Nintendo DS
Manufacturer	Nintendo
Product family	Nintendo DS
Type	Handheld game console
Generation	Seventh generation era
First available	NA November 21, 2004 JP December 2, 2004 AUS February 24, 2005 EU March 11, 2005
CPU	One 67 MHz[1] (ARM) and one 33 MHz ARM7TDMI
Media	GBA cartridges Nintendo DS game cards
System storage	Cartridge save, 4 MB tRAM
Connectivity	Wi-Fi, LAN
Online service	Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
Units sold	Worldwide: 70. A console manufacturer is a company that manufactures and distributes Video game consoles It is also known as a first-party Video game publisher. is a Multinational corporation headquartered in Kyoto Japan founded on A handheld game console is a lightweight portable electronic machine for playing Video games Unlike Video game consoles the controls screen and speakers Video games were introduced as a commercial entertainment medium in 1971, becoming the basis for an important entertainment industry in the late 1970s/early 1980s in the United In the History of video games, the seventh generation, which is also the current generation primarily focuses on the consoles released since by Nintendo, Events 164 BC - Judas Maccabaeus, son of Mattathias of the Hasmonean family restores the Temple in Jerusalem. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Events 1409 - The University of Leipzig opens 1755 - The second Eddystone Lighthouse is destroyed by fire "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Australasia is a Region of Oceania: New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, and neighbouring Islands in the Pacific Events 303 - Galerius, Roman Emperor, publishes his edict that begins the persecution of Christians in his portion of the Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1425 BC - Thutmose III, Pharaoh of Egypt, dies (according to the Low Chronology of the 18th Dynasty Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The ARM architecture (previously the Advanced RISC Machine, and prior to that Acorn RISC Machine) is a 32-bit RISC processor architecture The ARM7TDMI processor is a 32-bit RISC CPU designed by ARM, and licensed for manufacture by an array of Semiconductor companies The Game Boy Advance (often shortened to GBA) is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed manufactured and marketed by Nintendo. Wi-Fi (ˈwaɪfaɪ is the trade name for the popular wireless technology used Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection (commonly abbreviated WFC) is an online service run by Nintendo to facilitate free Internet play in compatible Nintendo DS and This is a list of Video game consoles and Handheld game consoles that have sold or shipped at least one million units 6 million, including DS Lite units (as of March 31, 2008)[2] (details)
Best-selling game	Nintendogs, 18. Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common This is a list of Video games that have sold or shipped at least one million copies including the top ten best-selling franchises. is a Real-time Pet simulation Video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld Video game console. 67 million, all versions combined (as of March 31, 2008)[3] New Super Mario Bros., 14. Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common is a Side-scrolling platform Video game published and developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld Video game console. 16 million (as of March 31, 2008)[3]
Successor	Nintendo DS Lite (redesign)

The Nintendo DS (sometimes abbreviated to DS or NDS) is a handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common A handheld game console is a lightweight portable electronic machine for playing Video games Unlike Video game consoles the controls screen and speakers is a Multinational corporation headquartered in Kyoto Japan founded on It was released in 2004 in Canada, U. Events January 20 — Wired s Vaporware Awards gives its first "Lifetime Achievement Award" to recurring winner S. , 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, released in February 2003 is an upgraded version of Nintendo 's Game Boy Advance. A Touch Screen is a display which can detect the presence and location of a touch within the display area The Nintendo DS also features a built-in microphone and supports wireless IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) standards,^[4] 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. IEEE 80211 is a set of standards for wireless local area network (WLAN computer communication developed by the IEEE LAN/MAN Standards Committee ( IEEE 802 Wi-Fi (ˈwaɪfaɪ is the trade name for the popular wireless technology used Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection (commonly abbreviated WFC) is an online service run by Nintendo to facilitate free Internet play in compatible Nintendo DS and This was the first Nintendo console to be released in North America prior to Japan.

The system's code name was Nitro,^[5] and this can be seen in the model codes that appear on the unit (NTR-001). The console's name officially refers to "Developers' System", in reference to the new game design the system was meant to inspire, and "Dual Screen", the system's most obvious and distinct feature. ^[6]

On March 2, 2006, Nintendo released the Nintendo DS Lite, a redesign of the Nintendo DS, in Japan. Events 986 - Louis V becomes King of the Franks. 1127 - Assassination of Charles the Good Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. It was later released in North America, Europe, and Australia in June 2006. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. 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]

In 2008, Nintendo was honored at the 59th Annual Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards for pioneering the development of handheld games with its Nintendo DS system. A Technology and Engineering Emmy Award is given by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS for outstanding achievement in technical or

Development and launch

The Donkey Kong version of the Game & Watch. Nintendo has released several Mario and Donkey Kong LCD video games for the Game & Watch system The (G&W series were Handheld electronic games made by Nintendo and created by its game designer Gunpei Yokoi from to.

See also: Nintendo DS launches

On November 13, 2003, Nintendo announced that it would be creating a new console for release in 2004. The Nintendo DS was released in North America on November 21, 2004 Japan on December 2, 2004 Events 1002 - English king Ethelred orders the killing of all Danes in England, known today as the St Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ^[8] Nintendo said that it would not be the successor to either the Nintendo GameCube nor the Game Boy Advance,^[8] but rather it would be considered a "third pillar" alongside the two consoles. The, often abbreviated as GCN, is Nintendo 's fourth home Video game console and is part of the sixth generation console era. The Game Boy Advance (often shortened to GBA) is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed manufactured and marketed by Nintendo. ^[9] On January 20, 2004, the console was announced under the codename "Nintendo DS". Events 250 - Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " ^[10] Nintendo released very few details at that time, only saying that the console would have two separate 3 in. TFT LCD display panels, separate processors, and up to 1 gigabit of semiconductor memory. Inches redirects here To see the Les Savy Fav album see Inches. A thin film transistor liquid crystal display ( TFT-LCD) is a variant of Liquid crystal display (LCD which uses Thin film transistor (TFT technology to ^[10][11] 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. is the fourth President and CEO of Nintendo succeeding the long-standing previous president of the company Hiroshi Yamauchi in 2002 "^[10] In March, the codename was changed to "Nitro" and a document containing most of the console's technical specifications was leaked. ^[12] In May, the codename was changed back to "Nintendo DS" (DS standing for Dual Screen)^[6] and the console was shown in prototype form at E3. The E3 Media and Business Summit, formerly known as Electronic Entertainment Expo and commonly known as E3, is an annual Trade show for the computer All of the features of the console were released by Nintendo at E3. ^[13] On July 28, 2004, Nintendo revealed a new design, one that was described as "sleeker and more elegant" than the one shown at E3. Events 1540 - Thomas Cromwell is executed at the order of Henry VIII of England on charges of Treason. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Also, the codename "Nintendo DS" became the official name of the console that day. ^[14]

The Nintendo DS bears a striking resemblance to Nintendo's first handheld, the Game & Watch, specifically the multi-screen versions such as Donkey Kong. The (G&W series were Handheld electronic games made by Nintendo and created by its game designer Gunpei Yokoi from to. Nintendo has released several Mario and Donkey Kong LCD video games for the Game & Watch system

On September 20, 2004, Nintendo announced that the Nintendo DS would be released in North America on November 21, 2004 for US$149. Events 451 - The Battle of Chalons takes place in North Eastern France. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Events 164 BC - Judas Maccabaeus, son of Mattathias of the Hasmonean family restores the Temple in Jerusalem. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been 99. ^[15] It was set to release on December 2, 2004 in Japan and in the first quarter of 2005 in Europe and Australia. Events 1409 - The University of Leipzig opens 1755 - The second Eddystone Lighthouse is destroyed by fire "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The console was released in North America with a midnight launch event at Universal CityWalk EB Games in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West The console was launched quietly in Japan compared to the North America launch; one source cites the cold weather as the reason. ^[16] In January 2005, the Australia release date of February 24, 2005 and the Europe release date of March 11, 2005 were announced. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Events 303 - Galerius, Roman Emperor, publishes his edict that begins the persecution of Christians in his portion of the Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1425 BC - Thutmose III, Pharaoh of Egypt, dies (according to the Low Chronology of the 18th Dynasty Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[17][18] Regarding the European launch, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata said:

Europe is an extremely important market for Nintendo, and we are pleased we can offer such a short period of time between the US and European launch. We believe that the Nintendo DS will change the way people play video games and our mission remains to expand the game play experience. Nintendo DS caters for the needs of all gamers whether for more dedicated gamers who want the real challenge they expect, or the more casual gamers who want quick, pick up and play fun. ^[19]

Hardware

Input and output

The Nintendo DS stylus used for games played on the touchscreen.

The lower display of the Nintendo DS is overlaid with a touchscreen, designed to accept input from the included stylus, the user's fingers, or a curved plastic tab attached to the optional wrist strap. A stylus (plural styli or styluses) is a Writing utensil. The word is also used for a computer accessory ( PDAs) The touchscreen allows users to interact with in-game elements more directly than by pressing buttons; for example, in the included chatting software, PictoChat, the stylus is used to write messages or draw. PictoChat is a communication utility included with the Nintendo DS.

Traditional controls are located on either side of the touchscreen. To the left is a D-pad, with a narrow Power button above it, and to the right are the A, B, X, and Y buttons, with narrow Select and Start buttons above them. A D-pad (short for directional pad) is a flat usually thumb-operated directional control found on nearly all modern Video game console Gamepads Game Shoulder buttons L and R are located on the upper corners of the lower half of the system. The overall button layout is similar to the controller of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (Super Famicom in Japan). The Super Nintendo Entertainment System or Super NES (also called SNES and Super Nintendo) is a 16-bit Video game console that was

The Nintendo DS features stereo speakers providing virtual surround sound (depending on the software) located on either side of the upper display screen. Stereophonic sound, commonly called stereo, is the reproduction of Sound, using two or more independent audio channels through a Symmetrical Virtual surround is an audio system which attempts to create the perception that there are many more sources of sound than are actually present This is a first for a Nintendo handheld, as the Game Boy line of systems has only supported stereo sound through the use of headphones or external speakers. The line is a line of battery -powered Handheld game consoles sold by Nintendo.

A built-in microphone is located below the left side of the bottom screen. It has been used for a variety of purposes, including speech recognition (Nintendogs, Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day!), chatting online between and during gameplay sessions (Pokémon Diamond and Pearl), and minigames that require the player to blow or shout into the microphone (Feel the Magic: XY/XX, WarioWare: Touched!, Mario Party DS). Speech recognition (also known as automatic speech recognition or computer speech recognition) converts spoken words to machine-readable input (for example to keypresses is a Real-time Pet simulation Video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld Video game console. Brain Age Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day!, also known as Dr and are both the fourth installments of the ''Pokémon'' series of role-playing Video games succeeding ''Pokémon Ruby'' ''Sapphire'' and ''Emerald'' A minigame (also spelled mini-game or mini game) sometimes called a subgame, is a short Video game often contained within another Feel the Magic XY/XX, known in Japan as and in Europe and Australia as Project Rub is a Minigame Video WarioWare Touched!, known in Japan as is a Video game for the Nintendo DS. is a Party Video game for the Nintendo DS. It is the eleventh title in the series (twelfth in Japan) and was released in Japan on November 8

Technical specifications

• Mass: 275 grams (9. 7 ounces).
• Physical dimensions: 148. 7 x 84. 7 x 28. 9 mm (5. 85 x 3. 33 x 1. 13 inches).
• Screens: Two separate 3-inch TFT LCD, resolution of 256 x 192 pixels, dimensions of 62 x 46 mm and 77 mm diagonal, and a dot pitch of 0. A thin film transistor liquid crystal display ( TFT-LCD) is a variant of Liquid crystal display (LCD which uses Thin film transistor (TFT technology to The display resolution of a Digital television or Computer display typically refers to the number of distinct pixels in each dimension that can be displayed Dot pitch (sometimes called line pitch, phosphor pitch or pixel pitch) is a specification for a Computer display, Computer printer 24 mm. The gap between the screens is approximately 21 mm, equivalent to about 92 "hidden" lines. The lowermost display of the Nintendo DS is overlaid with a resistive touchscreen, which registers pressure from one point on the screen at a time, averaging multiple points of contact if necessary. A Touch Screen is a display which can detect the presence and location of a touch within the display area
• CPUs: Two ARM processors, an ARM946E-S main CPU and ARM7TDMI co-processor at clock speeds of 67 MHz and 33 MHz respectively. The ARM architecture (previously the Advanced RISC Machine, and prior to that Acorn RISC Machine) is a 32-bit RISC processor architecture ARM9E is an ARM architecture 32-bit RISC CPU family With this architecture ARM moved from a Von Neumann architecture ( Princeton The ARM7TDMI processor is a 32-bit RISC CPU designed by ARM, and licensed for manufacture by an array of Semiconductor companies The ARM946E-S CPU processes 3D rendering and the ARM7TDMI processes 2D rendering for DS games and Game boy Advance gameplay.
• RAM: 4 MB of Mobile RAM
• Voltage: 1. 65 volts required
• Storage: 256 kB of Serial Flash Memory
• Wireless: 802. 11 + Nintendo Original Protocol
• Wi-Fi: Built-in 802.11 Wireless Network Connection (802. IEEE 80211 is a set of standards for wireless local area network (WLAN computer communication developed by the IEEE LAN/MAN Standards Committee ( IEEE 802 11b/g compatible with WEP encryption support only)

The system's 3D hardware performs transform and lighting, texture-coordinate transformation, texture mapping, alpha blending, anti-aliasing, cel shading, and z-buffering; however, it uses point (nearest neighbor) texture filtering, leading to some titles having a blocky appearance. 3D computer graphics (in contrast to 2D computer graphics) are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer Transform clipping and lighting ( T&L or sometimes TCL) is a term used in Computer graphics. Texture mapping is a method for adding detail surface texture or colour to a computer-generated graphic or 3D model. In Computer graphics, alpha compositing is the process of combining an image with a background to create the appearance of partial transparency In Digital signal processing, anti-aliasing is the technique of minimizing the distortion artifacts known as Aliasing when representing a high-resolution signal Cel-shaded animation (also called cel-shading or toon shading) is a type of Non-photorealistic rendering designed to make Computer graphics appear In Computer graphics, z-buffering is the management of image depth coordinates in three-dimensional (3-D graphics usually done in Hardware, sometimes in Nearest-neighbor interpolation (also known as proximal interpolation or point sampling in some contexts is a simple method of Multivariate interpolation In Computer graphics, texture filtering is the method used to determine the texture color for a texture mapped Pixel, using the colors of nearby The system is theoretically capable of rendering about 120,000 triangles per second at 60 frames per second, which is comparable to the Nintendo 64. Frame rate, or frame frequency, is the measurement of the Frequency (rate at which an imaging device produces unique consecutive images called frames The The, often abbreviated as N64, is Nintendo 's third home Video game console for the international market Unlike most 3D hardware, it has a set limit on the number of triangles it can render as part of a single scene; the maximum amount is about 6144 vertices, or 2048 triangles per frame. The 3D hardware is designed to render to a single screen at a time, so rendering 3D to both screens is difficult and decreases performance significantly. The DS is generally more limited by its polygon budget than by its pixel fill rate. There are also 512 kilobytes of texture memory per screen, and the maximum texture size is 1024x1024 pixels.

The system has 656 kilobytes of video memory^[20] and two 2D engines (one per screen). 2D computer graphics is the Computer -based generation of Digital images mdashmostly from two-dimensional models (such as 2D geometric models text and digital These are similar to (but more powerful than) the Game Boy Advance's single 2D engine; however, the cores are divided into the main core and sub core. The Game Boy Advance (often shortened to GBA) is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed manufactured and marketed by Nintendo. Only the main core is capable of vertex 3D rendering.

The Nintendo DS has compatibility with Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11. Wi-Fi (ˈwaɪfaɪ is the trade name for the popular wireless technology used IEEE 80211 is a set of standards for wireless local area network (WLAN computer communication developed by the IEEE LAN/MAN Standards Committee ( IEEE 802 The unit also supports a special wireless format created by Nintendo and secured using RSA security signing (used by the wireless drawing and chatting program PictoChat for the DS). Wi-Fi is used for accessing the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, where users can use the internet or compete with other users playing the same Wi-Fi compatible game. Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection (commonly abbreviated WFC) is an online service run by Nintendo to facilitate free Internet play in compatible Nintendo DS and

Media specifications

Nintendo DS games use a proprietary solid state ROM "game card" format resembling the memory cards used in other portable electronic devices such as digital cameras. Solid-state Electronic components devices and systems are based entirely on the Semiconductor, such as Transistors Microprocessor chips and It currently supports cards up to 2 gigabit (2048 Mb or 256 MB) in size (with ASH: Archaic Sealed Heat being the first DS game to use a 2 gigabit card),^[21][22] which is four times the amount of memory that the largest Nintendo 64 cartridge was able to store (512 Mb or 64 MB). A gigabit is a unit of information or computer storage abbreviated Gbit (or Gb) A megabit is a unit of Information or computer storage abbreviated Mbit (or Mb) A megabyte is a unit of Information or Computer storage equal to either 106 (1000000 Bytes or 220 (1048576 bytes depending on ASH Archaic Sealed Heat is a Tactical role-playing game developed by Mistwalker and Racjin and published by Nintendo for the The cards always have a small amount of flash memory or an EEPROM to save user data such as game progress or high scores. Flash memory is non-volatile computer memory that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed EEPROM (also written E2PROM and pronounced e-e-prom or simply e-squared which stands for E lectrically E rasable P rogrammable The game cards are 33. 0 mm × 35. 0 mm × 3. 8 mm (approximately half the width and half as thick as Game Boy Advance cartridges) and weigh around 3. 5 g (1/8 ounce).

Based on an IGN blog by the developer of MechAssault: Phantom War, larger (such as 128 MB) cards have a slower data transfer rate than the more common smaller (such as 64 MB) cards; however, the specific rates were not mentioned. IGN (abbreviated and formerly known as I magine G ames N etwork is a multimedia news and reviews Website that focuses heavily on Video MechAssault Phantom War is one of the games in the popular MechAssault series and is part of the BattleTech universe created A megabyte is a unit of Information or Computer storage equal to either 106 (1000000 Bytes or 220 (1048576 bytes depending on ^[23]

The system's code-name was Nitro, resulting in the letters "NTR" appearing in the serial number written on the back of game cards and the system itself. NTR-XXX indicates the model numbers found on the original style Nintendo DS and its accessories.

Firmware

Nintendo's own custom firmware boots the system. In Computing, firmware is a computer program that is Embedded in a hardware device for example a Microcontroller. A health and safety warning is displayed first, then the main menu is loaded. The main menu presents the player with four main options to select: play a DS game, use PictoChat, initiate DS Download Play, or play a Game Boy Advance Game.

The firmware also features an alarm clock, several options for customization (such as boot priority for when games are inserted and GBA screen preference), and the ability to input user information (such as name, birthday, favorite color, etc. ) that can be used in games.

Battery life

The Nintendo DS contains a rechargeable lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 850 mAH. Lithium-ion batteries (sometimes abbreviated Li-ion batteries) are a type of Rechargeable battery in which a Lithium ion moves between the Anode On a full four-hour charge, the factory 850 mAH battery lasts about 10 hours. ^[24] Battery life is affected by multiple factors including speaker volume, use of one or both screens, back lighting, and use of wireless connectivity. The biggest effect on battery life is caused by using the backlight, which can be turned off in the main menu screen, or in selected games (such as Super Mario 64 DS). The battery is designed to be removed only when it expires.

To sustain battery life in the midst of a game, users can close the Nintendo DS system, putting the DS in sleep mode that also pauses the game that is being played; however, closing the lid while playing a Game Boy Advance game will not put the Nintendo DS into sleep mode; the game will continue to run normally, including the back light. Certain DS games (such as Animal Crossing: Wild World) also will not pause but the backlight, screens, and speakers will turn off. in Japan, is a life simulation Video game published and developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS Handheld game console, and the When saving the game in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, Zoo Tycoon DS, SimCity DS, or Mega Man Battle Network 5: Double Team DS, the DS will not go into sleep mode. and are both the fourth installments of the ''Pokémon'' series of role-playing Video games succeeding ''Pokémon Ruby'' ''Sapphire'' and ''Emerald'' Zoo Tycoon DS is the Nintendo DS version of the popular Business simulation game, Zoo Tycoon. SimCity DS ( SCDS) is a city building and management computer game and the first Nintendo DS installment

Features

Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection

Main article: Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection

The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection is a free online game service run by Nintendo. Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection (commonly abbreviated WFC) is an online service run by Nintendo to facilitate free Internet play in compatible Nintendo DS and Players with a compatible Nintendo DS game can connect to the service via a Wi-Fi network using a Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector or a wireless router. Wi-Fi (ˈwaɪfaɪ is the trade name for the popular wireless technology used The Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector is an accessory developed jointly by Nintendo and Buffalo Technology, which allows Nintendo DS and A wireless router is a network device that performs the functions of a Router but also includes the functions of a Wireless access point. The service was launched in North America on November 14, 2005 with the release of Mario Kart DS. Events 1533 - Conquistadors from Spain under the leadership of Francisco Pizarro arrive in Cajamarca, Inca Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Mario Kart DS is a Racing game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. Various online games, and a web browser (see below) are now available.

Download Play

With Download Play it is possible for users to play multiplayer games with other Nintendo DS systems using only one game card, such as Mario Party DS and Mario Kart DS. A multiplayer video game is one which more than one person can play in the same game environment at the same time is a Party Video game for the Nintendo DS. It is the eleventh title in the series (twelfth in Japan) and was released in Japan on November 8 Mario Kart DS is a Racing game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. Players must have their systems within wireless range (up to approximately 100 feet) of each other and the guest system to download the necessary data from the host system.

Some Nintendo DS retailers features DS Download Stations that allow users to download demos of upcoming and currently available DS games; however, due to memory limitations, the downloads are erased once the system is powered off. DS Download Station is an in-store Demo Service launched by Nintendo in early 2006. The Download Station is made up of 1 to 8 standard retail DS units, with a standard DS card containing the demo data. On May 7, 2008, Nintendo released the Nintendo Channel for download on the Wii. The Wii Menu is the top level menu interface of the Wii game console The Nintendo Channel uses Nintendo's WiiConnect24 to download Nintendo DS demos through the Nintendo Channel. From there, a person can select the game demo they wish to play and, similar to the Nintendo DS Download Stations at retail outlets, download the demo (temporarily) to their DS.

PictoChat

Main article: PictoChat

PictoChat allows users to communicate with other Nintendo DS users within local wireless range. PictoChat is a communication utility included with the Nintendo DS. Users can enter text (via a small on screen keyboard), handwrite messages or draw pictures (via the stylus and touchscreen). There are four chatrooms (A, B, C, D) in which people can go to chat. Up to sixteen people can connect in any one room.

Compatibility

The Nintendo DS is backwards compatible with Game Boy Advance (GBA) cartridges. The Game Boy Advance (often shortened to GBA) is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed manufactured and marketed by Nintendo. The smaller Nintendo DS game cards fit into Slot 1 on the top of the system, while Game Boy Advance games fit into Slot 2 on the bottom of the system. The Nintendo DS is not compatible with games for the Game Boy Color and the original Game Boy, due to a slightly different form factor, voltage requirements, and the absence of the Sharp Z80 compatible processor used in these systems. The is Nintendo 's successor to the Game Boy and was released on October 21, 1998 in Japan and in November 19, 1998 The Zilog Z80 is an 8-bit Microprocessor designed and sold by Zilog from July 1976 onwards

The handheld does not have a port for the Game Boy Advance Link Cable, so multiplayer or GameCube-Game Boy Advance link-up modes are not available in Game Boy Advance titles. The Nintendo GameCube Game Boy Advance Cable is a cable used to connect the Nintendo GameCube (GCN and the Game Boy Advance (GBA Only single player mode is supported on the Nintendo DS.

The Nintendo DS only uses one screen when playing Game Boy Advance games. The user can configure the system to use either the top or bottom screen by default. The games are displayed within a black border on the screen, due to the slightly different screen resolution between the two systems (256 × 192px (approx. . 05 megapixels) for the Nintendo DS, and 240 × 160px (approx. . 04 megapixels) for the Game Boy Advance).

Nintendo DS games inserted into Slot 1 are able to detect the presence of specific Game Boy Advance games in Slot 2. In many such games, either stated in the game during gameplay or mostly explained in the games' instruction manuals, extra content can be unlocked or added by starting the Nintendo DS game with the appropriate Game Boy Advance game inserted. Some of the content can stay permanent, even when the GBA game has been removed after content has been added. An example of this can be seen in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, which allow the user to send his or her Pokémon from a Game Boy Advance Pokémon title to the DS title. and are both the fourth installments of the ''Pokémon'' series of role-playing Video games succeeding ''Pokémon Ruby'' ''Sapphire'' and ''Emerald'' If you came here to express your personal opinion about Pokémon please go somewhere else Also add some small temporarily additions, or minor changes to game like giving it either extended gameplay, hidden levels, hidden exclusive items or hidden boss, which are available only when the GBA game is inserted and is unavailable when GBA Game is removed. An example to this addition is the DS game Mega Man ZX with either Mega Man Zero 3 and/or Mega Man Zero 4, this allows you to fight main bosses from the past titles. Mega Man ZX, known in Japan as, is the first installment in the Mega Man ZX series the sixth series in Capcom 's Mega Man Mega Man Zero 3, known in Japan as, is the third Video game in the Mega Man Zero series of Mega Man video games from Mega Man Zero 4, known in Japan as and commonly abbreviated MMZ4, is an action platforming video game released and published by

Additionally, Slot 2 can be used to house expansion paks, such as the Rumble Pak and the Nintendo DS Memory Expansion Pak, which supplies 8 MB of extra RAM for the Nintendo DS Browser. The Rumble Pak is a removable device from Nintendo that provides Haptic feedback while playing video games The Nintendo DS Browser is a version of the Opera Web browser for use on the Nintendo DS, developed by Opera Software and Nintendo The Nintendo DS Browser is a version of the Opera Web browser for use on the Nintendo DS, developed by Opera Software and Nintendo

Regional division

The Nintendo DS is region free in the sense that any console will run a Nintendo DS game purchased anywhere in the world; however, the Chinese version games can only be played on the Chinese iQue DS, whose larger firmware chip contains the required Chinese character glyph images. Regional lockout is the programming practice code chip or physical barrier used to prevent the playing of media designed for a device from the country where it is marketed on the A Chinese character, also known as a Han character ( is a Logogram used in writing Chinese (hanzi Japanese ( Although Nintendo DS of other regions cannot play the Chinese games, iQue DS can play games of other regions. Also, as with Game Boy games, some games that require both players to have a Nintendo DS game card for multiplayer play will not necessarily work together if the games are from different regions (e. g. a Japanese Nintendo DS game may not work with a North American Nintendo DS game, though some titles, such as Mario Kart DS, are mutually compatible). With the addition of the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, certain games can be played over the Internet with users of a different region game. Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection (commonly abbreviated WFC) is an online service run by Nintendo to facilitate free Internet play in compatible Nintendo DS and

Some Wi-Fi enabled games (e. g. Mario Kart DS) allow the selection of opponents by region. The options are "Continent" and "Worldwide", as well as two non-location specific settings. This allows the player to limit competitors to only those opponents based in the same geographical area. It is unknown whether this is based on the region code of the console in use, the region of the game card, or geolocation of the IP address. Geolocation refers to identifying the real-world geographic location of an Internet connected computer mobile device website visitor or other

Accessories

Main article: Nintendo DS accessories

Game Boy Advance game slot on Game Boy Advance (above) and Nintendo DS (below). This article is about accessories for the Nintendo DS. Official accessories Although the secondary port on the Nintendo DS does accept and support Game Boy The Game Boy Advance (often shortened to GBA) is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed manufactured and marketed by Nintendo.

Although the secondary port on the Nintendo DS does accept and support Game Boy Advance cartridges (but not Game Boy, and Game Boy Color cartridges), Nintendo has emphasized that its main intention for its inclusion was to allow a wide variety of accessories to be released for the system, the Game Boy Advance compatibility titles being a logical extension.

Nintendo announced at E3 2005 that it would launch "headset accessories" for voice over IP (VoIP) enabled games. The E3 Media and Business Summit, formerly known as Electronic Entertainment Expo and commonly known as E3, is an annual Trade show for the computer The history of the E3 began with its creation in 1995 and has continued through the current expo in 2008 Voice-over-Internet protocol ( VoIP, vɔɪp is a protocol optimized for the transmission of voice through the Internet

Paddle Controller

The Paddle Controller was a peripheral that was packaged with Arkanoid DS to simulate the original arcade experience. Arkanoid is an Arcade game developed by Taito in 1986 It is based upon Atari 's Breakout games of the 1970s The controller fit into the GBA Slot of the Nintendo DS and is currently only available in Japan. The controller came in different colors and had a small knob that was used to guide the Arkanoid bumper. The controller will also work with Space Invaders Extreme. Space Invaders Extreme is a re-vamped incarnation of the classic arcade game Space Invaders.

Rumble Pak

Main article: Rumble_Pak#Nintendo_DS

The Rumble Pak was the first official expansion slot accessory. The Rumble Pak is a removable device from Nintendo that provides Haptic feedback while playing video games In the form of a Game Boy Advance cartridge, the Rumble Pak vibrates to reflect the action in compatible games, such as when the player bumps into an obstacle or loses a life. It was released in North America and Japan in 2005, as a separate accessory and bundled with Metroid Prime Pinball. Metroid Prime Pinball is a Pinball Video game themed after the ''Metroid'' series. ^[25]

In Europe, the rumble pack was first available with the game Actionloop, and later Metroid Prime Pinball. Magnetica (known as Shunkan Puzzloop in Japan and Actionloop in Europe is a Puzzle game for the Nintendo DS It is also possible to buy the rumble pack straight from Nintendo.

Nintendo DS Headset

The Nintendo DS Headset is the official headset for the Nintendo DS. It plugs into the headset port (which is a combination of a standard 3. 5 mm headphone connector and a proprietary microphone connector) on the bottom of the system. It features one earphone and a microphone, and is compatible with all games that use the internal microphone. It was released in Japan on September 14, 2006. Events 81 - Domitian becomes Emperor of the Roman Empire upon the death of his brother Titus. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ^[26] The headset was released in North America on April 22, 2007, alongside Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, two games that have built-in voice chat. Events 1500 - Portuguese Navigator Pedro Álvares Cabral becomes the first European to sight Brazil. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. and are both the fourth installments of the ''Pokémon'' series of role-playing Video games succeeding ''Pokémon Ruby'' ''Sapphire'' and ''Emerald'' Other communication headsets not made by Nintendo will also work as the mic.

Opera Internet browser

Main article: Nintendo DS Browser

On February 15, 2006, Nintendo announced a version of the cross-platform web browser Opera for the DS system. The Nintendo DS Browser is a version of the Opera Web browser for use on the Nintendo DS, developed by Opera Software and Nintendo Events 590 - Khosrau II is crowned as king of Persia 1637 - Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. In computing cross-platform (also known as multi-platform) is a term used to refer to Computer software or computing methods and concepts that are implemented Opera is a Web browser and Internet suite developed by the Opera Software company ^[27] The browser can use one screen as an overview, a zoomed portion of which appears on the other screen, or both screens together to present a single tall view of the page. ^[28] The browser went on sale in Japan and Europe in 2006,^[29][30] and in the U. S. on June 4, 2007. Events 781 BC - The first historic Solar eclipse is recorded in China. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[31]

Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector

Main article: Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector

This accessory plugs into a PC's USB port and creates a wireless access point, allowing up to five Nintendo DS units to access the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service through the host computer's Internet connection. The Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector is an accessory developed jointly by Nintendo and Buffalo Technology, which allows Nintendo DS and In Computer networking, a wireless access point ( WAP or AP) is a device that allows wireless communication devices to connect to a Wireless network Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection (commonly abbreviated WFC) is an online service run by Nintendo to facilitate free Internet play in compatible Nintendo DS and The operating systems fully supported by the Wi-Fi USB Connector's software are Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista. Windows XP is a family of 32-bit and 64-bit Operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on Personal computers including home and Windows Vista (ˈvɪstə is a line of Operating systems developed by Microsoft for use on Personal computers including home and business desktops

Nintendo MP3 Player

Main article: Play-Yan

The Nintendo MP3 Player (a modified version of the device known as the Play-Yan in Japan) was released on December 8, 2006 by Nintendo of Europe at a retail price of £29. The Play-Yan (trademarked PLAY-YAN) is a media player for the Nintendo DS / Game Boy Advance. Events 1609 - Biblioteca Ambrosiana opens its reading room the second public library of Europe. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. 99/€30. The add-on uses removable SD cards to store MP3 audio files, and can be used in any device that features support for Game Boy Advance cartridges; however, due to this, it is limited in terms of its user-interface and functionality, as it does not support using both screens of the DS simultaneously, nor does it make use of its touch-screen capability. Secure Digital ( SD) is a non-volatile Memory card format developed by Matsushita, SanDisk, and Toshiba for use in The Game Boy Advance (often shortened to GBA) is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed manufactured and marketed by Nintendo.

Slide controller

The "slide controller" comes packaged with the game Slide Adventure: Mag Kid, which was released on August 2, 2007. Events 338 BC - A Macedonian army led by Philip II defeated the combined forces of Athens and Thebes in the Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The slide controller plugs into the GBA game slot of the DS, and is placed below the DS, on a firm surface. The DS can then be moved around to control a game, as the slide controller will pick up the motions, just as when a player would click a button. ^[32]

Guitar grip controller

The "Guitar Grip" fits into the GBA slot on the Nintendo DS Lite to simulate the guitar controller.

The Guitar grip controller comes packaged with the upcoming game Guitar Hero: On Tour and is plugged into the GBA game slot. Guitar Hero On Tour is a Music video game for the Nintendo DS system based on the Guitar Hero series of video games It features four coloured buttons just like the ones that can be found on regular Guitar Hero guitar controllers for the stationary consoles, though it lacks the fifth orange button found on the guitar controllers. The DS Guitar Hero controller comes with a small "pick-stylus" (which is shaped like a guitar pick, as the name suggests) that can be put away into a small slot on the controller. It also features a hand strap. GameSpot has stated that the game will work with both the Nintendo DS Lite and the original Nintendo DS. GameSpot is a video gaming Website that provides News, Reviews Previews Downloads and other information ^[33]

Card Swipe Scanner

It was included with Mushiking 10 Anniversary and you can swipe Japanese Mushiking Cards into it.

Hacking and homebrew

Main article: Nintendo DS homebrew

Since the release of the Nintendo DS(NDS), a great deal of hacking has occurred involving the DS's fully rewritable firmware, Wi-Fi connection, game cards that allow SD storage, and software use. Nintendo DS homebrew is software written for the Nintendo DS by hobbyist programmers as opposed to a software/game production company There are now many different emulators for the NDS such as: NES, SNES, Sega Master System, Sega Genesis, Neo-Geo Pocket, Neo-Geo (arcade) as well as many other older consoles like Game boy Color. Due to the processor power and RAM limitations, the DS cannot emulate Game boy Advance, Nintendo 64, Playstation, PS2, Dreamcast, Gamecube, Xbox, or any other Next-Gen systems such as the PS3 or the Wii.

There are a number of cards which either have built-in flash memory, or a slot which can accept an SD, CompactFlash, or MicroSD cards. These cards allow the user to play music, movies and load homebrew and commercial games.

In South Korea, many video game consumers exploit game software copies of video game consoles, including the Nintendo DS. South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː In 2007, 500,000 copies of DS games were sold, while the sales of the DS hardware units was 800,000. ^[34]

Marketing and sales

The system's promotional slogans revolve around the word "Touch" in almost all countries, with the US slogan being "Touching is good. " The Nintendo DS is currently seen by many analysts to be in the same market as Sony's PlayStation Portable, although representatives from both companies have said that each system targets a different audience. is a multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato Tokyo, Japan, and one of the world's largest Media conglomerates with The PlayStation Portable (officially abbreviated PSP) is a Handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. At the time of its release in the United States, the Nintendo DS retailed for US$149. 99. The price dropped to US$129. 99 on August 21, 2005, one day before the anticipated North American releases of Nintendogs and Advance Wars: Dual Strike. Events 1192 - Minamoto Yoritomo becomes Seii Tai Shōgun and the De facto ruler of Japan. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. is a Real-time Pet simulation Video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld Video game console. Advance Wars Dual Strike ( Famicom Wars DS in Japan is a Turn-based tactics Video game developed by Intelligent Systems and published At one point, Time magazine awarded the DS with a Gadget of the Week award. Time (trademarked in capitals as TIME) is a weekly American Newsmagazine, similar to Newsweek and ^[48] Nine official colors of the Nintendo DS were available through standard retailers. Titanium (silver and black) were available worldwide, Electric Blue was exclusive to North and Latin America. There was also a red version of the DS which was bundled with the game Mario Kart DS. Graphite Black, Pure White, Turquoise Blue and Candy Pink were available in Japan. Mystic Pink and Cosmic Blue were available in Australia and New Zealand. Japan's Candy Pink and Australia's Cosmic Blue were also available in Europe and North America through a Nintendogs bundle, although the colors are just referred to as pink and blue; however, these colors were only available for the original style Nintendo DS; a different and more-limited set of colors have been used for the Nintendo DS Lite.

On October 3, 2006 Nintendo announced a 20. Events 42 BC - First Battle of Philippi: Triumvirs Mark Antony and Octavian fight an indecisive battle with Caesar's Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. 5% raise in net profit forecast partially attributed to strong DS sales. ^[49] The company also raised its estimated DS sales forecast by 18%. ^[49]

On July 25, 2007 Nintendo announced in its first quarter financial report that it had increased DS hardware shipments from 22 million to 26 million. Events 285 - Diocletian appoints Maximian as Caesar, co-ruler Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[50] Nintendo also raised its DS software sales projection from 130 million units to 140 million. ^[50] On October 26, 2007, Nintendo announced an increase in DS hardware shipments to 28 million and software to 165 million. Events 740 - An Earthquake strikes Constantinople, causing much damage and death Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.

As of September 26, 2007, the Nintendo DS has sold over 50 million units and is the fastest-selling handheld game console of all time. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar dedicates a Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. A handheld game console is a lightweight portable electronic machine for playing Video games Unlike Video game consoles the controls screen and speakers ^[51] On October 30, 2007, Chart-Track reported DS sales of over 4 million in the United Kingdom. Events 637 - Antioch surrenders to the Muslim forces under Rashidun Caliphate after the Battle of Iron bridge. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Chart-Track is a Market research company that monitors Music, Videos and software sales in the United Kingdom, Ireland and ^[52][53] In November 2007, Media Create reported DS sales of 20 million in Japan. is a Japanese company that "gathers and analyzes data from the digital entertainment industry specifically focusing on the Japanese Console gaming market ^[54][55]

During the week of November 18 to November 24, Nintendo of America set a new Nintendo sales record by selling over 653,000 DS units in one week, breaking the previous record held by the Game Boy Advance, which sold 600,000 units. Events 326 - The old St Peter's Basilica is consecrated 1302 - Pope Boniface VIII issues the Papal bull Events 380 - Theodosius I makes his adventus, or formal ^[56]

On November 27, 2007, Nintendo announced that the DS has set a new weekly hardware sales record in the UK, with over 191,000 units sold, according to Chart-Track; breaking the previous record held by the PSP, which sold 185,000 units in its first week of availability in the UK. Events 1095 - Pope Urban II declares the First Crusade at the Council of Clermont Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[57]

As of December 27, 2007, the DS has sold over 1 million units in South Korea, according to Nintendo of Korea. Events 537 - The Hagia Sophia is completed 1512 - The Spanish Crown issues the Laws of Burgos, governing the Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[58][59]

As of January 1, 2008, the Nintendo DS has sold 17. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common 65 million units in the United States according to NPD Group^[60][61][62] and 21,105,472 in Japan according to Enterbrain. The NPD Group Inc (formerly National Purchase Diary) is a leading global market research company founded in 1967 and provides consumer and retail information to manufacturers is a Japanese magazine Publisher established on April 1 2000. ^[63][64]

On January 24, 2008, Nintendo Europe has revealed the DS has sold over 20 million units in Europe. Events 41 - Gaius Caesar (Caligula, known for his eccentricity and cruel Despotism, is Assassinated by his disgruntled 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common ^[65]

On January 30, 2008, Nintendo Australia announced the DS has sold over 1 million units in Australia. Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. ^[66]

As of March 30, 2008, the Nintendo DS has sold 22,169,761 units in Japan according to Famitsu/Enterbrain. Events 240 BC - 1st recorded Perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common (formerly Famicom Tsushin) is a Japanese Video game magazine published by Enterbrain Inc ^[67][68]

Special editions and promotional packages

Main article: Special versions of the Nintendo DS

Many special editions and promotional packages have been available for the Nintendo DS, starting with the first Nintendo DS bundle of a Metroid Prime Hunters demo version, which was included in the first line-up of US shipments. This article is about the many special versions or promotional packages of the Nintendo DS handheld video game system besides the normal Silver and Electric Blue colors Metroid Prime Hunters is a first-person shooter and adventure game for the Nintendo DS developed by American developers Nintendo Software Technology Other adjustments have been made to the DS / DS Lite including color and laser engravings made for promotional events. For example, during the release of Mario Kart DS in North America, a "Red Hot DS Bundle" was available, which was a red colored Nintendo DS, with the game Mario Kart DS packaged along with it. Mario Kart DS is a Racing game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS.

The first Nintendo DS Lite promotional package was released in a very limited run as a promotional item at the world premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End on May 23, 2007. Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End is a 2007 Adventure film, the third film in the ''Pirates of the Caribbean'' series. Events 1430 - Siege of Compiègne: Joan of Arc is captured by the Burgundians while leading an army to relieve Compiègne Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. This package included a DS console with pirate graphics on the case, and the game pack of the same name. The first Nintendo DS Lite retail bundle became available in North America on August 21, 2007; it included Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day!, a DS Lite carrying case, and an exclusive color DS Lite. Events 1192 - Minamoto Yoritomo becomes Seii Tai Shōgun and the De facto ruler of Japan. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Brain Age 2 More Training in Minutes a Day, also known as More Brain Training from Dr The DS Lite has a crimson top outer casing, and the rest of the DS is matte black. ^[69]

Nintendo DS Lite

Main article: Nintendo DS Lite

The Nintendo DS Lite.

The Nintendo DS Lite is a slimmer, more lightweight redesign of the original Nintendo DS model. It was announced on January 26, 2006, more than a month before its first territorial launch in Japan on March 2, 2006. Events 1340 - King Edward III of England is declared King of France. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 986 - Louis V becomes King of the Franks. 1127 - Assassination of Charles the Good Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ^[70]

The features and capabilities are the same as the original style DS, but the DS Lite has four levels of LCD screen brightness; however, the four levels do not include a level where the backlight is off, thus making the system more vulnerable to glare. Unlike the casing of the original style DS, the DS Lite has a shiny glossy semi-transparent outside casing. The LED battery and charging light indicators have been moved to the upper right-hand corner of the unit, making it viewable regardless of whether the system is open or closed. The "start" and "select" buttons have been moved to the lower right-hand side of the touchscreen, the microphone has been moved to the direct center of the opened device, and the A, B, X, Y, and D-Pad seem to have been designed to match the Wii and Game Boy Micro. is a Handheld game console ^[71] The power button above the D-pad was removed and replaced with a switch placed on the right side of the unit, in order to avoid accidental shut-off. Another improvement is the longer and thicker stylus, significantly reducing the amount of hand cramps as its users use it extensively throughout game play; the stylus holster was moved from the top of the unit to the right side. Although a loop for a wrist strap was retained on the top of the unit, the DS Lite does not ship with a wrist strap. Along with the other advancements, the Game Boy port of the DS Lite is shorter than the original style DS's port. The is a handheld video game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. When inserted, the Game Boy Advance cartridge protrudes out approximately 1 cm from under the unit. The Game Boy Advance (often shortened to GBA) is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed manufactured and marketed by Nintendo. Also, the charger connector is smaller, so a different charger must be used. Although the connector is similar in form factor to the Game Boy Micro, their AC adapters are not cross compatible. is a Handheld game console It also comes with a dust-protector for the GBA slot which also provides a seamless surface.

Software development

To be accepted into Nintendo's official developer support program, companies must have a game development team and adequate experience in certain areas. Additional information is available from the Nintendo Software Development Support Group.

Alternatively, anyone can use publicly available knowledge from sites such as NDSTech,^[72] and tools to create their own programs. There are two development routes. One requires a method for running Nintendo DS programs from the Game Boy Advance port. At least five methods are available for this option: PassMe, PassMe2, WiFiMe, FlashMe, and NoPass. Nintendo DS homebrew is software written for the Nintendo DS by hobbyist programmers as opposed to a software/game production company Nintendo DS homebrew is software written for the Nintendo DS by hobbyist programmers as opposed to a software/game production company The second option is to use second-generation flashcards, which are simply either writable DS game cards or DS game cards with Micro-SD slots.

See also

• List of Nintendo DS games
• List of Nintendo DS Wi-Fi Connection games
• List of handhelds with Wi-Fi connectivity

References

External links

• Official Nintendo DS website
• Touch! Generations
• Official Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection website