Posted by: OB1 - 21st September 2004, 10:44 AM - Forum: Tendo City
- Replies (28)
The Japanese launch price for the PSP has been revealed and it's 33,000 yen, or about $300 US. That's exactly what I expected. Anything over $300 would have been suicide. But can it compete with the DS which is going to be half the price? Well, the system is several times more powerful than the DS and since it looks like both companies are going to be marketing their handhelds towards the older crowd, the PSP certainly has a chance to take the number one spot. Now all we need is a battery life number...
Quote:September 20, 2004 - Today, Nintendo finally broke the news on the Nintendo DS system.
The Nintendo DS, it's upcoming dual-screen handheld system, will launch in North America on November 21st for a retail price of $149.99.
PictoChat, the software program that enables DS owners to sent text and pictures wirelessly to nearby DS systems, will be embedded in the system hardware. The DS system will spring to life out of "sleep mode" if it senses any other systems in the area, giving gamers the opportunity to chat spontaneously with each other.
More than 100 companies have signed on to create games for Nintendo DS, while Nintendo itself is already developing its first 20 titles. Electronic Arts' Madden NFL, The URBZ: Sims in the City, Need for Speed Underground, Tiger Woods and GoldenEye are being made for the system. The complete lineup of games planned for the launch of Nintendo DS will be announced in the near future.
Nintendo has confirmed that the system will be backward compatible with Game Boy Advance games, but will not support system-link multiplayer in GBA games due to the DS' lack of link cable port.
Nintendo chose the United States to lead the worldwide launch of Nintendo DS because of overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic reaction from consumers and to take advantage of the holiday sales season. After the subsequent launch in Japan, the system will be available in Europe and Australia in the first quarter of 2005.
"Nintendo's mission remains unchanged: expand the game experience," says Satoru Iwata, president of Nintendo Co., Ltd. "Nintendo DS is the road map to the future of video games, and most clearly demonstrates the type of innovation that players demand."
-- Craig Harris
Just about what I expected. It's also going to be bundled with a Metroid Hunters demo which is nice.
But am I getting it? So far, no. They've yet to show off any games that I really want to buy a $150 handheld for. I will of course get it eventually, but possibly not at launch. If stupid Nintendo would actually tell us what games are launching with the system then perhaps I could friggin' decide!
Pictochat is nice to have in the system, but what use is it going to have when Nintendo doesn't seem to want to support long-distance wi-fi? Oh hey, now I can chat with my friend that's ten feet away from me instead of talking to him the old-fashioned way! Woo!
Another thing announced at the press conference is that the DS will not support multiplayer GBA games that require the use of a link cable since there is no slot for it on the DS. Wonderful, eh?
In the wake of one of the gaming industries?biggest shows, SCE announces some prominent news. Sources at Quiter uncovered a slide at Sony's official website that targets what Sony plans to do with the PSP at this year TGS.
Previously unannounced; Sony plans on setting up 100 playable PSP systems, to go along with 20 playable games. While this news seems already good enough for some of us, the slide also indicates that there will be over 100 PSP games to be represented, with many to be shown in video form sources at IGN claim. The opportunity for TGS attendees this year is almost staggering.
With a good number of playable games, and a mass of new footage to previously unannounced titles, the PSP should be one of the best exhibits on the show floor.
Wel keep you updated as more news pours in about the upcoming Tokyo Game Show.
Japanese publication, Nihon Keizai Shimbun today revealed that the Cell processor has reached its final stage of development. Although no information on the actual chip was given out, a Toshiba company official did restate that "It will be used in such areas as IBM brand computers, Sony game machines and Toshiba home appliances".
Sony are expected to announce a little more about the Cell processor and the PS3 at the upcoming Tokyo Game Show. Stay tuned.
![[Image: official-nintendo-ds-launch-details-2004...59-000.jpg]](http://dsmedia.ign.com/ds/image/article/549/549919/official-nintendo-ds-launch-details-20040920103245559-000.jpg)
