Facebook Files: What Do You Want From A Next-Gen DS?

By Ishaan . October 18, 2009 . 7:00am

Welcome to Facebook Files! Here’s a quick rundown of how it works: Every week, we’ll be perusing our Facebook group for interesting discussions in the community. We’ll publish the interesting ones on Siliconera as part of this feature over the weekend. The format of Facebook Files will remain flexible so we can focus on the best reader posts and discussions.

 

Facebook Files: What Do You Want From A Next Gen DS?

 

Last week — and this week, for that matter — we reported a rumour from BSN concerning a new DS revision powered by nVidia technology they believe Nintendo will roll out in 2010. Quite a few of our readers had an opinion on whether or not a new DS was needed and what they wanted from it, so we decided to kick off a discussion on Facebook.

 

Reader Tristan (one of many, many Nguyens that read the site apparently) kicked things off.

 

Tristan wrote:

Honestly, I would like to see more focus on the actual games than anything else. Despite the library of DS games being very vast, there are only a handful of games I would say are really worth the time spent playing. As for graphical hardware, I’m fine with sprites if the alternative is blocky, low texture resolution models reminiscent of Final Fantasy 7. I guess an increased memory unit would be nice as so more information can be processed. Also, a storage format that allows higher quality audio would be fantastic.

 

Tristan makes a good point when he comments on audio quality. There are quite a few games at this point — Soma Bringer, Guitar Hero and Ni no Kuni come to mind — that are trying to push the limits of what you can do with DS audio. Ni no Kuni especially uses a very high capacity cartridge because all of its music is in high quality, which must have either cost Level-5 a bomb or they’ve got some sort of deal going with Nintendo. Other less fortunate publishers such as NIS America, however, are feeling the limitations of the current standard DS carts.

 

Quite a few people were in agreement with Tristan when it came to focusing on the games and not other aspects of the device. Some felt particularly stung by the DSi’s region protection, which they wanted done away with.

 

Fabio wrote:

Do we really need a new DS to have even more multimedia functions? Sure, if they are just extras it might be ok, as long as the price doesn’t go up. But I don’t think I need my DS to also make phone calls or webcam discussions. I’m fine enough with the games.

 

Mind you, it would go a long way into making a portable console more "appreciated" in the west. The reason why people never really play multiplayer with portables, is that videogames are still considered too kiddy, and deep down they don’t want others to see them this way. If a new DS were a more complete device, people wouldn’t be too shy to take it out in public.

 

Facebook Files: What Do You Want From A Next Gen DS?

Others, however, wanted better networking functionality and increased Internet connectivity from a potential new DS. In light of the nVidia rumours, multimedia features were also on the list of a few, one of whom compared it to the Zune HD.

 

Anton wrote:

There is a web browser for the DS, but I have never used it. I definitely think that it’s a worthwhile function, but maybe a new DS should make better use of this browser of have it more accessible.

 

Secondly, there’s the headset that came out that I believe was intended to be used primarily for Pokemon games. If there’s a headset for the DS, I definitely think that more games should be taking advantage of it!

 

Mattias wrote:

Expand the internet capabilities to be more flexible. I’d love it if Nintendo would have an API so that other services (like Raptr.com) could fetch information about what a user is playing or similar. The more connected Nintendo’s console would be with the rest of the internet, the better.

 

Brandon wrote:

With the rumors of the new Tegra processor powering the DS2 your looking at a device around 650 – 750 Mhz in terms of power (depending on the model). The Zune HD uses the 650 Mhz, and the Iphone 3GS is just under 650. So in terms of power thats what we are looking at, a huge upgrade from the DS and about twice as powerful as a PSP.

 

In terms of display, well the Tegra is designed entirely around maximizing battery life by limiting functions to only what is needed at hand. So like the Zune HD, why not complete that by using 2 OLED power sipping screens. Multi-touch would be much appreciated, and larger displays then the DS lite/DSi are expected.

 

Really I think the DSi was Nintendo’s entrance into more multimedia based devices, kind of an experiment. With the Tegra (already found in the awesome Zune HD) we can only expect amazing multimedia features. Enhanced internet, connectivity, social features, music, video (720p HD playback and HD decoding is possible with the Tegra). This really could be a great portable, all Nintendo needs is an awesome OS to really take advantage of that Tegra processor and your looking at a killer machine.

And some of our stranger readers wanted…the return of the Gameboy printer. And…other, even stranger features.

 

QBasic wrote:

I want a bunch of stuff!

 

-Dual wield stylus control.
-Three screens
-Virtual Boy emulation technology
-Built-In Gameboy Printer
-Power Glove support

Adam wrote:

@QBasic – Can I second those? Haha, yes please. Built in GB Printer would be lovely considering I still have 8 boxes of printer paper for it. ._.

 

Other discussed features were a virtual console for portable games, better use of the cameras for features like a GPS or detecting objects in the environment for games, and larger screens. You can read the full discussion here.


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  • http://www.facebook.com/bandaka Charles Chapman

    I think the two screens is just a gimmick although I do like touch controls. Return to the GameBoy series please. keep the touchscreen adn give it better graphics and all that jazz. The changeable faceplates rom the GBA micro was a good idea, they need to bring that back.

  • Somato

    I'm really digging the new “Facebook Files”, Ishaan.
    It's really cool that so many users get to voice their opinion in the FB group and then have their views posted on the site!

    I just realized now that there was a slight spelling error in my post, though!
    D'oh! =P

  • Tako Tacos

    Seriously? I can't see how anyone who has played at least a few DS games would feel that way about the dual screens. They allow one screen to be uncluttered for the action to take place in, while another can have all the information/maps/etc on it, for example.

    If anything, I've heard some people claim the touchscreen is gimmicky. Admittedly in some games it's just tacked on as an afterthought, but other games use it quite well and I'm glad to have it as an option, at least.

    But seriously, I doubt we'll ever return to a Gameboy-esque Nintendo handheld. The DS basically does everything a Gameboy could do and then some, why would reducing the number of screens or other features really improve anything at all?

  • http://www.liquid-crystal.biz/ kryptonics

    Forget hardware upgrades, any developer who complains about technical limitations is lazy in my opinion. Part of a developer's job is to be creative. Look at the NES version of “Punchout.” Large sprites technically can't be done on the NES, but they made it happen. I'd rather see a greater push with DSiWare and a new developer program.

  • http://twitter.com/ravenschwann Tim Nguyen

    The “(one of many, many Nguyens that read the site apparently)” part made me laugh out loud, seriously. Awesome read.

  • Joanna_T

    I don't know, I'm still a bit skeptical about the new release, it really seems too soon and not at the right moment. But then again, Nintendo is a company made of mortal men and stupidity is not beyond humanity, so this could all very well be true. Just seems like Nintendo would be hurting itself right now (DSi is still moving good amounts of units and 3 party publishers are very supportive of DS/i, even Ware is getting a few supports behind it, releasing a new machine would be punching the developers in the gut). I'm going to give Nintendo the benefit of the doubt and assume this is more of a preparatory move and they won't be releasing the successor yet (2010).It's more likely to be released in 2011 though.

    Let the Dreamcast be an ever present lesson to console makers, don't tick off developers and don't rush products out the window.

  • cubeboy101ukwiiboy

    try playing games as intuitivly as DS dual-screen on any other handheld =IMPOSABLE..
    d-pad and touch FPS is imposable on psp,ipone only ds allows d-pad,touchscreen mouse fps gaming plus touchscreen menus notepads and touch screen gameplay gimmicks IN-GAME wilst still having full 3d visuals on the top-screen ipone is poor controls combined with thumbs alover ur visual screen psp is no touch at all and again no second upper in game screen,add no interactive map,menu screen and in-game screen at same time requring screen share and stoping play to access something,add dualscreen 2d gaming like game&watch and video book type gaming with ds on its side games like metriod,dementium,brothersbin arms,nintendogs,mario kart,cop recruit,mario 64,all benefit from small to big from a dualscreen set up a touchscreen and a second upper screen has a million more possabillitys andvis easier to interact with than any second analog stick touch is what mouse was to pc and second screen makes the whole thing come together in a pick up and play easy to use easy to SEE design…sony fans a single screen and no touch =GAMEBOY ERA GAMEPLAY=OBSOLETE…..
    tegra 1 is around gamecube,xbox a customized,upgraded version could be wii power..tegra 2 coming very soon and nintendos ds reveal is late 2010 wen tegra 2 is standard and nvidea go g-force 9 based gpu not 6 and a9 cpu 1to4 cores not arm11 single core(tegra1)cpu …tegra 2 is 4x tegra 1 and nvidea are using 1to4 core a9 cpus witch clock to 2.0ghz a 1ghz 4core can hit 10000mips a 4core 2ghz can hit 20000 mips a dualcore can hit 10000 mips at 2ghz the cpu will support upto 8mb level 2 catch..tegra will go way beyound ion and wii in power and fully support HD….snapdragon tegras competition is already hitting 1.6ghz and 1080p hd streaming and snapdragon 2 is a tiny beast..ARM A9 AND SYSTEM ON CHIP IS DESK-TOP,CONSOLE CAPPABLE…nintendo will demand there own nintendoized version of the tech edram 1tsram may get invovled as well as intergrated scaling and super-resolution..the systems can have any memory and custom bus system from tiny to high speed high bandwidth…a ion pc can just about run cod 4 a tegra 2 can be ion or anything upto 4x plus a ion power ,performace tegra 2 based system but in full power mode not a battery mode could be 4x wii even 1to4 core cpu g-force 6 to 9 gpu and 500mhz to 2ghz cpu speeds 16mb to 4gb ram other tech like fast ram,edram,big catch memorys THERE COULD BE MORE TO THIS IM NOT SAYING SO JUST THAT IT MIGHT HAPPEN DS-HD RUMORS 2010/Wii HD rumors 2010,tegra rumors nintendo 2010….=HYBRED CONSOLE,DS meets wii meets HD meets media functions ALL IN A HANDHELD,COME HANDHELD IN A DOCKING STATION HYBRED CONSOLE low power low clock mode as handheld and fullclockspeed full power mode wilst docked and mains powered wii,ds,dsi,download backplay plus dshd wiihd and hybred games also I WOULDNT BE SUPPRISED AT ALL IF THIS HAPPENS or a powerful tegra 4core wii hd and a single core ds hd seperate machines BUT ID LOVE A HD wii,ds hybred mmmmmmmmmmm

  • Dasuzero

    impossible: magical screens that you can pull on and they get bigger. no more squinting!

    even more impossible: extremely robust and flexible sound hardware which detects when the game is attempting to play poorly composed and compressed streaming music and replaces it with pleasing sequenced audio

  • http://www.siliconera.com Ishaan

    Thanks! I like that our community now gets to interact with each other a lot more, too.

  • http://www.siliconera.com Ishaan

    You guys are building an army, I just know it.

  • http://www.siliconera.com Ishaan

    I…what?

  • QBasic

    Damn man. Ishaan, if you can decipher the above….I'll give you “IT!”

    You know! The pristine bottle of Firestone Eleven my buddy's dad gave me! I still have it! >:3

  • http://www.facebook.com/RahUniQue Robert A. Carreras

    one thing…one thing only, and i will NEVER get it….the ability to play my virtual console games on the go. that's it.

  • http://www.facebook.com/RahUniQue Robert A. Carreras

    i don't need it to take pics:i have a camera for that. i don't need it to play music; i have an mp3 player for that. i want to play games on the go. my v.c. games games i buy. THAT'S IT.

  • michealjackass

    CUBEBOYS RIGHT THERES 3 PROBABLE ANSWERS
    1,A HYBRED CONSOLE———- 2,TWO SEPERATE CONSOLES BOTH NVIDEA TEGRA BASED—-3,A ATI,IBM WII HD AND TEGRA DS……..—————————-
    WHAT CUBEBOY IS SAYING IS TEGRA AND FUTURE UPGRADES OFFERS HIGH POWER,HD ALL IN A HANDHELD RUNNING IN LOW POWER MODE,,,,WHAT IF YOU DESIGNED A HIGH PERFORMACE MODE THAT ALSO OVERCLOCKS CHIP SET AND ADDS LOADS MORE RAM ETHER INTERNALLY OR IN A DOCKING STATION BEFORE A DUFFUS SAYS THIS AINT POSSABLE SOME FACTS TO CHEW-ON——arm a9 cpus to be used in tegra 2 can be 1to4 cores and can hit 2ghz clock-speeds and support upto 8mb level 2 catch they support both low power and high performance modes,,tegra 2 will be g-force 9 gpu not 6 like tegra 1,,,ion nvideas windows desk-top version of tegra already supports a g-force 9 gpu and can just about run cod 4 on pc..————————————tegra 2 is 4x tegra 1 and will support a9 cpus from single to 4core a single core with g9 nvidea gpu and some good ram will kick a wiis ass allover THATS IN BATTERY-MODE—————IF A DESKTOP I.E TV HOME CONSOLE MODE WAS AVALABLE PLUS A SMALL WII DISC PLAYING DOCKING STATION THAT LOOKS LIKE A CUT DOWN WII COME IPOD DOCK HAS ADITIONAL CHIPS AND HDMI OUT YOU DONT NERD 2 DIFFERANT CONSOLES URHANDHELD IS YOUR CONSOLE WII CONTRALS AND HDMI IN CONSOLE MODE AND DS SET UP IN HANDHELD MODE……ANOTHER OPTION IS TWO SEPERATE CONSOLES BOTH TEGRA BASED AND CONECTABLE WITH NINTENDO FAZING IN A TRUE HYBRED CONSOLE………..CUBEBOY I GET IT AND LIKE YOUR 99% PERFECT WII PREDICTION 2 YEARS BEFORE IT WAS SHOWNI THINK UR ON THE MONEY YET AGAIN YOU GENIUS……….

  • dannyhurst

    well im 13, and my dad said what micheal jackass said, i shown him the rumors he replyed without hesatation hybred console ,my dads 40 and has played videogames from 1980 he keeps saying hybred console about the house he also remembers a cubeboy101 from leicster in uk bragging in aol chatrooms about how revolution will destroy sony,microsofts plans he also went on about 3d gyro controls and fps games that cubeboy was right, im guessing the above cubeboy to be the same guy, by the way the cubeboy my dad used to chat with on aol is a ex- game tester from nintendo hq europe in frankfert germany he worked on english versions of pal games my dad says cubeboy is right or maybe a bit early hybred might not happen just yet as there might be more profit from hardware with 2 seperate machines,, unless they profit from budget wii's and DSi's and also profit from wii portable-hd at the same time…imagine this dsi 79.99 uk pounds,wii 79.99 uk pounds wii-hd-portable 199.99 including docking tv unit. THAT MAKES SENSE.

  • jonny2009

    iv been reading folks comments and a few guys keep bringing up a handheld that acts as a console also hybred just maybe arm are working on high performance arm a9 cpus and tegra 2,3 will be beasts and netbooks are going 2ghz and mainstream market 2009/10 so i think a console isnt needed

  • jonny2009

    iv been reading folks comments and a few guys keep bringing up a handheld that acts as a console also hybred just maybe arm are working on high performance arm a9 cpus and tegra 2,3 will be beasts and netbooks are going 2ghz and mainstream market 2009/10 so i think a console isnt needed

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