Nintendo DS (Dual Screen) is a handheld console from Nintendo, released November 21st 2004 in North America at a price of US$149 followed by a Japanese release of 2nd December 2004 at a price of 15 000 Yen, a UK release on 19th March 2005, and an Australian release on March 24th 2005. It features a number of groundbreaking innovations such as dual 3 inch screens and voice recognition capabilities.

This isn't the first time Nintendo has used dual screens in a handheld. Some of their Game & Watch releases came with dual screens. But back in the 1980s, when they were released, no-one could have imagined how far technology would advance over the next 20 years. The second of the two screens on the DS provides a means of displaying additional information about a game (such as map data, similar to the way the Dreamcast VMU would display information about games on the Dreamcast) and may also be used as a touch screen which means players will no longer have to rely solely on buttons for controlling game play. The touch screen can be operated using fingertips or the provided stylus (like a PDA).

Voice recognition capabilities allow another new method of input using voice commands rather than the traditional button controls. It also would allow players to chat to one another if connected to the Internet using the Nintendo DS's LAN connection, which also allows for an infinite number of players to connect at a hot spot and compete at a central game hub.

The DS also features 802.11 wireless networking for linking players more close together (instead of using link-up cables like found in earlier handhelds). This allows up to 16 simultaneous players and the ability (if the game allows it) to all compete in the same game, even if only 1 player has the game card inserted.

Chat software may also be used with the Nintendo DS, enabling gamers to transmit text, handwriting and drawings to one another. DS games are stored on compact cards, capable of holding over 1 GB of data. A Game Boy Advance port is also featured on the system, allowing backwards compatibility with GBA games.

Technically, the DS is rather impressive for a handheld, but not as good as Sony's PSP when it comes to graphics. It features 16-channel sound and 3D graphics that surpass the quality of Nintendo 64. Games run at 60 frames per second and graphics allow for details like fog effects and cel-shading.

Nintendo hopes that the new features present in the machine will provoke unique game development, attract developers, appeal to both older gamers and non-gamers alienated by normal input methods, and allow Nintendo to retain its status as leader of the handheld game console market. Nintendo is currently competing against Sony with their (PSP) PlayStation Portable (although representatives from both companies have said that they are not directly competing as each system targets a different audience). The system's promotional slogans revolve around the word "Touch": in the US, Australia, and New Zealand, Touching is Good; in Japan, Touch!; and in Europe, Touch me!.   

     *Information courtesy of: Console Database

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