@Brian Crecente: Do you really think Nintendo would keep a major update like this to Japan only? I would think that Nintendo's stance would be that the success of the DS is so large in Japan that since numbers coming back are lower than those of the PSP, that the current DS has saturated the market and therefore it's time for a new model to keep the DS brand producing money.

Maddogdw

@alaren: !!

Just to note, "!!" means that I dunno how anyone could accept such a radical idea, especially not straight from Nintendo.

vid3oman64

@Ackers: And that robot I bet was made by Nintendo!

Maddogdw

It's even reached papers here in the Philly area. The Philly Metro has an article stating the following:

Japan: Nintendo will launch a version of its popular DS handheld machine that can take pictures and play music, Japanese media reported yesterday. The new handheld would also have advanced wireless communications capability, a daily newspaper reported. The new machine would cost around $189 in Japan - slightly more than the current price of a DS. The new machine would be a direct challenge to Apple's iPod and iPhone.

Now, not that I'm totally saying the METRO is reliable, but I would think they would check a few sources...I'd think this may have some truth, but total truth? I'd be surprised...

Maddogdw

@bigman88zz:
Exactly. Just like when console manufacturers deny price drops so people don't sit and wait for the system to drop in price.

On the other hand, wasn't there a similar story about the DS a few months ago as well?

SnakesSolids

I'm still wondering why we need a new DS, the market they're aiming for aren't going to fork out so quickly for a DS that has at least 2 features that are done better by products that people generally own on one device or another, hell my mobile phone can do both and I'm guessing about as well as any possible DS one is going to do. I'm hoping it's rumour or some kind of niche thing for japan cos I don't need another handheld update when my current DS isn't getting enough good games as it is

CaptBlues

I have the old fat ds, and i was planning on eventually buying the small one after i get a psp, so i guess it'd be nice..

doesn't really matter too much though, cool games for both handhelds are few and far in between for me.

dojita

@vid3oman64: ??

BTW, "??" is English for "what does your insipid private language have to do with Nintendo's shockingly gentle rumor smashing?"

alaren

If it's somewhere as big as Nikkei (no, they are not some mom'n pop newspaper) running the news, I'd assume the source is reliable. Most likely some wily factory workers leaking spec info that they received, as there's already been leaked images of the new DS LCDs complete with part numbers floating around on the web (a slightly larger 3.25inch screen now), wouldn't be surprised if the same folks sold / gave away the news to Nikkei.

muu

Nintendo sure hasn't denyed it. They're just saying, "They didn't get that info from us"...but that doesn't mean the info is wrong - just leaked through non-official avenues.

It's like when you where a kid and you threw a tennis ball in the house that the dog chased and broke a lamp or vase. Mom gets home, "Jimmy do you know what happened to this lamp?" Kid, "Mom, I didn't break it."...dodge the real question - always works.

smber2c

The mystery continues...

Im rooting on Japan newspaper being right, they have all sorts of crazy spy stuff in Japan - they probably got some new spy robot that they have been sending round Nintendo, mabee a flying robot, yes a miniature flying robot with a camera in it. SNEAKY PEOPLE!

Ackers

@Lazlo: That's sad...

...because it's so true. D:

vid3oman64

@Lazlo: While I agree, PSP has been beating the DS out in Japan over the past five months (month to month). So maybe this will be a Japan only device?

Brian Crecente

@Brian Crecente:
I just can't see Nintendo coming out with anything remotely powerful, or multipurpose-oriented within the next 4-5 years. They are riding the fucking money train on their non-gaming strategy so it seems like a huge derailment to veer off that track.

...and now I'm done with the train analogies.

Lazlo

its all one big conspiracy! new ds announced could mean ds lite sales dropping due to anticipation of a newer version of the hardware. so nintendo chooses to keep the money train running by denying the allegations

bigman88zz

It's probably leaked by one of the Nintendo employee and since it's true, Nintendo can't deny it, but they will say no comment.

pikpikjuice

Either an insider told the newspaper, the newspaper is just going on rumors, or the person that wrote that owns a nice chunk of stock in Nintendo. Nintendo is a publicity traded company right?

trogam

I don't think anyone would be surprised if this was true, but probably a rumor at best. Or maybe a leak from somewhere on the nintendo line.

On a side note I feel very stupid. I just now noticed that the bottom screen was the psp UI despite recognizing the iphone bit at the top. Sad considering how often I use my psp.

WasabiJoe

I think it's just some one jumping the gun off a rumor

tripur

<<

btw, "<<" is Videse for "no kidding."

vid3oman64

Quite honestly I think it makes more sense for nintendo to launch a new platform (an actual successor to the DS) with backwards compatibility. 3 iterations of the console later, they may be pushing it too far. Especially for those who already own a previous version. Which is like everyone and their mother at this point.

Mastrix

@Maddogdw: The issue there being that all they are saying is that "Japanese Media" reported this. Looks like no research was done.

Mastrix

lets not jumpt to conclusions!

[farm1.static.flickr.com]

sxnc

Nintendo of Japan doesn't tell ANYONE what they are doing... Not even other Nintendo offices.

samaine

Either way, Nintendo probably has plans for a new DS already. Doesn't mean they'll reveal it anytime soon, the DS Lite is selling like mad... they haven't even done the first price drop on it.

ZaxCG2

heh... internanational.

Coxswain

@Brian Crecente: Don't Japanese cell phones already do just about everything, though? Why would you need a DS that does just about everything?

Torgen got his apology faceplate but not his fixed GH3 disc

I'd never heard of Nikkei before this report, but a friend of mine tells me that they've been busted in the past for jumping the gun and reporting rumors that turned out to be false as fact.

While it is strange that Nintendo hasn't out-and-out denied the report, I wouldn't be surprised at all if this is a fake.

phnord

@Mastrix: GBA, GBASP, GBA micro. DS, DS lite... they're due for one more!

vid3oman64

Let's analyze the response from Nintendo.

First of all, it's Nintendo of America, and I'm frankly not so sure they know everything Nintendo of Japan is doing.

Secondly, they said that Nikkei never interviewed Nintendo. No shit! People are interviewing Nintendo NOW and not getting clear responses. Why would we suppose that they spewed everything to this company? Obviously the info would have been leaked by an insider.

Also, the ways in which both NoA and NoJ responded is suspicious in itself. "We haven't made any announcements so we can't comment" pretty much equates to "we do have something planned so we'll talk when it's 'officially' public".

Mact

@Lazlo:

Except that money train has been slowing as everyone and their mother (and their grandmother) now owns a DS.

Mact

Maybe it's just me and perhaps I have in fact gone crazy, but I'm pretty sure there was a story circulating about Nintendo working on a new DS that would have two touch screens. Of course this is all hearsay since I cannot for the life of me recall where I heard that. It would be nice if they did make one like that, and one described in the story above, but I don't think that I would buy another DS just for the new hardware unless I absolutely had to.
That's all, now back to paying Contra on my Games and Music card (at work)...

Mikebrown

Wait....now I'm even more fucking confused....BRIAN HELP, THE SCREENS!

excel_excel

Am I the only one who noticed that the Iphone screen is on top, where there is no touch screen, and the PSP screen is on the bottom, where there is a touch screen. And the thing is...they are opposite, the Iphone screen being touch able and the PSP one not being touch able...

CraftyNut

I still have a hard time thinking that NIntendo really wants to tackle MP3's and other features when even the most basic internet features are pretty flawed, and not widely used. I don't even know if a redesign is inevitable at this point. Didn't we all think that the DS successor was coming sooner rather than later?

ThisCharmingMan

@Brian Crecente:
I hadn't considered that, though I don't see them pulling a Gameboy Light again.

Demonbird

@vid3oman64: say waht?!

Shockadin

Didn't we just have a conversation about embargos? Maybe this is a good example of what happens when an embargo is not established; Nikkei broke the story too early, and Nintendo has to automatically discredit it...until they're ready to announce it formally.

Seriously, with all the money-printing going on, how will a DS revision really make a dent in their profits, especially when this piece of hardware may effectively move a major market from the US to Japan?

boopadoo

Nikkei is pretty well respected. Not to say they're perfect, but it seems to weigh more in the "likely" column than the "bullshit" column.

Robotube

Nintendo will deny it for another 2 days and then announce it at their conference.

Supa_S

I'm starting to think we got taken to the cleaners on this story, boys.

MR. FAP☆FAP!

@ThisCharmingMan:

Some people thought that given the PSP was outselling the DS for 5 months, but it looks like the DS is back on top, and has been untouchable in other regions. This without a redesign or price drop. I honestly can't see a new gen DS any time soon given the numbers still being sold without having to price drop. Now a year or two from now?

But a redesign is something else, and learning from their GBA Micro fiasco (and butt covering when the DS phenomenon was not a sure thing) releasing a redesign a year or two prior to the next gen handheld makes more sense.

houser

@Supa_S:

I think this is right on the money. I think they announce something here...or at least had intended on announcing it here. We'll see now.

houser

I'm pretty sure no video game company ever wants to confirm this kind of rumour. Because then everyone will stop buying their product until the new one comes out. Much better to keep people buying as long as possible.

dowingba

Isn't Nikkei, like, a really well respected news source though?

Roto13

I'd find it surprising if this wasn't a rumour...

The Wii sells like mad, which is why they won't bother releasing a new one with a new feature that people will actually use, like a DVD player channel.

The DS sells like mad... would they really bother releasing a new one with two features that most people (probably) wouldn't use, like a MP3 player and a camera?

Besides those two features sound like they'd need some kind of internal or expandable memory... which is a big enough change that would probably be best saved for Nintendo's entry into the next generation of handhelds.

vr0oM

I just noticed the picture had iPhone icons on one side and XMB on the other... Made me laugh.

bobtheduck

Nintendo is working on something new, obviously. As for the specific functionality that Nikkei reported, it just doesn't sound like Nintendo at all, does it? Why would they suddenly go all "half-hardcore"? But I've been wrong before. And since when is ANY unsubstantiated (and somewhat head-scratching) story cemented as fact before it's announced? Even reliable sources can be misled.

Sustenance

@Sustenance:

Why does everyone seem to believe that MP3 playability and a camera are 'hardcore' additions.

Because we're really extending the definition of hardcore if we're including every preteen to teenage girl.

Mact

@vr0oM:To release a new Wii, one that would have to have a new drive, because you know, the DVD hack will burn out the current drive, would be insane, more so when Nintendo can't keep the current Wii's on the shelf. Also, assuming that a DVD feature will be used is hearsay.

The DS sells like mad because it has the games to support it, games for everyone. A MP3 add-on wouldn't really do anything and is like you said, best saved for next gen.

It really sounds like that these are features that have been planned for the next DS, but why would Nintendo slow down it's race to 100 million by splitting the user base?

@Brian Crecente:Maybe..but hasn't it been noted Brian that if the DS stopped selling tommarrow, it would take the PSP 10 years at current sales to catch up? At this point the pit is so wide, I doubt anyone at Nintendo even looks at the PSP as a factor.

Foxstar Sixtail

@MR. FAP☆FAP!:

Really? At what point did you read that Nintendo outright denied the rumor?

Keep in mind they are having their fall conference in just two days.

Mact

Nintendo uses a strategy similar to Apple when it comes to new hardware - they generally keep it a secret or deny it until the last minute. It's a good business strategy, because it (almost) ensures that products they're developing won't be preempted by a 3rd party for cheap.

Omatic

Nintendo obviously has another model of DS lined up. Exactly what new features they may add are up in the air. Nintendo will tell us what it has planned only when it wants (just like always).

Ryodestined

FE FI FO FUM I SMELL A LITMUS TEST

MaiAriSquee

@Lazlo:

Wait, don't you mean "They are riding the fucking money train on their gaming-only strategy" as the DS is made to be used SOLELY for games, unlike the PSP and iPhone?

NeoAkira

In the past, including recent months when false rumors about new DS handheld updates were spread Nintendo has been quick and loud at denying any truth to the rumors. This has been Nintendo's protocol for yeeeeears, and it makes sense because it could hurt current model sales. This time all we're getting is no comments. That is a positive sign. I look forward to hearing more news about this in the upcoming months, likely early November just before Christmas shopping.

LeighGanjiro

Nintendo does have a press event Thursday and Friday, so I would say there's a pretty good chance this is one of the things they're going to show.

QuinlanTiberius

nah there jus messin
but they shouldn't say this because there makin
people not want 2 buy the ninetendo ds lite.

i hope it's not 4 real...

aloo

What I can see them doing is make this unit a different sale from the Lite. Similar to what Microsoft does with it's X-box 360s. They have an Arcade, Premium, and Elite. All are different sales for different consumers. Nintendo can just keep the DS Lites but sell this new DS as a premium for a consumer who is interested in those features. If you're not, the DS Lite is still there. What can possibly happen is parents buy Lites for their kids and buy the rumored unit for them selves.

5thMoon

@sxnc:
yh there probably jus messin us about.

aloo

they are making loadz of money off this ninetendo so
i don't know y there doin this?

aloo

I don't believe it!!!!!!!
i have just brought a ninetendo ds and now theres gonna be another one out............
who wud buy another one jus for that....

aarghhh!!

aloo

@vid3oman64:

They named their las home console the "Wii" that is as radical as it gets.

5thMoon

@Lazlo:

So adding a camera and music playback is gaming functionality then?

5thMoon

This is Gaaaaaameblog !!! \^0^/

NancyPlatypus

what a complete disappointment.

anLazred