19 Facts About Nintendo DS

Nintendo DS is a handheld game console produced by Nintendo, released globally across 2004 and 2005.

The Nintendo DS was succeeded by the Nintendo 3DS in February 2011.

Development on the Nintendo DS began around mid-2002, following an original idea from former Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi about a dual-screened console.

On November 13, 2003, Nintendo DS announced that it would be releasing a new game product in 2004.

Nintendo DS did not provide many details, but stated it would not succeed the Game Boy Advance or GameCube.

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Nintendo DS released only a few details at that time, saying that the console would have two separate, 3-inch TFT LCD display panels, separate processors, and up to 1 gigabit of semiconductor memory.

Current Nintendo president at the time, Satoru Iwata, said, "We have developed Nintendo DS based upon a completely different concept from existing game devices in order to provide players with a unique entertainment experience for the 21st century.

On September 20, 2004, Nintendo announced that the Nintendo DS would be released in North America on November 21, 2004, for US$149.

Return policies for LCD displays vary between manufacturers and regions, however, in North America, Nintendo DS has chosen to replace a system with fixed pixels only if the owner claims that it interferes with their gaming experience.

Nintendo DS was seen by many analysts to be in the same market as Sony's PlayStation Portable, although representatives from both companies stated that each system targeted a different audience.

Success of the Nintendo DS introduced touchscreen controls and wireless online gaming to a wide audience.

Nintendo DS stated that the DS "had basically primed the entire world for" the iPhone, released in 2007, and that the DS paved the way for iPhone gaming mobile apps.

Lower display of the Nintendo DS is overlaid with a resistive touchscreen designed to accept input from the included stylus, the user's fingers, or a curved plastic tab attached to the optional wrist strap.

On February 15, 2006, Nintendo DS announced a version of the cross-platform web browser Opera for the DS system.

Nintendo DS Wi-Fi Connection was a free online game service run by Nintendo DS.

Some Nintendo DS retailers featured DS Download Stations that allowed users to download demos of current and upcoming DS games; however, due to memory limitations, the downloads were erased once the system was powered off.

Nintendo DS is backward compatible with Game Boy Advance cartridges.

Nintendo DS only uses one screen when playing Game Boy Advance games.

Nintendo DS games inserted into the top slot are able to detect the presence of specific Game Boy Advance games in the bottom slot.