DS web browser and new game?

[GFLPraxis]

http://www.nintendoplayers.com/article.php?articleID=86

February 14th, 2006 - Advanced Media claims to have recieved word that at a Nintendo DS conference tomorrow, Nintendo will announce a web browser and a new high-profile game, as well as several other announcements. The web browser is allegedly based on the Opera web browser.

This rumor is quite an interesting one. We won't have long to wait to see if it is true, but if it is, how will Nintendo present this? Speculation time. Nintendo DS cartridges aren't dirt-cheap like CD's, so if they sold the web browser as a standalone it would probably be at least $15-$20. This seems unlikely. Another possibility is that it might be in a firmware update (unlikely as it would be hard to distribute to DS owners, and I don't believe the DS firmware was designed to be patched easily- all current firmware hacks literally require you to partially disassemble your DS and short the SL1 pads), or that it is part of an organizer package that turns your DS into a PDA. Alternatively, it could be bundled with a game (like the first PSP browser was hidden in WaveRace), which would guarantee the sales of that game. Perhaps Metroid Prime Hunters? Voice chat and web surfing would make very strong incentives. Or, finally, it could be built in to the DS Lite, offering an incentive to buy a whole new DS other than just a brighter screen and smaller form factor.

And what is this new unannounced DS game? Could it be an organizer package? Or dare I say it...a Zelda game? We'll see tomorrow what Nintendo announces, if anything at all.

Source: NintendoDS Advanced


UPDATED: It's official!

http://www.nintendoplayers.com/article.php?articleID=89
http://www.nintendoplayers.com/article.php?articleID=90


Super Mario Bros. Release Date, DS Web Browser Announced
Also: Tetris DS budget price, TV tuner, new game announcements
by Robert Hiskey

February 15, 2006 - Nintendo held a press conference for the Japanese media early this morning, and made a number of exciting announcements regarding the Nintendo DS. First off, Nintendo announced that New Super Mario Bros., the first 2-D Mario platformer since the Super NES, will be released in Japan this May for a price of 4800 yen (about $40 US). When it hits North America, probably at a later date, we expect it'll have the standard $35 price tag. Second, Nintendo revealed that Tetris DS, which will be online-enabled, will retail for a budget price of just 3800 yen (about $32 US). No official confirmation of a North American price has been made at this time.

Next, Nintendo went on to announce many new DS titles. Calligraphy Training DS is currently in the works at Nintendo, as is a new DS cooking game. Video footage was shown for upcoming DS titles Children of Mana and Xenosaga DS, both of which are expected to see North American release in the future. Among other, probably Japanese-only, game announcements were Super Robot Wars, Dynasty Warriors, and Winning Eleven.

The biggest news of the event, however, was the announcement that the Opera web browser will be coming to the Nintendo DS. It will come on its own DS game card, not as a firmware update, but will provide full web-surfing functionality across the hardware's two screens. The browser is expected to release in June for the prices of 3800 yen.

Lastly, Nintendo also announced a TV tuner card for the DS, dubbed the "1Seg Digital TV Card." The card, which will connect into the hardware's DS game slot, will allow users to watch live TV on their Nintendo DS. Unfortunately, it looks as though the card may only ever be released in Japan, so you may have to import!

All of this is certainly welcome, exciting news that should effectively increase the appeal of the Nintendo DS to non-gamers, which is what Nintendo is hoping for. We'll bring you more updates as they break.

Source: DS Advanced


Official Press Release from Opera Software
Web developer officially announces their DS project.
by Robert Hiskey

February 15, 2006 - As we reported earlier, Nintendo announced today that the Opera web browser will be coming to the Nintendo DS, giving us easy access to the internet from anywhere using the dual-screened system. Now, Opera Software has issued their own press release formally confirming the project. The following is taken directly from the press release (which you can read in its entirety here.

In Opera's agreement with Nintendo, Nintendo DS users will now be able to surf the full Internet from their systems using the Opera browser. The Opera browser for Nintendo DS will be sold as a DS card. Users simply insert the card into the Wi- Fi enabled Nintendo DS, connect to a network, and begin browsing on two screens.

"The incredibly popular Nintendo DS is already Wi-Fi enabled to support real time gaming, so adding Web browsing capabilities was a natural evolution for this device," says Scott Hedrick, Executive Vice President, Opera Software. "Gaming devices are growing more advanced and a great Web experience is becoming a product differentiator for gaming manufacturers. Opera is excited to work with Nintendo to deliver a unique dual screen, full Internet experience on Nintendo DS."

With an on screen keypad and stylus, users can easily navigate the Web from their Nintendo DS with PDA-like functionality. Based on the same core as the Opera desktop browser, Opera delivers superior speed and rendering of Web pages on the Nintendo DS.

"Within just five seconds of turning on the system, the Nintendo DS is already fully operational. This makes it the ideal device to enable people to swiftly obtain the latest information from the internet, wherever they are," says Masaru Shimomura, Deputy General Manager of Nintendo's R & D Department. "Opera exceeded our expectations with its user friendly interface, quick access to all your favorite sites, ease of use and, most importantly, in making the best use of the Nintendo DS system's unique double screens and touch screen features. Opera is an important partner for Nintendo in our efforts to further expand the users of the Nintendo DS."

Source: Opera Software

[ijimk]

wow this draws my intrest and can't wait to see what they are planning to do.:eek:

[debroglie]

Sounds too good to be true



(*still crossing fingers*)

[kingcrowing]

damn... I just got castlevania DS today! it rocks, but if this is a new zelda DS or pokemon DS, I'll be psyched!

[GFLPraxis]

No Zelda DS. They announced:
(A) A TV tuner for the DS
(B) Opera web browser for the DS
http://www.opera.com/img/front/nintendo_ds.png
http://www.opera.com/pressreleases/en/2006/02/15/
(C) Japanese pricing and release date for Super Mario Bros DS and Tetris DS.
(D) Cooking software for DS
(E) Calligraphy Training DS
(F) Super Robot Wars, Dynasty Warriors, and Winning Eleven discussed, Children of Mana and Xenosaga footage shown

[DeSnousa]

Sounds great but is the screen up to it, especially for tv. Even more when it is compared the the PSP screen. Still good news none the least. The web browser sounds great though :)

[rosalindavenue]

This is really something. I can drop $150-160 for a new, smaller DS (whenever it gets released-- "spring," IIRC,) and $20-30 bucks for opera; and get much better wi-fi browsing than I can get on my treo with a $50 a month data plan and no wi-fi. That's not even considering the gaming, which is very high quality. This is huge.

[paddy]

Thats that settled then. I was seriously considering a PSP but now I'll definitely get a DS even if it was just for the web browser.

[Dagless]

There's also a 4gb HDD thingy for the DS now. for media and such.

Personally I wont bother with Opera on my DS or these new media features. but its nice they exist.

[Jovian9]

Sounds great. Too bad I sold my DS back in October. I may have to pick up a DS Lite once they come down in price to what the normal DS's are sold for now.

[takao]

gamefront.de even pointed something different out: wining eleven will be in fact WiFi enabled which sounds like a blast as well

[cubist]

This is GREAT news! :D
Takao, it says that Super Robot Wars and Winning Eleven will be Japan-only. What is Winning Eleven about?

[srobert]

I'm a little off topic here but I don't want to create a new DS thread for my question.

I wanted to know if any of you know about a good Nintendo DS game cards holder. (Just for the games, not for DS and accessories). I currently have a neat compact aluminum one that can old 8 cards but my game collection outgrew it.

I'd like to get a new one, that could hold at least 12 cards (more = better). Ideally, it would be as compact as possible. Anybody know of a good one?

Thanks

[zim]

I already love the DS and now have even more reason to do so! Can't wait to check my email on my DS :) Not sure if I would actually buy the Opera card but wonder if they would allow for the demo service that I have read about... being able to walk into any store that sells the DS and previewing titles on your DS through WiFi.

Even more exiced about the new Mario Bothers game :)

[GFLPraxis]

Sounds great but is the screen up to it, especially for tv. Even more when it is compared the the PSP screen. Still good news none the least. The web browser sounds great though :)

I've been watching cartoons on it and it looks great. Not sure how movies would look though.

[takao]

This is GREAT news! :D
Takao, it says that Super Robot Wars and Winning Eleven will be Japan-only. What is Winning Eleven about?

oh well would have been too good news perhaps

winning eleven is a football(soccer) game series ...

[Mr. Mister]

I must say that despite the ingenuity of this web browser design, I'd rather browse on a PSP.

[eva01]

I must say that despite the ingenuity of this web browser design, I'd rather browse on a PSP.

yay trolling is fun

[Mr. Mister]

yay trolling is fun
Stating my opinion = trolling?

[Kimi]

This sound cool. Free internet is never a bad thing! I'll be picking one of these up when it's released I think. It'll be most useful for checking thinks while I'm out.

[Dagless]

I must say that despite the ingenuity of this web browser design, I'd rather browse on a PSP.

You mean longer load up times? Without the intuitive use of a stylus and keyboard than a D-Pad?

Yea. sounds a little like trolling. even on paper the DS trumps the PSP browsing, only made better by its bigger screen. Even though I hear the PSP browsing is very limited. Opera is very not-limited.


I'd rather get that TV thing though. I think (unsure) that Japan and the UK use the same broadcast format or something.

[DrNeroCF]

I must say that despite the ingenuity of this web browser design, I'd rather browse on a PSP.

Well duh, if the Dreamcast taught us anything, it's that typing with a d-pad and surfing the internet with a joystick are the two most wonderful activities ever created.

[GFLPraxis]

You mean longer load up times? Without the intuitive use of a stylus and keyboard than a D-Pad?

Since the PSP's browser runs off the firmware I doubt the load times are any longer than the DS.

But surfing with a D-pad sounds like the most horrible thing I've ever heard. How do you click on links? It's like surfing on a PC without a mouse and tabbing to each link...ouch.

But jimmi, stating an opinion, even a silly one, is not trolling.

[TsuaSai]

Man that sounds really cool.. I only wish I had more time to play games... Darn work...

[HiRez]

I think this picture (http://www.jeux-france.com/images18_4_14529.html) is a very good sign as to the brightness of the new screens!

[shadowmoses]

I think this picture (http://www.jeux-france.com/images18_4_14529.html) is a very good sign as to the brightness of the new screens!

That is a huge difference, I cant wait to get my hands on the DS lite and Opera Browser...

Anyway here;s a video of the browser and TV (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ogWgYF3r4M) in action,

Shadow

[Dagless]

I think this picture (http://www.jeux-france.com/images18_4_14529.html) is a very good sign as to the brightness of the new screens!

yowzers! Thats a good screen.

so how do all the screens compare? i know the Micro was much brighter than the DS, but what about the new GBA SP? I suppose they all pale compared to the Lite.

[zim]

:o me like! the white looks very nice too, can't wait to see all the flavors :)

Thanks for linking this site HiRez.

[cubist]

The new SP is gorgeous. Stop in and see it at your local retailer, but don't buy it, save your pennies for the new DS.

Wow. I was going to give my old DS to my kid when I bought the new one. Not sure he's going to be all that happy with it if he sees them side by side like that.

[zim]

The new SP is gorgeous. Stop in and see it at your local retailer, but don't buy it, save your pennies for the new DS.

Wow. I was going to give my old DS to my kid when I bought the new one. Not sure he's going to be all that happy with it if he sees them side by side like that.

I recently saw the new SP at Toys R Us and was blown away... i could see putting on shades when playing ;)

[paddy]

I wonder could the web-browser be used to download songs, movies etc to the Max Media Player (if you have one)? If so it will be a very tempting portable media machine.

[Mr. Mister]

It looks like a cute little device now, it was initially a bit too clunky and roughly hewn for my taste. I might pick one up to replace my stolen PSP.

[BrianDavid0523]

RING THE DEATH BELL FOR THE PSP!!!!

This should be the "final nail" in the coffin.

[shortyjj]

I still haven't seen any announcement for a US release of the Lite, might as well pre-order from Lik-Sang. Any reason to not order from them?

Man I can't wait.

[srobert]

I still haven't seen any announcement for a US release of the Lite, might as well pre-order from Lik-Sang. Any reason to not order from them?

Man I can't wait.

Are voltage and wallplug shape the same in US than in Japan? Looks like the DS lite won't be using the same power adapter and won't be compatible with older (DS, Micro and GBA) power adaptors.

[shortyjj]

I saw a voltage converter, but there's also a $3 USB charger (universal?), which might be more convenient for some.

[HiRez]

I took the pic into Photoshop and did some quick color-correction on it:
41048
While the screen is definitely brighter, which is great, it unfortunately still seems to have an obvious blue-biased color temperature. I was really hoping they'd correct for a more neutral white. This could be done on a game-by-game basis in software, or it's possible there's some option for this in the firmware, but I'm not holding my breath on that happening.

[Dagless]

Are voltage and wallplug shape the same in US than in Japan? Looks like the DS lite won't be using the same power adapter and won't be compatible with older (DS, Micro and GBA) power adaptors.

The DS Lite uses the same power port/plug as the GB Micro.

[srobert]

The DS Lite uses the same power port/plug as the GB Micro.

Good to know. I might consider ordering then. Almost all the articles I read about the DS lite tell the new adapter is not Micro compatible.

The DS Lite will come with a new AC adapter that is not compatible with other Nintendo handhelds, including both the original DS and Game Boy Micro.

http://www.superufo.com/pp/news_content.asp?news_id=104

[GFLPraxis]

Interesting, most have noted that it appears to be the exact same port as the Micro uses from the pictures.

[Ringo]

my biggest interest is in the game "Children of Mana" they annonced. and from my search on google it's a sequel to the secret of mana series !!!!!!!!! that sould be a great RPG game.

[DrNeroCF]

I love the PSP.

Without it, we wouldn't be getting all these incredible products from Nintendo :D


If this is any sign of what's to come with the Revolution... :eek:

[HiRez]

I love the PSP.

Without it, we wouldn't be getting all these incredible products from Nintendo :D I'm not sure what your justification is for this statement. Nintendo brought out the DS before the PSP, and did upgrade the GBA (twice) before the PSP as well.

[Dagless]

and arguably Nintendo were the first to have online gaming and web browsing (though limited) on the NES. although was it the Game Gear that had the first portable TV receiver? or were there hidden rare ones for the GB?

[GFLPraxis]

Well admittedly Nintendo probably wouldn't feel pressured to release a web browser if Sony didn't have one.

Opera might have still done it anyway of course.

[Prom1]

[QUOTE=DrNeroCF
I love the PSP.
Without it, we wouldn't be getting all these incredible products from Nintendo:D


I'm not sure what your justification is for this statement. Nintendo brought out the DS before the PSP, and did upgrade the GBA (twice) before the PSP as well.[/QUOTE]

What he means is the basic principle of competition. If it wasnt for the PSP & web surfing Nintendo most likely would've sticked to their own statement of originally keeping the DS as a gaming ONLY device.

BTW, your wrong on Nintendo upgrading the DS twice before the PSP.
In fact the GBA (the buttons on either side of the screen is the debut device, the one with no backlight). The SP was the 1st revision (backlight & flip-lid-screen); hence the 1st update, not the second. It was ONLY after the PSP debuted - at least in Japan - did the GBA SP got an update .... the Micro and bright SP screen.

Unless I'm mistaken.

[HiRez]

What he means is the basic principle of competition. If it wasnt for the PSP & web surfing Nintendo most likely would've sticked to their own statement of originally keeping the DS as a gaming ONLY device.

BTW, your wrong on Nintendo upgrading the DS twice before the PSP.
In fact the GBA (the buttons on either side of the screen is the debut device, the one with no backlight). The SP was the 1st revision (backlight & flip-lid-screen); hence the 1st update, not the second. It was ONLY after the PSP debuted - at least in Japan - did the GBA SP got an update .... the Micro and bright SP screen.The micro may have come after the PSP launched, but if so it wasn't long after and the Micro would certainly have been in design/production long before that. Plus, I don't think you can in any way say the Micro was spurred on by the PSP anyway, seems like a logical update, PSP or no PSP. And I had forgotten about the GBA backlight upgrade, that's another update I don't think had anything to do with the PSP. But, you may be right about the browser being a result of the PSP having one. In any case, I'm glad for the competition, although the Nintendo handhelds and the PSP serve largely separate audiences anyway, and I think Nintendo likes it that way.

[mrgreen4242]

This would be cool if it was integrated in the firmware, but as it is, I think softmodding the DS and spending the $30 towards a big flash cart to run homebrew software (which will have a browser eventually, if there isn't already - I'm a little behind on my DS dev news :P).

Still cool that Nintendo is moving in this direction, along with the voice chat features in Metroid, the DS is getting closer and closer to the machine I think it could be.

What would make the browser worth the $30, btw, is if there is if they bundle it with some decent PIM software and a media player (and include a GBA slot - SD adaptor).

It's be worth $50 then, in my estimation.