How To Make the DS Even Better 82
Next Generation has up an interesting piece considering ways to make the ultra-successful Nintendo DS even better. Thoughts include streamlining the needlessly complicated 'friend code' system, adding internal flash ram to the device, and rolling out a virtual console system ala the Wii. Their best idea, I think, is to use the GBA slot on the system for a cartridge including all of these new elements: "The advantage over typical 'system upgrades', like the ram expansion for the N64 or the PS2 hard drive, is that this cartridge should have little direct effect on game software; it would simply transform the DS into a more useful and personal tool. Such an update would also weed out the necessity to offer a whole new DS model, further annoying people who felt forced to upgrade to the DS Lite - itself only a cosmetic adjustment."
Give it a Camera. (Score:2, Interesting)
I think it's a very good idea.
Unlike the PSP... (Score:2, Interesting)
Unlike the PSP, the DS has games that twice as many people find worth playing. The systems aren't even that far apart in price (PSP: $200, DS Lite + R4DS expansion card for playing media from microSD cards: $170), so game quality must be at least a major factor.
Re:It has wi-fi give it a browser (Score:3, Interesting)
Anyway, I agree, the Lite looks great; I especially like the dual-layer casing. I'll even say (as I guy) that the pink one actually looks pretty nice. (Given how much I loathe most pink electronics- including the pink PS2 and PSPs- this may sound odd, but I think it's the styling combined with use of a paler pink- hot pink is fugly).
Re:It has wi-fi give it a browser (Score:3, Interesting)
The feature I'd like to see... (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:Kind of already there... (Score:4, Interesting)
ergonomics... (Score:3, Interesting)
It's a tough one, how do you make a handheld that's ergonomic enough to play for hours on end, while at the same time being regularly enough shaped to be able to fit in a small space.
Re:multipass (Score:3, Interesting)
I'd say even two DS slots would be great - so that you wouldn't have to carry cartridge in pocket.
I like to play several games simultaneously and it would be nice feat to be able start another game w/o need to dig in bag looking for another cartridge. (And probability to lose cartridge would be smaller too.)
More than two is better. But I think two slots would be sufficient for most scenarios.
Re:Simply integrate the already existing parts (Score:2, Interesting)
1. I agree the mic is annoying ("@#!* you Kawashima, I said BLUE!"), but I doubt it's going anywhere.
2. Yes. I never had an original DS, but those buttons are way too freakin' small.
3. If they added a second DS slot (which I would love), it would probably go up top. They will never get rid of the GBA slot because -- contrary to your belief -- that slot is very useful. The GBA has a huge library of games that ALL work on the DS. Perhaps more importantly, there are many DS games where you get extra functionality if you have the right GBA cart inserted. One word: Pokémon. They would never get away with taking away the ability to import all your creatures from the previous games -- the franchise is way too popular.
4. I agree, keep it simple. But a browser, appointment book, notepad, etc. all seem entirely feasible (I'm less convinced about all the media capabilities people are talking about; I agree they should just get a PSP if they want that). I doubt any of these changes will come for the current generation, but I would be very surprised if they weren't a part of the DS2.
This list wasn't quite right (Score:3, Interesting)
1) 802.11g with WPA encryption. Nintendo's official response to this is pretty much "go screw yourself!" but I'm prevented from using many wifi features due to using WPA on my WLAN.
2) Better use of wifi technology. The initial menus should show any DS users in range and what game they're playing when the system boots. Then you should be able to ask to join their game (provided you insert the right cart) by touching one of the games. That main boot menu is unused most of the time because people simply hit the button that starts the game they have inserted. I've seen so many people with a DS on the train when I have mine in my bag, but I can never tell what game they're playing and it's kind of annoying for me to ask them to quit so I could give them a game. Conversely, if a message scrolled past saying "Steve wants to join your game, press START to allow it" (without interrupting their play) they would probably allow it and we might even strike up a conversation afterwards. We can already play strangers on Nintendo WFC, why can't we do it with some agility in ad-hoc play?
3) Don't lock-up the OS when I pop out the cart. This is ridiculous. The system menus boot from ROM and I should be able to swap games without crashing the initial menu system. This is a requirement for point 2 to work. There are interrupts that fire when a cart is removed, but the DS firmware doesn't seem to handle them.
4) The DS browser is very slow due to lack of system memory. An official way of expanding the memory (like a mini SD slot or *officially supported* mini-SD expansion cart for the GBA slot) would be a nice feature.
5) Improve the sound quality, I have no problem with the visuals but the sound quality isn't really good enough for MP3s on headphones. 44khz sampling rates at 16bit would be nice.
6) Allow me to download demos of games with the browser and stream mp3 audio like web radio.
7) Give me a custom avatar to store in my personal data instead of making me draw a different one in every game.
8) Keep everything else as it is and don't try to turn it into a PDA.