Nintendo Dismisses DS Redesign Rumours

GamesIndustry.biz reports that despite rumours to the contrary there are no immediate plans to redesign the Nintendo DS. From the article: "Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime confirmed late last year that a redesign was in the pipeline, and it's thought that there are low levels of DS stock remaining - the handheld has proved a huge hit in Japan, the US and Europe and more than 13 million units have been sold worldwide." IE: There will be a redesign for the handheld console, but not any time real soon.

Milkin' it for what it's worth

[binaryspiral]

Big N has sold 13 million DS's... and until sales start to slow down, they won't bother.

I can play it fine, but my daughter's hands are 1/2 the size and can't hit all the buttons without really giving it a stretch.

She's not playing with the DS anymore... so it travels with me! :)

A shame

[BenjyD]

The DS design could use some tweaking. Make it lighter and thinner, round the edges off, make it less wide so it's easier to use the screen with your thumb without stretching, make the shoulder buttons larger and label the buttons properly.

Bad summary

[VickiM]

Reading the article, I understood that Nintendo is saying that they are not announcing a redesign this week.
Given how they keep redesigning the GameBoy, I think a DS redesign is pretty likely, personally. But Nintendo likes to keep us all guessing, so we probably won't find out 'til they're almost done with it.

Yeah, sure...

[ivan256]

IE: There will be a redesign for the handheld console, but not any time real soon.

More like: "Even if there was a redesign coming, we would lie and say there wasn't until the last second so that people don't stop buying the current version."

Re:Well...

[Anonymous Coward]

The DS could definately benefit from a redesign: it needs more than just the traditional directional pad

Yeah, if there's one thing Nintendo forgot to include with the DS, it's an analog input method that you can operate with your left thumb.

...

Volume lack of control

[fwitness]

Yeah, the DS, although I love it, has some very small design flaws.

My biggest is using the touch screen as an analog pad, it's not possible for me to stretch my thumb comfortably. Luckily, few games use this feature.

My second biggest is volume control. You're right, it's impossible to get something that you can hear, but is not too loud. Or any tiny change for that matter. The same thing was true of my GBA SP though really. What ever happened to notched-dial wheels? They worked just fine.

Lastly, is the overall comfort of the device. Sometimes, I'd like to lay on the couch or bed and play, but the damn thing can't be held in any sideways manner (while on your side.) Actually, the *only* way that works is directly in your lap or in front of you, preferably with a pillow or something taking the weight of it.