Joystiq

New PS3 model torn apart, internals exposed

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 14:30:00 EST

The probing, ever-busy fingers of iFixit have done it again, this time disassembling the freshly redesigned PS3. Apart from a sticker, a security screw and a tricky power supply, the site dubs the super slim PS3 fairly easy to take apart (and potentially repair). Head over to iFixit for the full teardown. Just be warned that it might not be safe for work; this PS3 gets awfully exposed.

New PS3 model torn apart, internals exposed originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hulu Plus overhauled on PSN, now with colorful pictures

Jessica Conditt — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST

The Hulu Plus app on PS3 is redesigned to include "larger, more vivid artwork" that is easier to navigate than the previous layout, principal software development lead Daniel Bear writes on the PlayStation Blog.

The new design has movies and TV shows in a "tray-style" format with programs recommended based on individual viewing history, popular shows, top 100 clips and trailers, similar to the Netflix layout. It also includes a "Shows You Watch" option for quick access to the latest episodes of regularly viewed content. Search results now appear directly below the search and the playback interface has been overhauled.

Check out the details on PSN or on the blog post.

Hulu Plus overhauled on PSN, now with colorful pictures originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SpyParty redesign: The new art of espionage

Jessica Conditt — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 12:10:00 EST

Last year, animator John Cimino turned down a cushy position at Zynga, pre-IPO, to work out of Chris Hecker's garage redesigning Hecker's ambitious, notorious indie game SpyParty. Cimino worked in secret since September 2011 to transform the primary colors and block-based skeletons of SpyParty's characters into the artistic, realistic designs revealed today.

Hecker calls the new style "illustrative," and he's extremely pleased with it.

"We spent a ton of time trying to figure out the best possible art style for the game," Hecker tells Joystiq. "We really wanted the art style to reflect the same level of subtlety that the gameplay has. I didn't want it to be too realistic or too exaggerated, and I think we hit it on this really nice, call it naturalistic or illustrative - they look like illustrations. I'm super excited."

Gallery: Spyparty (new graphical style; 8/27/12)

Continue reading SpyParty redesign: The new art of espionage

SpyParty redesign: The new art of espionage originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New PlayStation 3 model may be in the works, FCC filing suggests

JC Fletcher — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 11:21:00 EST

A new filing on the FCC database shows what appears to be a new model of PlayStation 3. Most of the information is confidential by request, but a diagram showing the location of the FCC ID (above) suggests a hardware configuration that is shaped differently from the existing PS3 Slim - in fact, it's closer in shape to the original PS3.

From the diagram alone, it's impossible to tell how this potential model differs in size. Perhaps it's tiny like a PSOne. Or perhaps it's just a slight cosmetic modification that will result in a functionally identical system. Develop reported rumors that this new model will be officially revealed at Gamescom; we're checking in with Sony, but it's likely we won't hear anything official until the convention.

New PlayStation 3 model may be in the works, FCC filing suggests originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Jul 2012 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DmC's Dante isn't gay, he's just the victim of sensationalist demon news

Jessica Conditt — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 15:00:00 EST

When the news anchor in this Devil May Cry trailer called Dante a "sexual deviant," the connotations of such a phrase harkened back to eras of gross intolerance of homosexuality in the 70s and 80s, and led us and others on Twitter to question if this new Dante might, himself, be gay.

"No, he's not gay," Ninja Theory chief designer Tameem Antoniades told us at E3, while Capcom's Motohide Eshiro laughed in the background. His translator said it wasn't the first time they'd been asked. "But I kind of wish he was now," Antoniades said.

The news anchor, it turns out, is a demon, and his radical, extremist views on human morality mean he will say anything to villainize Dante in Limbo City, even reverting to out-dated, irreverent labels such as "terrorist" and "sexual deviant" in loud, alarmist segments. Thankfully we don't have anything like that in reality.

Dante's redesign stems from Capcom Japan giving Ninja Theory complete creative control over the new title. Capcom wants to connect with the western market in a bold and distinctive way and, to Ninja Theory, that means Dante's new appearance, portraying him with short brown hair, a lean body and sleeping naked, apparently.

Dante is a rebel in every sense of the word: His sword is named Rebellion, he's part angel and demon rolled into a fleshy human body, and he's out to destroy Lilith, the demon in control of Limbo City. Anything else you may hear about his character may just be over-hyped lies disguised as truth -- or news.

DmC's Dante isn't gay, he's just the victim of sensationalist demon news originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Redesigned Wii U tablet shown off by TT Games QA guy [update]

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 19 May 2012 17:13:00 EST

A QA tester at TT Games (Lego Harry Potter, Lego Star Wars, et al.) has tweeted an image of a Wii U tablet that appears to have undergone a redesign since we saw one out in the wild during last year's E3.

Most importantly, the concave 3DS-esque circle pads have been replaced with Wii-style analog sticks. The Wii U logo has been moved to the bottom left-hand side of the unit, while the plus and minus buttons have been moved to the right. Two mysterious button-ish indentations exist below the d-pad and between the power button and battery life indicator; their function, if any, remains unclear. Click here for an omega hyper resolution version.

Update: Well that didn't take long! The tweet in question has been removed, but a screenshot of said tweet has been safely ensconced after the break.

Additionally, eagle-eyed commenter Anthony noticed a couple more disparities between this unit and those seen at E3, namely that the Home button appears to be surrounded by an Xbox 360-style ring light, and that the tablet's edges look more dramatically beveled than previously seen. We've also noticed that the gates surrounding the analog sticks are circular, rather than octagonal, as seen on the Wii Nunchuk and Classic Controller.

Continue reading Redesigned Wii U tablet shown off by TT Games QA guy [update]

Redesigned Wii U tablet shown off by TT Games QA guy [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 19 May 2012 17:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New European Wii model loses GameCube compatibility

JC Fletcher — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 09:45:00 EST

It's officially a trend. One day after Sony introduced a cheaper, less functional PSP for Europe, Nintendo has announced a new "value Wii" for the region, though no price was given. The new Wii, according to Nintendo UK, is designed to sit horizontally instead of vertically (although the original Wii can technically do both, so we aren't sure what the distinction is). The other major alteration is the loss of GameCube backward compatibility -- both games and accessories.

This new model (we've dubbed it the "Wii Jr.") will be released sometime before Christmas, in a bundle with a Wii Remote Plus, Nunchuk, Wii Party and Wii Sports. Other bundles will also be forthcoming. Eurogamer posted the above picture, and also got word from Nintendo that the company will "focus on the new Wii Bundle/s going forward," suggesting it won't coexist with the current model. Bye, GameCube!

New European Wii model loses GameCube compatibility originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New PS3 models (2500 series) tested by FCC

Andrew Yoon — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

As spotted by Engadget a few days ago, the FCC has tested new PS3 models, including a new debugging station. CECH-2501, as listed, undoubtedly features a few changes from the current Slim series: CECH-2100. Sony has tweaked the PS3 hardware over the years (with many minor changes unannounced to the public). Likely, this new hardware continues Sony's cost-cutting measures. But will it feature any consumer-oriented changes? Perhaps we'll find out tomorrow at Sony's E3 press conference.

New PS3 models (2500 series) tested by FCC originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Pictures show 'slim' PS3 model in production

JC Fletcher — Thu, 14 May 2009 09:30:00 EST

We hope you like salt, because you should take these images with a couple of handfuls of it. Game Column & Blog has posted what could be pictures of the outer shell and box for an unannounced, slimmed-down PlayStation 3.

The purported new model swaps out the shiny 'Piano Black' exterior for a textured look like that of the PS2, and, for some reason, ditches the Spider-Man font for a logo that is also more in line with the PS2. Actually, now that we think about it, it makes a lot of sense to model an upcoming PS3 redesign after the still-successful PS2.

These pictures arrive amidst rumors that, in addition to the (rumored) PSP Go!, some other new Sony hardware may be unveiled at E3. If those rumors are true, and if the new hardware is a PS3, then ... these pictures could still be fake.

[Via Mr. Universal]

Rumor: Pictures show 'slim' PS3 model in production originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 May 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayStation Blog redesign imminent

Jem Alexander — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:30:00 EST

Filed under: News

It looks like the PlayStation Blog will be undergoing a bit of a redesign and, as a result, will be down for a short time on Monday. We're promised that it should be back with us by 9am PST. When it does return it'll have some funky new features and a slightly different layout, as you can see from the screenshot above (click it for a higher res version over at Sony's flickr page).

New features include complete integration of all Sony's web 2.0 activity, including a Twitter ticker and easy links to facebook, viddler and flickr. There will also be a list of recent posts, so that whenever you happen to wake up you will be able to easily see what you've missed since your last visit. This is just the beginning -- the PlayStation Blog will continue to evolve over time (with some pretty cool upcoming features, we might add) and they're looking for your feedback. So leave a comment and let them know what you want to see.

PlayStation Blog redesign imminent originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo announces Nintendo DSi

Chris Greenhough — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:52:00 EST

Filed under: News

Click image to enter our DSi gallery!

Nintendo's Media Summit has just thrown us its first juicy bone of the night, and it's a big one. As was previously rumored, Satoru Iwata has revealed the Nintendo DSi, the direct successor to the DS Lite which comes absolutely jam-packed with new features and trinkets, including two cameras, music playback functions, expanded screens, an SD card slot, and a whole new, DS-specific download service. Hit the break for the full list of improvements and adjustments, as well as the Japanese launch date and price!

Continue reading Nintendo announces Nintendo DSi

Nintendo announces Nintendo DSi originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DS Daily: Is your wallet ready?

JC Fletcher — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: DS Daily

No, we're not going to stop talking about this new DS thing until it's in our hands (or turns out to have been some prank or something). With a proposed Japanese release by the end of this year, we could be facing a new money-spending situation this holiday.

Were you expecting to buy new hardware this year? Are you ready to do so? Are you shuffling your game-buying plans around? Nintendo fans are fiercely loyal, so we expect many of you may have already tried to preorder the thing.

DS Daily: Is your wallet ready? originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii Warm Up: The next big thing

Alisha Karabinus — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Wii Warm Up

Today, over at DS Fanboy, we're discussing the probable changes to the DS Lite, and of course, it's gotten us thinking a little about Wii adjustments. Do you think we'll see a beefed-up version of the little white console? There are some issues with it, certainly, but Nintendo has concentrated most of their hardware re-releases to handhelds in the past.

If you think we will see a Wii-plus, what do you think it'll have? Storage? DVD playback? Something utterly useless? When will it hit?

Wii Warm Up: The next big thing originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 28 Sep 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DS Daily: What would you have done?

Alisha Karabinus — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 10:25:00 EST

Filed under: DS Daily

Last night's breaking rumor about a DS redesign came seemingly out of nowhere, but with the next Nintendo conference right around the corner, maybe it's not such a surprise as all that. What we did find surprising were the purported changes in the redesign. Camera? Music? Interesting, sure, but how many of us are already strapped with devices that handle those functions just fine? Is this what you would have chosen for the next DS?

DS Daily: What would you have done? originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 28 Sep 2008 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japanese newspaper details new camera-equipped DS

JC Fletcher — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 22:14:00 EST

Filed under: News

This is fairly huge, and fairly believable! Japanese business newspaper Nikkei posted an article describing features in an upcoming new DS model set for this year, designed with the intention of competing with the iPhone and other mobile devices. According to the article, the new hardware will include a camera and music playback functionality. The camera will be integrated into gameplay, which suggests that it may be more of a new system than an upgrade. It also features the ability to connect with "information terminals" to get location-sensitive information, which we know Nintendo has looked into. There's even more in the print version of the same article. It states that the device will cost less than 20,000 yen.

A removed article on the site Monex.co.jp (screenshot available at the NeoGAF link) said that the new DS will feature the ability to share data with the Wii via the SD slot, as well as larger screens.

We wonder what that Nintendo Media Summit is going to be about.

[Via NeoGAF, Game|Life]

Japanese newspaper details new camera-equipped DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 27 Sep 2008 22:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DS Daily: New DS or 'new' DS?

JC Fletcher — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: DS Daily

Rumors of new DS hardware keep popping up and, like errant plastic moles, they get bopped by the tethered mallet of, uh, Nintendo's unwillingness to respond to rumors. No matter what Nintendo doesn't say, we can expect some kind of new DS system at some point in the future.

Would you rather see a new refresh of the current DS, made to play the same games that current systems do, or a new DS that plays new games? A DS Liter or a DS 2, so to speak? Are you ready for developers to move on to an upgraded system?

DS Daily: New DS or 'new' DS? originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DS redesign speculation returns, gets quashed

Chris Greenhough — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: News, Rumors

Like a bad penny, talk of a redesigned DS never seems to go away for long (we can't resist gossiping about the prospect ourselves). Many predicted an announcement at E3, only for the LA event to pass without incident, but now the speculation is back with a vengeance, courtesy of Kotaku and "several industry sources" that aren't Nintendo. According to the whispers, the next DS will release early next year, and will feature screens that are slightly bigger than the current model, both of which will be touchscreens. Dual touchscreens? Amazingly, it's a possibility that we haven't seen discussed yet, and a fairly intriguing one!

Sadly, an industry source that is Nintendo has since dismissed such idle chatter as a load of old baloney to GamesIndustry.biz, though they used the more professional "rumor and speculation." Not that such denials mean a great deal nowadays.

Source: New DS! -- Internet
Source: Not! -- Nintendo

DS redesign speculation returns, gets quashed originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo deems new DS 'rumor and speculation'

Ludwig Kietzmann — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo DS

Nintendo has politely informed GamesIndustry.biz that claims of a new DS -- one equipped with twice as many touch screens -- fall under the nebulous and frenziedly debated category of "rumors and speculation." The story initially originated on Kotaku, which suggested that the new DS model would not be announced until early next year. More likely, you can expect to hear about it the day after Nintendo UK's David Yarnton pretends he's never heard of it.

Nintendo deems new DS 'rumor and speculation' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DS Daily: Here we go again

Alisha Karabinus — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: DS Daily

For the last few months, we've been back and forth on the redesign issue. Will it happen? Won't it? We almost convinced ourselves that we'd hear something at E3, but Nintendo was pretty mum on the DS in general, but for a few exceptions. Now that all that's over, however, we're back in the fray, with all-new rumors of a DS redesign. Michael Pachter is the latest to throw his name into the ring of redesign predictions, and it makes sense that he's said we'll see the new DS debut in Japan, as the DS is as important an accessory there as, say, shoes. But are we ready to start believing again? Are we just setting ourselves up for all new heartbreak and despair?

DS Daily: Here we go again originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 03 Aug 2008 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DS Daily: Redesign disappointment

Candace Savino — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: DS Daily

E3 has come and gone, and to the surprise of some of us, Nintendo didn't announce a DS redesign. How do you feel about that? Are you disappointed? Or, maybe you're relieved that you won't be tempted to buy new hardware anytime soon? Either way, let us know what you think about the lack of a redesign announcement from Nintendo.

Also, out of curiosity -- what would your ideal DS redesign include?

DS Daily: Redesign disappointment originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 19 Jul 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DS Daily: The latest rumor

Alisha Karabinus — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Rumors, DS Daily

The redesign rumors just won't stop, will they? The latest cuts the GBA slot, may or may not add an accelerometer, and reduces the size of the already-slim handheld ... and may just come with a sizeable price cut. Think it's viable? If you wanted a redesign, is this what you had in mind?

DS Daily: The latest rumor originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IGN: Activision accelerometer means slimmed-down DS?

Kyle Orland — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo DS

As E3 gets closer, the speculation about what will be announced at the show gets more and more out there. So now that E3 is actually here, we get this post from IGN's Matt Cassamassina positing that Activision is working on an accelerometer-equipped, tilt-sensitive attachment for the Nintendo DS' Game Boy Advance slot. Nothing too surprising about that news, but the post jumps off from there to suggest Nintendo is also working on a similar tilt-sensing cart for the DS slot. Why would they do such a thing? Because Nintendo is planning to release a new DS without a Game Boy Advance slot, of course.

Yes, IGN buried the lede a bit, suggesting two paragraphs down that "trusted insiders that Nintendo" say a new, slimmed-down DS (a la the Game Boy Micro) could be coming out soon. The new unit would have no GBA slot (thereby explaining the need for tilt-sensitive DS carts) and come in at a cool sub-$100 price, if IGN is to be believed. Of course, IGN still considers everything it writes just a rumor. We'll know soon enough, as anything from Activision or Nintendo would likely be revealed at their press conference tomorrow.

IGN: Activision accelerometer means slimmed-down DS? originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E308: New DS rumors abound

Alisha Karabinus — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:15:00 EST

Filed under: Rumors

Here we go -- with the Nintendo press briefing just hours away, the rumor brigade in Los Angeles is kicking things into high gear, and there are all sorts of rumblings about the DS. According to IGN, a number of things may or may not happen this week, including but not limited to:

Activision (wait, didn't they bail on E3? No matter; they have their own presentation coming up tomorrow night) announcing a(nother) DS peripheral that will add tilt and motion functionality to the handheld via the GBA slot
The next Tony Hawk game is rumored to be the first to use the Activision peripheral
Nintendo is preparing to provide built-in tilt and motion within the carts of some upcoming games

But the most interesting thing from the rumor mill is the big possibility we've been discussing of late: DS Micro ahoy! Word is that Nintendo may be preparing to release that redesigned handheld after all, but per these rumors, it looks like the new design is not meant to supplant the current Lite model -- which explains the color explosion. The slimmed-down DS may sacrifice the GBA slot and could possibly feature that accelerometer functionality built-in. The best part? We may be looking at a drastically-reduced price -- IGN is talking about a DS that's $100 cheaper than the current model.

Our own JC Fletcher is on the ground in LA as we speak, and David Hinkle is en route, so we hope to have more information -- or at least, more rumors -- for you soon. Whatever happens, we'll probably be scratching off a few of our DS predictions very soon.

E308: New DS rumors abound originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo Power teases DS owners with a faux redesign [update]

Phil Larsen — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Rumors

Some are awful, some are amazing. Yes, the DS has precisely one gazillion "concept" models floating around the place, from fans who want their own particular quirks included with the ~~inevitable~~ possible redesign of the handheld. Nintendo Power has featured this image with an advertisement for Disgaea DS and Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure, and although it looks pretty cool, it's extraordinarily doubtful that one of the most talked-about rumors in the history of the DS has just awkwardly been confirmed via this image. Bogus, but neat!

It's pretty much the same thing as the DS Lite now, only with bigger screens. Which is more or less exactly what the DS needs -- the rest is spot on. The fact that the bottom screen is misaligned with the top screen lends evidence to some guy taking one too many coffee breaks during his Photoshop training. Looks rad, not official -- redesign will probably come soon anyway. Watch this space for all E3 Nintendo revelations!

Update: Just as we thought, Nintendo denied that this widescreen DS is a representation of a new unit, stating this is "purely rumor and speculation."

[Via Aeropause]

Nintendo Power teases DS owners with a faux redesign [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wishful tinkering: Redesigning the 360 Dashboard

Randy Nelson — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:25:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Microsoft Xbox 360

As Sony continues to evolve the PS3's user interface, is Microsoft resting on its laurels? After it nixed the expected spring Dashboard update, we began to suspect something was up. The gang at The Fanboys postulate that a refresh of the Dashboard could well be in the cards, and have produced a very compelling deconstruction / reconstruction of their own.

They reckon that only about 12% of the Dashboard's current screen real estate is devoted to actual user-specific content. Their speculative "dream" design addresses that, along with the still not-quite-there content location features. It's a really great read ... and hopefully something MS takes a look at.

Wishful tinkering: Redesigning the 360 Dashboard originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Counterpoint: No redesign this year

Alisha Karabinus — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:00:00 EST

Sure, it may seem pretty likely that we'll see a DS redesign eventually, but will it be this year? Despite the coy denials so reminiscent of the weeks leading up to the last redesign announcement, it just doesn't seem like the right time for a new DS.

In the past, Nintendo has adhered to a pretty predictable cycle on redesigning their handhelds. Every year and a half to two years or so, it's time for a new model. But no handheld has ever been quite like the DS. It's everywhere. Your grandmother just may own one (or more), and because of that incredible success, Nintendo can afford to break out of that cycle and take a little extra time. Sales of the DS in Japan may be flagging a little of late, due to the PSP actually selling, but the system still boasts extremely robust numbers and is consistently in the top three there amongst hardware. The story is the same here in the U.S.: the DS continues to sell like crazy. Why put out a new DS now? It seems to make much more sense to simply wait a while, until sales actually start to drop off.

In the meantime, Nintendo boosts sales of the Lite by releasing new colors, which they have suddenly started doing a lot more outside Japan. That seems to be another sign that we're still not quite ready for a redesign. Nintendo may make some less-than-brilliant decisions at times, but announcing a new design mere months (or weeks, if we see more colors this year, as is rumored) after the release of new colors may have a negative impact on sales. Sure, that new sparkly-striped-gold-plated rainbow Lite is spiffy, but if you're about to buy the new Ultra Lite anyway, would you drop an additional hundred-plus dollars? Probably not. You'd wait to check out the new model instead.

Some could argue that colors are now going to multiple regions in order to get rid of back stock, but c'mon -- are there really piles of DS Lites lying around unsold? Considering that we still have occasional DS shortages, it doesn't seem likely. Also, we're still getting brand new colors on top of the shades that are just now becoming available in new regions, and it's not like those were piled up. Would we really get new colors now if we were about to see a new DS? It just doesn't make sense.

Next year, maybe, Nintendo will get around to tweaking the DS design further. This year, we'll see more peripherals and accessories instead, and a focus on the Wii, because there's just no reason to do anything else.


Expect it!	Back	Your thoughts?

Counterpoint: No redesign this year originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 May 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DS redesign: You decide!

David Hinkle — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:00:00 EST

Okay, folks. You've read the arguments for and against a redesign of the DS this year, so now it's time to weigh in. Cast your vote in our poll below and make your voice heard!

View Poll

		placeholdertxt
Not this year, no way!	Back

DS redesign: You decide! originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 May 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Point: Uh, yeah, it totally will get redesigned

David Hinkle — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Features

While we all think it would be totally rad if Nintendo issued either another redesigned DS model or a whole new handheld unit altogether, certain things must be considered first. Like, will it make Nintendo some money? Also, is there a demand? And, finally, is the DS as it is now outdated and no longer a viable option for the consumer?

Let's look at the facts, folks:

The original Game Boy released in 1989 and saw several revisions, including a color change in 1995, a smaller system in the Game Boy Pocket in 1996, the Game Boy Light in 1997 and the Game Boy Color in 1998
The Game Boy Advance released in 2001 and saw 2 revisions before it was officially retired, with the Game Boy Advance SP releasing in 2003 and the Game Boy Advance Micro releasing in 2005
The original DS was released in 2004 and since has received one revision, in the DS Lite, which released in 2006

But, this is not all that needs be considered. For one, the DS Lite is still selling incredibly well, and Nintendo might think to adopt the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" plan of attack on this one, choosing to sit back and let the thing sell as long as it possibly can. However, due to the lowering manufacturing costs and Nintendo's profit on each unit sold, a revision with newer features might be manufactured for the same, or a very similar, price. This would allow Nintendo to sell the new unit at a higher price than the DS Lite and make even more money on each handheld sold. There goes the answer to the first question.

What about demand? Well, the demand for the existing DS Lite is there, but we'll be the first to tell you that, while we love the handheld , it's not perfect. Alterations in the best interest of the handheld may still be made, including generic improvements such as improving battery life and the like.If the people still love the DS Lite, we find little reason for them not to upgrade and froth at the mouth for something like a DS Liter.

What about its use to the consumer? Does it still remain a great choice for the general consumer? Sure, but in technology years, the thing is like a Brontosauras with Jesus resting comfortably on top of it. What we're saying is, the thing is old. While its appeal may never go away thanks to the easy control scheme and mountains of amazing titles available for it, one cannot ignore the competition. As new features are released everyday for Sony's PSP system, the DS Lite is increasingly dwarfed by the technological wizardry capable with Sony's handheld. If Nintendo went with a new version of the DS, we'd like to see them implement some of the more standard technological features that exist in other handheld devices on the market.

So will Nintendo release a revision to the DS? Sure, whether it's a new handheld entirely or a new DS, Nintendo would be crazy not to build on what they have with the DS Lite. Will we see it at E3 this year? This blogger thinks so, because, to be honest, what other megatons could they possibly drop on us?

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	Back	Not so fast there!

Point: Uh, yeah, it totally will get redesigned originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 May 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Point/Counterpoint: Will a DS redesign be announced this year?

Alisha Karabinus — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Point/Counterpoint

Lately, there's been a lot of discussion over whether or not Nintendo is planning a redesign of the wildly successful DS Lite. The rumors surfaced, and were drowned in a wave of denials ... but those denials were suspiciously similar to the things we heard when Nintendo was busily denying the move from Phat to Lite prior to the launch of the newer model.

Nintendo redesigns things, especially when it comes to their handhelds. They love to launch the new model, the smaller, better design, and it seems likely that they'll continue that cycle with the DS. But will we see it this year? That's the question on the table today, and we'll look at both possibilities. After that, it's up to you to decide whether or not Nintendo will announce a new DS this year.


		Oh, it's coming.

Point/Counterpoint: Will a DS redesign be announced this year? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 May 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NES gets digital plastic surgery

Candace Savino — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fan stuff

Before you fall to the ground from being stunned by such a beautiful NES, please note: it's a concept art, not a mod. We wish it were real, though, because we could definitely see ourselves clamoring to buy oldschool systems if they came in pretty packages like this. From the sleek shape, to the coloring, to the LEDs, to the controllers, the whole thing is just incredibly yummy. The best part is that it looks great without deviating too much from the original model -- kind of like Wii Fanboy's idea for a redesigned (and upgraded) Wii console.

Spanish digital artist Javier Segovia deserves the credit for this one. Nintendo, please take note. And be sure to check out some of the other retro mods we've featured here on the site in our gallery below!

[Via Kotaku]

NES gets digital plastic surgery originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 May 2008 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo denies DS redesign ... again

Chris Greenhough — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: News

As the clock ticks ever closer to E3, Nintendo continues to deny that a DS redesign is in the works. The only problem? They keep denying it, and that arouses the suspicions of naturally suspicious people -- naturally suspicious people like us.

The company has already swatted away claims made by Enterbrain president Hirokazu Hamamura (not once, but twice), and has now issued another denial to GamesRadar, stating that "everything reported online is pure speculation and rumor," and that "a new model will be brought to the market when we can not offer new ideas with the current model." According to the firm, there's plenty of ideas left to "enrich the lives of people who own a Nintendo DS."

Call us conspiracy theory nutjobs all you like, but there's actually a ton of very good reasons to believe a DS Lite follow-up is coming. Sales of the DS hardware are dropping in Japan as the PSP romps ahead (after getting a redesign itself), DS piracy is becoming increasingly widespread, and hey, Nintendo redesigns stuff. It's what the company does.

Nintendo denies DS redesign ... again originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 May 2008 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DS Daily: You make the call

David Hinkle — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: DS Daily

One of the big stories we've been following here at DS Fanboy is the rumor of us seeing a new DS at this year's E3. Whether it just be a more slim and sleek version of the DS Lite, or a complete redesign, we're hopeful that Nintendo will provide us with a more appealing handheld to plunk money down on this summer.

What do you all think, though? What are the odds that we could see a new DS from Nintendo at this year's show? Do you find it highly likely, or are we just getting our hopes up for no reason?

DS Daily: You make the call originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Enterbrain denies 'redesigned DS' claims

Chris Greenhough — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: News

That redesign of the redesigned Nintendo DS? Not happening. Or at least, not yet. It's not just Nintendo that says so, either. Now the source of the original rumor, Japanese publisher Enterbrain, has released a statement denying that president Hirokazu Hamamura ever suggested a new DS would show up at E3 in July, as originally reported by Bloomberg.

"No such statement or announcement was made by the president," read the statement, adding that "He did not [...] make a comment about the possibility of an announcement by Nintendo concerning a new model or successor to the Nintendo DS due to its current scarce product availability caused by its worldwide popularity."

Looks like another case of mistranslation, then. As for Hirokazu Hamamura himself, he was last spotted being hurriedly bundled into a black car with tinted windows by several burly men in suits and shades. Probably.

Enterbrain denies 'redesigned DS' claims originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo of Japan carefully denies redesign rumors

JC Fletcher — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: News, Rumors

Nintendo of Europe has already officially denied the rumor that a new version of the DS would debut at this year's E3. Possibly due to the fact that the most recent rumor originates from a credible source (Enterbrain's Hirokazu Hamamura), Nintendo of Japan has also chimed in, in a statement given to Yukan Fuji.

Nintendo told the website that "We cannot comment on the specifics of what will be announced at E3, but at the very least there won't be anything like what Mr. Hamamura suggested, so we would like to clearly deny this." The statement continued "We're having a hard time understanding what kind of evidence [Mr. Hamamura] had for saying this."

Conspiracy theorists can read Nintendo's aggressive denial as confirmation, of course. They didn't say there wouldn't be any new hardware, just that there won't be exactly what Mr. Hamamura suggested. Which means that the new hardware, if it exists, is something other than a minor upgrade.

Would Nintendo really have such a hard time figuring out why Hamamura would predict a new hardware revision? It's been over two years since the last one, and if history is any indication, Nintendo is due to drop a new system on all the people who just bought one.

Nintendo of Japan carefully denies redesign rumors originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo: Don't count on that DS redesign

Alisha Karabinus — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:15:00 EST

Filed under: News

January, 2006: Rumors fly about a DS redesign. There had already been some word that we would see a new DS model, but Nintendo of Europe dismissed those rumors as "pure rumor and speculation."

January, 2006: Just a few days later, the DS Lite is officially announced.

April, 2008: Hirokazu Hamamura of Enterbrain speculates on the big reveal of yet another DS model at this year's E3.

April, 2008: Nintendo of Europe says the Enterbrain boss's comments are -- wait for it -- simply "rumor and speculation."

Surely we're not alone in sensing a pattern, and it's a pattern that goes beyond even NoE's mirrored statements. The announcement of a redesign this year would match the GBA's timeline, so while we're not going to come out and say that it's likely we'll hear about a new DS this year, we won't be surprised if it happens.

In the meantime, we've loaded the mockup gallery with other fan-made possibilities. Know of a few that aren't represented here? Let us know! Some of these visualizations are just incredible.

Nintendo: Don't count on that DS redesign originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Enterbrain boss: New DS may be unveiled at E3

Chris Greenhough — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: News

To us, the DS Lite is perfick -- it's slim, stylish, and beautifully proportioned. Will that stop Nintendo from giving the whole thing a facelift and turning it into something even more desirable? Probably not. Ninty has a history of giving its handhelds a nip and a tuck, and the company will have noted the extra momentum enjoyed by the PSP in Japan since its redesign. Frankly, we'd be surprised if the Lite wasn't updated at some point in the future.

As would Hirokazu Hamamura, boss of Famitsu publisher Enterbrain, who reckons that Nintendo may announce a new DS model at this year's E3. Hamamura's prediction appeared in the latest edition of Weekly Famitsu, and was greeted by a "No comment" from Nintendo. Let the wanton speculation begin!

[Via NeoGAF]

Enterbrain boss: New DS may be unveiled at E3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Apr 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Let Grace Chen walk you through the PSN Store redesign

Jem Alexander — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: PlayStation Store, News

Screenshots are all very well, but we've been waiting and waiting to see the PSN Store redesign in all its full-motion glory. Well, the time has come. Instead of a Store release post (there won't be one today, remember?) Grace Chen has stepped in front of a camera in order to show off the redesign to us. Thankfully, it looks fantastic. Complete with SingStar-esque fades between pages.

Some of these features are more than we'd ever have anticipated. Being able to see every piece of content, whether it's a demo, wallpaper, theme or add-on pack for each particular game is excellent -- as are the pop-up and full screen preview videos. Finally, it's nice to see that the Store will no longer shrink when you buy content, instead a wee shopping bag will let you know that you've already bought it. Great. We can't wait to get our hands on the new Store when it's released on April 15th.

Just in case motion makes your eyes go funny, we've put our collection of very static screenshots below.

Let Grace Chen walk you through the PSN Store redesign originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Store redesign dated for the 15th

Jem Alexander — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 08:15:00 EST

Filed under: PlayStation Store

Click for high resolution image.

A press release sent out by SCEJ has revealed that firmware version 2.30 and, by extension, the newly redesigned PlayStation Store will be available on April 15th. There's no word on whether new content will be placed on the store on the day that the redesign goes live, and we're all too familiar with how much Sony hates updating the store on days that don't begin with "Thurs." When the update does go live, however, we'll have plenty of exciting content to look forward to -- Americans can finally get their hands on GT5:P and Warhawk fans the world over will be able to grab the latest expansion. What else? We have no idea, but we're excited to find out.

Reacquaint yourself with the new Store design via our gallery below.

Store redesign dated for the 15th originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New PSN Store screenshots reveal preview button; video coming next week

Jem Alexander — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Videos and Screenshots, News

Click for high resolution image.

The PlayStation Store may not have updated yesterday, but Grace Chen still managed to get a post up on the PlayStation.Blog. In it she reminds us that Warhawk is still only $29.99 (and, therefore, must be immediately purchased by those who still don't have it) as well as revealing a few new screens of the PSN Store redesign. We've added these to the gallery below and look forward to seeing the Store in motion when a video goes up on the PlayStation.Blog sometime next week.

One of the screenshots reveals a "preview" button which, Chen confirms in the comments, will show off some some of the game's visuals to help people make a purchase decision. While the current store already has screenshots embedded in the item description, it seems that content will now be able to have video previews as well. This will make it much easier to see whether a game might be worth grabbing or not.

New PSN Store screenshots reveal preview button; video coming next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayStation Store redesign unwrapped, weekly updates suspended

James Ransom-Wiley — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 10:45:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Online

click to enlarge

SCEE has unveiled its PlayStation Store redesign, which is scheduled to launch in "mid-April." Weekly content updates will cease for the next two weeks until the redesign goes live, but "users can look forward to a special update in mid-April," Sony Europe teased in a press release. In addition, users will continue to have access to the store's back catalog as they await the mid-April relaunch. The redesign will not affect existing PlayStation Network accounts or the virtual wallet.

The store redesign has been previously confirmed for North America and will release sometime in April. ~~SCEA has yet to announce the exact release date, which may or may not coincide with the European update.~~ Update: SCEA has announced the North American "revamp" will arrive via firmware update in "mid-April" (presumably day and date with the European update). Sony clarified that beginning April 3, no new content will be added to the store until the redesign is launched.

Gallery: PLAYSTATION Store redesign

PlayStation Store redesign unwrapped, weekly updates suspended originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 31 Mar 2008 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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