to be critical, at least think it through before you post idiotic comments. Oh, who am I kidding, that's what /. is all about. No news, little info, lots of opinion, no thought.

Re:Err..

[Anonymous Coward]

Quite simply, I think the moderators are on crack. He asks a simple question and gets modded -1, Flamebait, yet a retarded smart-ass reply gets modded +4, Funny. What the fuck.

Re:Err..

[Anonymous Coward]

You know, sometimes people just want to read the news without clicking links, waiting ages for the crawling website to answer and then scrolling around to find the 'obvious' bit of data.

I for one find the RTFA attitude pretty annoying when it's applied to cases other than spreading nonsense.

Re:Err..

[KDR_11k]

RTFA, first paragraph says "One of the largest videogame retail chains in the USA, GameStop, has halted its preorder campaign for the forthcoming Nintendo DS handheld, indicating that the chain has already sold out the launch allocation of the eagerly awaited console". The article summary doesn't need to explain what an iPod, a Mac or an XBox is (applies only to articles mentioning these devices, of course), yet the DS needs introduction every single time a story about it is posted?

Though I don't believe the question was genuine (rather just a complaint for complaint's sake) as someone who reads the games section of Slashdot should have seen at least one article that explains what the DS is.

Re:Err..

[Suidae]

My newsfeed comes up with "DS Pre-Orders Stopped as Sales Soar". No FA to R. Now I have to click through to slashdot to read the writeup, which still doesn't give me any idea WTF 'DS' is or why its so popular. So I have to load yet another site and go lookaround there (if its not slashdotted) to find more info.

Its stupid, the submitter could have saved me and probably thousands like me all that time and cumulative bandwidth and server load simply by adding a sentance or two to the writeup, which was too short anyway.

Re:Err..

[tuffy]

But I've been wondering two things: Why is it so popular that they can't manage all the pre-orders? Nintendo has gone on record saying it's not going to replace the GBA, nor directly compete with it. So it's not just people buying the next-gen (unless, that's what they think it is). Is it the style factor, the wireless connectivity? The hope that it will become so much more?

It's not the official Gameboy replacement because Nintendo knows it's a risk. But it plays GBA titles along with DS ones, which makes it a de-facto GBA successor. Wireless capability, a fast ARM9 CPU, good battery life and the Nintendo brand add to the appeal - even though the quality of the launch lineup is uncertain.

But since the GBA compatibility is there, it's not as vital for the DS to blow people away with its launch titles either. As with most new consoles, it's the promise of future titles that gets people to buy them now.

Re:Err..

[scot4875]

Reading a newsticker from games.slashdot.com and not knowing what the DS is is like watching ESPN's scoreboard and not knowing what sport the 'NHL' section is for.

If you are ignorant of the domain of discourse, it's your job to educate yourself. News tickers are supposed to be short and to the point.

--Jeremy

Re:Err..

[MustardMan]

Following the links in the article is too much work, eh?

You must be new here.

Re:Err..

[Plaid Phantom]

Following the links in the article is too much work, eh?
Blasphemy! The first geek commandment: Thou shalt contribute to the /. effect.

Re:Err..

[ManxStef]

Funnily enough, I got mine through the main Slashdot RSS feed so there was no indication of any shape or form that it was under "games". Precisely:

DS Pre-Orders Stopped as Sales Soar -- Zonk -- 6.45pm

As you can see, that doesn't give you any clue what it's about, and besides, even if it *was* under the games section there's a fair contingency of single-platform gamers (e.g. PC-only) who wouldn't know what a DS is. Visiting the Slashdot "summary" post should then clarify it is, but it doesn't. (Though now one of the mods has appended the word "handheld" at the end, and it's in the Nintendo topic so it's not too hard to grasp.)

Still, the complaints are somewhat valid, the moderators overly harsh, and the followup posters somewhat arrogant. Typical Slashdot, then :)

Re:Err..

[jjsoh]

Even better, there are actually 2 ARM CPUs (ARM7 @33MHz and ARM9 @67MHz).

Re:Err..

[Anonymous Coward]

And a DS is what precisely???

Have you been sleeping under a rock the last year?

Re:Err..

[Anonymous Coward]

like watching ESPN's scoreboard and not knowing what sport the 'NHL' section is for

No hockey lately?

Re:Err..

[Anonymous Coward]

If I wanted a PDA, why not just buy a PDA rather than mess with buying a handheld gaming system and going through the hassle of getting some experimental version of Linux to work on it?

Re:Err..

[Anonymous Coward]

A double stuf. It is a type of Oreo, and a sex position involving three participants.

Re:Err..

[aidfarh]

In my case, following the links gives Error 403 Forbidden. Gaming sites are blocked by my company firewall.

Re:Err..

[Anonymous Coward]

If I wanted a PDA, why not just buy a PDA rather than mess with buying a handheld gaming system and going through the hassle of getting some experimental version of Linux to work on it?

Why? Because I know it is hard to believe but a small portion (and getting smaller every day) over slashdot readers are actual geeks. And actual geeks enjoy doing things like buying a handheld gaming system and going through the hassle of getting some experimental version of Linux to work on it.

Re:Err..

[Anonymous Coward]

Reading a newsticker from games.slashdot.com and not knowing what the DS is is like watching ESPN's scoreboard and not knowing what sport the 'NHL' section is for.

That's just bullshit.
I read the games section because I am interested in PC games.
I do not own a console, and so have no interest whatsoever in any of that second-rate crap, so I don't visit any site whose main purpose is to talk about that stuff.
Therefore, I don't take the time to learn about them any more than rubs off from scanning the summary bulrbs.
I don't recall ever coming across the acronym "DS" before while scanning the games section of slashdot, so there is no way that I could have known what it meant.
This DS thing sounds kind of new, so I would say that not knowing what "DS" was is more like not knowing what "WNBA" was shortly after it was formed.

Re:Err..

[j3110]

I as wondering when someone would get modded down and bashed for asking "What is XXX?" It's about time. /. is "News for Nerds", if you don't know what the product is, google is only a click away.

Re:Err..

[Anonymous Coward]

Reading a newsticker from games.slashdot.com and not knowing what the DS is is like watching ESPN's scoreboard and not knowing what sport the 'NHL' section is for.

Since WHEN did the USA cared about hockey anyway? Oh wait, you misspelled NFL...

Re:Err..

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't recall ever coming across the acronym "DS" before while scanning the games section of slashdot

I find that very hard to believe. Slashdot won't return searches on "DS" for some reason, so I can't just link to those results, but here are some headlines from the past month or so:

Official DS Website Launched

DS Preorders Outsell PS2

Sony PSP/Nintendo DS Opinion Piece

Nintendo DS Hands On

Official DS Packaging Revealed

Nintendo DS Network

Nintendo DS to Launch November 21

Clearly, you would have completely ignored most of these because there are console-specific terms in them, but it's enough that you should have known that the DS is something related to Nintendo and that you could safely ignore this article, too.

You're welcome to your preferences, even if you do use inflammatory language to express them, but if you really do read Slashdot Games even remotely regularly, then you must have had ample opportunity by now to figure out all you, personally, need to know about the DS.

PS2 anyone?

[GweeDo]

Who else is reminded of the PS2 launch? There were no where near enough consoles to meet the need and it caused a huge buzz and lots of high priced ebay sells!

Well, atleast I have mine already preordered!

Re:PS2 anyone?

[vo243]

Actually, this would be the same for nearly every recent console introduction. The PS2 and Xbox were both like this.

Sony must be shaking in their boots...

[Anonymous Coward]

The PSP has been riddled with plausible problems since its inception - a high cost to manufacture, attempting to reach out to a market that's not there (not many older people aside from the hardcore gamers play handheld systems), and low battery life. Now, customers have spoken and they want the DS... I don't think there's much room in the marketplace for both systems, maybe Sony should hold off on the PSP till it becomes a bit more plausible and cost-efficient to develop.

Re:Sony must be shaking in their boots...

[Dryth]

attempting to reach out to a market that's not there (not many older people aside from the hardcore gamers play handheld systems)

Adults represent 2/3 of the video game market. If adults truly aren't playing handheld games, then presumable there's a good reason. One reason may be the present offerings, in which case Sony's appeal to this demographic makes sense.

The reason probably isn't that they don't want to play handheld games.

Re:Sony must be shaking in their boots...

[Anonymous Coward]

then under the same logic, Nintendo shouldn't bother developing a GC successor...

Re:Sony must be shaking in their boots...

[HAKdragon]

They are; although no information has been released so far, other than its name: Revolution.

Re:Sony must be shaking in their boots...

[HAKdragon]

ugh, I hate replying to my own posts, but that should be "code-name" not just "name".

Re:Sony must be shaking in their boots...

[Anonymous Coward]

I play games in the comfort of my own home. Given the choice between a handheld or a console, I'll use a console, because I can get more out of it. Outside my home, I don't play games. When I was younger, I used to, but I wasn't the one driving the car then, so it was a good way to keep me occupied. My point is, kids play portable systems because they can. Adults don't typically have the same opportunities. I'd imagine even people that use public transportation would be too self-conscious to play a game.

What do you have up your sleeve to support your claim?

Re:Sony must be shaking in their boots...

[Kirby-meister]

All I know is that my SP and Tetris cartridge save my sanity on the 7 hour flights I take.

And I'm in the "18-24" demographic of game players.

Re:Sony must be shaking in their boots...

[BigTunaCan]

Does this really come as any surprise? Sony lost this one before they were even out of the gate. Nintendo will not release thier iron grip on the hand held market. The only possibility is that Pocket PCs/Palms or cell phones will eventually give Nintendo the one two in this arena since people are already using those for other purposes as well. I personally believe there will need to be more unification among those platforms though before they can truly compete with Nintendo.

Re:Sony must be shaking in their boots...

[DudemanX]

I'm a 25 year old(adult?) who drives to work. I've owned a GB, GBC, GBA, and now an SP. My main play time comes during lunch break and in the crapper. Thankfully the SP is so small that it's always in my pocket so I'm able to find other brief little periods of play time(like in the line to vote). That's why I'm not buying a DS(right away). The DS is just too big to carry all of the time. I can't be as spontaneous with it as with my SP. The other reason it will be a while before I get a DS is price. I only got the SP because of the price drop to $80 and the fact that I could trade in my GBA(couldn't sell it). Not that I can't trade in my SP too, but I love the size and the fact that it can still play all of my old greyscale GB carts. Maybe someday if they get the DS down to $99 I may splurge on it but it can never replace my SP. When Nintendo announces a true SP successor is when I'll get truely excited.

Re:Sony must be shaking in their boots...

[Anonymous Coward]

Most people don't take long flights that often. Those that do on occassion normally get a good book to read, or watch the in-flight movies. Hell, Virgin Atlantic even has SNES for everyone.

Re:Sony must be shaking in their boots...

[Dryth]

What do you have up your sleeve to support your claim?

Which claim, in particular?

The IDSA's report for 2003 suggests that roughly 2/3 of the game playing market were over the age of 18, if that's the claim you're talking about. Source.

If it's the claim of adults wanting handheld devices, you're the one flaming Sony (assuming you're the same AC), so I'd venture the burden of proof rests with you. Obviously they're targeting a different market for a reason; Their actions speak louder than your words and anecdote. After all, being a big bad corporation, they wouldn't be doing it if they didn't think they'd be successful by some measure of success. Meanwhile, you represent less than 0.0001% of the market.

Re:Sony must be shaking in their boots...

[Anonymous Coward]

I apologize for not making it clearer. The claim I was indicating is the summary of your argument, "The reason probably isn't that they don't want to play handheld games."

I'd like to know how you're backing that up.

And btw, no, I'm not the same AC. Not all ACs are out to flame. I just don't care to register for sites and I don't care about karma. So, your argument here is weak at best and really doesn't answer the question (NB: I realize you didn't know what claim, but you've still provided no proof and sorta said "you didn't prove me wrong, so I must be right").

So, please, enlighten me as to where you got your info to back up the aforementioned claim. I still don't believe because adults buy most games, that they'll jump in on this handheld wave.

Re:Sony must be shaking in their boots...

[superpulpsicle]

No, the PSP isn't riddled with problems. If it was you wouldn't be saying this in a Nintendo DS post as an anonymous coward!

Last I checked October 2004 versions of a couple magazines, Game Informer for example, showed the PSP doing is preping up excellently.

DS will launch first, PSP will follow. The pattern is expected to follow the 16bit era. Sega genesis launched first, then SNES came out and absolutely obliterate all competition. Remember the facts, Sony is the ONLY video game console manufacturer with every console a success.

Re:Sony must be shaking in their boots...

[Anonymous Coward]

Sony is the ONLY video game console manufacturer with every console a success.

What about the PSX?

Re:Sony must be shaking in their boots...

[Dryth]

So, please, enlighten me as to where you got your info to back up the aforementioned claim. I still don't believe because adults buy most games, that they'll jump in on this handheld wave.

My argument is no weaker than the original AC's: The majority of console gamers are adults, and there's no good reason to suggest that there's something about portable consoles that's somehow repellent to this demographic. Your personal insecurity and the insecurity you perceive in other adults is, in fact, a weak argument, and one balanced against my own experiences to the contrary. Even giving your own argument the benefit of the doubt, there's nothing to stop an adult from using a portable console in private, or in a context they're comfortable with. I never see people whipping out laptops on public transit, but that's no evidence that people don't buy laptops.

Adults are already on the "wave." IDC's study rolls portable consoles into its figures for console gaming, and makes no distinction between adult and child owners of specific consoles. If you feel that the distribution isn't even, then again, the burden is on you to demonstrate as much.

Re:Sony must be shaking in their boots...

[jalagl]

Yes, I understand you. I'm flying to New Zealand to do some business there, and I just bought Fire Emblem for my SP to endure the 17hr (5hrs to LA, 12hrs to Auckland) flight...
I'm slightly over that demographic (25...), but still the point stands.

Re:Sony must be shaking in their boots...

[Anonymous Coward]

What about the PSX?

Booya! Point for that guy.

Re:Sony must be shaking in their boots...

[Babbster]

First off, if profit is the question then Nintendo is the answer in that every one of their consoles has been profitable and, therefore, a success. Despite "losing" to the Playstation, the N64 made a nice chunk of change for the company.

Second, if you don't think the PSP is heading for problems, you don't know what you're talking about. A game that uses the full capabilities of the system will, by SONY'S OWN ADMISSION, cause the battery life to drop to around two hours (and if Sony is saying two hours, don't be surprised if it's more like 90 minutes in the real world). Battery life has been the bugaboo for portable game consoles forever, and is the most commonly cited reason for the success of the Gameboy despite the fact that it was technically inferior to such handhelds as the Sega Gamegear (I loved it but returned it when, within the first day of not nearly continuous use, I burned through two sets of batteries) and the Atari Lynx.

I'm a video game fan. I have my PS2, Gamecube and Xbox, along with several Gameboy variants. I'm a gadget freak as well (ReplayTV early adopter, HDTV in the livering room, etc.). Despite all this, I've already written off the PSP until their supposed revision with improved battery life comes out. I'm not going to carry around spare batteries (I wouldn't buy spares at Sony prices in any case) and I'm not going to carry two handhelds at a time just because I know the PSP is going to fail before I get home. Using it at home tethered to AC is just one of those things that annoys me (it's bad enough that wireless controllers still aren't standard in home video game consoles).

I'm sure the PSP will sell plenty well on the strength of the PS/PS2 and the games that will be coming out for it (Gran Turismo could be a lot of fun on that portable and I love the Hot Shots Golf series). But, amongst people who keep up with these things, Sony's already lost potential buyers of the launch version due to the battery issue alone.

Re:Sony must be shaking in their boots...

[13Echo]

Not a good comparision. The Genesis outsold the SNES by a large margin, in spite of the SNES' technical superiority.

Nintendo has been quite successful with ever console so far, especially in the portable market, because they play it safe. Even the disappointing N64 did well enough to sustain the company for several years.

Re:Sony must be shaking in their boots...

[Corngood]

Nintendo has been moderately successful, and sony has absolutely dominated...

Re:Sony must be shaking in their boots...

[31 Flavas]

Nintendo will not release thier iron grip on the hand held market.

Really, if some company decided to produce a modest portable game system, i'm convinced, they could give Nintendo a run for their money.

Here is a quick idea that any company can use, free of charge. Take the concept of the PSP and just tone it down a notch. i.e. Don't build the handheld game system of tomorrow, today. Build the handheld game system of today (or next hour), today.

Re:Sony must be shaking in their boots...

[Anonymous Coward]

All you people are crazy to think battery life has anything to do with marketing. The game library will be the biggest factor.

Re:Sony must be shaking in their boots...

[Anonymous Coward]

Are you people retarded. PSX is just a PS2. That's like complaining about the new model PS2 not selling as well as the first model. Sony has a perfect record. Eat it you nintendo fan boys.

Err...Umm...Uhh

[no reason to be here]

Flamebait?

Re:Err...Umm...Uhh

[Evangelion]

Prophecy.

What else is the wireless networking for? You sit and play in the food court, and then start seeing ads for Manchu Wok and Second Cup show up in the game.

If I was the right kind of person, that idea would give me a wet dream.

Re:Err...Umm...Uhh

[poot_rootbeer]

Methinks you give the mall food court too much credit.

They haven't even figured out how to prepare edible food, and you're expecting them to master delivery of ads via Wi-Fi?

Re:Err...Umm...Uhh

[Anonymous Coward]

When their district manager hands them a featureless black box and says "Keep that plugged in and turned on 9am-9pm, and I'll drop your rent by 1% over the year", they'll listen.

Re:Err...Umm...Uhh

[Anonymous Coward]

It has just given me great pleasure to administer a bitch slap in meta-moderation (actually, to the "Troll", not the "Flamebait").

With Nintendo...

[poofyhairguy82]

When it comes to Nintendo, you have to wonder- is this shortage on purpose?

Some might blow off this question. Why would a company create a shortage when the other option is to sell more product? Simple answer- it creates consumer excitement. The N64 definatly benefited over its lifespan from having an initial shortage, the free advertisement from news outlets interested in parents fighting over a video game machine probably boosted the longterm sales of N64 by a few million systems (and they needed it- that was their weakest console system to date). Nintento knows that it has to survive not only this Christmas, but the next two or three as well with the same hardware. Next year when there isn't a shortage all that free advertising from the shortage will pay off.

I think that Nintendo is trying to do it in the U.S. at this point (will Japan have a shortage too?). The only reason to avoid the shortage was if they were newcomers in the biz and they needed the numbers from Christmas to pick up developers. But since Nintendo is assumed to always win in that market, they already have developers lined out the door.

Its a win win situation for them. The only losers are gamers who didn't preorder in time (shame on you!).

Re:With Nintendo...

[phoxix]

The N64 definatly benefited over its lifespan from having an initial shortage, the free advertisement from news outlets interested in parents fighting over a video game machine probably boosted the longterm sales of N64 by a few million systems (and they needed it- that was their weakest console system to date).

Bullshit

The Virtual Boy was their weakest console to date. It even caused the legend himself Gunpei Yokoi (inventor of original Game Boy, Metriod, nuff said) to leave Nintendo. And while the N64 did get a beating from PS-X, it had games the PS-X couldn't touch. (Which makes sense when you think about Nintendo as its own best developer.)

Re:With Nintendo...

[Anonymous Coward]

"When it comes to Nintendo, you have to wonder- is this shortage on purpose?"

Nintendo predicted 4-5 million DS systems could be produced and shipped world wide by the end of 2004. That was 5 months ago. Recent guidance says they are on target to nearly meet the upper boundry of that estimate. Remeber the DS ships in North America first then Japan later. This is simply production capacity meeting exceedingly high demand.

Re:With Nintendo...

[dykofone]

Come on, it's obvious: the Virtual Boy wasn't a console. It was a portable, and marketed as such. I mean, it wouldn't even fit in most backpacks, and ran about 2 hours off of 6 AA batteries, and playing it in the car would cause your inner ear to explode through your retina, but other than it was portable by definition.

[Note: I am sad to say I was a huge Virtual Boy fan. I pre-ordered it, and even after forking over the cash and getting one the day of it's release, only to be the only one in line, I still told myself it was the coolest thing in the world. When nobody else at school had one and claimed it was giving children in Japan brain damage, I still said it was the coolest thing in the world. And when I found a fully-functioning in-store demo kiosk sitting on the side of the road waiting for the garbage truck, I threw it in the back of my truck, took it home and continued to call it the coolest thing in the world. I still live in denial that it was an overpriced, headache inducing pile of crap.]

Re:With Nintendo...

[vhold]

It's somewhat difficult to say if it's a real or artificial shortage this time. Considering it's capabilities and price, and the fact it has 2 LCDs when LCD demand is so high..

But.. knowing Nintendo.. They don't particularly deserve the benefit of the doubt on this issue :)

Re:With Nintendo...

[MilenCent]

Nintendo did things like this in the old NES days (chip shortage my ass), but there are reasons to believe they're not doing it now.

One of the biggest I can describe in three words: Pee. Ess. Pee.

Still, it's heartening news for Nintendo that the DS is proving so popular, even before release. Anyone want to place bets that Sony will anounce something similar in the near future?

Re:With Nintendo...

[gamgee5273]

Now, wait: How is a handheld not a console?

It's just a handheld console, but I wouldn't say a GB or DS or VB aren't consoles.

Re:With Nintendo...

[tktk]

DS sales = money in the bank

consumer excitement = well...consumer excitement

I'd rather have money in the bank. Besides, I think massive sales numbers would generate just as much consumer excitement. I think Nintendo would prefer everyone hear that 1 million DS's were sold during Xmas than 50,000 were sold and there is a shortage.

Yeah, those numbers are made up.

Re:With Nintendo...

[Plaid Phantom]

Semantics, pure and simple. "Cosoles" refers to larger boxes like the Gamecube, even though handhelds could be considered a console in some senses of the word.

Re:With Nintendo...

[dykofone]

Hmm, you got me thinkin now, because technically your right. But I seem to have grown up under the impression that a console required a TV, and portables were fully self contained. As in "console" refering to the TV cabinet/entertainment center. But "console" also has the definition of any computer with a display and an interface. So I'm not to sure now...

Is an iPod a console? Why not?

Re:With Nintendo...

[gamgee5273]

Well, let's not go the iPod route. How about: is the PSone, with the Sony LCD, a portable? Or is it a console?

My guess is that console is short for "console system." I went to the dictionary and it says (in terms of TVs): "a cabinet (as for a radio or television set) designed to rest directly on the floor." There were stereo consoles at one time (huge damn things).

My guess is that the word is derived from "console system" because you could put it in your TV console...

Anyone have another take?

Re:With Nintendo...

[hambonewilkins]

Though I wouldn't put it past Nintendo, creating artificial shortage to drive up prices is illegal, so it's likely not that.

But then again, knowing Nintendo's history...

Re:With Nintendo...

[jx100]

Bah, don't worry about it. You are not the only fan. Despite its flaws, I like the games this machine has. I actually have 11 of them myself. ..Then again, I waited until after it died, paid $30 for the machine, and about $5/game :)

Re:With Nintendo...

[Anonymous Coward]

I think it's short for video games console

which would make sense as it was a console for the playing of the video games

I have no truck with them my self and am happy with my zx81

Re:With Nintendo...

[Destoo]

The thing is they are not driving the prices up.
The price will remain the same.

They would be creating artificial shortage for the marketing buzz, which is worth much more.

The same thing has been happening...

[Anonymous Coward]

...with the Duke Nukem: Forever preorders. Guess I'll just have to wait like everyone else.

Re:The same thing has been happening...

[Anonymous Coward]

No this is different. the DS will come out, Nuke Nukem forever on the other hand....

Re:What is a DS?

[PhoenixFlare]

Try actually following the links or spending about 10 seconds searching on Google...Crazy concept, isn't it?

Google for "nintendo DS". 3rd result on the first page -

"USATODAY.com - Nintendo unveiling a new portable ... The Nintendo DS -- short for dual-screen -- will be unveiled Tuesday morning at the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo game industry gathering. ... "

Re:What is a DS?

[bigtangringo]

I'm with you, in that the article should tell you the 5 W's but you should also know what the DS is. Googling for "DS" will give you exactly what you're looking for on the front page.

OT mention: Damn it must be cool to have a Household name like Google which can be used in almost every sense (Noun, Verb, Etc). VIVA LA GOOGLE!

Feel the Magic XX/XY???

[mattkime]

Can someone explain to me what Feel the Magic XX/XY is like?

I have my own ideas about feeling the magic with an xx but i'm not sure anyone here will believe me.

Re:Feel the Magic XX/XY???

[jandrese]

Sounds like porn to me. XX/XY look like the two most familiar pairs of chromosomes and "Feel the Magic" has all sorts of porn implications.

Re:Feel the Magic XX/XY???

[SiW]

One day, a rather ordinary guy sees a really beautiful woman on the street. Before he can move to follow her, he finds himself holding a bag of goldfish. Apparently, the goldfish are ingested by a passerby who bumps into our ordinary guy. After helping him regurgitate the fish, the ordinary guy is recruited into a "superperformance group" called the Rub Rabbits. Their pitch to him is that the best way for him to see the woman of his dreams again is to stage an amazing performance for her. And thus begins your adventure.

I'm not making this up.

Re:Feel the Magic XX/XY???

[Anonymous Coward]

Well when a XX and an XY love each other very much, they share a special hug. During this hug the XY occasionally asks the XX to feel his magic.

~BS
funny shirts

Re:Feel the Magic XX/XY???

[KDR_11k]

It's apparently a mixture between a dating sim and Wario Ware. You play minigames to court the girl. What gave them the idea that courting involves coughing up goldfish you swallowed or stopping a stampede of bulls is still unknown.

Re:Feel the Magic XX/XY???

[MP3Chuck]

Here's a preview article at IGN.com. It sounds quite innovative, and it really takes advantage of the DS's features. But whether it'll be fun to play is another story...

Re:Feel the Magic XX/XY???

[Rude Turnip]

I Googled for some screenshots...think Japanese dating sim (Google if you don't know what that is) meets iPod commercial.

Re:Feel the Magic XX/XY???

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm not making this up.

Are you sure?

Re:Feel the Magic XX/XY???

[Jucius Maximus]

My geek intuition tells me that this text will become the next AYBABTU.

Re:Feel the Magic XX/XY???

[ebooher]

http://ds.ign.com/objects/682/682868.html
Feel the Magic: XY/XX
also known as:
Project Rub
I Would Die For You
Kimi no Tame Nara Shineru (JPN)

Also known by its Japanese title Kimi no Tame Nara Shineru (I Would Die For You). You play as a rather ordinary character who one day falls in love at the first sight of a particularly hot chick. From then on, the character puts all his energy into getting the girl, only to find numerous obstacles in his way. The game was given its name to deliver the sense of how serious the main character's attraction is to the girl -- a good thing, because the entire point of the game is to earn the girl's affection. You use the Nintendo DS's touch panel to interact with the game and make the girl grow fond of you. The basic gist of the game is to touch the girl via the touch screen. In fact, the game doesn't even use the standard D-pad and button controls -- it's all about the touch.

http://ds.advancedmn.com/article.php?artid=1216
Buy her a fish tank: Goldfish are the surest way to a woman's heart, but be careful! Even if you happen to spill the tank and an innocent bystander accidentally ingests your sea animals, you still have a chance to show your worth. Get the fish back! Use the stylus to push the guppies back through the man's digestive system so he coughs them into the tank. Not only have you saved tiny aquatic lives, but you've kept your cool in a slippery situation.

Just some Info for you.

Re:Feel the Magic XX/XY???

[Sai Babu]

rub rabbits like rub squirrels?

Re:Feel the Magic XX/XY???

[poot_rootbeer]

I dunno, but I bought "Feel the Magic XYZZY" and feel that it was not worth the money.

WHen you play it, Nothing happens.

Re:Feel the Magic XX/XY???

[Guppy06]

"Their pitch to him is that the best way for him to see the woman of his dreams again is to stage an amazing performance for her."

Oh, he's about to learn himself a bitter, bitter lesson. Do gaming geeks really want to play this game?

Re:Feel the Magic XX/XY???

[Anonymous Coward]

It's a Japanese-style games. WIth the great success of K.D. on PS2, and the increasing love of Japanese culture (SUper Milk-chan showing on Cartoon network?) without pick-and-choosing what Americans might like, I think it'll be a big hit.

The game itself BTW is a string of Minigames - much like WarioWare, which not only was popular and sucessful, but wildly fun and a hit with critics as well.

Re:Feel the Magic XX/XY???

[Destoo]

How can you not like a game that has tiny lobsters?

Nintendo's Super Mario 64 DS? I don't see it

[Anonymous Coward]

I know everyone is saying "Nintendo's Super Mario 64 DS" will be available at launch, but nobody is showing it for sale, and in any kind of actual announcement, there is never a commitment from Nintendo.

DSlinux.com Nintendo DS Linux port!

[Anonymous Coward]

Some poeple are already working on porting Linux into the Nintendo DS. The idea is full PDA functionality, with wireless, email, games, etc ....

www.dslinux.com

Re:DSlinux.com Nintendo DS Linux port!

[jericho4.0]

dslinux.com has nothing. No DS. No code. No threads. Oh, but it does have google ads, and a affiliate link to preorder a DS. You've posted a link to dslinux 3 times in this article. You're spamming, go away.

Re:DSlinux.com Nintendo DS Linux port!

[Anonymous Coward]

Scheisse... Did you read the forum? :D "There is Debian for ARM. We're almost done" hilarious...

Re:What is a DS?

[Anonymous Coward]

A PDA! with help from dslinux.com

Oh. My. God.

[RangerRick98]

Here I was getting ready to laugh at the obvious spoof on stupid video game ideas, when I hit paragraph two. Now my head hurts and I want my mommy.

Re:Nintendo's Super Mario 64 DS? I don't see it

[jx100]

You haven't seen it for sale anywhere? I have a preorder receipt for it in my wallet...

dating simulation

[karmafeed]

It is a dating simulation game of sorts. These games have been popular in Japan for many years. It is probably pretty clean though, as this is a product for a Nintendo system. linky

DS Shortage

[FugiMax]

To those talking about the DS shortage as a marketing strategy, I highly doubt it. Two reasons:

1. The system is launching Nov. 21st here and Dec. 2 in Japan. That's the closest international hardware launch Nintendo has ever done. I assume Japan will get unit priority after launch to make sure there are units on the shelf to combat Sony's PSP which launches Dec 12.

2. Hardware was finalized only a few months ago, which means production has only recently begun. Add to this that each unit has 2 LCD screens (one being a touch screen), and you can see a possible kink in the supply chain here.

So while shortages always generate a frenzy, and thus free marketing in a sense, I think the shortage here is genuine.

Also, it is unclear whether or not this will hurt Nintendo. With PSP on the way sometime next year, having an install base of 4-5 million never hurts. Look at the wonders that did for PS2.

Re:DS Shortage

[Ayaress]

I agree. The DS has, compared to the PS2 and its shortages, come out of nowhere. Just a few months ago, we didn't know what it'd be called, what it'd look like, or even if it wasn't just a hoax entirely. It may be free publicity, but I don't think Nintendo would play games with a risky shortage when the PSP is going to be ten days on their heels. The PS2 beat the Xbox and the Gamecube by a wide enough margin that they could make up for the shortage rush in time to still have breathing room before the Gamecube hit. Nitendo doesn't have that luxery.

Re:DS Shortage

[ribond]

Hardware shortages are a fact life in product launches. Making sure that the shortage is news is what makes it marketing. I can't wait for my wireless handheld 3d FPS fun.

Re:DS Shortage

[FLAGGR]

Actually, the gaming stores announced they wouldn't take any more preorders, because they weren't getting enough DS's to meet demand. Not marketing by Nintendo. And same with me, I am looking very forward to this, my local EB has hundreds reserved, how many PSP's? 0. sure they dont come out in this side of the world for a long time, but it still makes me warm and fuzzy.

Re:DS Shortage

[j.bellone]

Which why exactly why you should be worried about it.

Personally, I wouldn't buy either of them until they prove to be working properly. Something coming off the line this quickly is bound to have some flaws and problems. I don't feel like being the person who needs to go to Nintendo and have them fix my shit (the same thing with Sony).

Honestly though, I wouldn't doubt if this was a marketing strategy of Nintendo. It's simple. Create demand for a product, create hype, sell more units. They're already a given it's going to sell in Japan, because Nintendo could label a piece of shit (i.e. Virtual Boy) and as long as it had that Nintendod label it would sell like hotcakes in Japan. America on the other hand, they have to count on the dumbass parents that buy the systems that have no idea about the games.

Re:What is a DS?

[Profane MuthaFucka]

Ah, thanks. Here's the start of the text, because it might be slashdotted:
=====
Author's note: I'm a pediatrician and the father of Avi, 10 years old, and Nathan, 12 years old. (Photos!) Avi has Down Syndrome ("DS" for short) and has inspired me to write these essays about children with DS for other parents. I have put them here for general reading. You may E-mail me with any questions about these essays. I have also included some other pediatric items of interest for parents.
====

So, are they selling retarded kids now? Who knew there'd be so much demand!

Speaking of Sony...

[Ayaress]

Any news on how PSP preorders are going?

Re:What is a DS?

[Suidae]

Yes, I could look it up, but then why do we have article text? Lets just post some Google search terms instead.

Quit being stupid.

dslinux.com

[steban]

I guess this a great time to tell you about our project. We are porting and promoting Linux into the Nintendo DS. www.dslinux.com

Re:dslinux.com

[Anonymous Coward]

I wish you luck and progress. This would be a nice thing to introduce people to linux with and, if development goes really well, it might be a cheap linux handheld in comparsion to the Sharp Zaurus, which I will be getting shortly.

Re:dslinux.com

[steban]

Thank you for your words, perhaps dslinux is a good excuse to get a Nintendo DS instead of the Zaurus and get coding instead!

Re:dslinux.com

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm getting both actually. I'm not great at coding at all, so porting Linux to work on two different ARM processors would be inconceivable. No matter how great you make dslinux, the Zaurus SL series will always have better resolution, VGA compared to QVGA on each DS screen. The DS with DS linux would be better for emulation because of 3D acceration hardware though.

Re:dslinux.com

[mebob]

Sound like an awesome idea to me definatly makes me want to complete my order with EBgames more. I'm very supprised that nintendo didn't partner with palm or plan on making it more of a pda them selves.

has any work actually been done yet or it just planning? what do you think nintendo's reaction will be?

Re:dslinux.com

[steban]

Been planing and waiting to get our hands on the hardware. Also contacting some other guys with porting experience. About Nintendo, not sure, hopefully they will support our idea as sales could increase. http://dslinux.com/

Re:dslinux.com

[mebob]

Well I wish you guy's lots of luck. If you guys are successful I would defiantly be more likely to buy a DS. If i decide spend the cash start testing it once you have something to test.

I will have to post a link to you guys once I get my site back up and running (and get some traffic back.)

Some thought on your site: you might want to make the logo a little less like Nintendo's just so you they can't give you a hard time over that. You also need some more obvious information about what you guys are doing, an "about us" "about the project" just something even a tag line describing what you guys are doing.

Re:dslinux.com

[Lord_Dweomer]

I say mod this down. According to your site, you aren't porting anything. You have a message on the webpage asking people to port it for you and you'll offer them $1000. (and you have the same request for a logo)

Now, I'm just going out on a limb here when I say that you're probably getting that $1000 from the preorder links and Google adwords on your website. And since you don't have any REAL content on your site that isn't rehashing what this story just told us, I don't really see how it is at all valuable to spam the link here except to generate you page hits and ad revenue.

Not to mention the fact that this is a newly created user id and your only posts are on this story spamming your dslinux website.

I call spammer on you.

Re:Call me stupid...

[Anonymous Coward]

Google

How long have you been using the internet?

Re:What is a DS?

[Anonymous Coward]

Whatever - there have been countless articles posted on Slashdot about the DS and the first link in the article text has a picture of the console. How much more handholding do you need?

Hmm.

[thdexter]

I wonder if this might prove advantageous for Sony; if the DS sells out (supply can't meet demand), then maybe consumers will settle for the PSP in lieu of a DS.

Re:Hmm.

[evil carrot]

Considering the PSP is supposed to be available later and at a higher price, I think consumers wouldn't want to "settle" for it.

That'd be like going to buy an eMachines system and "settling" for an iMac.

Re:Hmm.

[thdexter]

Sure, but the PSP is only 33% more (compared to, yknow, 3x as much for your example). For gamers that want a DS but also are interested in the PSP, if they can't find a DS anywhere maybe they'll pick up a PSP instead and perhaps not get a DS for a while if at all.

Probably won't be enough to be anything but a negligible benefit for the PSP, but I should think it'll happen.

Re:Hmm.

[tktk]

I really can't see that happening. The supply problem probably won't last beyond Xmas. The PSP will only be available in Japan during Xmas. Hard to settle for something else when you can't buy it. (Unless you're in Japan already.)

Re:What is a DS?

[jridley]

OK, why would I say "Nintendo"? OK, the article mentioned a Nintendo product in conjunction with it, but also other products. It didn't specifically say "Nintendo DS", just "DS" and that there was a Nintendo product that had something to do with it.

Sure, I could go look it up, but should I have to go look up every product and concept talked about in an article? If it just said "Nintendo DS handheld" then I'd know it was nothing I gave a damn about, and could go on to the next article.

ARGHHHHHH

[Anonymous Coward]

D E F I N I T L Y

repaet after me!11

D I F A N I T E L Y

christ, kids these days

Current List of DS Titles

[Anonymous Coward]

I work for a game retailer and wrote down the current pre-order list for all DS games with their respective retail prices and release dates.

AC ADAPTER - $12.99
AFTERGLOW STYLUS (PEL) - $9.99
ANIMAL CROSSING - $39.99
ASPHALT GT - $39.99 - 11/23/2004
ATARI CLASSICS - $39.99
BALLOON TRIP - $39.99
BOKTAI - $39.99
BOMBERMAN - $39.99
CADUCEUS - $39.99
CARRYING CASE NDS14 (ALS) - $9.99
CASTLEVANIA - $39.99
DRAGON BOOSTER - $39.99
DRAGON QUEST-MONSTERS SERIE - $39.99
DRAGON QUEST-STORY OF - $39.99
DYNASTY WARRIORS - $39.99
EGG MONSTER HEROES - $39.99
FEEL THE MAGIC - $29.99
FINAL FANTASY-CRYSTAL CHRON - $39.99
FROGGER 2005 - $39.99
GOLDENEYE - $39.99
MADDEN NFL - $39.99 - 11/15/2004
MARIO KART - $39.99
MEGA MAN-BATTLE NETWORK - $39.99
METEOS - $39.99
METROID PRIME-HUNTERS - $39.99
MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM SEED - $39.99
MONSTER RANCHER - $39.99
MOONLIGHT FABLES - $39.99
NANOSTRAY - $39.99
NEED FOR SPEED-UNDERGROUND - $39.99
NEW MR. DRILLER - $39.99 - 11/30/2004
PAC 'N ROLL - $39.99
PAC-PIX - $39.99
PING PALS - $29.99 - 12/2/2004
POWER MAX AC ADAPTOR (INTE - $9.99
PROJECT RUB - $39.99
RAYMAN - $39.99
REPLACEMENT STYLUS (PEL) - $3.99
ROAD POWER CAR ADAPTOR (INT - $9.99
ROBOTS - $39.99
SAFE CASE (INTEC) - $12.99
SAFE SCREEN (INTEC) - $4.99
SECRET OF MANA-STORY OF - $39.99
SLIME MORIMORI-STORY OF - $49.99 - $12/7/2004
SNOWBOARD KIDS DS - $39.99
SONIC DS - $39.99
SPIDERMAN 2 - $39.99 - 11/16/2004
SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS - $39.99
STARTER KIT (PEL) - $19.99
SUPER MARIO 64 X 4 - $39.99 - 11/21/2004
SUPER MARIO BROS - $39.99
SURVIVAL KIDS - $39.99
TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR GOLF - $39.99
URBZ-SIMS IN THE CITY - $39.99 - 11/15/2004
VANDAL HEARTS - $39.99
VIEWTIFUL JOE - $39.99
WARIO WARE - $39.99
WINX - $39.99
WORLD SOCCER-WINNING ELEVEN - $39.99
YU-GI-OH-NIGHTMARE TROUBAD - $39.99

Enjoy!

Re:Current List of DS Titles

[Guppy06]

"I work for a game retailer and wrote down the current pre-order list"

That's an awfully long list for you to "write down." Why do I not believe you?

Damnit!

[satoshi1]

And I've been telling my mom we need to preorder, but NOO! Bah, if I don't get one preordered and will have to wait till almost Christmas to get one, I won't be a happy gamer (though I'll cheer up a bit when I finally get that sweet, sweet DS in my hands).

Re:Damnit!

[j.bellone]

Ah. Both of these new handhelds look like they've been rushed to production. I'm not going to touch either of them before they're reviewed and all the bugs and flaws are sorted out. The DS also looks like you can break it by dropping it accidently. Not something I would really want to by, looks as about as unbreakable as those $10 electronic games that still have monochrome screens.

Re:Damnit!

[satoshi1]

I'd be a little more scared to drop the PSP. Nintendo's systems have always been very durable. I've dropped both my Gamecube and my PS2 on the cement outside my house, and they function fine. My friend dropped his PS2 on the cement outside his house, Disc Read Errors up the wazoo... I try to move my PS2 as little as possible, for fear it'll break.

Technical merits?

[fireboy1919]

This thing has the processing capability of a modern GPU with more memory on a card than a modern PDA.

It sells for $150, but comes with stuff you'd find on a $500 PDA - i.e. a touchscreen, wireless, microphone, and unlike most, it actually has TWO screens. Considering the format, I also see no reason why it couldn't be used to watch DIVX encoded movies - at that size you could easily compress a full DVD to DIVX with no loss in quality.

They could sell an add-on "workboy" cartridge for $200 and it'd still be worth it if it was expandable. Or maybe linuxDS will happen? Either way, this is a heck of a deal on a PDA.

Re:Technical merits?

[Anonymous Coward]

Not really. (Actual Nintendo DS developer here, don't want to get fired or sued by N so staying anonymous of course.)

The GPU doesn't really have much capability. Although N's marketing claims it's able to do 150Kpolys/sec or so, that doesn't tell the whole story. The GPU is line-buffered instead of framebuffered (think of how the Atari 2600's graphics chip works, if that makes any sense to you), meaning that there are limits to how many polys can be on a single line, and you're pretty much locked into running at 60fps (so your theoretical maximum is 2500 polys per frame, and that's assuming you have them distributed evenly across the screen which you probably won't).

The touchscreen is pretty crappy, really. Lots of jitter and sample error, and it's designed to be touched with a finger, not a stylus (in the DS programmer guidelines they tell us that any UI which requires the use of a stylus will be rejected).

The second screen is a neat gimmick, but so far we've just gotten a bunch of eyestrain here from constantly having to glance up and down.

CPU is way too slow for DivX - main CPU is just a 66MHz ARM, and the second CPU (33MHz ARM) is dedicated to running the OS services. (Really wacky design.)

The 4MB of RAM is pretty small by PDA standards nowadays. Also, it uses a very proprietary memory card format for its ROM storage, though it has 32-bit addressing, and it'll probably be reverse-engineered quickly anyway. The hardware-level implementation is kinda crappy though, and although there's a basic MMU I don't know if it'll be useful enough for "real" Linux (uCLinux maybe though).

The wireless multiboot protocol is pretty simple, and I bet it'll get hacked pretty quickly. That'll be useful for turning the DS into a fancy terminal, at least, and might be good enough if you're okay with booting the DS in-range of an access point and only having 4MB total to work with.

On the other hand, it's very backwards-compatible with the GBA, and there are ways of making GBA cartridges boot into DS mode (since on the DS, the GBA slot will be used mostly as an expansion peripheral slot) so it'll probably not be too long before a functional homebrew OS will be available.

But if you want a PDA, I'd say to just get a Tungsten or Treo or whatever.

Re:Technical merits?

[pslam]

Not really. (Actual Nintendo DS developer here, don't want to get fired or sued by N so staying anonymous of course.)

MP3 player developer here :)

CPU is way too slow for DivX - main CPU is just a 66MHz ARM, and the second CPU (33MHz ARM) is dedicated to running the OS services. (Really wacky design.)

The 4MB of RAM is pretty small by PDA standards nowadays. Also, it uses a very proprietary memory card format for its ROM storage, though it has 32-bit addressing, and it'll probably be reverse-engineered quickly anyway. The hardware-level implementation is kinda crappy though, and although there's a basic MMU I don't know if it'll be useful enough for "real" Linux (uCLinux maybe though)

That's a pretty mediocre system spec. Most of the MP3 player CPUs we look at these days are ARM7-90MHz or ARM9E-133MHz and up. Most of the time they're only running at about 20-30MHz or so for decoding, but the headroom is great for the occasional burst of UI activity or database access etc. And they still manage enormous battery life like that. About 30-100mW is the power consumption you get these days. I find it ridiculous that most MP3 players probably have more more CPU power than the DS.

I'm really quite confused by Nintendo's choice of platform. The only reason I can think of for them using:

• 66MHz ARM9, when they can usually clock 133-200Mhz.
• 33MHz ARM7, when they can usually clock 90MHz.
• 4MB RAM, when it's actually really hard to find a single 8 bit SDRAM chip less than 16MB these days, and doesn't price-point very well. SDRAM is a very small power drain in the total system, and larger chips don't draw measurably more.
• A limited MMU, when ARM have one already designed for the purpose that's good enough for general usage (i.e full Linux). I don't buy arguments about tightly coupled memory being incompatible with an MMU - the development effort with TCM nullifies the miniscule performance (and battery) increase it gives you in reality vs a cached memory system.

Actually, this reminds me somewhat of a CPU I've worked with *cough* PortalPlayer *cough* that was seemingly designed around being highly efficient and low power. Trouble was it didn't work out efficient in practice and it just made development incredibly difficult instead.

Here's an example: why didn't they just use a highly integrated ARM-9E 133MHz CPU like you can find from many vendors (i.e Samsung)? Perhaps the answer lies in no-holds-barred cost cutting...

Re:Technical merits?

[MilenCent]

Remember that GBAs can play video, and they're much less powerful (and that the DS can run GBA software).

Processing power is most useful for 3D games. The GBA's underpowered (by today's standards) processor has sufficed to make it the most popular system in the world -- and people have even figured out how to make 3D games (of a sort) for it. Even so, 2D games seem to be what Nintendo will continue to focus on, and that just may work out for them.

Of course, Metroid Prime Hunters still looks amazing.

I Still Don't Get It!

[blueZhift]

I like new hardware as much as the next guy, but I still don't see what the killer app of the second screen is/will be! Project Rub sounds interesting in a salacious sort of way, but no way is that title coming to the U.S.! In the short run, it seems that the DS will be a more expensive way to run your SP games. Right now I'd say that the wireless connectivity offers more compelling gameplay possibilities than the second display.

The only other issue I'll raise is the potential awkwardness of games that use a stylus. How are you supposed to operate the D pad while scribbling with the stylus? Maybe this is a dumb question, but I just don't see it yet. You can put it down on a table top, but it really looks like it was designed to be held with both hands.

Re:I Still Don't Get It!

[redink1]

In regards to the awkwardness of the stylus...

In one of the demonstrations that Nintendo gave to the press a month or so ago, they demoed a 'stylus' attachment for your thumb. Essentially you could move your left thumb (or right thumb, I think the DS has ambidextrous support) over the touch screen and use it like an analog stick. The game software seemed to have a bug in it, so it wasn't demonstrated... but it seemed like a really cool. Hopefully not too uncomfortable.

Here is a link to the movie I mentioned (select the "Gameplay Demonstration" movie listed at the bottom), with the thumb 'stylus' thing is near the very end.

Re:I Still Don't Get It!

[svallarian]

There's no killer app per say, but there is a hellva killer spec... 802.11b

Re:I Still Don't Get It!

[Baldrash]

Ahem... "Project Rub" was retitled as "Feel The Magic XX/XY". It's coming to the US, as a launch title, no less.

Re:I Still Don't Get It!

[Zardus]

I dunno about dual screen stuff, but personally I'm much more excited about the graphics capabilities and the wireless gaming. I think that'll be the killer features rather than the touchscreen.

Re:I Still Don't Get It!

[grumbel]

I don't see much of a killer app either, but I don't think one is really needed. The second screen can nicly be used for regular games, map, status values, inventories and similar things can be drawn to it and thus save some space on the other screen for gameplay. If the touchscreen is useable enough with just the fingers it might also provide a nice additional number of buttons, no need to pause the gameplay, just punch something in the inventory screen. Last not least the touchscreen provides a mouse-like interface, which could be quite usefull for some types of games.

Revolutionary or ground breaking? Probally not, but I would say its a welcome addition.

Re:I Still Don't Get It!

[Anonymous Coward]

Aw, come on! Project Cock Rub will be a huge hit with the small penised American market! That means it'll sell, what? 250 million copies?

Re:I Still Don't Get It!

[SirSlud]

One word: RPGs

Any game thats heavily loaded with menus will be dreamy to interface with using a touch screen.

Context sensitive menus and controls.

I could go on and on. I personally think Touch Screen capability is one of those things EVERY system would have if the game developer had control over your display hardware.

Plus, think of all the games with 'design your own logo/grafik' for customized characters, models, etc. With touch screen, that kind of feature actually becomes useful!

I think you'll find out soon enough how developers will make use of the touch screen; not all will, of course, but I can think of a myriad of applications, not the least of which is context sensitive interfaces for RPGs, racers, action games .. etc. The maximum number of GUI elements a game presents to the player is wholy independent of what physical interface the player is using. Basic controller ... well, up to 10 fingers. Touch screen? The possibilities ...

Re:dslinux.com - MIRROR?

[Llama_STi]

Link busted, anyone have a mirror??

Re:dslinux.com - MIRROR?

[steban]

Actually the server is holding well, I bet we can support even being frontpage slahdoted! and NO, our webserver doesnt run on a Nintendo DS (just yet). Steban dslinux.com

Re: is this shortage on purpose?

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes.

But its not a marketing campaign. It is a purely financial decision.

Nintendo has been, historically, extremely financially concious about their products. They have their sales system set up so that, even if the DS flops (which it isnt! woot! looks sick!) the financial impact would be minimal, and their cash backup (in excess of a billion) would be able to absorb the damage.

Trust me on this one. This is classic nintendo strategy, and most other console developers use it. Even sony.

I'm not convinced either way, ds/psp

[Fiz Ocelot]

I really do want to get a DS, but I've chosen not to because I don't see any release titles that really interest me. Maybe this is because I don't really have anywhere else to play it besides at home?

This really makes me question the viability the PSP will have with the older crowd being their target market. If I'm not home, I'm probably too busy to be playing games. So it has to compete with my PC and consoles.

I'd have to say the DS has a good future ahead of it overall in competition with the PSP imo. I guess like many people I will probably end up with both systems.

Re:I'm not convinced either way, ds/psp

[xenocide2]

If I knew how the people at dslinux.com planned to put linux on there, I might be interested in it without a killer app. As it stands, there's not a lot that I absolutely need now. Pictochat sounds interesting, but I don't know if I can use a wifi router to talk with other people worldwide or not.

That might be interesting, to have a pictochat room for hackers ;)

Re:I'm not convinced either way, ds/psp

[Anonymous Coward]

I hear you on the game titles. As soon as it has three solid RPG titles, I'll buy it. I waited for the game library to build up with GB advance before purchasing too.

I've found portable machines are great for lounging around the house or playing in the dark just before passing out for the night.

Re:What is a DS?

[Anonymous Coward]

But why should they when people like you are willing to answer their questions? (Even if it does come with a reprimand)

There will always be someone like you, the manual search engine. That is why such questions are asked.

Smart marketing & hands-on Nintendo DS preview

[Geartest.com]

We spoke with some people in Nintendo's media/analyst relations department as well as a vice president who said that the company is shipping 1 million units for Nov. 21. This shortage doesn't appear to be an illusion.

If demand really is so high that retailers are stopping pre-orders then there may be a problem on the manufacturing side with a possible component shortage, or a simple lack of manufacturing capacity to produce more. There are a limited number of suppliers for some of the components that go into the DS and those suppliers have other customers besides Nintendo.

A few weeks back, we spent a couple of hours in a hands-on preview of the Nintendo DS and previewing/playing Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt, Super Mario 64 DS, Spider-Man 2 DS and the onboard PictoChat instant messaging software.

We also checked out a few more titles yesterday, and will publish first impressions of those games soon.

Penny Arcade impressions

[Vanadar]

For all those that are wondering what a DS is you can check out Penny Arcade's initial impressions here: http://www.penny-arcade.com/news.php3?date=2004-10 -06

Re:Penny Arcade impressions

[Ayaress]

Wait until its out to see what PA has to say. They rip on everything that isn't out yet. Look at how they went after the Xbox, but after it came out, they didn't say anything about it except a couple comments on the old controllers.

Re:Penny Arcade impressions

[Anonymous Coward]

Is penny arcade every funny, interesting or insightful?

No.

Re:Penny Arcade impressions

[TLLOTS]

Actually I recally PA being rather favourable towards the DS after getting some time with it. Their only truly negative comment towards it was the current lack of a 'killer app' for the DS, but that they expected those would turn up next year in the forms of pokemon games and rpg's etc.

I won't buy any console...

[sootman]

...until it comes with that cool Calculus game, Feel the Magic DY/DX.

Judging by the rip off prices

[Anonymous Coward]

Are we to assume that you work at GameStop or EB?

DS games cheap

[MagicM]

That gamesindustry.biz article was nice. But one of the ones it links to is even better!

Nintendo DS to launch with up to 10 titles, $29.99 software price point.

Never heard of it

[rufusdufus]

Until scouring this post, I had never heard of a thing called a "DS". Still don't know if thats an acronymn or what. And I am a huge gamer too.
For those of you being called idiots for asking, dont feel bad. There is no reason you should have heard of this thing, especially if you don't play games.

Re:Never heard of it

[swat_r2]

"And I am a huge gamer too"

Ya sure about that?

Re:Never heard of it

[Anonymous Coward]

Ya sure about that?

Oh, yeah - he's at least 6'8" and 350 pounds...

Re:Oh. My. God.

[Flunitrazepam]

i had your mommy, she was no good.

WTF

[Anonymous Coward]

are people in Japan smoking?!

That's a really

[Aexia]

derivitive sounding game.

Re:That's a really

[SirSlud]

Is originality really that integral to the success of a product?

Re:That's a really

[Anonymous Coward]

At least it differentiates itself from the competition.

A touch screen is great and all . . .

[Anonymous Coward]

. . . but how are left-handed people supposed to work with the DS? The shots I've seen of Metroid SP show one's left hand being used for the D-pad and to hold the DS, and the right hand holding a pen used to tap icons on the lower screen to do stuff.

I'm left-handed. Unless I can forgo the stylus and use the buttons on the right side, I'm not going to be able to compete nearly as well as right-handed people, at least out of the gate. It'll take some major practice for me to develop stylus skills in my *non-writing hand.*

At the very least, I'm going to avoid and/or hate FPS games that require the use of the stylus and the D-pad to move. I think that developers who make extensive use of the touch screen, assuming a right-handed player, might be at a loss to explain why their game doesn't sell as well as they were expecting. I know I'm going to have to try-before-I-buy, quite heavily.

Re:A touch screen is great and all . . .

[Hellsbells]

I remember reading somewhere that the buttons on the right side are arranged as a cross so that they will operate in the same way as the d-pad for left-handed folks in games where this is needed.

Re:A touch screen is great and all . . .

[MilenCent]

While this would indeed be helpful, in fact the buttons are probably arranged that way because most systems do it like that, from the SNES on, including the PS1 and 2, N64 (C buttons), Dreamcast and Xbox.

Most of those systems could change their control schemes to suit left-handed gamers, but few do. If Nintendo truly is making an effort to accomodate left-handed players then that's great, but it's happened surprisingly rarely thus far given the potential size of the left-handed audience.

Re:A touch screen is great and all . . .

[Anonymous Coward]

The reason the effort is being made for the DS, I'm guessing, is the stylus.
Controlling a digital d-pad with you off-hand is one thing, trying to (effectively) write with it, is another.

Re:A touch screen is great and all . . .

[bitwiseNomad]

Left-handed gamers have already been considered. The layout of the four buttons on the system's right side mirrors the position of the D-pad. In the Metroid Prime Hunters demo that they gave a few weeks ago, they demonstrated different control schemes that you could select for the game. Two of them were for left handed people, and made the right buttons behave as a D-pad and the D-pad as the right buttons. No worries!

Re:A touch screen is great and all . . .

[Gizzmonic]

Do left-handed gamers really have a hard time with it? I'm a lefty, and I've never really had problems with supposedly right handed control schemes.

Re:A touch screen is great and all . . .

[MilenCent]

I'm a lefty, and I've never really had problems with supposedly right handed control schemes.

Really? Well obviously you're just an idiosyncratic, fringe opinion who is well within the margin of error....

Seriously, cool. You don't have problems pressing buttons with your "off" hand? Would you still appreciate a game that had a "left-handed" option?

In fact, there are games already existing that use a diamond-shaped button arrangement as a sort of second control pad. I'm thinking particularly of the emulation of Robotron: 2084 (one of the coolest games ever made by the way) in the Dreamcast version of Midway Greatest Hits. The original game used a dual joystick control scheme, which the Dreamcast simulated by using the controller buttons to simulate a second pad.

It worked okay, but I greatly prefer playing it in Midway Arcade Treasures with two joysticks.

No tetris??

[gUmbi]

Nintendo's Super Mario 64 DS, Sega's Feel The Magic XY/XX, Activision's Spider-Man 2, Ubisoft's Asphalt Urban GT and two from EA - Madden NFL 2005 and The Urbz: Sims in the City.

What?! No Tetris?!? Man, I bought the Gameboy Color exclusively so I could play that game.

Re:No tetris??

[Anonymous Coward]

The beauty of the DS is it's compatible with GBA games, so you just buy and play Tetris Worlds until they release a DS version...

Re:No tetris??

[Anonymous Coward]

In Japan you can get Puyo Puyo Fever for DS. Sadly, this title probably won't be released for it over there.

Re:No tetris??

[Anonymous Coward]

If you need a DS Tetris fix. Look no further than Meteos.
http://ds.ign.com/articles/563/563237p1.html

Re:What is a DS?

[fugginsuds]

I don't think it is that cool in Google's opinon to become ubiquitous as a verb or noun meaning internet search. This will mean they lose the value in their trademark, like Kleenex.

IDIOT!!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

Just kidding. You're not an idiot (as far as I know), but you've obviously been living in a cave for the last 6 months.

If you want information, it's at your fingertips. Just do a search on the internets.

Re:IDIOT!!!!

[Jason One]

Just do a search on the internets.

Remember your grammar! The "I" in "Internets" should always be capitalized. For example:

"I just bought some wood on the Internets."

Tetris DS would be cool...

[Anonymous Coward]

The blocks could fall all the way from the top screen to the bottom screen. Or you could compete against someone else wirelessly and see their progress on one of the screens. Or a mode where you move the blocks with voice commands. "Left... left... clockwise 90 degrees, drop". It could be cool if they took advantage of all the functions of the DS.

And just imagine how those geometrical blocks would look in full 3D! Beautiful! ;-)

Smart marketing, bad logistics.

[Anonymous Coward]

Getting you to want to buy the DS is the marketing department's job. Getting the right number of units on the store shelves at the right time is the logisticians' job.

I'm guessing this shortage is either a) a production problem, b) a logistics problem, c) possibly a marketing ploy, or d) some combination of the above.

You still live with your mom?!? HA HA!

[Anonymous Coward]

Dude, you need to get a job and get your own place.

What's DS?

[charleste]

I'm not a gamer - but what is DS? I gather from the article, it's a hand-held game console? DS stands for...?

Re:What's DS?

[hudsong]

Dumb Stupid

Re:What is a DS?

[KeeperS]

Posted by Zonk on Thursday November 04, @01:45PM
from the nintendo-must-be-weeping-right-now dept.
GamesIndustry.biz has the story that major retailers Gamestop and EBGames are likely going to stop DS Preorders because they're coming so fast that they won't be able to meet demand when the system launches. From the article: "It appears that six games will be available on day one - Nintendo's Super Mario 64 DS, Sega's Feel The Magic XY/XX, Activision's Spider-Man 2, Ubisoft's Asphalt Urban GT and two from EA - Madden NFL 2005 and The Urbz: Sims in the City." Gamespot also has details on the handheld shortage.

You're right, how on Earth would anybody figure out that this is a story about video games? Slashdot is absolutely cryptic about this sort of thing! It would be nice if Slashdot somehow categorized stories into different sections. There could be, you know, a Games section or something. A nice big picture of a Gameboy next to the summary would be nice too. But I'm just talking crazy talk here.

Again with the speculative battery problem...

[pslam]

The PSP has been riddled with plausible problems since its inception - a high cost to manufacture, attempting to reach out to a market that's not there (not many older people aside from the hardcore gamers play handheld systems), and low battery life.

To me it sounds like the battery problems are overstated. Mostly by DS fanboys. Me, I'm buying neither, so I'm looking at these platforms purely on their technical merit. The DS has an enormous battery life, mostly due to its CPU being enormously underpowered - I mean, most new MP3 players are more powerful than both of its CPUs put together. It's a huge step up from the GBA, but that doesn't say much because that couldn't even decode MP3s in real time.

The PSP has a rather marginal battery life, and depends largely on how much you use the drive. This is very familiar to me, from working on MP3 players. If you don't carefully manage the interval between disk spin-ups, you end up with it having a large impact on your battery life. In practice, you can get caching working so effectively that it only cuts into about 5-10% of your total battery life. The rest is taken up by the CPU, LCD backlight, and headphone amp. (Turn on wireless and you eat batteries like an American eats oil)

It probably restricts the design of your game somewhat, but it's really not a hard problem to solve in the total system. If you get it right, you have far more capacity than a memory card, at very little extra power consumption.

Wal Mart taking orders

[John3]

Wal*Mart is still taking pre-orders.

Whew!

[defile]

I was at a client's office last night when the owner told me he had just pre-ordered one. He said "do it soon! they're selling like mad!" so I placed a pre-order as soon as I got home.

One day later I read this.

Right place right time? Hooray!

Supposed to be really good for FPS control

[SuperKendall]

From reports on the Metroid game, it offers control similar in nature to a mouse for FPS games (or at least Metroid) - possibly making control more natural than the consoles in that genre!

I can also think of cool things such as Star-Trek style cnsoles that you adjust as you play a game.

PSP the next Game Gear?

[Neo-Rio-101]

I have a feeling that the PSP is going to go the way of the Sega Game Gear. The Game Gear had the flashy colour graphics, was more expensive, had less games, and poor battery life. I mean, so far the PSP is fitting the mould. It will be too expensive, and even if you do buy it you'll be scared to take it anywhere... that screen is wide open for scratching. Even if you DO take it somewhere, the battery life will just give up on you unless you strap on a battery pack. Nintendo got it right with the original game-boy. It was cheaper, had more games, and had exccellent battery life, worthy of being called portable.

Re:PSP the next Game Gear?

[AvantLegion]

>> that screen is wide open for scratching

Didn't stop the original GBA. Or the original GB, mind you.

Still, the PSP will need a nice sunglasses-like soft case.

Re:PSP the next Game Gear?

[Anonymous Coward]

My GBA has an open screen prone to scratching. Any scratch it has gotten was simply from humans trying to clean the screen using material that ended up scratching it. The DS does nothing to stop this.

As for battery life, the PSP has a much longer battery life than the GameGear had and doesn't require 6 AA batteries.

The PSP is hardly way more expensive. It's quite close in price.

Both systems don't have many games.

Re:PSP the next Game Gear?

[bitwiseNomad]

My GBA has an open screen prone to scratching. Any scratch it has gotten was simply from humans trying to clean the screen using material that ended up scratching it. The DS does nothing to stop this.

You can never do much to stop user error. If someone uses the wrong material to clean the screen and scratches it, there's not much you can do about that. But! The DS has the same folding action as the GBA SP. So while travelling, neither screen will be exposed and prone to scratching.

As for battery life, the PSP has a much longer battery life than the GameGear had and doesn't require 6 AA batteries.

That may be true. I never had a Game Gear. Sony has quoted the battery life of the PSP to be 4-6 hours. Later, they made a press release saying that the battery life they quoted was not what consumers should expect, and that in games which utilize the system's capabilities fully, the battery life would be lower. They didn't say how much lower, but it's reasonable to expect that "lower" would mean at least a 1 hour hit. I would expect more like 2 hours. I remember hearing someone say that at E3 last year, the models holding PSP's had to go recharge the batteries every 2 hours. I'm sure the battery life will be better in the final version, but I don't expect it to be that much better, especially not when playing graphically intense games or playing movies (during which the drive will be spinning).

On a personal note, I am aware that Sony has lied in the past about the capabilities of their systems. The PS2 was supposed to render cutscene-quality graphics in real time. As we all know, that is far from the case. Sony seems to have a track record of lying, and so I am hesitant to simply trust their 4-6 hour figure. On the other hand, Nintendo quoted the SP's battery life at 8-10 hours with the backlight on, and mine has done over 12 playing the games I really enjoy (mostly strategy games). In this case, I will trust Nintendo's word since they seem to like to quote conservative figures.

Not to mention that Sony has a habit of making hardware that breaks down quite often. My PS2 is in horrible shape and sometime won't even read a game disc without me having to reset it two or three times. And this is a system which sits on a shelf in my house. I can't imagine what would happen to my PS2 if I carried it around with me and let it jostle. On the other hand, my launch Gamecube works as well as when I got it.

And on the games side, I am itching to play Advance Wars DS. The marriage of a strategy game and a mouse-like device on a portable system with wireless capabilities seems almost too good to be true. Not to down on the PSP, but the only game that has me remotely interested is the new MGS game, and after the fiasco that was MGS2, I don't think I'll be playing any more of those games (at least not for a while). On the other hand, Nintendo consistently makes fun and interest games which never cease to entertain me (Advance Wars and Fire Emblem, anyone?). I know that my personal tastes differ from other peoples' though, and that's cool. I am fully aware that there are people who can't do without a Gran Tourismo fix, and that's just fine. For the most part, I have no interest in the games on Sony's systems, but the *games* part of the decision should solely be up to a person's personal tastes.

amazing...

[torrents]

i can't remember the last time this much excitement was generated (in north america) over a nintendo product... it looks like they may have finally produced a killer product...

Re:amazing...

[bitwiseNomad]

Preordered mine today! ^_^

Re:You still live with your mom?!? HA HA!

[satoshi1]

Dude, I have a job. And I'm 16, so my own place is out of the question.

Amazing possible tool for wardriving and hacking..

[Anonymous Coward]

picture the possibilities running nmap scans, configuring firewalls pen testing your servers and it all looks like a game too

The first time Nintendo have ever done what?

[Anonymous Coward]

Outsell their manufacturing capacity on a hot new product?

The ink is barely dry on the spec, and you think they can just whip up as many as people want?

Re:What is a DS?

[BTWR]

hahaha

Not to mention the story is on games.slashdot.org

Re:What is a DS?

[SirSlud]

Actually, they arn't releasing GTA, Halo or Grand Turismo for the DS.

Durr...

[bitwiseNomad]

I doubt that that sort of thing could happen technically since the game cartridge will have control of both spaces of video memory. If you wanted to display an ad and not conflict with the game then you'd have to build games with that feature pre-emptively. At this point, DS game developers would be aware of any such feature that existed in the DS libraries and would have made games accordingly or protested. Either way, I think we would have heard of it by now.

I have heard of a feature which will allow DS owners to walk into a game store with their system and download demos of new games using the wireless ethernet. This is similar, but again, the software will likely control both sections of memory and will not be able to display an ad properly. Besides, I don't mind watching an ad in a demo of a game since I'm not paying money for it and I'm not walking out of the store with it.

You must not have a very good memory then...

[Anonymous Coward]

Ever hear of a little system called the Gameboy Advance? It's the most popular system in the world, it's made by Nintendo, and it was only released a few years ago.

Re:What is a DS?

[Anonymous Coward]

No, and they won't be releasing Gran Turismo on it either.

Re:What is a DS?

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, the first results for "DS" on Google are sites discussing Down's Syndrome. If that's the hot seller this christmas, I'm staying the fuck away from the shopping malls.

Muwahhaha!

[M.C. Hampster]

Maybe you'll be able to afford one of the four I pre-ordered to sell on EBay!

Middlemen rule!

Re:dslinux.com - MIRROR?

[Llama_STi]

thanks man, actually it was down when i first hit the site but later in the day it seemed fine. nice project, i'll be sure to check on it again. :)

A rush

[Sv-Manowar]

It feels like they are rushing to get the DS distributed before the PSP comes in, hoping the lock the market to it, but they need better games to keep themselves #1