Nintendo declines comment on DS upgrade

In typical fashion, Nintendo has opted not to confirm or deny recent reports about a new portable.

Nintendo declines comment on DS upgrade

As far as we know, this is what the DS will look like in 2009

Famitsu is reporting today that they've finally got an answer out of Nintendo regarding the new DS rumors.

The answer? Well, in what will be a surprise to no one, the Kyoto-based video game market leader was characteristically vague on the issue, telling the weekly Japanese gaming mag, "We are always developing new products. However, since nothing has been announced officially, we are unable to comment at this time."

And that was it. Nothing on the enhanced DS feature set we reported to you this weekend; nothing on SD card functionality; nothing on music playback; and certainly nothing on the camera rumored to be gracing a Nintendo portable as early as the end of 2008.

For the sake of completeness, here's what respected Japanese business rag Nikkei reported to the world on Satruday:

- Camera

- Music Playback

- Enhanced wireless capability (which could have been - translated as new features, related to wireless)

- Larger screens

- Approximate $188 price point

- Japanese release only, U.S. "being considered"

So, this could very well be a slight bump for the portable, much like the Game Boy Micro was for the fledgling Game Boy Advance; or it could be a complete redesign, new software and all. As it is well-known by now, Japanese and American consumers have markedly different tastes when it comes to games and the hardware they play them on, so this could possibly never see a release in the U.S. or Europe. If you want a confirmation on that point, however, don't ask Nintendo. They have no comment.

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bluer57

With there sales so high for everything nintendo likely wants people guessing and talking about their goods. They are in control, both the DS and Wii sell better than its rivals.

AMRISTAR

I think the new handheld is not Advanced DS. I would like to think that it's more of the resurrection of the Game Boy. This New Game Boy is a direct competitor of the PSP. The New Game Boy is now 100% 3D and even more powerful and talented than the PSP. Its got wide screen, stereo speakers and very loud, camera, media player, and, of course, internet.

Toneman

I hope it's just re-design of the current model of DS... at least for now. The system is still selling really well, and despite the CPU, it's a great little machine with all kinds of untapped potential. Some games do look like crap (mostly games also available on PSP)... but most DS games look fine... especially the 2D games. I personally think the DS has a few years left before we get the next handheld from Nintendo.

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