Nintendo DS

Manufacturer: Nintendo iQue (China)

Variants: Nintendo DS Lite, Nintendo DSi, Nintendo DSi XL (LL)

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	2004-12-02	¥15,00015,000
JP (Nintendo DS Lite)	2006-03-02	¥16,80016,800	?
JP (Nintendo DSi)	2008-11-01	¥18,90018,900	TWL-001
US	2004-11-21	$149.99149.99	NTR-001
EU	2005-03-11	€149149	NTR-001
AU	2005-02-24		NTR-001
KR	2007-01-18

The Nintendo DS (ニンテンドーDS) (also know as iQue DS in China) is a dual screen handheld video game console released by Nintendo in 2004 as a successor to the Game Boy Advance line. It was succeeded by the Nintendo 3DS in early 2011.

Overview

The Nintendo DS is amongst Nintendo's most successful handheld consoles, despite facing competition throughout its lifespan by the PlayStation Portable, and in its latter years, a market increasingly drawn to iOS or Android smartphones and tablets. It is an evolution of the Game Boy Advance design, adding an extra two face buttons and a resistive touch screen, amongst the expected technical improvements. It uses a similar clamshell design to the Game Boy Advance SP (complete with backlit screens), and despite initial scepticism at launch, the system went on to sell over 150 million units worldwide.

Several versions of the DS exist, the most prominent being the Nintendo DS Lite, a cost-reduced unit which launched in 2006 to coincide with an altered marketing strategy (also used by the Wii) to appeal to a wider audience of consumers. An updated DS, the Nintendo DSi launched in 2008, sporting minor upgrades, a camera, and a new line of DSi-specific software. The Nintendo DSi XL (DSi LL in Japan) is similar, but is designed for those with larger hands.

Sega Support

Sega were quick to lend their support to the Nintendo DS from day one, with Feel the Magic: XY/XX being sold as a launch title in the US and PAL regions. Super Monkey Ball: Touch & Roll and Sonic Rush also sold well on the system during its early years.