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Dual Screens: Two LCD screens offer one of the most
groundbreaking game-play advances ever developed: experiencing
a game from two perspectives at once. Imagine the possibilities.
In a racing game, drivers might see their own vehicle's
perspective on one screen and an overall track view on the
other. In a role-playing game, the action could take place
on the first screen while the second provides a reference
for a player's tools inventory. Game play also could use
both screens at once, offering a giant boss for heroes to
defeat. In the future, games could be created allowing users
to play games on one screen while text messaging other DS
users on the other. Each 3-inch screen can reproduce a true
3-D view and is backlit to assure comfortable play in any
lighting condition.
Touch Screen: The lower screen will offer something
never before provided by any game device: PDA-like touch
capabilities. Players no longer have to rely on just buttons
to move characters or shift perspectives. They can navigate
menus or access inventory items simply by touching the screen
with stylus or fingertip. A software-based keyboard might
even allow the screen to be used as an input center for
games and messaging. The possibilities are limited only
by developers' imaginations. The screen will have a tougher
film cover for durability, and will come with a stylus.
Microphone: An available microphone port means that
in the future, players might need only to tell their games
what to do. DS software could identify everything from voice
commands to hand-clapping. Players might be able to move
their characters simply by telling them which way to go.
The voice capabilities also could allow gamers to chat with
one another over the Internet while playing.
Processing: The unit will run on two processors,
one ARM9 one ARM7.
New Media: For its compact cards, the unit uses
newly developed semiconductor memory, which allows for lower
cost, shorter manufacturing time and memory capacity of
more than one gigabit of information.
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Wireless: DS users will be able to connect with
a local wireless network of up to 16 players. Nintendo's
guaranteed range is 30 feet, but will extend far beyond
that depending on circumstances. It assures high response
rates required for real time game play, and will make use
of both IEEE 802.11 and Nintendo's proprietary communication
protocol, which provides low battery consumption. Players
will be able to chat and play games without any connecting
cords, completely untethered. The DS technology also provides
for a wireless LAN connection, which could allow a theoretically
infinite number of players to connect at a hot spot and
compete at a central game hub on the Internet, even if they're
thousands of miles apart. Wireless Game Sharing: If software
developers desire, multiple players can compete in wireless
games, even if only one person has a game card inserted.
Players could also test-play games for themselves as long
as they stayed connected.
3-D: With the newly developed graphics engine, DS
can reproduce impressive 3-D renderings that can surpass
images displayed on the Nintendo� 64. Games will run at
60 frames per second, and allow details like fog effects
and cel shading. Sound: The 16-channel sound allows for
greatly expanded use of voices and music, and a richer,
more immersive game experience. A plug for headphones transmits
stereo sound.
Battery & Power Management: The battery is rechargeable
and the unit features a low-energy-consumption design. The
DS also has Power Management functions of Sleep mode and
Standby mode. In Sleep mode, players can stop and resume
game play whenever they like. If the user receives a message
from a friend or user nearby, DS activates itself from Standby
mode.
Dual Slots: Nintendo DS makes a vast library of
Game Boy Advance games readily available. Developers could
find ways to make new connections between GBA games and
DS games. The GBA port could be used for new hardware, enormously
expanding the functional expandability of the DS.
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