Nintendo DS sales hit 10 million worldwide

Mr. Analog · January 04, 2006, 10:33:43 AM

Discounted by many as another Nintendo handheld gimmick when it launced, the Nintendo DS has turned out to be an amzingly robust platform, with unique and fun games. And according to Reuters, has sold over 10 million units worldwide.

I might have to borrow Tonnica's and check it out.

Lazybones · January 04, 2006, 11:48:37 AM

It also happens to accept GBA Flash carts and can be modded to play 3rd party unsigned applications.

Screens are not even close to the PSP for watching media, although there is a new revision in the works. Maybe like the GBA the second version of the DS will be all around better.

Thorin · January 04, 2006, 12:34:11 PM

The stylus and touch screen are intuitive enough for my six year old to figure it out right away. The microphone is cool because it allows game developers to add voice-activated actions to their games. The port for GBA games allows a wider selection of games to be played.

Nintendogs is a killer game for kids (and adults). I got hooked teaching my daughter's first puppy to come over when called, sit, shake a paw, and lie down on voice-command... Plus you take the puppy for walks, you play with them, you feed them, you clean them, you can enter them in competitions to make money (money can also be made by selling the things your puppy finds for you on walks), and most interestingly of all (although I haven't tested it yet) you can play with other people's puppies from their DS if you get together in the same room and allow your DS to connect wirelessly to theirs.

Overall, I'm very happy with the DS my daughter got from Santa. Now to get the Revolution with that weird controller so my kids really *can* make the car turn by holding the controller sideways...

Thorin · January 04, 2006, 12:37:15 PM

Quote from: "Lazybones"Screens are not even close to the PSP for watching media

Watching TV or movies on a little screen is silly when you have a nice big TV at home to watch it on. So long as you have the willpower to wait until you're home to sit and watch TV. Now, if you're addicted to TV/movies and you have to see something *right now*, I could see the screen size/quality being a valid concern, but I think we need less TV in our lives, not more.

Tonnica · January 04, 2006, 01:17:16 PM

Quote from: "Lazybones"It also happens to accept GBA Flash carts and can be modded to play 3rd party unsigned applications.

From what I've read on some of the emulation-dev boards I go to the DS is also comparatively easy to develop for (like the GBA was) making it even easier for people interested in making games to do so. There still needs to be a semi-reliable IDE put out for DS development, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone cooks a'somthin' up. And for every 5 terrible fan-made Megaman RPGs there's always at least one fun fan-made game out there.

Quote from: "Thorin"The microphone is cool because it allows game developers to add voice-activated actions to their games.

Dang, that reminds me I wanted to pick up Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. I guess I'll have to wait until my budgeting recovers from Christmas before I can shout "Objection!" at my DS to help distribute justice.

Lazybones · January 04, 2006, 01:48:22 PM

Quote from: "Thorin"
Quote from: "Lazybones"Screens are not even close to the PSP for watching media

Watching TV or movies on a little screen is silly when you have a nice big TV at home to watch it on. So long as you have the willpower to wait until you're home to sit and watch TV. Now, if you're addicted to TV/movies and you have to see something *right now*, I could see the screen size/quality being a valid concern, but I think we need less TV in our lives, not more.

Not much use at home, but on a long trip a movie sure can pass the time.

Shayne · January 04, 2006, 03:38:40 PM

After looking at the DS long and hard this winter i settled on a Gameboy Micro. I ordered a GBA Flash Cart online, and it was shipped on yesterday (should have it Tuesday Fedex is reporting).

I decided on the micro for a couple reasons.

#1. Price (I paid under $70)

#2. Size (like my iPod, i wanted the ability to take it anywhere)

...ive used a DS before, and while its a nifty toy I have a few complaints, enough so that i decided it wasnt the console for me. At least in the handhelds.

Speaking of gimmick, the "Revolution" screams that. I just cant see myself owning one. After seeing games in HD, and Nintendo standing by their "no HD" stance, just doesnt do it for me. No matter how much i want to spank a naked nurse with a hand controlled by a motion activated controller.

Lazybones · January 04, 2006, 04:07:57 PM

Quote from: "Shayne"After looking at the DS long and hard this winter i settled on a Gameboy Micro. I ordered a GBA Flash Cart online, and it was shipped on yesterday (should have it Tuesday Fedex is reporting).

What flashcard did you end up going with?

Shayne · January 04, 2006, 04:14:32 PM

One of the guys at work recommended "Flash2Advance Ultra" as that is the one he uses. So i went with it, went with a 512MB version, should be big enough for a few ROMs.

Zapata Prime · January 04, 2006, 05:53:05 PM

The DS is pretty spiffy althought I'd personally go for the PSP due to the nature of the games out there.

But I did, however, get my gf a Game Boy Micro for Christmas and it is totally sweet. I'm going to have to pick one up for myself and look into a Flashcard for it too.. The one thing about it that amazes me is how sharp the screen actually is!

SYL

Thorin · January 04, 2006, 09:45:44 PM

We probably have wildly-varying reasons for buying a handheld. In our case it was simply because Nintendogs had been bought as a present by an uncle, and there's only one platform for it.

I'll agree that the Micro looks neat, and I'm thinking now of replacing my boy's original GBA with the dark screen with either an SP or a Micro.

As for a PSP, I'd never buy that for my under-10 crowd. The games are geared more towards adults than kids, the unit is big and bulky to hold onto, and I've heard bad things happen when they get dropped.

Of course, since you all are buying for yourself or an adult, those considerations are less important

Mr. Analog · January 05, 2006, 12:46:02 AM

A lot of the PSP releases are just sequels and ports anyway...

Gotta love Nintendo's unique angle.

Shayne · January 05, 2006, 07:17:59 AM

I bought my micro for "Advanced Wars".

Mr. Analog · January 05, 2006, 09:30:55 AM

Advance Wars rocks! I have the version they put out for GameCube!