Nintendo DS Price and Launch Date (USA)

Rew

http://www.gizmodo.com/archives/nintendo-ds-probable-price-launch-date-leaked-021274.php

Wal-Mart has a pre-order page for the Nintendo DS that lists the price as $199.82 with a promised delivery date of November 30th. With something as widely-distributed as the DS, leaks like this are usually indicitive of the real deal, so assuming that there are no production or supply issues, it looks like our $200 DS is going to be in our pockets before December.

projectmayhem

is the price similar in euro?

seems a bit steep to be honest, but we'll have to see. i'm waiting for the psp, especially the price of the umd's...

Tusky

projectmayhem wrote:

is the price similar in euro?

seems a bit steep to be honest, but we'll have to see. i'm waiting for the psp, especially the price of the umd's...

200 dollar = 160 euro roughly... A fair price if you ask me !

Rew

Tusky wrote:

200 dollar = 160 euro roughly... A fair price if you ask me !

GBA was always cheaper in the US the here so chances are it will be 175-199 euro.

Rabies

Tusky wrote:

200 dollar = 160 euro roughly... !

= €200

we all know that there isn't a hope in hell that we will get the DS at the same price as the US

Blisterman

You could buy one from there over the internet. Will it be released at the same time?

Tusky

I shall be importing and buying a battery pack like I did with GBA.

Headshot

any news on the psp

Tusky

snoopdog wrote:

any news on the psp

First time I read that I thought it you were meant "any new on the down-low" as in pssst

Headshot

lol lol lol

Rew

snoopdog wrote:

any news on the psp

Try my other thread in this board there is a hint in the title it says "More PSP details"

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=186342

DS isn't getting its European release till after christmas some time (Feb?) so import is your only option. There are no details on region locks on games (just cause the GBA had none dosnt mean anything) but id put money on the charger being a dual voltage unit (every other charger including the latest iPod one is dual these days).

We will just have to wait till the tech specs go online after the offical Nintendo launch.

Rew

Rew wrote:

http://www.gizmodo.com/archives/nintendo-ds-probable-price-launch-date-leaked-021274.php

Well kids the DS has gotten its offical launch.

Its coming out in the USA on the 21st of November for $150 and there will be 20 games available.

http://www.engadget.com/entry/1487374415215827/

This just crossed the wires moments ago (occasionally insomnia has its plus side): the double-screened Nintendo DS portable game console hits retail stores on November 21st (just in time for you-know-what) and is going to sell for $149.99, which is about fifty bucks less than we’d expected. Even better, for once we’ll get it before the Japanese—it goes on sale there a few days later on December 2nd. Other juiciness: it’ll come with a software app called PictoChat which’ll write you draw pictures and write messages with an on-screen keyboard and wireless beam them to other DS users. They’ll have 20 titles initially available, and as mentioned before, the DS will be backwards-compatible with Game Boy Advance SP games.

rainbow kirby

and from IGN...
Bring it on! I'm so importing one... Though November seems to want to kill me with games. Paper Mario 2, Tales of Symphonia, Zelda:The Minish Cap, Metroid Prime 2...And now this!

Rew

A couple of updates on the Nintendo DS launch bundle - straight from the horses mouth, too, so you can quote us on this. First of all, the PictoChat software will be built in to the firmware itself; it's not a separate game cartridge. Secondly, there will be a game bundled with the DS, sort of. Called Metroid Prime: Hunters: First Hunt, it will be a demo showing the first level or two of the upcoming DS game Metroid Prime: Hunters (like the Metroid game demo'd at E3, but "better," so they say). So there you have it - the official bundled pack in will have a demo of First Hunt, but not a full-blown game.

And there's no official word on the Voice-Over-IP capabilities of the DS from Nintendo yet, but that doesn't mean something isn't happening behind the scenes.

Update: Forgot to add that the Hunters demo will also have a multiplayer mode for us over the DS wireless multiplayer system

http://www.gizmodo.com/archives/official-nintendo-ds-packin-game-information-021685.php

flogen

I dont know much about VOIP, but how on earth is it supposed to work on a handheld gaming system?

It has WiFi too doesnt it?

flogen

Rew

It has WiFi and it has a port for a head set.

WiFi + Headset + Software = VoIP

In reality it may just mean voice chat during multiplayer games. I looking at my import options doe the DS atm. I have friends in NYC but ill have to pay sales tax and shipping from there plus dont know what the supply will be like on the launch date (will there be any available on the shelves!!)

evad_lhorg

my parents will be there when it's released. Im so getting one. only roughyly a bit under 125eurons at current rates. talk about a great deal! i hope metroid prime hunters and viewtiful joe are launch games. goldeneye will probably be on it too.

now I can finally play metroid fusion and be able to get the minish cap.

Rew

evad_lhorg wrote:

my parents will be there when it's released. Im so getting one. only roughyly a bit under 125eurons at current rates. talk about a great deal! i hope metroid prime hunters and viewtiful joe are launch games. goldeneye will probably be on it too.

now I can finally play metroid fusion and be able to get the minish cap.

Goldeneye is coming but not the goldeneye from the N64 from what I hear. Have a search for other DS threads in this board and sombody explained it to me what the story was with it. Somthing about license issues.

I wonder will demand be so high that availablity will be a problem...?

evad_lhorg

I know its not the n64 version. I dont want that version. the new one is supposed to be brilliant. my manager got to play it on the ps2 when he was at a meeting in england and he said it was actually really amazing and that the AI is brilliant. he got to play all the new upcoming games. b'astard

Rew

evad_lhorg wrote:

I know its not the n64 version. I dont want that version. the new one is supposed to be brilliant. my manager got to play it on the ps2 when he was at a meeting in england and he said it was actually really amazing and that the AI is brilliant. he got to play all the new upcoming games. b'astard

To be fair the N64 version was amazing. Ill be intrested to see what its like but PS2 isnt a DS so we wil, have to wait and see.

What do you (your boss) do that he got to play the new games?

evad_lhorg

My boss is the manager of Game on daawson street and I (as it can be assumed) work there. al the game shop managers got to go to it. I hated him for days after it

Rew

http://www.joystiq.com/entry/6551346357946546/

Metroid Prime: Huneters gets facelift
Posted Oct 5, 2004, 9:42 AM ET by James Ransom-Wiley
Related entries: Adventure, Portable

Responding to complaints stemming from the E3 demo, Nintendo has decided to make some changes to the Metroid Prime: Hunters interface. Call it a facelift, as the main action will now be featured on the top screen, swapping spots with the map/options. However, the original control scheme is still in tact, meaning a combination of the D-pad and stylus pen will be used, only now, the player’s hand will not block the action. Nintendo is expected to reveal the new version of Hunters within the next 10 days.

http://news.spong.com/detail/news.asp?prid=7742

Following the E3 showing of the impressive Metroid Prime: Hunters for DS, various complaints were voiced claiming that the game was a little tricky to play. These dissenters mainly argued that the action was a little difficult to follow, obscured as it was by the player’s hand and silence.

SPOnG learned over the weekend from sources close to the project in Japan that this is due to be rectified, with a complete overhaul of the game due to be shown within the next ten days.

The main game action will now take place on the top screen, though the fundamental controls will remain the same, meaning that the control system of using the stylus as a substitute mouse/analogue stick remains in conjunction with the D-pad in place. The lower screen will now host the map and Samus’ options, such as morph ball etc…

SPOnG believes this is great news. Not only has Nintendo listened to feedback from gamers, it has made a critical change to a one of its key DS offerings, believed to be a launch title in all territories.

Rew

Loads of of DS news.

Big news is that the press confrence that will announce all the final DS detials for the launc is tomorrow. There are only 4 launch titles and Metroid ISNT one of them :eek:

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=56815

Speaking under conditions of strict anonymity, a senior US source has revealed to Eurogamer the number of launch titles for the American version of Nintendo DS.

"There's going to be the four launch titles in Seattle, and Metroid isn't one of them," said the insider, referring to Metroid Prime: Hunters, which was first shown at E3 in May. As previously announced, a demo of Hunters ("First Hunt") will be bundled with the hardware along with the built-in PictoChat communications software.

The news of the DS' launch line-up arrives ahead of an American press event in Seattle this week, where journalists will be given access to the games and given the remaining details of the console's launch.

Nintendo UK issued the following comment this morning: "American and Japanese software is being announced this week and that information will be made available tomorrow."

The company refused to confirm the identities of the launch games.

The only two games known to be launch definites - or as definite as they can be without confirmation from Nintendo - thus far are Sonic Team's Feel the Magic: XY-XX (formerly Project Rub) and Activision's Spider-Man 2, which the publisher recently confirmed will run alongside the release of the machine.

Another distinct possibility is Super Mario 64 DS, which remains something of an enigma in terms of content - we're presuming it's the same or at least derived from the Mario 64x4 demo shown at E3 - but a realistic packshot of which turned up on Gamestop this week.

Other than that, your guess is probably just as good as ours, and - wearing our best "wishful thinking" cap - we're going to guess Wario Ware, since it was one of the more complete and absorbing titles on show at E3 this May.

Keep your eyes peeled for the official announcement of all the Japanese and American launch software tomorrow.

The orther news is that the makers of the DS's 802.11b chip have released this press release:

http://www.gamegossip.com/pressrelease.php?id=10229

Greensboro, NC - October 6, 2004 - RF Micro Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq: RFMD), a leading provider of proprietary radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) for wireless communications applications, today announced the Company has begun production shipments of its 802.11 wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiver for use in the new Nintendo DSTM. Nintendo is a leading provider of hardware systems and interactive video games for both the home entertainment and handheld gaming environments.
By enabling wireless connectivity in the Nintendo DS, RFMD's WLAN transceiver provides a wireless link to other Nintendo DS units within range. Additionally, with its chat software and wireless capabilities, Nintendo DS gamers are able to transmit text messages, handwriting and even drawings to one another.

The Nintendo DS features dual screens providing two perspectives on the action at once. Its touch-screen input enables users to easily access items, move characters or navigate menus. The Nintendo DS also contains a microphone, which could enable players to control the system using voice commands.

"RFMD's energy-efficient wireless device enables Nintendo to include wireless technology in the Nintendo DS handheld at a low cost," said Satoru Okada, general manager, research and engineering at Nintendo Co., Ltd. "The embedded wireless functionality will enable developers to create rich game designs which were not considered possible in the past, further expanding the fascinating world of Nintendo DS."

Kris Rausch, product line director of wireless LAN products at RF Micro Devices, said, "We are extremely excited to be working with Nintendo, the world's leading name in the gaming industry. Additionally, we are pleased to build upon the success of our WLAN transceiver products, which offer distinct advantages in bill of materials (BOM) cost, size, performance and power consumption. These competitive advantages are driving incremental customer traction as an increasing number of electronic devices are being designed to capitalize on consumer demand for wireless connectivity."

Frank Morese, corporate vice president of the wireless connectivity business unit at RF Micro Devices, said, "We are very pleased to add Nintendo to our blue-chip customer base, which features many of the world's leading manufacturers of high-volume consumer electronic devices. As one of the world's leading video game manufacturers, Nintendo provides RFMD a valuable growth opportunity as we expand into the explosive video gaming market."

RFMD is a trusted supplier of high-volume, low-cost wireless components to leading manufacturers in multiple high-volume markets, including wireless networking, Bluetooth® technology and cellular handsets. The cellular handset market is the world's highest-volume consumer electronics market, with estimated handset shipments in 2003 of 510 million units. The video gaming market had estimated shipments in 2003 of 56 million units and is expected to grow to 80 million units by 2007.

About Nintendo

The worldwide leader and innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its popular home and portable video game systems. Each year, hundreds of all-new titles for the best-selling Game Boy® Advance, Nintendo DSTM and Nintendo GameCubeTM systems extend Nintendo's vast game library and continue the tradition of delivering a rich, diverse mix of quality video games for players of all ages. Since the release of its first home video game system in 1983, Nintendo has sold more than 1.9 billion video games and more than 170 million hardware units globally, creating enduring industry icons such as MarioTM and Donkey Kong® and launching popular culture franchise phenomena such as Metroid®, ZeldaTM and Pokémon®. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, visit the company's Web site at www.nintendo.com.

About RF Micro Devices

RF Micro Devices, Inc., an ISO 9001- and ISO 14001-certified manufacturer, designs, develops, manufactures and markets proprietary radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) for wireless communications products and applications. The Company is a leading supplier of power amplifiers, one of the most critical radio frequency (RF) components in cellular phones. The Company is also the leading manufacturer of GaAs HBT, which offers distinct advantages over other technologies for the manufacture of current- and next-generation power amplifiers. The Company's products are included primarily in cellular phones, base stations, wireless local area networks (WLANs), cable television modems and global positioning systems (GPS). The Company derives revenue from the sale of standard and custom-designed products. The Company offers a broad array of products including amplifiers, mixers, modulators/demodulators and single-chip transmitters, Bluetooth® products and receivers and transceivers that represent a substantial majority of the RFICs required in wireless subscriber equipment. The Company's goal is to be the premier supplier of low-cost, high-performance integrated circuits and solutions for applications that enable wireless connectivity. RF Micro Devices, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol RFMD. For more information about RFMD, please visit www.rfmd.com.

I thought Mororola were making the radio side of things...

honru

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/10/07/news_6109869.html

SEATTLE--In the wee hours before it takes the wraps off of its soon-to-be-released DS portable gaming system, Nintendo released new details on the upcoming platform's software lineup at launch--and beyond. As noted previously, the system is slated to ship November 21 at an SRP of $149.99. However, since Nintendo's release of those details several weeks ago, there has been little word on the software lineup for the fledgling device. Now, new details have finally emerged that help paint a broader picture of the software available for the system, and some of the system's unique features.

The first-party offerings for the system's launch will include Super Mario 64 DS, a translation of the Nintendo 64 classic; a playable demo of the upcoming Metroid game, Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt; and PictoChat, which will be built into the DS and will let users exchange text messages or hand-drawn pictures and send them wirelessly to up to 15 other nearby Nintendo DS users. Looking further ahead, there will be a number of first-party DS-exclusive games hitting the system, including a multiplayer-enabled Mario Kart game, the full version of Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt, WarioWare Inc. DS, Animal Crossing DS, Yoshi's Touch & Go, Advance Wars DS, and a what is listed as a new Super Mario Bros. game. Nintendo-published games can be expected to retail for as low as $29.99.

The third-party support for the system includes key franchises and original games from several major publishers. Electronic Arts will bring Madden NFL 2005, Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf, and Urbz: Sims in the City during what is described as the hardware "launch window." Following that initial batch, EA is also planning on delivering GoldenEye: Rogue Agent and Need for Speed Underground to the DS.

Activision will have Spider-Man 2 at launch and follow up with another unnamed title that is described as "major."

THQ will offer Ping Pals at launch and follow up with other games to be announced later.

Sega will offer Feel the Magic: XY/XX at launch and follow up with Puyo Pop Fever.

Further out from launch, Nintendo revealed that Ubisoft will bring Rayman DS, Asphalt Urban GT, and Crush; Namco's games will include Ridge Racer DS and Mr. DRILLER: Drill Spirits; Capcom will present an entry in the Viewtiful Joe franchise; Hudson Soft will bring Bomberman to the platform; Konami's Frogger will make an appearance; and Square Enix will offer up a Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles title.

UPDATE: During today's press conference in Tokyo, Nintendo also revealed details about the system's Japanese launch on December 2. The company announced that 12 titles will be available for launch: five from Nintendo and seven from third parties. The first-party titles will include: Super Mario 64 DS, Pokémon Dash, Big Concert! Band Brothers, Touch! Made in Wario, and Intuitive Stroke. Of the third party titles, five are known: the recently-announced Zoo Keeper (Success) and Mahjongg Tournament (Koei) will join Sega's Kimishine (also known as Feel the Magic), Spike's Tendo Dokuta, and EA's Urbz.

Also announced at the Nintendo press conference today was that Square Enix will be bringing a remake of Final Fantasy III to the handheld. The only Final Fantasy title to never be remade and to never make it out of Japan, FFIII is considered to be one of the most intricate role-playing games ever designed for the Famicom. It was originally scheduled to be remade on the Wonderswan portable years ago, but the project was cancelled when Square stopped supporting the system. A North American release for Final Fantasy III DS was not confirmed.

"DS provides a roadmap to the future of videogames," says Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales and marketing, in Nintendo's press release. "The overwhelming support of strong third party titles, combined with Nintendo's flagship franchise, makes this the strongest software support for any Nintendo system in more than a decade."

The release also touched on some of the ways in which these DS games will take advantage of the hardware's unique functionality. Madden NFL 2005 will show all 22 players on the field in one screen and use the second screen to display "key action." The game will also let players compete head to head wirelessly. Super Mario 64 DS will offer head-to-head wireless battling, new touch-sensitive minigames, and "innovative control options."

Outside of those details, the release includes a few statistical factoids to offer some context for the breadth of Nintendo's and third party support for the system. In the first 30 days of the system's availability, there will be roughly 10 to 12 games in a variety of genres. By the end of Q1 2005, the library will be at roughly 20 to 25 games. There are more than 120 games currently in development for the system around the world. In addition, due to the system's backwards compatibility with the Game Boy Advance via the DS' second cartridge port, the system will allow gamers to play more than 550 existing GBA games. It's worth noting that the release specifically states that the second game port will let users play "single-player modes of games made for the Game Boy Advance SP," which reiterates that the DS will not be compatible with GBA link cables.

monument

Can everybody STOP posting full news articles!

Try something like this…

Major DS leak reveals new Zelda and Pokemon titles, single-cart multiplayer

No more surprises as Seattle press event details hit the 'net ahead of time

Full details of the Nintendo DS press conference in Seattle tonight have been leaked ahead of the event, in an embarrassing mishap for the console giant which has revealed all of the firm's planned surprises in one swoop

http://gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=4796

Mr E

Hi folks,

I'm going to be in Toronto on the US launch date (leaving that night!). Does anyone know if that date applies to Canada too?

Dont be at yourself

Yeah, almost certainly. Nintendo Of America handle the whole lot as far as I know.

Rew

Some great pics of the DS on lik-sang:



Only pic of the back of the DS iv seen.



New media:

astrofool

the new goldeneye will be poo

Jim

astrofool wrote:

the new goldeneye will be poo

Worst, most badly founded comment ever.

Mr E

NekkidBibleMan wrote:

Yeah, almost certainly. Nintendo Of America handle the whole lot as far as I know.

Do release dates in the States work the same way as alot of things in Ireland (i.e. release date is Monday, but shops will stock them the previous Saturday for some weekend sales?)

- Dave.