[Shogmaster]

After reading this thread, I got to thinking about how Nintendo will follow up the DS. Obviously, it has to be backwards compatible with DS (and probably the GBA), so I was a bit stuck on how one would approach it's design. After a bit of brain farting, I came up with this quick scribble on Windows Journal:



After a night's sleep, I decided that it was good enough idea to flesh out a bit more with Photoshop, so here it is after a few hours of fumbling about:





The idea is pretty self explanatory I think. What do you guys think?






edit: here are 3 variations on the theme I did throughout this thread:

A. Analog nub + action buttons on the front








B. Circle swivel deign








C. Slide down + Swivel design

[elostyle]

I'd buy it. Though an always exposed screen may not be that good an idea.

[Pureauthor]

Having the touchscreen dangerously exposed whenever it's 'shut' probably isn't a good idea.

Otherwise, nice design.

[Femmeworth]

Looks nice though it is missing shoulder buttons.

[gketter]

that's pretty nifty

[Sage00]

Perfect.

But delay it a year, Jan 08 is a little early. :lol

[KevinRo]

Perfect. But delay it a year, Jan 08 is a little early. :lol

more like 3 years

[Shogmaster]

Looks nice though it is missing shoulder buttons.

Shoulder buttons are still there. Just hidden from the front view, like the DS.

[laserbeam]

need to have the screen be able to slide up so it can be horizontal and still have access to controls for outside of ds mode

[Verve]

if it got any kind of screen protection, i wouldn't mind nintendo making another hardware revision for DS this way... like it.

[Umino]

Seems a bit underpowered.

[RiskyChris]

Wow, that's really slick...

[perfectchaos007]

Patent Pending.

[elostyle]

Contra 4 is gonna be a problem though!

[Shogmaster]

need to have the screen be able to slide up so it can be horizontal and still have access to controls for outside of ds mode

In it's widescreen mode, the multi-touch digitizer is suppose to be the only star of the show. You know, Nintendo quirk and all. ;)

[PROOP]

Brilliant design. Turn that in as your app to nintendo and start printing money yourself.

[McHuj]

I like it. And that's how I would expect nintendo to go.

The bestway to simply the DS is remove the buttons.

[LCGeek]

Shog put a broadway in there it's going into the next nintendo handheld. BTW if nintendo does this you should ask them for some money because that seutp is better than the DS.

[Shogmaster]

Seems a bit underpowered.

It's Nintendo. :P

[RiskyChris]

if it got any kind of screen protection, i wouldn't mind nintendo making another hardware revision for DS this way... like it.

Could make this function as it stands, but have it be like a tablet PC where it can fold up like the current DS, then have the screen fall down face up.

No idea if this is mechanically possible.

[laserbeam]

It's Nintendo. :P

nintendos trend would put the TS at gamecube level ;) always a gen behind :P

[Grecco]

I cant see it having GBA support..... I suspect it will download Game Boy Games isntead

[GamerSoul]

That looks sweet.

[Acerac]

How would you play games like Ninja Gaiden and Brain Training where you have to hold the DS like a book? I mean, I can imagine it but it'd be crazy awkward.

*Edit*

Never mind, I guess there is enough space to hold on to it. Would block the speakers or the mic though.

[Shogmaster]

nintendos trend would put the TS at gamecube level ;) always a gen behind :P

But that would mean that the Nintendo portable is almost as powerful as the Nintendo console. :lol

[RubxQub]

I think this design is almost perfect, but the main problem is games that were designed to use the gap in the DS.

Yoshi's Island DS
Contra 4 (I think)
Sonic Rush

Also left and right audio now becomes up and down!

:(

Kick ass idea tho.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Bump it up to GC level hardware and I would buy two.

[Deku]

I think Sega might make a run for it again and license DC tech to Nintendo for the followup with 100% compatability to all of Sega's DC games. All they need to do is port it to the new media format. :D DCportable 2009.

[Shogmaster]

I think this design is almost perfect, but the main problem is games that were designed to use the gap in the DS. Yoshi's Island DS Contra 4 (I think) Sonic Rush :(

Hmmm... I guess I could stretch out the LCD to something like 420 x 260 and have even bigger virtual border in the middle of the LCD.

[DeaconKnowledge]

Put a lid on that thing and i'd buy it.

[r4z4]

Would like to be able to access the d-pad and buttons with the screen horizontal but that looks very nice.

[krypt0nian]

MINE!

Now cover that screen!

[TheJollyCorner]

I give this 12 hours before some 'credible' news site posts this as TOP SECRET NINTENDO DESIGN LEAKED!!!~! :D

[Nexus Zero]

I think that's awesome, but it should have another configuration. At the moment, when you want to use D-Pad and buttons, you're stuck with an N-Gage style screen. I don't know how possible it is, but it could work so you can also have the screen in landscape, and then you slide the buttons from underneath like a Sidekick or something.

[RiskyChris]

I think this design is almost perfect, but the main problem is games that were designed to use the gap in the DS. Yoshi's Island DS Contra 4 (I think) Sonic Rush Also left and right audio now becomes up and down! :( Kick ass idea tho.

Consoles aren't designed in a night, fortunately. =)

If Nintendo were to pursue this idea, there are many ways to slightly modify this.

[AdmiralViscen]

Wow, this is brilliant.

But put the speakers on the solid part, not the moveable part.


Also, the screen would have to be larger. Not just for larger's sake, but because many games honor the hinge gap of the current DS, so for BC mode you would need to have a space blacked out between the emulated DS screens.

[Shogmaster]

I think that's awesome, but it should have another configuration. At the moment, when you want to use D-Pad and buttons, you're stuck with an N-Gage style screen. I don't know how possible it is, but it could work so you can also have the screen in landscape, and then you slide the buttons from underneath like a Sidekick or something.

Yeah, that would be nice, but I don't think the complex mechanics required for such operation is ideal for durability nor the price.

[plagiarize]

you'd need fake dead space between the screens for some games and not for others. you could make it toggleable as you can toggle the GBA to either screen and that.

[BlackNMild2k1]

I think you may have to change it to a flip and swivel design in order to protect the screen though. But that would also let you use the d-pad and the buttons with a widescreen display.

[krypt0nian]

I give this 12 hours before some 'credible' news site posts this as TOP SECRET NINTENDO DESIGN LEAKED!!!~! :D

It's only complete once that leak s reported here, you know. ;)

[Tobor]

They will definitely take out the GBA slot. They are going to want to resell GB games on the virtual console.

[RiskyChris]

They will definitely take out the GBA slot. They are going to want to resell GB games on the virtual console.

Oh wow, you're clever. I was thinking of many economical and engineering reasons to remove the slot, but that's even more suited to Nintendo. :lol

[Scrow]

built-in motion detection (think Wario Ware Twisted) is a must.

[so1337]

That's brillant, the speakers kinda ruin the design though.

[Flo_Evans]

I think you people are a little paranoid about the screen getting scratched. Go play with an iPhone.

[Tiktaalik]

That would be incredible. Best SMUP system of all time? I think so.

The only issue is the exposed screen, but I could imagine Nintendo just making some flip cover that snapped to the back for it or something.

[davepoobond]

quick let's make people think this is real

[psy18]

wow

[Branduil]

I'd change it so that the screen is covered by default, then you can flip it up into horizontal mode, twist it, and put it down.

[Shogmaster]

built-in motion detection (think Wario Ware Twisted) is a must.

That's pretty cool idea. I wonder if there is enough space for a decent sensor.

As for the cover, I thought about it alot beforehand, but I decided against it because of the mechanical complexity and since people are OK with PSP and iPhone, they could deal with buying accessories to protect something like this.