DS upgrade has camera, music player, says Nikkei Net
by Griffin McElroy 
{ Sep 28th 2008 at 2:00PM }
Nikkei Net, the online branch of the newspaper, reports that the new model will launch in Japan sometime this year. Their take on the new functions are that Nintendo may be trying to compete with other mainstream technology -- what popular portable device with a touch screen, camera, and music playback could they possibly be trying to rival?
Keep in mind, we don't have a physical copy of the newspaper this report is printed in, nor has Nintendo confirmed the new features -- so season this story with an appropriate number of salt grains.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Alvin @ Sep 28th 2008 2:03PM
you guys are a little too late, we had a BIG discussion about this on Gonintendo last night.
i hope this is true, though, i want to replace my DS Phat.
a few more days...
HighFiveJesus @ Sep 28th 2008 2:23PM
well last night i was out clubbing because it was saturday night. i really hate it when people have to point out when different websites cover a same story first, its just annoying. i suspect that the site staff were doing more eventful things with their lives
Thatoneguy64 @ Sep 28th 2008 2:23PM
Joystiq's always a little late, man.
Haggard (steam: haggard_dawn, PSN: HaggyWaggy) @ Sep 28th 2008 2:33PM
It's the weekend, all of them except Griffin are out playing with lego.
Cesaria (Gamertag: Cesaria360) @ Sep 28th 2008 2:43PM
Heaven forbid you read a story a few hours after another site.
tmacairjordan87 @ Sep 28th 2008 3:38PM
Haven't people been banned before for saying that? Or was that the "lol this isn't news" people?
TFoK (Naked Peach Defense Force) @ Sep 28th 2008 3:39PM
"Haven't people been banned before for saying that?"
Yeah, but only for repeated offenses. This isn't Nazitaku.
Extinction @ Sep 28th 2008 5:27PM
"chief among these are a camera (which the paper mentions could be integrated into gameplay),"
Which would require a minimum processing power equivalent of the PSP/PS2 and that would only give you eyetoy-level of complexity in games.
Anticrawl @ Sep 28th 2008 7:15PM
@Extinction
You're a real idiot aren't you?
samfish @ Sep 28th 2008 7:37PM
I don't think it's a huge deal that Joystiq is a little late with the news, but judging by this story's comments thread compared to GoNintendo and Kotaku's, posting a story well after the competition has an effect on the interest people have in the comments, at least.
I have no idea if Joystiq cares about how many comments a thread gets, though.
Ridgecity @ Sep 29th 2008 12:40AM
I was having sex while Nikkei was reporting...
samfish @ Sep 29th 2008 1:02AM
There's a first time for everything!
Badger_badger_badger @ Sep 28th 2008 2:03PM
Heard this on Engadget, still don't believe it.
MastrCake @ Sep 29th 2008 5:31PM
The camera I can believe. At the risk of sounding like a Nintendo PR person, Nintendo has a (recent) history of popularizing not-quite-as-popular things in the gaming industry (DS touchscreen, Wii Remote, etc.).
But cameras are nothing new to the gaming industry. But with the DS selling like hotcakes, and having a possible camera built into the DS could potentially catapult DS sales all the way out to pluto.
The problem, however, would be in the placement itself. How could you capture anything other than your face if it is integrated into games? How would your face be captured in different ways than what is already out?
I don't really know, but Miyamoto probably has something up his sleve.
Gosh, I'm gonna get low ranked...
tmacairjordan87 @ Sep 28th 2008 2:12PM
A music player? Wow Nintendo's really taking a risk by entering into 2005 territory there.
Superstar90 @ Sep 28th 2008 2:18PM
what a stupid comment
Mr Khan @ Sep 28th 2008 2:27PM
Come on, man, you can do better than that. Is that seriously the best you could come up with?
tmacairjordan87 @ Sep 28th 2008 2:31PM
Well it's true. If these are the biggest upgrades coming then what's there to get excited for? Music playback that has been on every portable device for years now and a camera that even one of the older game boys had (GB color I think it was).
They can't compete with Apple and Sony with all the tech stuff they do on their handhelds, just like they can't do it with Sony and MS on the console scene. It's just not their thing and never has been. Stick to what you know.
Superstar90 @ Sep 28th 2008 2:50PM
tell that to sony and their new "omg built in microphone!"
Cesaria (Gamertag: Cesaria360) @ Sep 28th 2008 2:51PM
I think you mean Sony can't compete with Nintendo, as the DS and Wii have clearly proven. You're just a negative nancy. Go back to your cave.
tmacairjordan87 @ Sep 28th 2008 2:54PM
Well yeah nintendo's selling more cause of the obvious casual milking, everyone knows that. Everyone also knows both systems are hugely inferior when compared to the competition and this is what I'm referring to.
Fernando Rocker @ Sep 28th 2008 2:56PM
jordan
You are talking as if Nintendo doesn't know anything about high tech.
This gen is the only one when Nintendo has the systems with the lower specs. Both the N64 and Gamecube are more advanced than the Sony consoles, and Nintendo has been even more high tech with their products. Rumble, Wavebird, analog stick as a defualt in a console, touchscreen for gaming (not saying they invented touchscreen), motion, IR Pointer... they brought all this to the masses.
And you will the next PS with motion and IR Pointer, and the next PSP with touchscreen.
GoldenS1104 @ Sep 28th 2008 2:57PM
+1 to Cesaria for use of the term "negative nancy."
Noshino @ Sep 28th 2008 2:57PM
Cesaria,
Nice way to spin it, but he was talking about technology wise, Nintendo used to be at the top of their game during the GameCube days, now look at the DS and the Wii.....I miss the old Nintendo.
Anyway, I do agree that Sony can't compete with Nintendo, but only on the marketing area, they have done a marvelous job at it.
Cesaria (Gamertag: Cesaria360) @ Sep 28th 2008 3:01PM
Who says tech is limited to graphical output? I'm pretty sure motion/IR and touch control are pretty damn technological.
Noshino @ Sep 28th 2008 3:06PM
"Rumble, Wavebird, analog stick as a defualt in a console, touchscreen for gaming (not saying they invented touchscreen), motion, IR Pointer... they brought all this to the masses."
Nando, the fact that they brought those to the masses doesn't mean that they were advanced, because most of the versions of those that Nintendo implemented were not that advanced.
tmacairjordan87 @ Sep 28th 2008 3:06PM
So is/was being able to surf the internet, watch movies and play music on a handheld (before all the ipod stuff too).
Mr Khan @ Sep 28th 2008 3:10PM
It's different in the DS's case than in the way they're running with the Wii. Though i disapprove of adding functionality to help fight the PMP (personal media player) war. Nintendo's trying to make the DS into something for everyone, as evidenced by the system they installed in Safeco field, and how they wanted it to work with airports to tell you where to go after you got off the plane. To expand the handheld audience, they have to expand functionality, but they don't have to expand functionality to expand the console audience. Its an odd contradiction
Moptimus Slime @ Sep 28th 2008 3:12PM
*answers tmac using PSP browser* ITS..............SO............ADVANCED...........!!!
don't forget to mention how awesome it is to skype and play the one game that released that month at the same time :D
/so much for "I don't support anyone there."
Titanium_Orchid @ Sep 28th 2008 3:14PM
I agree with tmac here. If Nintendo releases this, they will have basically made an iPod touch. I have never bought a DS and have been waiting for a completely new generation to be released. I hope a new hardware spec. comes out eventually.
@ Cesaria, motion control and IR tracking is not really technologically advanced. These things have existed for a looooooooooooooong time.
tmacairjordan87 @ Sep 28th 2008 3:17PM
I don't support anyone there. In fact, I had a DS at one point whereas I've never had a psp. I'm just being honest here. The psp is a stronger system and does way more than the ds, even with this upgrade. It's simple fact. I don't need to own a ferrari to know it's a better and faster car than a cavalier (although I would like one).
jackbauer @ Sep 28th 2008 3:20PM
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
http://fox.com/24/trailer/
calm down, ds will still sell like hot cakes no matter what they put into it
Noshino @ Sep 28th 2008 3:25PM
Cesaria,
Far from it, Motion Controls date back to 91 and Touchscreens from back on the 60s.
Cesaria (Gamertag: Cesaria360) @ Sep 28th 2008 3:26PM
Okay, but for consoles they are. You can get better graphics on a PC, so your point is moot.
Cesaria (Gamertag: Cesaria360) @ Sep 28th 2008 3:29PM
To clarify, I'm not saying Nintendo has invented any of this technology, but to out right say that Nintendo hasn't advanced tech just because they don't have HD is just outright ridiculous. Each system has made their own technological advancements in the CONSOLE race.
TFoK (Naked Peach Defense Force) @ Sep 28th 2008 3:38PM
"@ Cesaria, motion control and IR tracking is not really technologically advanced. These things have existed for a looooooooooooooong time."
As much as I hate using this word ever since it became Nintendo's catch phrase, it's the only thing I can say here, so, here goes...
Just because the tech has been around a long time doesn't mean it can't be advanced. One way tech can be advanced is through innovation, or using something old in a new way that either gives it new purpose or renews and makes relevant it's old purpose. I think that applying motion controls as the standard controller to a system is pretty innovative (READ: innovation doesn't always work out to it's full potential).
Titanium_Orchid @ Sep 28th 2008 3:53PM
@TfoK
I agree with you on the innovation argument, but Nintendo didn't bring motion control to games, they just popularized it.
Noshino @ Sep 28th 2008 3:54PM
"Nintendo's trying to make the DS into something for everyone"
You mean the same Nintendo that once constantly swiped at Sony for making machines that did more than just play games? OH THE IRONY
TFoK,
"Just because the tech has been around a long time doesn't mean it can't be advanced"
Are you really trying to defend Nintendo? The touchscreen is not advance nor innovative, and neither is the Wiimote...
Not matter which way you put it, it is rather naive to state that Nintendo is above its competitors on the technology advances.
Yourself @ Sep 28th 2008 4:32PM
Wait wait wait...
So you guys are arguing that a touchscreen and IR pointer weren't invented or used in a truly new fashion by Nintendo, therefore they aren't 'advanced' - but the reason that the PSP is more 'advanced' is its original features like 'web-browsers' and an 'MP3 player' (whatever that is, I feel like I'm 100 years in the future here)?
Let's all be honest here. Neither one is on the cutting edge of hardware. They aren't supposed to be. Does the PSP have higher functionality, and is it more ubiquitous? Yes. Is the DS more innovative and focused on maximizing the tech it has? Yes. The end. Advanced is too vague an idea and obviously there's no consensus here as to what it means.
And whatever they may say about the Wii, I'm pretty sure no one agrees with the statement that the DS is "hugely inferior to the competition".
tmacairjordan87 @ Sep 28th 2008 4:36PM
The DS is absolutely inferior to the competition, perhaps even more so than the difference between the wii and 360/ps3. DS puts out about N64 quality graphics, probably slightly higher and the PSP puts out near ps2-level graphics.
I'm not quite sure what the power of the iphone is, although I remember seeing somoene say it's more powerful than a DS and PSP combined. Even then, once you add all of the stuff an iphone can do it dwarfs the DS by comparison.
Noshino @ Sep 28th 2008 5:13PM
Yourself,
If you don't mind, point out where I mentioned that the PSP is more advanced?
All I said is that the PSP IS much more powerful in comparison to the DS. Not only that, the DS is a really weak device for today's standards, to say otherwise, is rather naive.
So let's be honest here, why don't you admit that the PSP is a powerful device and the DS is a rather weak one, because even I have accepted that despite its flaws, the DS is a successful machine
Cesaria (Gamertag: Cesaria360) @ Sep 28th 2008 5:37PM
tmac, you just. don't. get it. *facepalm*
tmacairjordan87 @ Sep 28th 2008 5:41PM
I think you're the one not getting it. If you want to discuss the power between DS and N64 then you might have something to argue about there.
Yourself @ Sep 28th 2008 5:57PM
Noshino -
You didn't. I wasn't contending against you in particular, just the general argument of t-things for which you provided support. If you look at this quote-
"Nando, the fact that they brought those to the masses doesn't mean that they were advanced, because most of the versions of those that Nintendo implemented were not that advanced."
- in the context of the discussion, you can see where the implication would be that Nintendo is not advanced in comparison to Sony.
The introduction of the word "powerful" did not occur until after I pointed out the weakness of using features as a technological comparison, though you're absolutely right and I could not but agree that the PSP is significantly more powerful than the DS. Though I do find it interesting that somehow things fell suddenly to graphics, when clearly that was not the basis of the argument before.
Terms like "weak" and "inferior" still have little clear definition or bearing here. Again, we need to look at technology in its function and focus, not simply its quantity. While the PSP has a higher graphical output and more features, and is therefore along with the iPhone a better PMP than the DS, the DS is undeniably the more sophisticated gaming device, as all of its technology is focused on that purpose.
Look at it this way: the DS may be in 1996 in terms of hardware output, but the PSP is in 1996 in terms of software capabilities (software here referring to games).
Noshino @ Sep 28th 2008 6:35PM
"Though I do find it interesting that somehow things fell suddenly to graphics, when clearly that was not the basis of the argument before."
Graphics? I was talking in general, the PSP's CPU is much more powerful that that of the DS. It would be rather silly to just talk about graphics.
"Terms like "weak" and "inferior" still have little clear definition or bearing here."
I didn't say inferior, and by weak, like I mentioned before, I was talking about the raw power of it, which like I stated before, is weak for today's standards (and even for it's time)
"the DS is undeniably the more sophisticated gaming device, as all of its technology is focused on that purpose."
Sorry, but I have to completely disagree with you here, the DS is not sophisticated in any way possible, actually, its the opossite, its the simplest one. And your argument about its "technology" (which I believe you mean its software?) just reinforces my statement, the DS's touchscreen use is simple.
"the DS may be in 1996 in terms of hardware output, but the PSP is in 1996 in terms of software capabilities (software here referring to games)."
Im sorry? back in 96 one could have only dreamt of games such as the ones available on the PSP, Im sorry, but based on this point I have to call you a blind fanboy.
Yourself @ Sep 28th 2008 7:32PM
Okay, the following may be the longest Joystiq post ever. I apologize for anyone scrolling and fully expect no one to read it, but I am inexorably long-winded and always do enjoy making my point.
Sigh, I never thought I'd see the day I was called a fanboy. :shrug:
Anyway, let's clear one thing up first. You and I aren't having a direct conversation in this comment thread. There has been direct speech, but I never said you used the word "inferior" or discussed graphics. However, others did, and I was addressing their comments and yours, all at the same time, if you can believe that. Power and graphics are not equatable terms, but they are nonetheless in this discussion equivalent, in that their influence of game design itself, at the level we're discussing, is minor, as it has been since the introduction of 3D. Not trivial, mind you, minor.
Moving on: I'm curious as the the fundamental design types realized on the PSP that weren't possible on the N64 or PSX. There are plenty of racing games, fighting games, RPGs and action games, but I have yet to see a concept that wasn't realized, or at least possible, over a decade ago. Certainly there are plenty of excellent games - in a few years I'm sure I'll grab a cheap PSP and eat up Patapon, Jeanne de Arc, and so on, but none of these titles extend beyond the capabilities of the PS2, and the PS2 never really expanded beyond the N64 in any aspect aside from polish (open worlds being an example thereof).
The 3D gaming archetype has been relatively firmly set at this point - it's why developers have had especial trouble making games for Wii. That's not necessarily a bad thing - as we've seen, many games that stray too far from the beaten path just aren't good. But between Chrono Trigger, Ocarina of Time, Super Mario 64, Half-Life, Soul Calibur, and Grand Turismo, you have the basis of a hierarchy from which very little has over the years deviated.
Enter the DS. The majority of titles on the DS, do, admittedly, fall unto these constraints. Nonetheless, the potential is available and at times actualized for something more refined. Innovation is not really the relevant term here, as though we have seen it, it has no value in its own right. The additional hardware need not be used - touch control and microphone can both fall to the wayside - to in effect create a PSP game, albeit with lesser graphics and perhaps closer walls. And at the other end of the spectrum, the additional input can be treated as a game in and of itself, and thereby also fail - see the first generation of DS games. But one can take a classic gaming design, a derivative of the archetypes, and implement the additional input in a way so as to circumvent the shortcomings of traditional control, or to enhance tactility. Prime examples would be Meteos, Phantom Hourglass, and The World Ends With You. Transpose these games into the 90s, and though they may still exist, they would lack a fundamental design element. Such is not the case with any PSP game, of which at least I know.
Vidikron @ Sep 28th 2008 7:48PM
Guys, it's real simple. Pretty much nothing Nintendo does is technologically advanced. Motion controls have been around for a LONG TIME. Even MS had a motion Sidewinder controller years ago in the PC market. Same with IR pointers.
What Nintendo has knack for is timing and marketing. Motion controllers have been nothing more than 3rd party devices and failed peripherals in the past, but then Nintendo comes along and builds a cheap system around the technology at the same time the other guys are building expensive machines and then markets it toward the casual crowd and has a hit. The tech is nothing special, but the pricing and change in marketing equaled a hit.
There's no real mystery as to what happened here. They knew they couldn't compete doing what they had been doing. I personally think they simply look as the DS vs PSP, saw the success there, and then tried to recreate the same conditions in the home console market. DS touch screen (again, touch screens are OLD) = Wii IR/motion controls. DS price vs PSP price = Wii pricing vs 360/PS3 pricing. Timing and marketing. I personally think most of their games are boring and their systems are flooded with absolute garbage, but I can't deny their marketing prowess.
Anticrawl @ Sep 28th 2008 7:58PM
None of you sound like handheld gamers. Things that make a handheld system best are: great battery life, easy to pick up and play games in short bursts, and quick bootup/loadtimes. Now you tell me which has better hardware? I'm not talking about which is bloated with needless features but which is the more effective and thus advanced system. I own both the PSP and the DS and the neweer slimmer models of each as well and honestly I actually play my Famicom gameboy micro the most followed by the DS, whereas my PSP is caked with dust and the only time I play it is to hop into LocoRoco or X-Men Legends for some portable bliss (by the way I have owned dozens of games for the PSP, but those stand out as among the greatest in terms of portable fun.)
Anticrawl @ Sep 28th 2008 8:07PM
To top it all off the PSP is marketed towards the hip and trendy douchebag crowd who want the device for status. There aren't a great many games that satisfy the needs of a hardcore handheld gamer. The gameboy dominates this area with classic side scroller shooters and rpgs, the follows a great deal behind and the PSP has nothing to really offer in this department. And before you jump the gun on me I have tried a plethora of games for each system and don't even try to clump in the shooters on the PSP into the hardcore genre just because they are adult oriented... seriously have you tried to play a shooter on the PSP? Go out and buy Syphon Filter or Battlefront. I almost cried I had spent so much on those games, sure the online function made them really interesting and it worked flawlessly but it was a terrible experience otherwise. The handheld market is defined differently than console gaming and most commenters here have no idea what they are talking about in that regard. The one thing Nintendo has always done correct is their handhelds and pretty much the only reason I still enjoy their company. Sony gets my money for their TV's and movies, Microsoft for their OS and 360, and Nintendo for the gameboy and to a lesser extent the DS.
Vidikron @ Sep 28th 2008 10:58PM
@Anticrawl
I think you're partially right. The DS definitely has more pick-up-n-play games that are fit for the portable market. But there's still plenty of great software for the PSP. The DS is pretty much shit for 3D. There's a few decent ones, but most look pretty bad. The is where the PSP excels compared the DS. The problem is 3D games really nead dual alanog to control properly. Sony gimped their system when they left off the second analog stick. That's what everyone wants. Everytime there's a new revision you'll see dozens of comments from people condemning the lack of the second stick. Had they done that from the start I think they would have a bigger share of the market now... though not as big as the DS, of course. Either way, the PSP has done OK. No other portable has survived and sold as much going against the Nitendo portable juggernaut. It's really not done as bad as most make it out.