For some time during the 80s and early 90s, the world of gaming console was one where two giant brand names constantly battled for domination. Sega and Nintendo were both the giants in the area of gaming consoles, winning over gamers’ attentions with impressive gaming technologies, combined with impressive and challenging games.

But when Sony came into the arena of gaming consoles with its world famous PlayStation, both Nintendo and Sega thought twice about just battling with each other, as the PlayStation stood to be quite a powerful contender. In time, with the rising popularity of the PlayStation, both Nintendo and Sega were left behind the PlayStation’s reputation and popularity, which practically set the now standards of gaming consoles we know today.

In 2004, Nintendo came back into the game console arena, with the Nintendo DS, a portable game console which has turned millions back to the entertaining world of Nintendo games.

Getting to Know the Nintendo DS
Also commonly referred to as the NDS or simply DS, the Nintendo DS is a handheld game console which features a clamshell design form factor and two LCD screens set on the inside of its clamshell design.

As a handheld gaming console, the Nintendo DS bears the classic form elements of Nintendo’s GameBoy, making it not just a gaming console, but an item reliving the past of portable gaming. The Nintendo DS also features the now de facto features being looked for in handheld gaming consoles, not only making it a nostalgic item, but one which has no problem living in the present days. Among these features would include Wireless IEEE 802.11 WiFi connectivity capabilities and the Nintendo DS’s built-in microphone, which makes it possible for Nintendo DS users to interact with other Nintendo DS users, wirelessly. First released in the United States, Canada and in Japan in 2004, the Nintendo DS prevails in reminding gamers just what Nintendo is in the realm of game consoles.

One of the most highlighted aspects of the Nintendo DS would be its touchscreen feature. As the DS comes with two LCD screens, the lower screen is one overlaid with a pressure-sensitive touchscreen, allowing interaction from users. Fingers, curved plastic tabs or touchschreen styluses, the Nintendo DS’s touchscreen feature enables users more interaction to various Nintendo DS games, making the whole gaming experience more enjoyable, if not challenging.

Popularly showcased in this aspect would be the Nintendo DS game Trauma Center: Under the Knife, where the stylus of a Nintendo DS game console represents a scalpel used in in-game elements. The Nintendo DS PictoChat, an included-in-the-package chatting software would be another example, allowing users to write messages or draw using the Nintendo DS.

Sound-wise, the Nintendo DS features stereo sound, providing the best of sound effects for more enhanced gameplay value whilst playing a Nintendo DS game. Weighing 275 grams, the Nintendo DS is quite light, powered by two ARM processors powering it to respective clock-speed values of 67MHz and 33MHz. Its two 3 inch TFT LCD screens provide screen resolutions of 256 x 192 pixels, making playing games on the handheld game console quite easy. Battery-wise, the Nintendo DS comes with a rechargeable lithium ion battery with an 850 mAH capacity rating. Batteries with have a 1600 mAH rating are known to be available should more battery power be needed.

But of all its nifty features, the Nintendo DS’s compatibility with Nintendo Gameboy Advance cartridges makes it quite the handheld gaming console, allowing GBA owners the opportunity to relive their fun filled memories with GBA games.

All in all, the Nintendo DS is more than just a handheld gaming console, integrating elements of the past with the technologies of today, fuelled with the very power which had made game consoles popular: just pure simple fun-filled gaming, Nintendo style.