Famitsu publisher thinks new DS will be shown at E3

108 Comments by Kyle Orland Apr 11th 2008 1:19PM
Filed under: Nintendo DS, Portable, Retro

All you jerks out there who are used to lording your shiny new DS Lites over Phat-owning early-adopters might have to get used to playing second fiddle soon. In the latest issue of Japanese gaming rag Famitsu, publisher Hirokazu Hamamura speculates that a new version of Nintendo's best-selling handheld may be revealed at this summer's E3 trade show.

As detailed in a Bloomberg Japan report (sketchy machine translation), Hamamura's comments seem based on nothing more than industry chatter and pure conjecture on his part -- Nintendo predictably offered up a no comment. The timing does seem about right, though -- going back to the Game Boy days, Nintendo has released a new portable hardware revision roughly every two years since 1996's Game Boy Pocket (1998: Game Boy Color; 2001: Game Boy Advance; 2003: GBASP; 2004: Nintendo DS; 2005: Game Boy Micro; 2006: DS Lite). What would you like to see on a potential DS upgrade? Let us know in the comments.

[Via DSFanboy; picture source]

Tags: ds, DS-Lite, DS-Phat, E3, hardware, upgrade

Read

(Page 1) Reader Comments

Fernando Rocker: Apr 11th 2008; 1:24PM

A DS Micro Lite will be nice... they just need to remove the GBA port.

Maybe something like the Mac Air will be nice.

samfish: Apr 11th 2008; 2:06PM

But then there wouldn't be a cartridge slot...

E.J.: Apr 11th 2008; 2:47PM

I'm sure it'll involve to something similar. Nintendo's been following Apple's philosophy so I wouldn't be surprised to see a DS-Air: super-thin, no cartridge slots (DS or GBA), have to load games over the network and sell external cartridge drives for $100 seperately.

All kidding aside, I'm looking forward to buying a 3rd DS iteration because we all know it's gonna be awesome.

FrankTheCrank: Apr 11th 2008; 7:56PM

Fernando,

See, I told you man...I had a feeling the other day that's why I started to ask. It seems like the time is right for a new one. And low and behold, a new report today.

Shhhhweeeeeettt!!!

Tiptup300: Apr 12th 2008; 2:55PM

I'm starting to think that isn't the real mockup.

theturtle363: Apr 11th 2008; 1:24PM

I like the missiles

bigd7387: Apr 11th 2008; 1:25PM

If it doesn't look anything like the mock up then I don't want it. I want the mock up.

Fernando Rocker: Apr 11th 2008; 1:37PM

Mock up? It's real =p

Seraphim: Apr 11th 2008; 1:57PM

..and I want a copy of the gaming rag, Famitsu. The only choice for female gamers? o_O

josh: Apr 11th 2008; 2:35PM

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rag

definition # 3

Kadrom: Apr 11th 2008; 1:25PM

Better sound quality. The speakers on the Lite can't compare to the PSP's or even the Phat's.

Kendall B: Apr 11th 2008; 1:26PM

Obviously photoshopped.

theturtle363: Apr 11th 2008; 1:27PM

ORLY?

IcedOmega13: Apr 11th 2008; 1:31PM

ya because the weapons are totally backwards from Nintendo's family friendly image.

rv: Apr 11th 2008; 1:36PM

NO WAI!

colin: Apr 13th 2008; 6:12AM

your comment make me burst out in uncontrollable laughter at work. i work in an ICU at a hospital.

IcedOmega13: Apr 11th 2008; 1:29PM

ROFLCOPTER!!
As long as it gets 1 of every major Nintendo franchise (Mario, Zelda) over a 5 year lifespan I'm sure the sales would be magical even with the current design.
What would the battery life be though?
** This just in, it harnesses the power of your inner fanboy and hopes of faster releases.

Hidesquadron1: Apr 11th 2008; 1:30PM

A fifth screen.

nerrrrrrd: Apr 11th 2008; 1:31PM

DS Lite is pretty great as is. I can't imagine what they'll do that makes people want to trade in their Lites. It's the perfect size for me. The only probably I've ever run into is that the hinges crack too easily.

Negativecool: Apr 11th 2008; 1:32PM

DS2? Now? Not likely. DS is still too hot. Why come out with the DS2 when the DS is selling like nothing ever has?

When the DS's sales cool down, then they should start TALKING about what the DS2 will be...then some time after actually produce it.

brandon_r87 : Brawl : 4897-5857-5091: Apr 11th 2008; 1:47PM

They don't mean the DS2, they mean a redesign. Like the DS Phat to DS Lite. Same hardware and games, just a different form.

Nytemare: Apr 11th 2008; 2:35PM

"When the DS's sales cool down, then they should start TALKING about what the DS2 will be...then some time after actually produce it."

LOL...I don't think the DS is going to slow down until everyone on planet earth has one. Whether it be a hand-me-down Phat or a brand spankin' new Cobalt Lite...everyone will have one >_>

samfish: Apr 11th 2008; 1:32PM

I want two or 3 cartridge slots. That way I could take more than one game with me without having to lug around cases or something.

I wouldn't complain if they replaced the D-pad with a little analog stick, either.

Lupo: Apr 12th 2008; 1:54AM

curse you, curse you and your distracting avatar samfish

Fernando Rocker: Apr 11th 2008; 1:33PM

This is just a rumour... think about it. The DS month after month is the best selling system, above the Wii, PSP, PS3 and 360, by a large margin.

They certainly don't need a new desing right now.

PSN: KillaKornbread (the shirt is a lie!): Apr 11th 2008; 1:39PM

dude it was the best selling system when they redesigned it the first time. its Nintendo, it doesnt matter. and if you havent noticed, the PSP has been closing the gap on the DS as of late and was actually beating it riding Monster Hunter (not in overall sales of course, the DS is godly there). it may not make a massive amount of sense right now but on the handheld front, Nintendo has not messed up yet, a redesign soon wouldnt surprise me at all.

Ganzor: Apr 11th 2008; 1:42PM

Virtual Boy

I remember saving my money for that thing as a kid.

Fernando Rocker: Apr 11th 2008; 1:44PM

The PSP has been outselling the DS in JP only, with the release of Monster Hunter and other titles...

Every week the DS outsells the PSP worlwide by a difference higer than 100,000.

BPM [SSBB: 5026 4120 1186]: Apr 11th 2008; 4:18PM

Not to demerit PSP's sales (it's been doing quite well; I own a PSP and love it), but the only way for the gap between PSP and DS to narrow is for DS to just suddenly STOP SELLING ENTIRELY.

Including both models of DS, it currently sits at 64.79M units sold worldwide. The PSP, both models included, has sold over 20.25M units. While not a number to sneeze it (it has, by far, out performed any non-Nintendo handheld in existence), there isn't just a gap between DS and PSP, there's the Grand Canyon!

Quite honestly, there's no chance of PSP outselling DS, overall. While it might have a week-long victory here and there, it'll never be able to catch up.

But, it isn't like that's a bad thing, either. The system still has a lot of great games on it now, and more coming (and if you say otherwise, open your eyes). Plus some pretty strong homebrew efforts (despite Sony's best attempts to lock us out).

Mr Khan: Apr 11th 2008; 4:45PM

They replaced the GBA, an incredibly well-selling system, even faster than this, though. GBA's "life-span" (which i consider to be from release to when its replaced) was only 3 years, which DS has beat with no end in sight

Really, i'm surprised they haven't announced something, given the GBA's 3-year span

PSN: KillaKornbread (the shirt is a lie!): Apr 12th 2008; 12:27AM

you guys didnt read my whole post. i simply meant that the PSP is outselling the DS Lite right now and in parenthesis i put that the PSP will never reach the DS's godly numbers. and i thought it went without saying that i was talking about Japan because i was talking about Monster Hunter which they go ape shit over in Japan.

either way, i have both a DS Lite and a PSP so i want them both to do well but that wasnt my point. my point was that it doesnt matter how well a Nintendo handheld is doing, when that 2-3 years is up, you can expect a hardware revision. the DS Phat was selling phenomenally when they replaced it with the DS Lite. i expect the same to happen again real soon.

Nincodedo: Apr 11th 2008; 1:34PM

If there's anything the DS needs, it's more cowbell.

Sora267: Apr 11th 2008; 3:08PM

I'd definitely buy the new revision if we'd get Cowbell Hero: On Tour with it.

PSN: KillaKornbread (the shirt is a lie!): Apr 11th 2008; 1:35PM

theyll probably just do the standard Nintendo handheld upgrade. make the screen brighter, make it slimmer, and maybe change the way it opens (maybe a slider or something). i think the DS Lite is great as it is though but the next thing will probably be pretty nice too if history can be any kind of indicator.

Tim The Enchanter: Apr 11th 2008; 2:05PM

Yes, nintendo's macbook air. "I'm a new soul coming to this strange world..."

Nintendo DS Lighter than Air classic.

ThePremierAssassin: Apr 11th 2008; 1:35PM

Will it have better graphics...?

Not that I'm a graphics or anything but just curious.

McWeen: Apr 11th 2008; 1:37PM

That has to be my favorite mock up ever.

Obie: Apr 11th 2008; 1:39PM

Double widescreen touchscreens, analog controls with additional buttons ( triggers maybe).

Other than that just bump up the audio and video quality and I'll buy it.

Extinction: Apr 12th 2008; 1:37PM

You mean make it a PSP and you'll buy it

donHefe: Apr 11th 2008; 1:40PM

If there is any revision I would like a snes d pad. But Nintendo releases more handhelds than games

Ganzor: Apr 11th 2008; 1:40PM

Portable Gamecube.

DangerMouse: Apr 11th 2008; 3:11PM

No thanks.

rockintom: Apr 11th 2008; 1:40PM

31 buttons, 6 d-pads, 7 joysticks, and miscellaneous weapons. *Best handheld ever*

StrangeBum: Apr 11th 2008; 2:57PM

You actually took the time to count all that?

rockintom: Apr 11th 2008; 3:28PM

Curiosity. *shrug*

umm....hello???: Apr 11th 2008; 1:42PM

they probably won't have any true revision--they'll just introduce more colors.....

XanthouS: Apr 11th 2008; 1:42PM

Picked up a DS at launch. Played it on and off. Got back into it big time a few months back (LoZ:PH, Partners in Time, New SMB, Mario Kart DS, etc).

I've felt like a dunce with my old gray phat (especially because my friends all have Lites. There have been rumblings about a new revision of the DS, and I've been holding off to pick one up. Hopefully we hear about it soon =]

343 Guilty Fart: Apr 11th 2008; 1:54PM

I'm still using my blue colored Phat. Just finished M&L: Partners in Time last night. Boy did that final boss take foreeever, 3 hours no joke! Time to start up the Phantom Hourglass I got for Christmas.

BigD145: Apr 11th 2008; 1:50PM

People still look at my old Blue Phat like it's an endangered species. I'd like my next handheld to have a better touchscreen. Make it OLED. A thinner console would only cramp up my hands. It absolutely must have a longer stylus. Anyone know a place to get the extend-o stylus for a phat?

LiK: Apr 11th 2008; 1:52PM

holy shit, that is one fugly graphic.

| 1 | 2 | 3 | Most Recent | Next 50 Comments

Add your comments

Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.

When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.

To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.