About the Nintendo DS

The Nintendo DS is a dual-screen handheld gaming system developed, manufactured, and published by Nintendo. The name "DS" is short for Dual Screen, although Nintendo has also promotionally said it also represents Developer's System, due to Nintendo's claim of the incredible ease of developing games for the handheld. Before it was announced at Nintendo's E3 2004 press conference, the Nintendo DS went by the code name of Nitro.

The purpose of the Nintendo DS is to not only compete with the Sony PSP, but to bring innovations to the world of gaming. For the Nintendo DS features voice recognition and input, a touch screen interface, two screens, WiFi compatability, and a clam shell design all in one.

The Nintendo DS is one of the fastest selling handhelds of all time, currently ahead of the Sony PSP in worldwide sales. The logo of the Nintendo DS is two squares stacked upon each other vertically. (See site favicon, also known as URL Image.) The Nintendo DS has many slogans such as "Touch", "Touch Me", "Touch!", and "Touching is Good".

Functionality

The main function of the Nintendo DS is to play games. Although a multimedia device known as the Play-Yan is available in Japan. This device is not yet announced for the US or Europe. A list of games available or coming soon to the Nintendo DS is available by clicking here.

Styles and Colors

The Nintendo DS features a clam shell design in the following colors; red, electric blue, light blue, silver, white, pink, and black. There are five limited edition Nintendo DS units only available via contest in Japan.

Technical Specs

For a list of technical specifications on the Nintendo DS, please refer to our Nintendo DS page dedicated to it by clicking here.

Launch, System Price, and Game Price

The Nintendo DS was launched in North America on November 21, 2004 for a retail price of $149.99 USD. In Japan is was launched on December 2, 2004 at a retail price of 15,000 yen. The DS was released in Europe on March 11, 2005 for �99.99. All first party published games are available for $30 USD or lower. Third party published games can be anywhere bewtween $30 through $40 USD. For a list of launch games, please refer to the list below.

North American Launch List

* Asphalt Urban GT (Ubisoft)
* Feel the Magic: XY/XX (Sega)
* Madden NFL 2005 (Electronic Arts)
* Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits (Namco)
* Ping Pals (THQ)
* Ridge Racer DS (Namco)
* Spider-Man 2 (Activision)
* Sprung (Ubisoft)
* Super Mario 64 DS (Nintendo)
* The Urbz: Sims in the City (Electronic Arts)
* Tiger Woods PGA Tour (Electronic Arts).

Japanese Launch List

* Daigasso! Band Brothers (Jam With the Band) (Nintendo)
* Chokkan Hitofude (Polarium) (Nintendo)
* Cool104 Joker & Setline (Aruze)
* Kimi no Tame Nara Shineru (Feel the Magic: XY/XX) (Sega)
* Kensyui Dokuta Tendo (Spike)
* Mahjong Taikai (Koei)
* Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits (Namco)
* Pok�mon Dash (Nintendo)
* Super Mario 64 DS (Nintendo)
* The Urbz: Sims in the City (Electronic Arts)
* WarioWare Touched! (Nintendo)
* Zoo Keeper (Success)

European Launch List

* Asphalt Urban GT (Ubisoft)
* Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits (Namco)
* Ping Pals (THQ)
* Pok�mon Dash (Nintendo)
* Polarium (Nintendo)
* Project Rub (Sega)
* Rayman DS (Ubisoft)
* Robots (VU Games)
* Spider-Man 2 (Activision)
* Sprung (Ubisoft)
* Super Mario 64 DS (Nintendo)
* Tiger Woods PGA Tour (Electronic Arts)
* The Urbz: Sims in the City (Electronic Arts)
* WarioWare Touched! (Nintendo)
* Zoo Keeper (Ignition)

Australian Launch List

* Asphalt Urban GT (Ubisoft)
* Ping Pals (THQ)
* Project Rub (Sega)
* Spider-Man 2 (Activision)
* Sprung (Ubisoft)
* Super Mario 64 DS (Nintendo)
* Rayman DS (Ubisoft)
* WarioWare Touched! (Nintendo)
* Zoo Keeper (Ignition)