Nintendo Announces Dual-Screen Portable

[LisaJoy]

I love this
"what games out there need multiple views?"

well, none, but that is the point, this is not about what current games need it, its about what can be done with it to make a big change in how games are played. they dont do one screen and make it splitscreen, because the second screen is showing a second display, it will not be from the same source, that is why there are two CPU's its easier in this case to have two seperate screens(and will look better at that). I have to assume there are seperate controls for each being they mention it will allow the second screens contents to be used without stopping the game.

 

[Guden Oden]

I'm sure Nintendo had some original ideas that prompted this thing to grow an extra screen/CPU. They usually do that, you guys should know by now. Nintendo's hardware is mostly dictated by their OWN needs (for better and for worse), so if this GB DS or whatever they choose to call it has two screens you can be pretty sure there's a bunch of new Nintendo games taking advantage of it.

Nintendo's already been there, done that regarding gimmick hardware with the virtual boy; I believe they learned their lesson then. Or at least that's what I want to believe; I could be wrong of course. Then again, we have no evidence pointing towards this being a gimmick - and no, before anyone says that, having two screens/CPUs doesn't automatically make it into a gimmick.

Geez. Have a little faith, for frick's sake. Nintendo hasn't survived for 100+ years and amassed a couple billion in the bank by being a bunch of eejits.

 

[V3]

I can understand the complaints of why dual screens are necessary when you could use one screen and use multiple ports. However, no developer has ever tried this. Screen real estate on hand held is a commodity that the developer covets. They make complete use of the whole screen at the detriment of all other uses.

No kidding, but one bigger screen is more flexible in this regard and can be configure into multiple viewports, developers can configure the viewport better than this half half style. I mean everyone reads Manga or comics, its not always half half.

What I am digusted with Nintendo is that they're pushing this dual screen as a break through in gaming. They've really fallen in standard of their creativity lately. They've been creatively bankcrupt as of late. I was quite optimistic with this "new product" before this announcement, but this is just low. Actually when speculating about this product, I thought they might used two screens to counter PSP screen size, but thought it would be kinda stupid, so I was optimistic for something better.

Even after hearing the Dual Screen, I thought it might still be good. Think of it some more, this is just not on, not from Nintendo. But not only that, Dual Screen is it, that's the differential feature of this product.

Now the NDS seems a little different animal. They're not just giving you another display for the sake of giving you another display. This 2nd display is also getting it's own CPU. This one addition to me invalidates all the complaints of just using a bigger display and using multiple viewports. In essence, it tells me that you're basically getting 2 handhelds in one device. I also suspect the use of the clam shell design, but I'm also expecting the 2nd display will be detachable maybe connected via a System Link cable. Thus it could be used in head-2-head gaming. I would be very surprised if Nintendo didn't try to use it in this fashion. They are only letting us know what they want us to know at this time. I suspect they're holding back on their much bigger uses for the device till E3. Till then I would hope people would give it the benefit of the doubt. It's better news than not having product at all.

IMO Its a very good speculation that this thing can be pull apart, however it negates Nintendo DS. Dual Screen promotes having Dual Screens, not two Gameboy. Nintendo could have save some money and retail two GBA and includes cable or wireless connection and special game for a reasonable price , if head 2 head gaming is what they want.

 

[V3]

A 4.5" screen would be 16x9, though, right? Not 4x3. A 3" screen for NDS could concievably be 2x2.24", (also not 4:3, at least I don't think so. Just did it because it was easy to figure out in my head). Combining two of them would give a screen size of 2x4.48", which could equate to a 4.9" screen combined.

Edit: In that case they would be roughly equal in terms of overall area, with a slight edge to Nintendo.

I wasn't comparing it with PSP, I just compared it to having one bigger screen as oppose to two. What ever it is two 3" screen don't make 6" screen using a decent ratio, as some poster suggested.

I already stated it in my rant on the first page, it might have screen size advantage over PSP, making it more attractive, not by alot but it still might.

 

[cthellis42]

so if this GB DS or whatever they choose to call it has two screens you can be pretty sure there's a bunch of new Nintendo games taking advantage of it.

I'm not even sure of THAT, though. They still aren't taking much advantage of the GBA/GC link at all, and though a device like the DS is at least purposed towards dual-screen use (rather than it being an add-on one could use), there's still the chance that very few games will do much with it to make new and enhanced gaming experiences, while others lean on it simply in a few "accepted" ways that doesn't really qualify as an all-new experience. The games will be what determine if this device qualifies as more than a schtick.

And the games would indeed probably have to go a few steps further than we think to make the case for two small screens and two chipsets as opposed to one wide screen and a more powerful single chip (geared toward their designs), that could be used in various split-screen ways as well, but would still have the option of offering one over-large view for a more impressive experience. <shrugs>

It's pretty hard at this point to say how different the device will be, as it will depend on the games. From what's been said so far, it doesn't seem to be anywhere near the "completely different concept" Iwata talks about--just a somewhat refined and modified version of what has been seen in other games so far. But admitttedly it will take time to learn more, and to see what games make of this. (Not to mention seeing what the device physically looks like and what additional abilities it's supposed to have. ^_^ )

 

[Tagrineth]

V3, good lord, you're quite possibly the God of Pessimism...

You might not mind splitting the viewport, but some people (myself included) I don't like cluttering my main viewport.

I'd GREATLY prefer two separate viewports, one for the green and one for the ball (in a Golf game, for example) than one giant viewport for the ball view, and a tiny window for the green... for one, you could fit a bunch of extra information if you had a full additional screen.

And V3, it's good and all to say that developers can split one screen into multiple viewports, but very few devs dare to try. That and, any dev (hell, I'm not even a dev and I realise this) would realise that splitting one screen and showing two entirely different things is a WONDERFUL burden on your hardware... splitscreen in one area or whatever is still OKish, but imagine if, say, you were playing a squad-based FPS, and your AI teammate was in a different area altogether doing something to help your mission. It'd be a chore to have two separate areas resident in RAM, and a complex AI running on the same CPU as you and your opponents, tracking everything in two possibly large areas... having a separate CPU and RAM on the other screen makes something like this feasible.

 

[Clashman]

I wasn't comparing it with PSP, I just compared it to having one bigger screen as oppose to two. What ever it is two 3" screen don't make 6" screen using a decent ratio, as some poster suggested.

But comparing NDS to a 4.5" 4:3 screen is unfair and irrelevant, as there will be ZERO portables coming out any time in the near future with that large of a screen. As it stands, NDS has, (EDIT: will likely have), more screen area than any other portable coming out, even if it only bests PSP by a small amount.

 

[casper]

Quoted from CNN:

Nintendo had been expected by industry players to offer some sort of new handheld product this year to compete with Sony Corp.'s PSP, an advanced handheld gaming device set for launch by the end of the year. Sony already dominates the console games market with its PlayStation 2.

"We're not trying to take on PSP, because this machine will be completely different than anything that exists right now," said Nintendo spokesman Yasuhiro Minagawa.

The company said it would hold back most details on the new product until the games industry's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles this May, but said it has already begun talks with game publishers around the world about developing software for the new device.

Industry watchers also expect Sony to show off the PSP at the Los Angeles E3 games show.

Sony's PlayStation guru Ken Kutaragi has said the PSP will be the "Walkman for the 21st century" and it will play not only games, but music and movies as well. He has said it will not feature a phone function like Nokia's N-Gage.

http://money.cnn.com/2004/01/21/news/international/nintendo.reut/index.htm?cnn=yes

Some neat and bizarre Photoshops:

 

[gurgi]

What I am digusted with Nintendo is that they're pushing this dual screen as a break through in gaming.

I agree. If they just released another flop of a gimmick, it wouldn't bother me, in fact.. I would probably buy one. But they make these declarations about the industry and how this device will somehow save us all. Kind of irritating.


Here are some more (comic relief.. don't be offended )

 

[TheMightyPuck]

That's funny

 

[V3]

Tagrineth

V3, good lord, you're quite possibly the God of Pessimism...

I was optimist about the mystery product, until I hear the news.

You might not mind splitting the viewport, but some people (myself included) I don't like cluttering my main viewport.

*sigh* Again you can have your main viewport unclutter. But It won't take the whole screen. But it will be the same size if using a bigger screen, and come with the advantage of being configurable and if the need arise you can use it as one screen, instead of shutting one screen off as someone suggested.

I'd GREATLY prefer two separate viewports, one for the green and one for the ball (in a Golf game, for example) than one giant viewport for the ball view, and a tiny window for the green... for one, you could fit a bunch of extra information if you had a full additional screen.

Again, this is upto developers, if the big N wants too, they can force the developers to split one big screen into two. I mean they're already doing that with the two screens, why can't they do it with one bigger screen, if they desire it to be so.

And V3, it's good and all to say that developers can split one screen into multiple viewports, but very few devs dare to try. That and, any dev (hell, I'm not even a dev and I realise this) would realise that splitting one screen and showing two entirely different things is a WONDERFUL burden on your hardware... splitscreen in one area or whatever is still OKish, but imagine if, say, you were playing a squad-based FPS, and your AI teammate was in a different area altogether doing something to help your mission. It'd be a chore to have two separate areas resident in RAM, and a complex AI running on the same CPU as you and your opponents, tracking everything in two possibly large areas... having a separate CPU and RAM on the other screen makes something like this feasible.

Again I have nothing against using two CPUs or more RAM, etc. I just don't see any breakthrough in gaming using two screens, that can't be achieve with one bigger screen using viewports. Nintendo promoting it as some sort of breakthrough, is very sus.

Again arguement that will enhance gameplay, that can't be done using bigger screen that can fit two viewports that have 3" in size each, with border.

I can buy dual screens for the sake of size, power, cost, etc but the big N doesn't say that, its all about gameplay in their press release. So far the only decent one is head to head gaming. Although good possibility but weak as I already mentioned before.

Clashman

But comparing NDS to a 4.5" 4:3 screen is unfair and irrelevant, as there will be ZERO portables coming out any time in the near future with that large of a screen. As it stands, NDS has, (EDIT: will likely have), more screen area than any other portable coming out, even if it only bests PSP by a small amount.

Its an imaginary 4.5" screen, its "the bigger screen" that I am talking about in all my post, it can be 5" or 6" even, it just a screen that can fit that two 3" screen and resolution as well.

It'll give the same benefit in regard to gameplay, and I view it as a superior solution even, But then they have to call it Nintendo Single Screen It doesn't have the cool gimmick name.

 

[Clashman]

What about something like this?

Note: This is very rudimentary and was just an idea of how the tech could be used. The game chosen was not meant to be indicative of final performance, it was just the quickest thing I could find. Perhaps those could be small analogue controls too, instead of d-pads. What do y'all think?

 

[gurgi]

Some kind of multiplayer functionality like that is the only functionality this device could provide (assuming that functionality is even there) that a larger screen split into 2 screens could not. At least that I can see.

 

[Clashman]

V3,

Its an imaginary 4.5" screen, its "the bigger screen" that I am talking about in all my post, it can be 5" or 6" even, it just a screen that can fit that two 3" screen and resolution as well.

But that's the same as ragging on someone with a 17" screen on their laptop because you have a 21" CRT on your desktop. It's irrelevant, because as far as laptops go you can't get any bigger. Apples and Oranges, you know.

 

[Clashman]

Some kind of multiplayer functionality like that is the only functionality this device could provide (assuming that functionality is even there) that a larger screen split into 2 screens could not. At least that I can see.

It's also the only reason why I can see having separate processors for each screen. If it were meant to stay together, than I think it would be pretty ineffecient as opposed to finding a single CPU solution.

Edit: 666 Posts, BABY!!!

 

[StefanS]

So it's PSP vs DS at E3 this year... It's going to be very interesting what software is presented for them...

 

[Rancidm]

Have you guys considered that they might use one screen/processor for background imagery and effects, and one screen/processor for sprites or models? A prime candidate for this would be RPGS and side-scrollers, but it could be used for pretty much any genre of game.

That could be a pretty powerful solution if Nintendo doesn't think handhelds are ready for true 3d yet.

Another thought, the 2 screens could also be used to create some weird depthy, semi-3d effect....

 

[Guden Oden]

Rancid,

Nintendo better think 3D is here for handhelds, because PSP is out later this year and that one's got 3D in spades... Anyway, I wouldn't expect the DS to use either screen for some kind of stereoscopic vision or such since the CPUs driving these screens aren't equal. One is likely to be considerably faster and more capable than the other.

I would like to know though, if it's possible to shut down either CPU/screen if it's not needed. I see much whining here about it not being feasible to use two screens, well, hopefully there's nothing stopping a dev from using just one. That wouldn't be ideal of course since the user paid for 2 screens/CPUs, but hey, can't blame devs for lacking vision and imagination - much like several forum posters might be added!

Hopefully, DS won't be a nGage/old-style PC design with one allmighty CPU running the whole show; ideally there would be a graphics co-processor of some type with sprites and such, and/or 3D rendering. The 3D renderer could double as sprite engine of course, and do a much better job of it too. And hope they add a decent soundchip this time too... The one in GBA totally blows.

 

[nobie]

Stereoscopic will be impossible anyway, because the screens are one on top of the other not side by side. If this thing has 128mb (1gigabit) of ram that might be one area where it's better than PSP, although in other areas it seems worse.

 

[Blade]

Iwata-san says that DS is not competition to GBA or PSP. How are they marketing it, then?

Who's going to sign on? It sounds pretty niche.