Nintendo Announces Dual-Screen Portable

[rabidrabbit]

two screens can be folded on a smaller portable size than one larger screen, that's an obvious benefit.
Though the seam and frame between the two screens would make it less than ideal for wide screen gaming or video.

 

[cthellis42]

Does seem a bit weird right now, and we do have to know more about it to see if it can be turned to good benefit. (Meanwhile, what The Reg has to say and some other place.)

I guess this indeed is the new device that was being referred to earlier, as Iwata's comment lines up pretty stright with what was being said before: In a news release, Satoru Iwata, president of Nintendo Co., said the Nintendo DS is "based upon a completely different concept from existing game devices." I can't imagine them working on two "completely different concept" projects for release at about the same time without making sure they're mentioned as separate devices.

 

[V3]

two screens can be folded on a smaller portable size than one larger screen, that's an obvious benefit.
Though the seam and frame between the two screens would make it less than ideal for wide screen gaming or video.

Well in my rant earlier in the thread I brought up that point. I don't denied the size advantage, since I brought that up myself. But beside that ?

I question to all that saying all this 2 screens = improvement in gameplay, or some other stuff. To me this 2 screens are just a way to increase viewing area to counter PSP 4.5" screen. It'll bring nothing to the table in regard of game that can't be deliver with one bigger screen.

Look 3" is still pretty small, even if you have two of them, you don't really want to split them, like one for map that's like a waste of screen. And Still one bigger screen with two viewports, one for game the other for map would serve the same purpose.

 

[cthellis42]

One screen is not a "different concept", though, while two screens at least CAN be used creatively by games. And while one can always split one screen, you really screw with the dimensions of the images, unless the screens were side-by-side and not just an enlarged screen with normal dimensions. I think Nintendo has their work cut out for them to make sure the screens are put to good NEW use, as opposed to being a neat gimmick for a few games, and otherwise simply something that replaces a menu screen.

 

[Qroach]

A dual screen portable? Now I certainly wasn't expecting that I really don't know what to make of it...

 

[V3]

One screen is not a "different concept", though, while two screens at least CAN be used creatively by games.

Why can't you use one bigger screen creatively ? This isn't a new concept by any stretch.

And while one can always split one screen, you really screw with the dimensions of the images, unless the screens were side-by-side and not just an enlarged screen with normal dimensions.

Not necessarly, you just have to configure your viewport correctly.

I think Nintendo has their work cut out for them to make sure the screens are put to good NEW use,

This is weak, like I said before 3" is pretty small, they could have included two 5" screen instead.

They probably get more prop for using a single 5" screen portable machine that uses optical, and put up a good fight with PSP. Instead they took an indirect route like this, and making PR stunt about the "new factor" that is dual screens. This is crap Nintendo.

as opposed to being a neat gimmick for a few games, and otherwise simply something that replaces a menu screen.

Dual Screen is not a gimmick to begin with ? I mean I am using 4 monitors in front of me, if I have it my way, I would replace it all with one big really wide screen.

 

[London Geezer]

The Virtual Boy was a new concept. Yay Nintendo....

 

[hey69]

techwise, it is not really a big technichal achievement if you look at the specs of the machine..(remember GBA a few years ago) but according to my source, it will have a long durabilty in batery where the PSP (current prototype models) lack

 

[London Geezer]

techwise, it is not really a big technichal achievement if you look at the specs of the machine..(remember GBA a few years ago) but according to my source, it will have a long durabilty in batery where the PSP (current prototype models) lack

When did battery life get into the argument? Must have missed the cue.

 

[hey69]

i just introduced it 8)

 

[darkblu]

V3, re the advantages of a portable 2-screens unit:

* the design alows for folding (i'd be very surprised if this NIN unit does not fold) - hence is more compact, i.e. you get a similar to GBA (i suppose) form factor and 2x display estate. btw, i, personally don't like folding parts in handelds, but in this case it's a go.

* for titles that do no use the second screen it can be switched off together with its driver cicuitry, framebuffer memory, etc. hence more optimal power usage.

* apparently the idea behind the second screen is to allow for dual viewports - i.e. in each particular moment you're concentrated on one of them (rather than having a single port spanning both of them) in which case it's actually an advantage to have some margin space inbetween the two ports - helps for player's concentraiton on the one viewport of focus. of course that could be achieved with borders of pixels, but that'd be a pure waste of pixels (on a handheld in particular)

btw, your exmple of the 4 monitors desktop being inferior to a single large-monitor desktop is debatable - do you use windows that span across the monitors? - because i, too, often use multi-monitor desktops (2-3) and 99% of the time on each monitor i have a separate window (from the same app or entirely different apps). bottomline being - people use multiple viewports because they want to do entirely different things in each of them. in latter case having them on different physical displays is ok, and actually gives more control (i.e. can change the view angle, turn off when uneeded, etc) to a single large display with many viewports.

 

[passerby]

I see a lot of benefits for dual screens.

Sports: Obvious reasons
RPG/Strategy: Stats, Maps, etc....
Games like Metroid/Castlevania: Stats and Maps
Shoot em Ups:

I think this summed up the benefits quite well, though I'm lost about the "Shoot em Ups" part.

Maybe it all doesn't seem like such a great deal. But I thought the same of mobile phones when they first appeared. "What's the point? Public phones are everywhere!" Well, I've owned a mobile phone for a few years now, and I definitely need to eat those words. Now I feel handicapped when I leave mine at home.

My only question is whether or not this is meant to be a GBA successor. If it isn't, then I concede that I'm as confused as everyone else....

 

[Guden Oden]

techwise, it is not really a big technichal achievement if you look at the specs of the machine..

You don't have the full specs, only CPUs, and only unconfirmed CPU specs too, right? Otherwise I guess someone would have linked to a real Nintendo presentation by now.

Instead they took an indirect route like this, and making PR stunt about the "new factor" that is dual screens. This is crap Nintendo.

Don't bash it til you tried it. Hmpf!

Lot of negativity here today for no sensible reason. I can't believe you guys get your panties in such a bind over the thought of a new toy to play with. For f**k's sake, you should be HAPPY at a time like this! Aren't you tech-geeks? If not, what the heck are you doing here then?!

 

[cybamerc]

Guden Oden:

> For f**k's sake, you should be HAPPY at a time like this! Aren't you
> tech-geeks?

On these boards inferior technology is only interesting if it has a PowerVR logo on it. Anyway V3 is a special case. I can't tell if he's loaded or bluffing but either way his views aren't always realistic from a business perspective.

 

[hey69]

i have a bit more info then publicly known

 

[ChryZ]

first picture of the prototype:

 

[V3]

* the design alows for folding (i'd be very surprised if this NIN unit does not fold) - hence is more compact, i.e. you get a similar to GBA (i suppose) form factor and 2x display estate. btw, i, personally don't like folding parts in handelds, but in this case it's a go.

I brought up that point earlier, so I know.

* for titles that do no use the second screen it can be switched off together with its driver cicuitry, framebuffer memory, etc. hence more optimal power usage.

I thought about this, as I mentioned the two processors is likely for power saving, but I doubt it. To have the second screen shuts down would go against DS. I can see people would ridicule games that does that. This Nintendo DS, this game shuts down one screen and only make use of one in some instance.

* apparently the idea behind the second screen is to allow for dual viewports - i.e. in each particular moment you're concentrated on one of them (rather than having a single port spanning both of them) in which case it's actually an advantage to have some margin space inbetween the two ports - helps for player's concentraiton on the one viewport of focus. of course that could be achieved with borders of pixels, but that'd be a pure waste of pixels (on a handheld in particular)

Come on you don't need that much pixel to seperate viewport. Beside having too much margin between viewport is actually a disadvantage.

btw, your exmple of the 4 monitors desktop being inferior to a single large-monitor desktop is debatable - do you use windows that span across the monitors? - because i, too, often use multi-monitor desktops (2-3) and 99% of the time on each monitor i have a separate window (from the same app or entirely different apps). bottomline being - people use multiple viewports because they want to do entirely different things in each of them. in latter case having them on different physical displays is ok, and actually gives more control (i.e. can change the view angle, turn off when uneeded, etc) to a single large display with many viewports.

Well I have 4 PC with me. So no my windows doesn't span multi monitor. But its a mess having 4 monitors .

What I want is a single wide monitors that take the inputs from different PCs, and have 4 viewports side by side so I can cycle them to the center, if the need arises. Than keyboard and mouse can be done the same way too.

But that beside the point. My point is Dual Screens in term of usage is the same as having 2 viewports. This can be achieved just by using one larger screen and having 2 viewports.

Nintendo is saying Dual Screen == Something new in gameplay is crap. I mean if they say Dual Screen would make smaller portable or save power that's fine. But that's not the case. They're saying this will offer new stuff. Differentiating this from GC and GBA. I am skeptical about that.

 

[V3]

You don't have the full specs, only CPUs, and only unconfirmed CPU specs too, right? Otherwise I guess someone would have linked to a real Nintendo presentation by now.

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n10/news/040121.html

Sorry I forgot to link it earlier.

Don't bash it til you tried it. Hmpf!

Lot of negativity here today for no sensible reason. I can't believe you guys get your panties in such a bind over the thought of a new toy to play with. For f**k's sake, you should be HAPPY at a time like this! Aren't you tech-geeks? If not, what the heck are you doing here then?!

No, I am challenging you guys to have idea on how this thing suppose to give new gameplay experience that can't be achieve with one bigger screen with 2 viewport, if need be, instead of it will be great and all.

 

[darkblu]

Nintendo is saying Dual Screen == Something new in gameplay is crap. I mean if they say Dual Screen would make smaller portable or save power that's fine. But that's not the case. They're saying this will offer new stuff. Differentiating this from GC and GBA. I am skeptical about that.

well, PR bullshit is PR bullshit is PR bullshit. that does not mean that that handheld would not be a good one, or that its two screens would be inadequate compared to the upcoming "wide screen" generation : )

 

[gurgi]

Maybe pictures of this device or a better explanation have been revealed since last night, but are the screens connected physically like that game and watch?.. or is there a cord between them?

I was just thinking that a benefit of this device could be multiplayer games. I never play gba games with others, because even if they have a gba and even if I have my link cable, I don't have 2 copies of my carts.

Just trying to think positively here.. there must be some purpose outside of an inventory screen or watching your goalie.