1. Larger screens would affect gameplay, though, wouldn't they? You'd be able to make more precise stylus movements.

Maybe they'll pack a special fat stylus with it.

Posted at 2:40PM on Dec 19th 2006 by JC Fletcher

2. This simply won't happen. Every DS game is designed for the resolution of the DSes three inch screens. Any larger would stretch the image and make it look poor.

But hey, I also thought it was too early for Nintendo to release a lite, but boy was I wrong.

I'm personally hoping this turns out to be false anyway; I just got a lite, and I had also bought an original at launch...


With all due respect,
Fox

Posted at 2:48PM on Dec 19th 2006 by Fox

3. If this "rumour" is true (which I don't think it is) it will be one of the most stupid, ridiculous and damaging things they could possibly do.

There's no way in hell they'd bring out a 3rd version of the DS in 3 years. I mean, the DS Lite is king of the world, why on earth would they want or need to?! Particularly when all they'd get is a huge loss of respect.

Sure, they'll probably be a new DS eventually, but not next year! That would disgraceful behaviour and people wouldn't stand for it.

Posted at 2:54PM on Dec 19th 2006 by Hame

4. Er, I mean: "would BE disgraceful".

But seriously I hope Nintendo denies this pretty quick. DS Lite sales could very well suffer as a result.

I so hope this isn't true. Nintendo are better than this.

Posted at 3:05PM on Dec 19th 2006 by Hame

5. i need a reason to buy meself another ds.

Posted at 4:02PM on Dec 19th 2006 by netboy

6. Maybe they mean really big, like "Granma can't find her bifocals" big, to REALLY capture that key "old people who hate technology and will never play video games ever" audience.

Nintendo, you can't sell everything to everyone. Chasing the elderly market is a bit of a pipe dream.

Posted at 4:08PM on Dec 19th 2006 by NoiseTankNick

7. @ #2 - I completely agree. There's no way they'd change all the resolution to games when then new DS comes out to fit a bigger screen, but I do remember a certain gameboy to gameboy advance resolution stretcher a number of years ago (Still... I don't think you can stretch DS games because of the pixel accuracy, unless the resolution was stretched equally around and not like...widescreen mode lets just say)

Plus..... I have both DS's because I bought a phat right....RIGHT before a lite came out.. UGH!!!!

Anyone thinking nintendo is going the way of the ipod? New generations of ipods every year, and now.....new ds' every year... well, lets hope not ;)

-Graham

Posted at 4:38PM on Dec 19th 2006 by Graham

8. I can see both sides of the same matter. It doesn't seem logic to make a new model, when they still cant produce enough of the old ones. Plus the Wii shortages. I seriously think they should concentrate on delivering enough Wii's and DS Lites before making a new DS model. But maybe for a summer 2008 release, that sounds more logical.

But on the other hand, if they really release a DS with a bigger and improved screen this summer, why shouldn't I buy it?

Posted at 5:18PM on Dec 19th 2006 by Kaiser Soze

9. @2

You do know that LCD's come in different sizes/resolutions and DPI, don't you? Its easy for them to make a larger LCD with the same resolution.

eg. see the 22" LCD's WSXGA+ resolution (normally found on 20" desktops or 15.4" notebooks)

Posted at 5:34PM on Dec 19th 2006 by Mat

10. If they make a new redesign, it would finally give me some incentive to ditch my DS Phat for this Liter version.

Just a brighter screen and smaller footprint weren't enough to warrant a new purchase from me.

Posted at 5:46PM on Dec 19th 2006 by Silver R. Wolfe

11. I already held out until the Lite and I can't see myself upgrading if this nonsense comes out. The Lite already feels and plays perfect.

What I would like to see is a PSP redesign already. I've put myself off it until 3 decent games are announced or a redesign, whichever comes first.

Posted at 6:44PM on Dec 19th 2006 by Von Karma

12. I'm very doubtful about this rumour, but I'm happy to be proved wrong. As people have pointed out, changing screen size is a very odd/unusual idea. It could be done either with letterboxing or screen resolution changing, but I imagine the touch screen would have some issues...

In the end, it would be a pain in the butt for developers.

Posted at 7:15PM on Dec 19th 2006 by Kefka

13. #9

yes Matt, I do know that LCD size can be increased without changing the resolution. But if they increase the size without bumping up the resolution, than what would be the point of a bigger screen? The DS screen size is perfectly fine, the only logical reason for a larger screen would be for a larger resolution, which wouldn't work as DS games are designed around the current resolution of 256 X 192 .

Anyhow, if merely updating the size, without even increasing the resolution were the only things added for DS Lite version 2.0, I don't really see it as worthy at all.

Like I said in my first post, this simply won't happen. Why would Nintendo release a new product when the other one is absolutely on fire? It would only saturate the market further, and confuse consumers.

If it does indeed come out, everyone will be laughing at me. :-)



With all due respect,
Fox

Posted at 8:09PM on Dec 19th 2006 by Fox

14. if this rumor is true, i think Nintendo is preparing a 2nd redesign to counter Sony's eventual PSP redesign. all the rumors point to a spring/summer 2007 redesign of the PSP and surely Nintendo wouldnt want Sony's marketshare to increase. Sony puts out the redesign and Nintendo does the same: it makes sense.

now as for the redesign, perhaps Nintendo is following Apple's model of releasing a new iPod every year? as for the screens getting bigger, i could see why this make sense: older people or people with weak eyes prolly find the size of the DS screens to be a tad bit small. by increasing the physical size a bit, text and graphics will be more clear to view with weak eyes. remember that the DS screens as they are now have an excellent dot pitch ratio. even if nintendo increases the size of the screens by an inch or so, you basically wont be able to notice any pixel stretching. since the dot pitch ratio is so awesome to begin with (like how 12 inch ultra portable laptops have awesome resolutions), increasing the screen size by a bit wont make things ugly. just for comparison sake, the PSP screen has a worse dot pitch ratio than the DS screens do. the PSP screen is physically bigger in size than both DS screens combined, but has less overall resolution than both DS screens combined, thus the inferior dot pitch ratio. this is the reason Sony hasnt disclosed the dot pitch ratio number of the PSP screen.

dont worry though, if this 2nd DS redesign does come along next year, Nintendo wont stop producing the DS Lite. infact, the price of the DS Lite might even fall further from $130 to $100. Nintendo never stops producing older models of their current handhelds. they still produce the original GBA and still produce the DS Phat, although both in limited quantities since the demand isnt so high for these older models.

Posted at 11:58AM on Dec 20th 2006 by gamerx

15. Of course they're going to do this. They're trying to follow the ipod business plan: once you've caught the eyes of many consumes, make sure they're compelled to keep their eyes on you. It's an industry term called brand energy.
So as soon as this one comes out, you know they're going to be working on another one.
How many different ipods came out in 3 years when they became popular. I bet it was a hell of allot more than 3.
I'm just glad I didn't replace my phat.

Posted at 1:39PM on Jan 3rd 2007 by Gonzo