Go Play AV: Portable Audio, Video, Media and Game Players

Life in Tech has an interesting opinion piece about why they believe the Nintendo DS has out sold the Sony PSP despite all predictions to the contrary:

When I was looking for a portable gaming system the Nintendo DS was out of the question; It was a kid’s toy and nothing more. Sony’s PSP was much cooler with its larger screen, better graphics capabilities, music/video capabilities and decidedly more mature games (Grand Theft Auto, baby!).

Like many, I saw the DS touch screen as a gimmick. The same could be said for the dual screens. Nor did its cheap-looking plastic compare to the sleekness of the PSP.

Eventually, from the pressure of my girlfriend to play Mario Kart DS, I decided to give it a go. She was having so much fun with hers, after all. For a slick $149 I purchased the DS Mario Kart pack.

Now, nearly nine months later, I’ve found that I never (I mean never) play my PSP. The DS became my handheld of choice. I asked myself how this could be possible, citing all the reasons above and I’ve formed a simple conclusion: the DS is a better value, period.

Read complete article: How the DS beat the PSP (and how the Wii will do the same against the PS3) - Life in Tech

Technorati Tags: nintendo, nintendo ds, portable entertainment, portable gaming, sony PSP, sony

Nintendo says of the DS:

With impressive 3D rendered graphics, Nintendo DS delivers cutting-edge portable games for fans of any genre. Plus, you can play all your favorite Game Boy Advance games in a single-player mode.
With Nintendo DS, dual screens and touch-screen technology allow you to interact with games like never before. Wireless communication allows you to experience real-time multiplayer gameplay, while built-in PictoChat software gives you the power to draw, write and send messages wirelessly. Nintendo DS revolutionizes the way games are played.

Visit the Nintendo DS web page

Over at [H]Console, they’ve provided a detailed review of the differences between the DS and the DS Lite. Thanks guys. Champions.

Reviews:
cNet on DS
cNet on DS Lite
PC World on DS Lite
Digital Trends on DS Lite
TrustedReviews on DS Lite (9/10) - 19 June 2006
Pocket Lint on DS Lite- 14 July 2006
(more…)

Kotaku reports that Nintendo are offering free repairs for DS Lites with broken hinges:

Nintendo, while still standing behind their claims that DS Lite hinge cracks are a minor problem, is now offering to repair DS Lite’s with the problem free of charge.

Yesterday a reader sent us word that when he called Nintendo’s customer service he was told they would repair his cracked DS Lite hinge free of charge. The customer service rep told the reader that the repair “came up on her screen” as being a free.

Read complete article: Nintendo Capitulates, Offers Free Repairs for Cracked DS Lites - Kotaku

Technorati Tags: nintendo, nintendo ds lite, portable entertainment, portable game console, portable gaming

GoNintendo report on news out of Nintendo that the DS was the biggest selling portable games console in the US in June, 2006:

In a triumph for innovation, the dual-screen Nintendo DS(TM) portable became America’s top-selling video game system of any type in June, according to independent sales numbers just released by the NPD Group. The introduction of the new DS Lite version, featuring a smaller profile and more brilliant display, boosted total sales to nearly 600,000 units, almost double that for any other game device, and alone represented more than a third of total industry system purchases for the month.

Nintendo was all but written off when the PSP hit the market. Likewise in the fixed console market. Now who’s having the last laugh? The DS and the Wii (which hasn’t even been released yet!) are dominating the mindshare, and in the case of the DS, that is being translated into market-share. The Wii will undoubtedly follow, and Nintendo wil finally be recognized as the number one games console maker.

Read complete article: Go Nintendo » Blog Archive » Nintendo News: Nintendo DS Becomes America’s Top-Selling Video Game System- What are you waiting for?

Technorati Tags: nintendo, nintendo ds, nintendo ds lite, portable entertainment, portable game console, portable gaming

Ubergizmo tell us the Nintendo DS Lite came… and went, selling out in Japan on its first day.

The Nintendo DS Lite launch in Japan was a huge success – all units were sold out. Lines had formed outside several electronics stores before they opened, but not everybody managed to get their hands on one due to a limited supply. Production problems has forced Nintendo to churn out white colored DS Lites only for the moment, while March will see only 450,000 of these portable consoles produced.

Read complete article: Nintendo DS Lite sold out in Japan on opening day

Technorati Tags: nintendo, nintendo DS, nintendo ds lite, portable game console

The Revolution Report reports that Nintendo have updated the Nintendo DS portable game player with a new Lite version:

“Nintendo President Satoru Iwata today announced Nintendo DS Lite, a slimmer version of the best-selling Nintendo DS™. Also featuring brighter screens, Nintendo DS Lite will launch in Japan in March. Nintendo DS Lite will be less than two-thirds the size of the original Nintendo DS and more than 20 percent lighter. Nintendo DS has enjoyed extremely strong sales in Japan and around the world, selling more than 14.4 million units worldwide. The Japanese sell-through of the existing Nintendo DS hardware exceeded 5 million within 13 months, which made Nintendo DS the fastest-selling video game system there. Nintendo will announce more information about the availability of Nintendo DS Lite in North America and other territories in the future.”

Read complete article: Revolution Report - news - New DS Design: Lites Way for Nintendo Revolution?

Technorati Tags: nintendo, nintendo DS, portable entertainment, portable game console, portable gaming, nintendo ds lite

PocketLint put the Nintendo Micro through its paces:

What is it: Mini version of the Game Boy Advance
THE GOOD: Small and compact is a mere 4 x 2 x 0.7 inches
THE BAD: The size of the screen
WE SAY: The Micro is a great way of bringing new life to your old GBA games, however with such a small screen you might be better off playing games on your mobile phone

Read complete article: Pocket-lint.co.uk Nintendo Micro review

Technorati Tags: nintendo, portable entertainment, portable gaming, nintendo micro

Pocket-lint alert us to this interesting tidbit:

Nintendo has announced a Retro edition of its new Game Boy Micro in America.

The new mini handheld console will be available from the 28 November and is being launched to honour the 20th anniversary of the Nintendo Entertainment System home console.

The new Game Boy Micro base unit will be maroon with a gold NES-inspired faceplate, and will cost $99.99 in the US. It also will come packed with a $10 coupon that can be used toward the purchase of select Nintendo-published Game Boy Advance games.

“The Special 20th Anniversary Edition Game Boy Micro is an anniversary present to millions of Nintendo fans, who 20 years ago single-handedly built this entire industry,” says George Harrison, Nintendo of America’s senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications.

Read source article: Pocket-lint.co.uk Nintendo launch Retro edition Game Boy Micro news story

If you want a more tradition Game Boy Micro, lookup on Amazon:

“GBA Micro Black” (Nintendo)

Technorati Tags: nintendo, nintendo game boy

Pocket-lint.co.uk report on Nintendo’s plans to bring wi-fi access points tothe UK for the Nintendo DS portable games console:

First it was McDonalds in the US, now Nintendo is planning on opening 7,500 wi-fi locations across the UK for the launch of its Wi-Fi gaming service on 25 November.

Chris Clark, CEO of Converged Mobility Operations, BT said: “We believe the future for Wi-Fi is that people will be able to access the internet, their corporate networks and their games consoles any time, anywhere using whatever device they have.”

Read source article: Pocket-lint.co.uk Nintendo create 7,500 free hotspots in UK for Nintendo DS news story

Technorati Tags: nintendo, nintendo DS, portable entertainment, portable gaming

Gizmodo report that the Gameboy Micro can now, with an add-on, play movies.

Nintendo fans: Tired of your PSP-totin’ buddies giving you grief for not having multimedia on your gaming handheld of choice? Well fret no more, because Nintendo has rebranded their Play-Yan multimedia device for the Gameboy Micro.

Read more: TiVo ToGo on the Gameboy Micro - Gizmodo

“GBA Micro Silver” (Nintendo)

Technorati Tags: portable gaming, portable video