Nintendo DS

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File:DSLogo.png
The logo for the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS

The Nintendo DS is Nintendo's most recent addition to their handheld lineup. It was released in November 21, 2004 in North America and Japan, and March 11, 2005 in Europe.

Unlike previous Nintendo handhelds, it was not given the "Game Boy" moniker, likely because Nintendo did not want to tarnish the brand name if the system did not prove to be popular, as the earlier Virtual Boy had not been. The system features a significant overhaul from previous Nintendo handhelds, most notably its use of two screens, rather than one, to display gameplay. The bottom screen is touch-sensitive, adding a new aspect to gameplay. In addition to this, it has improved sound functions, including two speakers instead of the lone speaker that appeared on Game Boy models, and a microphone.

A DS card of Pokémon Diamond (right) compared to a GBA cartridge of Pokémon Ruby (left)

Built into the DS is the ability to connect to the Internet using the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Many games have been released with specific features to utilize this capability, and while many do not, most games at the very least use the DS's internal DS-to-DS wireless connection. The DS is also compatible with Game Boy Advance games through its bottom slot, though compatibility for Game Boy and Game Boy Color games has been removed. Likewise, the multiplayer functions of GBA games are not supported.

The Nintendo DS was updated in the form of the Nintendo DS Lite, a smaller model whose design borrows heavily from that of the Wii. The DS was further revised in the form of the Nintendo DSi, the first DS update to include substantive differences, in 2009 (released 2008 in Japan).

As of September 2008, combined sales of Nintendo DS and Nintendo DS Lite have reached more than 84 million units worldwide. In 2009, the new Nintendo DSi has been released in the USA.[1].

Pokémon games

Pokémon specials

Trivia

See also

References

  1. "Consolidated Financial Highlights" 11. Nintendo (2008-10-30). Retrieved on 2009-01-07.
Game systems with Pokémon games
Nintendo handheld consoles
GB (Pocket · GBL · SGB · SGB2) • GBCminiGBA (SP · GBm · GBP)
DS (Lite · DSi · DSi XL) • 3DS (XL · 2DS · New 3DS · New 3DS XL · New 2DS XL)
Switch (Lite · OLED)
Nintendo home consoles
SNES (BS-X · SGB · NP · SGB2) • N64 (DD) • GCN (GBP)
Wii (Family Edition · mini) • Wii U
Switch (OLED)
Sega consoles
PicoCoCoPadBeena