By Byron Valentine
Nintendo DS
The difference just a decade can make in technology is unbelievable and the difference between the Nintendo DS® and the Nintendo Game Boy® is a testament to such a difference. As some will remember the Game Boy was a monstrosity of a so called “hand held” game console. The screen was black and white and the games came in cartridges which seemed to function much like ammunition cartridges when loaded into the back.
Not to mention that it seemed to take a car battery to fuel this small weapon of gamers. All that however has nearly faded into oblivion. The Nintendo DS® is the definition of small, lightweight and portable. It has a good battery charge time and black and white screens are a thing of the past. Released in 2004 the Nintendo DS took center stage, along with other rivals such as the Sony PSP, and brought forward a new era of gaming; touch screen.
The specifications of the DS are impressive and so is its track record. Nintendo reports that as of September 30, 2008 84.33 million units (including the new version- DS Lite) have been sold worldwide. The console features a clamshell design with two LCD screens inside – the bottom one being a touchscreen. The Nintendo DS also features a built-in microphone and supports wireless IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) standards, allowing players to interact with each other within short range (10–30 m, depending on conditions) or online with the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service. With a volume of just 5.85 x 3.33 x 1.13 inches and a weight of 300 grams (9.7 ounces) the DS slips nicely into a pocket or purse yet still offers a fine game play experience. The strongest feature of the DS however is its touchscreen.
There are two screens on the DS, one on both top and bottom interior sides. They measure in at 3-inches and have a resolution of 256 x 192 pixels. What does that mean? Good graphics! However it is not the top of the line, but still a major step up from Game Boy Advanced. The lowermost display of the Nintendo DS is overlaid with a resistive touchscreen, which works by registering pressure from one point on the screen at a time, averaging multiple points of contact if necessary. The touch screen is activated by the included stylus, a users fingers or a curved plastic tab attached to the optional wrist strap.
The Nintendo DS also features stereo speakers thereby providing virtual surround sound. This is the first time that a Nintendo hand held console has provided surround sound and coupled with the touchscreen the effect is very realistic. The DS also features for the first time a built-in microphone, which is located below the left side of the bottom screen. It can be used in a variety of ways and has been used for such things as speech recognition, chatting online during game play and some games which require the player to shout or blow into the microphone.
The DS however does have some serious downfalls. With only 256 kB of Serial Flash Memory the DS doesn’t even compare to other hand held game consoles. Nintendo has tried to make p for this by putting a small amount of Flash Memory on the game cartridges. It has two CPUs but only one of them is capable of 3D rendering, meaning that the top screen will only display two dimensional objects. The DS however does have a very good track record and there appear to be no major flaws in the design and production. The quality of the craftsmanship is very high and Nintendo reported significantly less technical issues than other gaming companies. The Nintendo offers a fun gaming experience which is very interactive. It is priced affordably at between $100 $150 depending where you shop. All and all, it is a good bang for your buck if you are looking for a medium range priced console.
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