Nintendo DS
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| Manufacturer | Nintendo |
|---|---|
| Type | Video game console |
| Generation | Seventh Generation |
| Release date | November 21, 2004 |
| Units sold | 2900 million |
| Media | Game Boy Advance cartridge Nintendo DS cart |
| Connectivity | Wifi |
| Best-selling game | Mario Kart DS |
| Backward compatibility |
Game Boy Advance |
| Predecessor | Nintendo Game Boy Game Boy Advance |
| Successor | Nintendo DS Lite Nintendo DSi Nintendo DSi XL Nintendo 3DS |
The Nintendo DS (also known as the DS Phat) is the third newest kind of handheld game system from Nintendo. It was released in 2004 and 2005. A similar handheld game system is the Nintendo 3DS, the very first 3D handheld game system which took over from the DS. The DS is a small, nearly pocket-size fold-up machine that lets people play video games. The games for the Nintendo DS are stored on small cartridges called "carts", which are kind of like memory card chips from digital cameras. They are small and may be easy to lose. However, they are quite sturdy, even if they are dropped. New games, such as Super Mario 64 DS, came out on the release date, and come free with the blue DS in North America.
The games' graphics are a little better than on the Nintendo 64. For most of Nintendo's systems, there have been no load times (except for the GameCube and Wii[source?]). With the DS, a level in the game loads up quickly, just like the Game Boy systems. This is because memory cards can be read a lot faster than CDs or DVDs.
The DS also has many new features. It has a new surround sound system. It not only works with games designed for the DS, but also for games designed for the Game Boy Advance. But the DS cannot play the oldest Game Boy games, or Game Boy Color games. It also features a touchscreen, a screen that, when touched with the included stylus, will cause something to happen in the game (like a PDA). There are two styluses with it, but more can be bought if they get lost.
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Competiton [change]
The Nintendo DS is a rival of Sony's PlayStation Portable. However, both Nintendo and Sony said that their products were aimed at different people, so there is "technically" no competition. At this time, the DS is enjoying good sales and has sold more units than the PSP has[source?].
Nintendo DS Lite [change]
Nintendo later developed and released a similar version of the Nintendo DS. It is known as the "Nintendo DS Lite", it was first released on March 2, 2006 in Japan and then June 11, 2006 in North America.
The DS Lite plays the same games. It is smaller and lighter in size and weight and also has a backlit screen. The console is so small that the Game Boy Advance games stick out when the player puts it into Slot 2. It also features a little cover so players can cover Slot 2 when it is not in use. The DS Lite is also sold in white, black, pink, blue, red, and silver. This console even has colors such as metallic rose, metallic silver, and black with white.
Notable games [change]
Some notable games for the DS are Nintendogs, Mario Kart DS, New Super Mario Bros, Brain Age, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, and Advance Wars: Dual Strike.
Accessories [change]
There are many accessories for the Nintendo DS, including different coloured styluses and protective cases. Some protective cases include the highly durable nerf cases. Most consoles come with a screen protector and a car adaptor that charges the battery with a car's cigarette lighter.
Sales [change]
The DS has sold 147.86 millon units as of June 30 2011, making it the best selling portable games console ever.[1][2][3]
References [change]
- ↑ http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/library/historical_data/pdf/consolidated_sales_e1106.pdf
- ↑ The News Team (2010-01-29). "Wii sales best NES totals, DS sales beat Game Boy". GoNintendo. http://gonintendo.com/viewstory.php?id=112600. Retrieved 2010-04-16.
- ↑ JC Fletcher (2010-01-28). "DS sells 125 million worldwide, Wii up to 67 million". JoyStiq. http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/28/ds-sells-125-million-worldwide-wii-up-to-67-million. Retrieved 2010-04-16.
