BREAKING: New details straight from a recently-held Nintendo DS Press Conference in Japan.
February 14, 2006 | 11:16 PM PSTby: Chris Playo
Nintendo of Japan has recently concluded its DS press conference with Japanese media this morning. While primarily concerned with introducting the forthcoming Nintendo DS revision, the DS Lite to the Japanese media, the company's press conference served to reveal several new, intriguing bits of information. The Nintendo DS Lite is currently set to arrive in Japan on March 2nd, in three different color variations, Crystal White, Ice Blue, and Enamel Navy.
Iwata Holds Up A DS Lite
Confirming our original report, the Opera Web browser add-on has been confirmed for DS. In addition to this, the browser will not be firmware. It is also now known that the forthcoming Nintendo DS web browser will fully utilize the properties of the portable device. Web pages on the DS will span both screens of the handheld, with the touch screen functioning for forms of input. The browser will also fully recognize stylus movements associated with the touch screen in order to adjust the viewing angle of the bottom screen.
The Opera software is currently slated to release in Japan during the month of June at the price of 3800 yen, roughly $30, and will include ATOK Kanji conversion software.
Opera on the DS
Conforming with our previous story, Nintendo has also showcased plans for a TV tuner device for the DS.The widely anticipated 1Seg Digital TV Card add-on will simply occupy the standard Nintendo DS game slot. Thanks to gaming-forum legend Jonnyram, we can now see the actual TV Card (below) inserted into several DS units.
DS TV Tuner
However, knowing that 1seg is a mobile terrestrial digital audio/video broadcasting service in Japan, it may seem that the TV Card may be available for Japanese consumers only. Whether or not Nintendo Ltd. has decided to bring this add-on to the United States remains to be seen.
Closeup DS Tuner Picture
Another DS TV Tuner Picture
Nintendo has also offered new details regarding a number of current and future Nintendo DS projects. For starters, the New Super Mario Brothers title for the system is slated for a May Japan-release, at a price of 4800 yen, with Tetris DS releasing shortly at a budget price of 3800 yen in the region.
A plethora of DS game announcements have been made at the Press Conference, along with new information regarding previously announced titles. It is now known that Calligraphy Training DS is in the works for the system, and will offer DS users with the opportunity to perfect or enhance their calligraphy skills in a style similar to the immensely popular Brain Training series. Also revealed was the news of an unnamed piece of cooking software set for production on the Nintendo DS.
Previously identified Nintendo DS offerings such as Children of Mana and Xenosaga Episode 1-2 were shown at the company's press event. While currently unconfirmed to release in North America, many in the industry expect both of these RPG titles to eventually make their debut on American shores.
Other Nintendo DS releases discussed included brief information sessions regarding Super Robot Wars, Dynasty Warriors and Winning Eleven Nine. Both Dynasty Warriors and WE9 have been confirmed to utilize the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to provide user's with easy, free, and fast online gaming experiences.
In regards to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, Iwata has declared the service a strong success, citing the fact that over 900 thousand unique individuals have already accessed the online gaming network. Additionally, the Nintendo executive has revealed that seven Nintendo DS titles have exceeded the one million sales mark within Japan. Games such as Animal Crossing: Wild World, Mario Kart DS, and the Brain Training titles have been virtually dominating the Media Create sales charts associated with the Japanese region.
Iwata Holds Up A DS Lite
Confirming our original report, the Opera Web browser add-on has been confirmed for DS. In addition to this, the browser will not be firmware. It is also now known that the forthcoming Nintendo DS web browser will fully utilize the properties of the portable device. Web pages on the DS will span both screens of the handheld, with the touch screen functioning for forms of input. The browser will also fully recognize stylus movements associated with the touch screen in order to adjust the viewing angle of the bottom screen.
The Opera software is currently slated to release in Japan during the month of June at the price of 3800 yen, roughly $30, and will include ATOK Kanji conversion software.
Opera on the DS
Conforming with our previous story, Nintendo has also showcased plans for a TV tuner device for the DS.The widely anticipated 1Seg Digital TV Card add-on will simply occupy the standard Nintendo DS game slot. Thanks to gaming-forum legend Jonnyram, we can now see the actual TV Card (below) inserted into several DS units.
DS TV Tuner
However, knowing that 1seg is a mobile terrestrial digital audio/video broadcasting service in Japan, it may seem that the TV Card may be available for Japanese consumers only. Whether or not Nintendo Ltd. has decided to bring this add-on to the United States remains to be seen.
Closeup DS Tuner Picture
Another DS TV Tuner Picture
Nintendo has also offered new details regarding a number of current and future Nintendo DS projects. For starters, the New Super Mario Brothers title for the system is slated for a May Japan-release, at a price of 4800 yen, with Tetris DS releasing shortly at a budget price of 3800 yen in the region.
A plethora of DS game announcements have been made at the Press Conference, along with new information regarding previously announced titles. It is now known that Calligraphy Training DS is in the works for the system, and will offer DS users with the opportunity to perfect or enhance their calligraphy skills in a style similar to the immensely popular Brain Training series. Also revealed was the news of an unnamed piece of cooking software set for production on the Nintendo DS.
Previously identified Nintendo DS offerings such as Children of Mana and Xenosaga Episode 1-2 were shown at the company's press event. While currently unconfirmed to release in North America, many in the industry expect both of these RPG titles to eventually make their debut on American shores.
Other Nintendo DS releases discussed included brief information sessions regarding Super Robot Wars, Dynasty Warriors and Winning Eleven Nine. Both Dynasty Warriors and WE9 have been confirmed to utilize the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to provide user's with easy, free, and fast online gaming experiences.
In regards to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, Iwata has declared the service a strong success, citing the fact that over 900 thousand unique individuals have already accessed the online gaming network. Additionally, the Nintendo executive has revealed that seven Nintendo DS titles have exceeded the one million sales mark within Japan. Games such as Animal Crossing: Wild World, Mario Kart DS, and the Brain Training titles have been virtually dominating the Media Create sales charts associated with the Japanese region.
