Nintendo DS2 Rumors Continue at GDC 2010

[Tom Goldman]

Nintendo DS2 Rumors Continue at GDC 2010

Will Nintendo release the DS2 this year or not? If recent rumors can be believed, we're a little closer to finding out.

Raymond Padilla's mission at GDC this year was to squeeze out some more information on Nintendo's inevitable DS successor, the "DS2" if you will, that has only been mentioned in rumors thus far. With development kits supposedly on the streets already [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/98399-Nintendo-DS2-Dev-Kits-Already-in-Developers-Hands], there must have been someone willing to speak on the new system, right? There was, but remember that none of this information is official and should still be treated as rumor.

While it's quite obvious that the next DS would have two screens, the DS2's screens will be bigger and have a higher resolution. Particularly worth mentioning is that the small gap between the top and bottom screens will take a hike for the DS2, allowing both to be used as one big screen.

The DS2 development kit is said to be as powerful as the GameCube, meaning that for most developers it will be easy to work with. Reportedly, it doesn't have much of a learning curve. A handheld GameCube? Considering I was the one person that loved Super Mario Sunshine, sign me up!

Re-confirmed was the use of an accelerometer in the system. Tilt controls in the DS2 have been the most widespread rumor thus far, and it makes sense to implement them, so this feature is basically a shoe-in to me.

The developers that Padilla spoke to said they would be finished working on their DS2 games by the end of 2010. Despite the DSi XL being only two weeks away from it's North American release date, Nintendo will likely announce something about the DS2 at E3 for a late 2010 release. That's if any of this can be believed. What I hate most about these rumors is that I was very excited to get a DSi XL before today, but I'm not quite as much anymore. At least I'll know to wait for the DS2 XL.

Source: RPad.tv [http://rpad.tv/2010/03/12/nintendo-ds2-information-unearthed-at-gdc-2010/]

Permalink

 

[Jonny49]

Power of the GameCube?! Sign me up!

 

[Wakefield]

This is cool but I still like my DS and I doubt ill be able to afford the successor. Especially if it's coming out this year. I hope I can still get the new games on the DS, at least for a little while...

 

[FrancoDHorse]

Aww D:

Is it really necessary to come out with a new handheld? >_>

 

[tk1989]

I dunno... they just released the XL... they'd piss off many of their customers

 

[MurderousToaster]

I'll just wait for the DS2iXLQWERTY Version 3.356859x10 to the power of 48 Lite to be inevitably released some time next year.

 

[Jack and Calumon]

Well... I think rather than buying a DSiXL... I'll just buy a DS2. I'll just get my Nintendo Fund, next to my Valve and Digimon Fund.

Calumon: He gives the Digimon fund money to me. ^^

 

[The Infinite]

Holy crap that's some powerful machine right there. But take your time with it eh? I love my DS to death and don't want to replace it so soon.

 

[LeonLethality]

This bugs me, They don't need a new handheld the DS is fine as it is, the lack of graphical power is what gets developers to be more creative to work around it, I like the DS as it is and if a second one comes out there is no doubt a new PSP will come out and I like the PSP as it is too, the lifespans of this generation are long and that includes the handhelds, I really hope they give the DS 3 or so more years...

 

[Nimbus]

I'll buy it, if it has full backwards compatibility, at least down to GBA. Otherwise, it'll be a waste of money, at least, for me.

 

[AceDiamond]

I'll buy it, if it has full backwards compatibility, at least down to GBA. Otherwise, it'll be a waste of money, at least, for me.

Well if it's bigger they might have it, on the other hand I'm not going to speculate that they have any reason to have it included. Though this does mean I'm going to be sticking with my DS Fat until the DS2 comes out.

 

[Gigaguy64]

Nice, im definitely going to start saving up now, even though ill probably still get the DSi XL

With that much processing power im hoping the DSi Browser and DSi-Ware will have a few improvements to them as well as the Games themselves.
(i also hope they release GBA Games on the download.)

 

[ZeroDotZero]

I'll just wait for the DS2iXLQWERTY Version 3.356859x10 to the power of 48 Lite to be inevitably released some time next year.

Gameboy Micro anyone?

Edit: Wrong quote. It's this one I meant to quote.

I dunno... they just released the XL... they'd piss off many of their customers

 

[Ben Legend]

Another one?

DS, DS Lite, DSi and the DS XL... now the DS2?

So many people must be pissed of that they buy the most recent version just to have the next version announced.

 

[DividedUnity]

RRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRR HULK SMASH!! NO MORE DS VARIANTS!!!

but in all seriousness. i dont know how many times people are going to buy a new variant of a console they already have for one or two extra features.

heres some advice ninetendo even though youre not listening i can still say i told you so. how about you concentrate improve the models youve already released insead of realeasing a new one every 3 months? eh?

 

[MurderousToaster]

I'll just wait for the DS2iXLQWERTY Version 3.356859x10 to the power of 48 Lite to be inevitably released some time next year.

Gameboy Micro anyone?

Edit: Wrong quote. It's this one I meant to quote.

I dunno... they just released the XL... they'd piss off many of their customers

I'm ashamed to say I actually own a Gameboy Micro. I have it around here somewhere.

 

[AceDiamond]

RRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRR HULK SMASH!! NO MORE DS VARIANTS!!!

but in all seriousness. i dont know how many times people are going to buy a new variant of a console they already have for one or two extra features.

heres some advice ninetendo even though youre not listening i can still say i told you so. how about you concentrate improve the models youve already released insead of realeasing a new one every 3 months? eh?

Well the thing here is that the DS2 is an actual new console (by comparison, the DS1 and its variants had the rough power of an N64 compared to the DS2's Gamecube power). But I agree they've definetely put out too many variants of the DS1 and I hope that there's at least a year of time in between now and the DS2 hitting shelves.

Also they need to stop with the constant iterations. They used to be good about this, only putting out a new version of a handheld if it was necessary (Game Boy Pocket's sharper screen, Game Boy Advance SP's backlight, etc.), now it's hitting PSP levels of meaninglessness.

 

[DragonChi]

Sign me up. I want it.NOW.

 

[DividedUnity]

RRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRR HULK SMASH!! NO MORE DS VARIANTS!!!

but in all seriousness. i dont know how many times people are going to buy a new variant of a console they already have for one or two extra features.

heres some advice ninetendo even though youre not listening i can still say i told you so. how about you concentrate improve the models youve already released insead of realeasing a new one every 3 months? eh?

Well the thing here is that the DS2 is an actual new console (by comparison, the DS1 and its variants had the rough power of an N64 compared to the DS2's Gamecube power). But I agree they've definetely put out too many variants of the DS1 and I hope that there's at least a year of time in between now and the DS2 hitting shelves.

Ok processing power wise and mayber graphically wise its a new console, i see your point.

But think about this. The games being developed will be pretty much the same as the rest of the games that have been released for the DS since its release regardless of its new found power. Also, even though it has better graphics the current audience for the DS which this new console will most likely be aimed at as well are mostly children (im not saying the ds is for kids I play one myself).

And for the kids to get their new DS theyd have to ask their parents and im not too sure about most parents but if i asked my mother for 250 pounds for a new DS2 a few months after I just got a DSi or whatever she would most likely just look at me funny.

I would love to see this new DS come out if it really has this processing power BUT!! they should hold it from release for at least a year. Its not like they have any decent rivals in the handheld market they need to get one up on so they should take this model. Add new features onto it and get it perfect then in a year when everyone is bored of their DSi and DS XLs release it.

Ninetendo makes a lot of money. Everyone gets a cool new DS with all the features you could ever want. No one is buying a DS2 lite in a few months time. Everyones happy