How would you redesign the Nintendo DS?
by Conrad Quilty-Harper 
{ Nov 12th 2005 at 7:45AM }
Not too long ago the web exploded with a torrent of Nintendo Revolution controller mock-ups. Our wrap-up post shows the amount of attention the controller garnered from the community. From guessing random and obscure features to creating elaborate hoax manuals, Nintendo fans didn't stop until the controller was unveiled.
The other day, Reggie Fils-Aime dropped a hint that the DS may be due for a re-design. Just over a day later we got our first tip to a mock-up of a new DS design by Ryan Cooper. The mock-up (featured above) seems to be inspired by the design and marketing shots of the Apple iBook.
Think you could do better? Get your Photoshop gloves on and prove it! Send your designs to our tips box and we'll host and post the best redesigns.
[Thanks, Ryan]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
norebonomis @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
add google talk im/voice.
add some user owned internal memory.
an SD slot (if the rev is sill using it) for anything from downloads to person music libraries.
or make gba flash carts that can be read from the ds' hardware (new ds should also have ample audio processing power)
i also loved the original DS design. it made me think of ways they might start implementing flexable OLEDS into divices. imagine opening your ds to see a 275 degree steroscopic flexible oled. oooh
ok so now i'm dreaming but the other shit i think would work awesome.
Kristian @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
How about an SP, with a top screen sliding out from behind the bottom screen, and then rotating up to be above the top screen.
Stu L Tissimus @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
PSP has proven that the handheld community loves homebrew stuff. I think that with DS and Revolution, Nintendo should take advantage of this. Give people the SDK for free, as long as the games they make aren't used for profit. And then, people could submit their games to a public homebrew website, which could be accessed through Revolution. Hey, I can dream, right?
oogie @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
I love the DS as it is, but there are a little bit of flaws to the physical design that make the DS a bit troublesome.
The screen sizes are fine as it is. I can see the screens at a nice relaxed arm position, and that's all that matters about screen size. The DS fits perfectly in my pocket, although that means that there isn't room for anything else bigger than DS game cards. That's fine.
Moving the buttons closer to the touch screen would be nice because it's a bit uncomfortable trying to use the thumb-strap with the width of the DS. If anything, they need to round off the bottom corners because whenever I play my DS lying down on my bed, the corners dig into my hands and they get numb. If they can make it any lighter, that would be welcome, even if the volume of the DS stays the same, because it really does get tiring holding the DS with one hand sometimes. I end up using my right pinky to support my left, which isn't enough support.
Everything else about the DS is great.
CaMBoB @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
How about a couple of game card holders built in?
Built in Play-Yan(SD of course).
An analog stick. PLEASE!
I find the DS a little to thin for my big hands...
Besides that, it's fine. Finally got some games to look forward to now.
JJ @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
bigger screens, thiner, do something with the buttons add a SD slot for media stuff i dont think they will do nothing with the graphics but i am going to say it anyway improve the graphics and make it like glossy white black blue etc like the revolution.
Matt @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
I dont think the Nintendo is going to go the rout of adding anything to the DS. That just from a business standpoint doesnt make sense. Seeing the trend of the Revolution and the Micro, if anything they will probably make the DS smaller, not larger. Remeber this is a portable gaming system. Nintendo snt trying to bring the console expirience on the road like Sony is.
What I think they would probably do, and I think someone else mentioned this, is essentially design the new DS like a T-mobile sidekick with the flip up screen and the second screen underneath like where the Sidekick's keypad is. This way when playing GBA games it would look and feel much like a GB micro, then flip it up and you got a DS.
Only problem is there is no protection for the top screen.
DownloadingData @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
Absolutely NO to single analog stick!!
You want the DS to fail as badly as the PSP in controls for FPS games?
Read up articles on batlefront, ghost in the shell controls
James Montagna @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
Being realistic, I think an ideal new Nintendo DS model -- (Let's call it the Nintendo DS+)
(1) Built-in Rumble - Besides being used in games... Maybe when the alarm clock goes off, it could rumble?
(2) Built-in Play-Yan - And SD card slot would be really nice... Transfer NES or SNES games you downloaded on the Revolution to the DS... Or videos and music like Play-Yan.
(3) Slightly Larger Buttons - Would be nice to have larger buttons that are not as shallow as the current buttons.
(4) Larger Stylus - The stylus slot could now house the "Plus" stylus, which would be larger and a bit heavier... similar to that of the prototype Nintendo DS stylus. (E3 2004)
Other things I have contemplated include the size. The screens would be the same as they are now, but if they could thin it a bit and have it not be nearly as wide by moving the buttons a but closer to the bottom screen, that would be more manageable to put in the pocket. I imagine it to have blue lights, like the Revolution, and maybe a rounded-rectangle shaped metal border, like the GameBoy micro... *spinning gears*
vrf @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
Lots of good ideas here. I'd also like to request that they style the buttons after the 4-colors on the Super Famicom.
http://playimports.com/images/Controller_SFC.JPG
mocax @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
A Micro-like DS.
Instead of flip cover, it uses 2 layers sliding screens, like the sliding phones.
The top layer is the non-touchable screen, so when "closed" it looks like a GBA micro (or a larger variation). To activate DS mode, just slide the top screen upwards to reveal the touchscreen.
The OS can detect which mode the console is in, so when it's single screen mode, it boots straight for the GBA cartridge, bypassing the game type choosing screen.
n3rrd @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
I don't think this has been mentioned, but forget the idea of having the GBA port ditched now that they've released Metroid Pinball.
It's not only a slot for backwards compatibility, it's an expansion slot. I've heard rumors that it's possible to use the slot as a RAM upgrade, much like in the N64.
Yorrike @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
When I first heard about the NDS, I decided to have a go at a design (before it had been revealed). Here's what I came up with:
http://www.yorrike.com/graphics/nds-sketch.jpg
I figured it'd be good for vertical scrolling shooters like Ikaruga (one of my favourite genres), and could work quite well for browsing the web, should someone want that functionality. No, it doesn't fold, although that could be acheived pretty easily, and I forgot about speakers, but it's just a sketch.
vik407 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
I made a very fast sketch with some included functions, i think the final design more compact and mobile like (VoIP).
check here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vik407/62711887/
norebonomis @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
those sketches are awesome!!! keep them commin i wish i could draw.
Philip Wesley @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
Here is what I would do.
1. Leave the screens alone, just make them brighter.
2. Shrink the speakers by a little bit to make the top more form fitting and slimmer.
3. Ditch the current D-Pad and buttons in favor making them the same size as the ones on the Micro. Keep the A, B, X, Y, and D-Pad in their current spots, but move them closer to the screen.
4. Move the Power Button to the bottom and move the Select & Start to below the bottom screen like on the Micro. Move volume to the side like on the Micro.
5. The side volume would be variable like on the Micro. Hold L and use it to adjust the Top screen brightness, and hold R and use it to adjust the Bottom screen brightness.
6. Form fit slot 2 in the way the Micro form-fits it.
7. Adjust the power input to match the one used on the Micro. This would be good, because then -using the Micro Link Cable and Micro Wireless Adapters- they would be adding link cable support to the GBA gameplay that the DS does.
8. Adjust the firmware of the DS to update Picto-Chat. Sell the Picto-Chat update seperately as an option Pak for nice and cheap.
bd (formerly b) @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
Add force feedback, brighter screens, gyroscopic features, two analogue sticks and two analogue triggers. Make it sleeker than the PSP, and let it come in black. The buttons should be softer to press too.
Myles @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
I love the DS the way it is. But since they will probably redesign it. I would take out the GBA slot, thats a whole processor they don't need anymore. Add a built in rumble feature. And make the top screen be like a tablet PC. Folds up, swivels and folds back down to act as a PDA style thing. Oh, and make the screens slighty bigger, but make it so the games can downsize good.
oneway>>> @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
They should make pictochat wifi, but other than that the DS should stay the same in my opinion.
Raymond @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
I want buttons that squish like the GBA instead of click like the ds, and i want a screen that can slide and twist so that it can be like a GBA, but also can be turned inward when closed for protection, and I want it to play all Game Boy games. And I want a deeper cart so the games aren't sticking way out like they do on the SP. They could just make a place to put your finger to get the smaller GBA games out, but I don't like them sticking out.
locknroll @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
1. Make it SMALLER. The DS is HUGE.
2. Add rumble. It dosen't have spinning disks, so Nintendo has no excuse.
3. Add a SD slot. For movies, gamesaves and stuff.
4. Add matchmaking to the online stuff.
5. Add 2 recessing ANALOGUE sticks. This can not be emphasized enough.
6. ***The coolest thing they could add would be DUAL SCREENS WITH DUAL OPPOSING CONTROLLERS!!!! Think about it. Now you can play two player split screen with just ONE DS.
AMAZING.
CapTn_InSanO @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
You won't see rumbel, analoge sticks, or a play-yan (built-in) on this thing because its not a freaking PSP. Nintendo built a gaming machine.
I would like to see the hinge improved. Mine and a friends has loosened over time. It hold up well but I think it could be better. Perhaps a slightly smaller form factor. I like the size but it is just a bit difficult to get to the shoulder buttons.
A white or chrome finish would be nice too. I know I said I liked this as gaming machine but I'd love to see some Palm style software. It would give me a reason to bring it to work.
Conn @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
Most of you guys are thinking of a SECOND DS.
Nintendo will not make early adopters rush out to buy a new one, like Microsoft will not have HD-DVD games on the 360.
The specs will stay the same. The width between the screens will stay the same, because some, like Metroid Prime Pinball, use the gap as space on the pinball board.
All I really want is a few things. The first is a given- smaller and thiner. And get rid of that damned indent for the lower half of the bottom (the black part)! You can't use certain headphones (like the ones made for the iPod, specifically the wireless headphones, which have hueg wireless reiciever things) And of course, the top half should be bigger too, so it covers the whole system like the SP did.
Second, NEW BUTTONS. I think the SP has the best digital buttons ever used. They're stiff, but still very simple to use. The DSes? They feel loose, kinda like the original GBAs.
The face buttons should be bigger- around the SP's size.
Third, a lot more durable. Admit it- the DS is the most fragile Nintendo product ever. My friend has already broke one of the plastic rings holding the top screen on.
Adrian Price @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
Agreed with the posts above about a Hiptop/Sidekick type screen layout, with the GBA screen on top and the DS screen where the hiptop keyboard is. Can the hiptop's screen be twisted around so that the screen doesnt face out?
Bigger and brighter screens, and better quality build and casing.
Ean @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
Make it slimmer, I like the one in the article. Add SD support out of the box, also move the buttons close to the screen and round off the bottom corners so they don't dig into your palms when you play. I'd also drop the speakers, or at least make them smaller as I tend to either play with no sound or headphones.
You can't change any specs (screen size, hardware)as they you wouldn't be able to play games on old systems, but maybe they could have an expansion pack that slots into the GBA slot like they did with N64...
Kra(I)d @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
Do any of you remember the NES SP?
What about a SNES DS?
Small it down, shape the unit(like a Snes pad?), colour the buttons, keep the gba slot (but make it compatable with all gb games!)
Juggaloking21 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
The DS is fine the way it is, it could be a bit smaller but it doesn't really matter, they can't get rid of the GBA slot because it will be used as sort of an add on slot, one of my GBA games went through the washer and when I put in the my DS to see if it still worked it said DS Option Card Inserted, I did a little research and found that with the GBA option pack developers could essentailly add more ram to increase the graphics of their game, or even add more proccessing power by adding a very low cost GPU kind of like the SFX chip used in some of the later SNES games, like starfox and Mech warrior. I think the GBA slot is just fine the way it is. but a smaller form factor and brighter screen would be nice
Trilancer @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
I posted a picture of my dream DS system at:
http://www.trilancer.blogspot.com
Joseph @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
Why do people still ask for movie/music support on their portable console? They're both inferior forms of entertainment, keep it simple and games only :)
As far as what I would change about the DS (I was actually really disappointed with the design when I got mine...)
- Lighter overall
- Smaller form factor
- Smaller sharper screens
- With above points, add a bit more bulk for ergonomics, rounded edges.
- slightly larger buttons,
- and use the feel of the micro buttons and crosspad, very comfortable.
- make sure the l/r buttons are more durable (my R button stopped working a while ago, now it's working but my L doesn't??)
As far as design, the iPodish one that was posted looks NICE. I think something like that would definitely get me to buy a 2nd one, especially if it didn't give me carpal tunnel like this one does (making it lighter would help a LOT)
Poragoya @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
I myself own a DS, but the thing is, its a piece of %#!*. im always on the run and its all opening and shutting and guess what, the hinges broke! what i think they need is a ds with no clamshell feature. i was thinking like a folded sp but you slide a switch and the screens slide out of the top. or if you are playing a gba game just one slides out.
adding an mp3 or 4 player or a tv tuner or at least a radio would be a plus, and they definately ned to make it GB/GBC compatible.
I think Nintendo would have many more buyers if this happened.
Max @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
instead of the clamshell why not move the speakers to the base and have the top screen slide out from inside.the scrrens are fairly thin so its shouldnt be any wider then the current design. Nintendo are good at making there products stong and durable if any one can do it they can
Maxi @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
Someone mentioned a slider design, and I personally believe that is the way to go. When I play GBA games, I have absolutely no use for the second touch screen, so why not have that slide away and leave the gba screen out the whole time? The touch screen would still be protected after all.
Skid @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
Nice, but i'm hoping there will be less space between the two screens in the new version.
Mariofan14 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
Well, I would l a like bigger top screen as well as bigger buttons. Also if they could make the bottom half of the ds the same width so it doesnt look as cheap.
IMandIR @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
As said before less space between the screens. Bigger screens. Bigger buttons. More of an SNES controller shape so it would be more comfortable.
PaulBlake @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
Model it after the classic 2-screen Game and Watch games, and include a DS Game & Watch game.
Just add three buttons.
http://www.vidgame.net/NINTENDO/GAMANDW.html
Scott Rubin @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
I don't know how it would be done, but I wish there was a way to move the buttons. When playing a game that requires using the touch screen as an analog stick you have to reach pretty far over the buttons to touch the screen.
ALso, round off the bottom corners the way the original GBA was. When I play a game like GBA Mario Kart in there the bottom left and right corners of the DS dig into my hand.
One last thing that nobody realizes. It is near impossible to play a game like Kirby or Trauma Center on a train or other bumpy ride. I don't think anything practical can be done about this. But I would like to see a magical system that keeps my hand and the DS perfectly steady through an earthquake.
Aunalis @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
#5: liiiiiike... a magnet?
I don't have a DS personally because it just isn't very aesthetically pleasing to me. I'd get it confused with my portable DVD player, it seems.
And why does it have to open like a clam-shell? cell phones now have some pretty nifty ways of opening. what about a 'slider' style DS, or one of those twist-and-flip sytled ones? Also, bigger screens for sure.
realvictory @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
I don't think it will be possible to make the screens different sizes to each other, or different aspect ratios than they already are.
It would be nice if they could make the screens a bit bigger, but the whole thing a bit smaller (and a lot slimmer).
The thing I find ugly about the DS is that it's so angular and quite bulky.
It will probably try to match the Revolution's style, while not looking so blantantly like an iPod rip-off. Black and white are definitely the 2 colours to make, and the power LED should be blue, for certain.
I remember in the N64 days, they made clear versions which also seemed to be "inspired by" the old iMac...
mjp @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
make a left handed model. I know some of the games can be played using the buttons for control to "accommodate" the lefty- but why not just make a few TARGETED at left handed people. I've heard quite a few people express this- and don't think Nintendo would lose money by making this product. Even if it was a special order product available only through their website.
Larger screens would also be nice... and how about a way to play Gameboy games with the thing shut? I'm not sure how this would work, but someone can figure it out.
And to get back on the lefty rant for a second- I'm curious to see how the rev works. I'm not too worried, because the numchuck thing and one handed controller could obviously be used either way- but I'm interested to see how a right handed person will throw a pitch as a southpaw... probably not a big deal.
eric @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
instead of those pencil-sized plastic buttons, maybe some bigger rubber ones. and how bout shiney jet black, instead of ceramic white, thats what i really want. and if they are really redisgning it, maybe they should beef up the specs a little? we can hope.
LSSLAVE @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
If they redo the specs then people who own the old model would have a useless system, that wont happen
Am I one of the only people HAPPY with the DS?
ronnie @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
Slimmer, media card slot for video/audio, replacable film on touch screen.
Shrink speakers so the to half isn't so wide.
Make it compatible with old GB games.
great system but its just too bulky in the pocket.
benhc911 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
i dont think they would beef up the specs, that would alienate early adopters, I figure a brighter screen, smaller (drop the gba slot) and thiner, louder speakers, and bigger rubber buttons. Increse in screen size wouldnt be too good, like an increase in specs it would alienate the early adopters, unless they kept the resolution the same or had games that worked fine in both resolutions. But a larger screen with the same resolution would be crappy. Also if new games only come out in new resolution that would suck.
Perhaps a SD slot for media, might as well, even though my Nano and Archos do that job for me, it might swing people who are "special" enough to think that conversion is good. (I own the psp, but for the games, mem sticks are too expensive and the formafactor is to large for an mp3 player)
Maybe to analog sticks, real ones that go into recesses when the ds closes.
Although, either make these optional in games or go all out and also up the screen resolution, add an sd slot AND up the technical specs. But its too early for the next ds.
Hit me up with a clamshell new gameboy. Widescreen, with two recessing analog sticks and that ues NGC cds, that would be SICK. RE4, MKDD, SSBM, ZTP, AC, MP1 and 2 and more, out of the gate, plus easy to developing if the same chip architecture is used. Of course use newer tech to lower power consumption and heat release. OLED Screen would be HAWT, especially if now shadowing like on the PSP when the camera changes. Finally small exterior 3 line OLED or LED screen and buttons for MP3s. Make the screen the same width as the psp (or a bit bigger :) and make the bottom half of the clashell that exact width. That way it isnt as long as the psp and protects its beautiful screen. If only :)
benhc911 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
oh, I forgot to mention 2 things:
1 I love the DS
2 for new gameboy use GC Mem cards, but make also have SD, and format support like MP3 AAC Atrac OGG FLAK, and for movies DIVX XVID MPEG4 WMV MOV etc.
I can dream cant I?
kojo87 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
i dont care what they do. im keeping my DS i got on the launch date just so i can say i was here before you.
well i guess if they put in a TV tuner or an mp3 player on a smaller system with out that GBA port plus analog sticks i might think about selling my DS and buying that. but what are the odds of that.
Chris Maguire @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
First off: They can't do anything to alter the screen ratios or the space between the two screens. Many DS games are programmed to utilize the exact distance between the screens -- such as Metroid Prime Pinball (the table spans both screens, the space in between is considered tablespace that the ball has to travel.)
Secondly: They can't add more buttons, or they risk fracturing the market. This is the same reason they can't change the specs -- which version would developers write for?
I share LSSSLAVE's sentiments -- I think the current DS is great, and I'll certainly be holding onto it for a long time.
What they CAN do, however, is slim the system down, move the d-pad / face buttons closer to the touch screen, and possibly brighten the screen even further using their ever-growing LCD knowhow.
Ike @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
for the physical aspect: i seem to be one of the only ones not pining for a slimmed-down version. the size and heft of the DS is something I appreciate, the smaller gba designs make my hands cramp. if i'd change anything it's be reconfiguring the L/R buttons for easier access and replacing the d-pad with the EXACT model on the SNES (still feels a bit spongy to me).
internally, a flash media port wouldn't hurt... throw in some tunes and an ipod finish: those hipster drones will flock to it (i will never understood why packaging/marketing mean so much to some people). also, i think adding WPA encryption is a must... it was a shortsighted decision to go exclusively with WEP. Nintendo is forcing its user to hamstring their network's security for their handheld.
Ace_ofspade @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
I'd want it to be sleeker and thinner, maybe shiny like the Revo. It's D-pad and buttons would be less blockey and designed like the Micro's. Make it compatible with old GB games, give it a longer stylus, put a thin peice of plastic on to protect the screen, and I'm sold.
benhc911 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM
oh, a final thing (hopefully, I hate reposting) is to coat the touch screen with saphire crystal (near scratch prrof even with a key) unless that would hinder the touchscreen, in which case bundle it with screen protectors. In the long run it will save them money, as they wont have to repair scratched screens.