ov. 21 Nintendo proved that touching is good, very good.
This year’s hot holiday gift, The Nintendo DS, made its way to shelves last week. The DS represents the next generation of handheld gaming and one of the largest ever revolutions in video game design. Housed in a sleek silver shell, Nintendo has crammed the DS with technological innovations ranging from voice recognition to a full size, multi-purpose touch screen.
Since the late ’80s Nintendo has dominated the handheld gaming market with its Game Boy systems. The original bulky GB begat GB Pocket, a smaller version of the original. Pocket gave way to GB Color and in 2001 Nintendo packaged a 32-bit processor in the GB Advance.
The DS takes its cue from the success of the Advance SP, utilizing a similar flip-up screen design to arrange the dual screens. Its unique setup allows for designers to utilize both screens together to create a united image, or separately, each displaying useful game information.
Within the first month of release the DS will have a library of nearly a dozen titles. As with its predecessors, however, DS is backward compatible, meaning the DS can also be used to play any of the more than 500 GB Advance titles.
A playable demo of Metroid Prime: Hunters, one of the DS’ launch titles, comes with system. The demo allows for the exploration of what may be the DS’ most impressive feature: wireless connectivity. Able to connect with up to 16 other DS units within a 100 foot radius, the DS boasts incredible multiplayer capabilities. Many launch titles, from Super Mario 64 to Madden 2005, utilize this technology. Maybe most impressive though is the fact that playing multiplayer with friends only requires one game cartridge.
With the DS Nintendo again demonstrates why it has been one of the most innovative gaming companies over the past two decades. The challenge that now lies ahead is in developing software that makes full use of all the DS has to offer. From the slate of games already available, it appears that Nintendo has laid the groundwork for continued success.
-Jon Schnaars
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