The redesign rumors just won't stop, will they? The latest cuts the GBA slot, may or may not add an accelerometer, and reduces the size of the already-slim handheld ... and may just come with a sizeable price cut. Think it's viable? If you wanted a redesign, is this what you had in mind?

Here we go -- with the Nintendo press briefing just hours away, the rumor brigade in Los Angeles is kicking things into high gear, and there are all sorts of rumblings about the DS. According to IGN, a number of things may or may not happen this week, including but not limited to:

• Activision (wait, didn't they bail on E3? No matter; they have their own presentation coming up tomorrow night) announcing a(nother) DS peripheral that will add tilt and motion functionality to the handheld via the GBA slot
• The next Tony Hawk game is rumored to be the first to use the Activision peripheral
• Nintendo is preparing to provide built-in tilt and motion within the carts of some upcoming games

But the most interesting thing from the rumor mill is the big possibility we've been discussing of late: DS Micro ahoy! Word is that Nintendo may be preparing to release that redesigned handheld after all, but per these rumors, it looks like the new design is not meant to supplant the current Lite model -- which explains the color explosion. The slimmed-down DS may sacrifice the GBA slot and could possibly feature that accelerometer functionality built-in. The best part? We may be looking at a drastically-reduced price -- IGN is talking about a DS that's $100 cheaper than the current model.

Our own JC Fletcher is on the ground in LA as we speak, and David Hinkle is en route, so we hope to have more information -- or at least, more rumors -- for you soon. Whatever happens, we'll probably be scratching off a few of our DS predictions very soon.

Some are awful, some are amazing. Yes, the DS has precisely one gazillion "concept" models floating around the place, from fans who want their own particular quirks included with the inevitable possible redesign of the handheld. Nintendo Power has featured this image with an advertisement for Disgaea DS and Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure, and although it looks pretty cool, it's extraordinarily doubtful that one of the most talked-about rumors in the history of the DS has just awkwardly been confirmed via this image. Bogus, but neat!

It's pretty much the same thing as the DS Lite now, only with bigger screens. Which is more or less exactly what the DS needs -- the rest is spot on. The fact that the bottom screen is misaligned with the top screen lends evidence to some guy taking one too many coffee breaks during his Photoshop training. Looks rad, not official -- redesign will probably come soon anyway. Watch this space for all E3 Nintendo revelations!

Update: Just as we thought, Nintendo denied that this widescreen DS is a representation of a new unit, stating this is "purely rumor and speculation."


[Via Aeropause]

Lately, there's been a lot of discussion over whether or not Nintendo is planning a redesign of the wildly successful DS Lite. The rumors surfaced, and were drowned in a wave of denials ... but those denials were suspiciously similar to the things we heard when Nintendo was busily denying the move from Phat to Lite prior to the launch of the newer model.

Nintendo redesigns things, especially when it comes to their handhelds. They love to launch the new model, the smaller, better design, and it seems likely that they'll continue that cycle with the DS. But will we see it this year? That's the question on the table today, and we'll look at both possibilities. After that, it's up to you to decide whether or not Nintendo will announce a new DS this year.

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		Oh, it's coming.

While we all think it would be totally rad if Nintendo issued either another redesigned DS model or a whole new handheld unit altogether, certain things must be considered first. Like, will it make Nintendo some money? Also, is there a demand? And, finally, is the DS as it is now outdated and no longer a viable option for the consumer?

Let's look at the facts, folks:

• The original Game Boy released in 1989 and saw several revisions, including a color change in 1995, a smaller system in the Game Boy Pocket in 1996, the Game Boy Light in 1997 and the Game Boy Color in 1998
  
• The Game Boy Advance released in 2001 and saw 2 revisions before it was officially retired, with the Game Boy Advance SP releasing in 2003 and the Game Boy Advance Micro releasing in 2005
  
• The original DS was released in 2004 and since has received one revision, in the DS Lite, which released in 2006
  

But, this is not all that needs be considered. For one, the DS Lite is still selling incredibly well, and Nintendo might think to adopt the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" plan of attack on this one, choosing to sit back and let the thing sell as long as it possibly can. However, due to the lowering manufacturing costs and Nintendo's profit on each unit sold, a revision with newer features might be manufactured for the same, or a very similar, price. This would allow Nintendo to sell the new unit at a higher price than the DS Lite and make even more money on each handheld sold. There goes the answer to the first question.

What about demand? Well, the demand for the existing DS Lite is there, but we'll be the first to tell you that, while we love the handheld , it's not perfect. Alterations in the best interest of the handheld may still be made, including generic improvements such as improving battery life and the like.If the people still love the DS Lite, we find little reason for them not to upgrade and froth at the mouth for something like a DS Liter.

What about its use to the consumer? Does it still remain a great choice for the general consumer? Sure, but in technology years, the thing is like a Brontosauras with Jesus resting comfortably on top of it. What we're saying is, the thing is old. While its appeal may never go away thanks to the easy control scheme and mountains of amazing titles available for it, one cannot ignore the competition. As new features are released everyday for Sony's PSP system, the DS Lite is increasingly dwarfed by the technological wizardry capable with Sony's handheld. If Nintendo went with a new version of the DS, we'd like to see them implement some of the more standard technological features that exist in other handheld devices on the market.

So will Nintendo release a revision to the DS? Sure, whether it's a new handheld entirely or a new DS, Nintendo would be crazy not to build on what they have with the DS Lite. Will we see it at E3 this year? This blogger thinks so, because, to be honest, what other megatons could they possibly drop on us?

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	Back	Not so fast there!

Okay, folks. You've read the arguments for and against a redesign of the DS this year, so now it's time to weigh in. Cast your vote in our poll below and make your voice heard!

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Not this year, no way!	Back

Sure, it may seem pretty likely that we'll see a DS redesign eventually, but will it be this year? Despite the coy denials so reminiscent of the weeks leading up to the last redesign announcement, it just doesn't seem like the right time for a new DS.

In the past, Nintendo has adhered to a pretty predictable cycle on redesigning their handhelds. Every year and a half to two years or so, it's time for a new model. But no handheld has ever been quite like the DS. It's everywhere. Your grandmother just may own one (or more), and because of that incredible success, Nintendo can afford to break out of that cycle and take a little extra time. Sales of the DS in Japan may be flagging a little of late, due to the PSP actually selling, but the system still boasts extremely robust numbers and is consistently in the top three there amongst hardware. The story is the same here in the U.S.: the DS continues to sell like crazy. Why put out a new DS now? It seems to make much more sense to simply wait a while, until sales actually start to drop off.

In the meantime, Nintendo boosts sales of the Lite by releasing new colors, which they have suddenly started doing a lot more outside Japan. That seems to be another sign that we're still not quite ready for a redesign. Nintendo may make some less-than-brilliant decisions at times, but announcing a new design mere months (or weeks, if we see more colors this year, as is rumored) after the release of new colors may have a negative impact on sales. Sure, that new sparkly-striped-gold-plated rainbow Lite is spiffy, but if you're about to buy the new Ultra Lite anyway, would you drop an additional hundred-plus dollars? Probably not. You'd wait to check out the new model instead.

Some could argue that colors are now going to multiple regions in order to get rid of back stock, but c'mon -- are there really piles of DS Lites lying around unsold? Considering that we still have occasional DS shortages, it doesn't seem likely. Also, we're still getting brand new colors on top of the shades that are just now becoming available in new regions, and it's not like those were piled up. Would we really get new colors now if we were about to see a new DS? It just doesn't make sense.

Next year, maybe, Nintendo will get around to tweaking the DS design further. This year, we'll see more peripherals and accessories instead, and a focus on the Wii, because there's just no reason to do anything else.

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Expect it!	Back	Your thoughts?

As the clock ticks ever closer to E3, Nintendo continues to deny that a DS redesign is in the works. The only problem? They keep denying it, and that arouses the suspicions of naturally suspicious people -- naturally suspicious people like us.

The company has already swatted away claims made by Enterbrain president Hirokazu Hamamura (not once, but twice), and has now issued another denial to GamesRadar, stating that "everything reported online is pure speculation and rumor," and that "a new model will be brought to the market when we can not offer new ideas with the current model." According to the firm, there's plenty of ideas left to "enrich the lives of people who own a Nintendo DS."

Call us conspiracy theory nutjobs all you like, but there's actually a ton of very good reasons to believe a DS Lite follow-up is coming. Sales of the DS hardware are dropping in Japan as the PSP romps ahead (after getting a redesign itself), DS piracy is becoming increasingly widespread, and hey, Nintendo redesigns stuff. It's what the company does.

One of the big stories we've been following here at DS Fanboy is the rumor of us seeing a new DS at this year's E3. Whether it just be a more slim and sleek version of the DS Lite, or a complete redesign, we're hopeful that Nintendo will provide us with a more appealing handheld to plunk money down on this summer.

What do you all think, though? What are the odds that we could see a new DS from Nintendo at this year's show? Do you find it highly likely, or are we just getting our hopes up for no reason?

That redesign of the redesigned Nintendo DS? Not happening. Or at least, not yet. It's not just Nintendo that says so, either. Now the source of the original rumor, Japanese publisher Enterbrain, has released a statement denying that president Hirokazu Hamamura ever suggested a new DS would show up at E3 in July, as originally reported by Bloomberg.

"No such statement or announcement was made by the president," read the statement, adding that "He did not [...] make a comment about the possibility of an announcement by Nintendo concerning a new model or successor to the Nintendo DS due to its current scarce product availability caused by its worldwide popularity."

Looks like another case of mistranslation, then. As for Hirokazu Hamamura himself, he was last spotted being hurriedly bundled into a black car with tinted windows by several burly men in suits and shades. Probably.

Nintendo of Europe has already officially denied the rumor that a new version of the DS would debut at this year's E3. Possibly due to the fact that the most recent rumor originates from a credible source (Enterbrain's Hirokazu Hamamura), Nintendo of Japan has also chimed in, in a statement given to Yukan Fuji.

Nintendo told the website that "We cannot comment on the specifics of what will be announced at E3, but at the very least there won't be anything like what Mr. Hamamura suggested, so we would like to clearly deny this." The statement continued "We're having a hard time understanding what kind of evidence [Mr. Hamamura] had for saying this."

Conspiracy theorists can read Nintendo's aggressive denial as confirmation, of course. They didn't say there wouldn't be any new hardware, just that there won't be exactly what Mr. Hamamura suggested. Which means that the new hardware, if it exists, is something other than a minor upgrade.

Would Nintendo really have such a hard time figuring out why Hamamura would predict a new hardware revision? It's been over two years since the last one, and if history is any indication, Nintendo is due to drop a new system on all the people who just bought one.

January, 2006: Rumors fly about a DS redesign. There had already been some word that we would see a new DS model, but Nintendo of Europe dismissed those rumors as "pure rumor and speculation."

January, 2006: Just a few days later, the DS Lite is officially announced.

April, 2008: Hirokazu Hamamura of Enterbrain speculates on the big reveal of yet another DS model at this year's E3.

April, 2008: Nintendo of Europe says the Enterbrain boss's comments are -- wait for it -- simply "rumor and speculation."

Surely we're not alone in sensing a pattern, and it's a pattern that goes beyond even NoE's mirrored statements. The announcement of a redesign this year would match the GBA's timeline, so while we're not going to come out and say that it's likely we'll hear about a new DS this year, we won't be surprised if it happens.

In the meantime, we've loaded the mockup gallery with other fan-made possibilities. Know of a few that aren't represented here? Let us know! Some of these visualizations are just incredible.

To us, the DS Lite is perfick -- it's slim, stylish, and beautifully proportioned. Will that stop Nintendo from giving the whole thing a facelift and turning it into something even more desirable? Probably not. Ninty has a history of giving its handhelds a nip and a tuck, and the company will have noted the extra momentum enjoyed by the PSP in Japan since its redesign. Frankly, we'd be surprised if the Lite wasn't updated at some point in the future.

As would Hirokazu Hamamura, boss of Famitsu publisher Enterbrain, who reckons that Nintendo may announce a new DS model at this year's E3. Hamamura's prediction appeared in the latest edition of Weekly Famitsu, and was greeted by a "No comment" from Nintendo. Let the wanton speculation begin!


[Via NeoGAF]

This thing looks exactly like two iPhones sandwiched together, if you ask us. But, it isn't without its appealing aspects. For one, we like the idea of having a true 16:9 topscreen, because we're often staring at that screen for obvious reasons. Also, the thing looks lighter, which is always a bonus. So, it isn't completely useless and absurd.

What do you all think? Take it, or leave it?

Either someone created the coolest DS Lite redesign ever, or they're just a little too into Transformers. We love the screen that flips up and we're especially fond of the first process of the unit opening itself up. Regardless of what caused its creation, this fan-made unit is pretty slick and something we'd easily plunk down the dough for.

Actually, now that we think about it, how much would Nintendo even charge for something like this?

[Thanks, shak!]