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This article is about the original Nintendo DS. For the family of systems, see Nintendo DS (disambiguation).
Nintendo DS


Manufacturer
Nintendo
Product family
Nintendo DS
Type
Handheld game console
Generation
Seventh generation era
Retail availability
NA November 21, 2004JP December 2, 2004TW December 13, 2004KOR December 29, 2004AUS February 24, 2005EU March 11, 2005CH July 23, 2005
Units sold
Worldwide: 128.89 million, including DS Lite DSi and DSi XL units (as of March 31, 2010)[1] (details)
Media
Game Boy Advance cartridgeNintendo DS Game Card
CPU
One 67.028 MHz ARM946E-S[2] and one 33.514 MHz ARM7TDMI
Storage capacity
Cartridge save, 4 MB RAM
Connectivity
Wi-Fi
Online services
Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
Best-selling game
Nintendogs, 22.27 million, all versions combined (as of March 31, 2009)[3]New Super Mario Bros., 19.94 million (as of September 30, 2009)[4]
Backwardcompatibility
Game Boy Advance (Original and Lite iterations only)
Successor
Nintendo DS Lite (redesign)
The Nintendo DS (ニンテンドーDS, Nintendō Dī Esu?, sometimes abbreviated to DS or NDS) is a handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was released in 2004 in Canada, the United States, and Japan. The console features a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP, with two LCD screens inside—with the bottom one being a touchscreen. The Nintendo DS also features a built-in microphone and supports wireless IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) standards,[5] allowing players to interact with each other within short range (10–30 m, depending on conditions) or online with the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service, which launched later in the console's lifespan. The Nintendo DS is the first Nintendo console to be released in North America before Japan.
The system's code name was Nitro,[6] which can be seen in the model number that appears on the unit (NTR-001).[7] The console's name officially refers to "Developers' System", in reference to developers of new game designs the system was meant to inspire, and "Dual Screen", the system's most obvious and distinct feature.[8]
On March 2, 2006, Nintendo released the Nintendo DS Lite, a redesign of the Nintendo DS, in Japan. It was later released in North America, Europe, and Australia in June 2006. The DS Lite is a slimmer and lighter version of the Nintendo DS and has brighter screens. Nintendo of America refers to the older model as the "original style" Nintendo DS.[7] It is often affectionately referred to by fans as the "DS Phat."[9] On October 2, 2008, Nintendo announced the Nintendo DSi, another redesign of the Nintendo DS, at the Nintendo Fall Media Summit.[10] It was released in Japan on November 1, 2008. It was later released in North America, Europe and Australia in April 2009. The DSi's codename has been changed to "TWL" due to it being a substantial hardware upgrade including a faster CPU and more RAM, and requiring new development kits.
As of March 31, 2010, the various models of the Nintendo DS had sold 128.89 million units, making it the best selling handheld game console to date, and second best selling video game console overall, behind the PlayStation 2.
Contents[hide]
1 History
2 Launch
3 Hardware
3.1 Technical specifications
3.2 Media specifications
3.3 Firmware
3.4 Battery life
4 Features
4.1 Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
4.2 Download Play
4.3 PictoChat
4.4 Compatibility
4.5 Regional division
5 Accessories
5.1 Rumble Pak
5.2 Headset
5.3 Browser
5.4 Wi-Fi USB Connector
5.5 MP3 Player
5.6 Guitar grip controller
6 Hacking and homebrew
7 Emulation
8 Reception
8.1 Marketing
8.2 Sales
8.3 Editions
9 Redesigns
9.1 Nintendo DS Lite
9.2 Nintendo DSi
9.3 Nintendo DSi XL
10 Software development
11 Successor
12 See also
13 References
14 External links
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[edit] History
On November 13, 2003, Nintendo announced that it would be creating a new console for release in 2004.[11] Nintendo stated that it would not be the successor to either the Nintendo GameCube or the Game Boy Advance,[11] but rather it would be considered a "third pillar" alongside the other two consoles.[12] On January 20, 2004, the console was announced under the codename "Nintendo DS"[13] (which stands for Developer's System). Nintendo released a few details at that time, only saying that the console would have two separate 3-inch TFT LCD display panels, separate processors, and up to 1 gigabit of semiconductor memory.[13][14] Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said, "We have developed Nintendo DS based upon a completely different concept from existing game devices in order to provide players with a unique entertainment experience for the 21st century."[13] In March, the codename was changed to "Nitro" and a document containing most of the console's technical specifications was leaked.[15] In May, the codename was changed back to "Nintendo DS" and the console was shown in prototype form at Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). All of the features of the console were revealed by Nintendo at E3.[16] On July 28, 2004, Nintendo revealed a new design, one that was described as "sleeker and more elegant" than the one shown at E3. Also, the codename "Nintendo DS" became the official name of the console that day.[17]
The Nintendo DS bears a striking resemblance to the company's first handheld, the Game & Watch, specifically the multi-screen versions such as Donkey Kong.