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[jman2050]

We know it's going to happen eventually, but I'm wondering... what could possibly be done to the DS to make it more ergonomic and sleeker? Note that I'm NOT implying that the current DS is adequately sleek or comfortable. However, every time I try to think of how to place the buttons, the screens and what not, I can't think of a design I'd like. In fact, the onyl real viable change I would like it making the whole thing a bit thinner.

Maybe you all have different ideas?

 

[Drey1082]

round off the sides. Corners on a controller are not the best. Bigger A,B,X,Y buttons. I like the look of it though.

 

[olimario]

Sleek finish like the Revolution.
A little smaller.
Bigger buttons.

 

[truffleshuffle83]

definatly bigger buttons. also moving the left and right triggers so the are more comfortable

 

[nubbe]

I would make it thicker... Like the original Xbox pad, it would give way less cramps that way.

 

[truffleshuffle83]

I would make it thicker... Like the original Xbox pad, it would give way less cramps that way.

what?????? could you imagine carrying the duke around for portable gaming . try gettin it in your pocket :lol

 

[Vieo]

I'd put the two screens closer together so that they almost look like one screen. =)

 

[Rayven]

1 touch screen with slightly higher res (the top DS screen is clearer than the touch).
Keep the clamshell design, but as previously stated, thicken up the base that you actually hold and not the lid.
Add a dedicated analog nub (but improve upon the PSP's).
Increase capacity of cartridge media.
Add a bit of power to the tinny speakers or a stereo out jack (Advance Wars DS music am cry!)
Texture filtering.

 

[Papi]

Cupholders!

And a stripper pole for the hoes.

 

[Speevy]

4 screens.

 

[Scotch]

I think the GBA SP looks really sleek, so it should be a widened (sp?) version of the SP.

A quick photoshop to show what I mean:

 

[Taker666]

Screw a redesign.

Just release the Black and White DS's in the west.

 

[Juice]

***dupe, sorry. Stupid IE***

 

[Juice]

As much as I love the DS, I'd rather that Nintendo spend it's R&D time on the next Game Boy (GBE, whatever)... , I think it'll be important to come out with a system much more powerful than the PSP as soon as the PSP starts gaining serious steam (maybe an announcement 18 months from now or so?). I think you pose a great question by starting this thread (I'd serious be interested in what people who dislike the DS's design would prefer), but I really hope Nintendo just lets the DS peter out after a couple years, as was the initial plan.

Brief OT aside on the GBE's design: Because of the DS's success, I wonder whether some of its features will be seen in the next GameBoy. It seems like a touch screen would almost need to be par for the course at this point, given how useful it is for so many portable games.


Regarding DS: Fuck redesigning it. I hate buying the same handheld again just to avoid hand cramps. I think the DS is functional enough as it is. It's not beautiful, but I don't think it's an eyesore, either.

Although, I think they could probably stand to make the face buttons a little bit larger in a stealth chasis update, without having to rebrand the whole thing as DSSP. I don't really mind the corners unless the game relies too heavily on the shoulder buttons, then they're a pain.

 

[Musashi Wins!]

I'd like bigger buttons. I wish they would have taken the time to allow it to change games (gba/ds) on the fly. I wish it looked a little less cheap and ugly.

 

[Tarazet]

 

[HokieJoe]

Make it look like a PSP?

I keed, I keed.

 

[sly]

Make it look like a PSP?

I keed, I keed.

This is what I was thinking when I saw the thread title. Make it like a PSP with a touch screen. Or a GBA micro with a touch screen(but make it bigger).

 

[Flynn]

Your redesign would make the DS as useful for playing games as the PSP. Zing!

 

[truffleshuffle83]

one thing i hope they change is having to reboot the system any time you do anything in the menus. it sucks and is annoying, and yes an analog stick would be awesome, maybe like the one on the saturn nights pad. it didnt stick up that high off the controller and was pretty functional

 

[Baron Aloha]

One long, contiguous vertical screen that displays one image on top and one image on the bottom. The buttons would go underneath. It would basically resemble a PDA.

The entire screen would be one big touch screen. You could push a button to swap the screens. So if you wanted to use the top half for the touch portion or map you could do that or if you want to use the bottom half for a touch screen you could do that too.

Also I would add a piece of plastic that you could flip over the top like a notepad and snap in place while you were playing and then you could flip it the otherway and snap it in when you were finished to protect the screen (again, like some PDAs).

 

[drohne]

rounded corners and little protruding grips. like the psp's. a bigger d-pad and buttons. like the psp's except not crap. gb and gbc support. less needless bulk...nintendo might want to look into fabrication techniques from this century.

or ideally they could lose the touchscreen, prohibit the system from drawing any polygons, and change the name to "gba 2."

 

[acidviper]

I would not mind if they could shrink the hardware so that it was a bit bigger than the SP and has all SP sized buttons.

 

[Ponn]

Make it with curves like suggested already but a bit smaller so my thumb can actually be centered in the middle of the touch screen when holding it. I hate having to cup it in one hand and using the stylus for games like mario 64 is out of the question.

 

[AB 101]

Nintendo DS:

Sony PSP:

 

[HokieJoe]

Nintendo DS:

Sony PSP:

:lol

That's cold dude.

 

[Madame M]

buttons that don't suck. Small and stiff, and feel cheap like the SP buttons.

 

[Xellos]

Relplace the d-pad with a NGPC-style clicking stick; also make sure the stick can also do analog. Make the buttons slightly bigger and use SNES-style contouring (rounded A&B, dimpled X&Y). Make base thicker on sides, with an indentation in the middle of the back to grip the system (again, like NGPC).

Basically rip off NGPC as much as possible.

 

[jetpacks was yes]

Bigger buttons, closer together screens, an analogue nub that would work with Mario 64, and an overall sleeker, more compact design. Oh, and a more solid feel. The DS feels hollow.

 

[Flynn]

Nintendo DS:

Sony PSP:

Nintendo DS: Burns your fuckin' farm down, women and children be damned.
PSP: Picks I Dream of Jeannie over Fantastic Four 2.

 

[olimario]

Nintendo DS:

Sony PSP:

Dead pixels all over her legs...

 

[AB 101]

Well, none of those pixels on her legs were mine.

 

[Ponn]

PSP: Picks I Dream of Jeannie over Fantastic Four 2.

Extremely nice pick. Who DOESN'T want to see her in a skimpy genie outfit?!

 

[StrikerObi]

Better microphone, that's about it.

 

[teepo]

just one gigantic touchscreen screen.

no a or b's with the ups and downs.

 

[golduck342]

better paint
ability to turn light on or off in game.

 

[Mac the KNife]

Backlight button
Kill GBA port and make it slimmer (if possible)
bigger better face buttons
round out shoulder buttons
Analog Nub a la PSP

 

[Quartet]

i would do it just like the SP and i would fit the button and the pad under. That would require a different layout as it could not be used with thumbs. Thumbs would only serve as grip on the edges of the touch screen and also as touch interface.

The d-pad (when playing) would be under the top left corner of the touch screen section and the button would all be in a vertical row at the right. Button as they would not be seen would require different texture and a form (perhaps different axed oval), number, color or logo on them would be pointless.

I also vote for less space between the 2 screen.

 

[Crazymoogle]

1 touch screen with slightly higher res (the top DS screen is clearer than the touch).

It's not a resolution problem; it's the touch overlay. There are more sophisticated overlays out there with less of an impact on screen quality, but I'm not sure how good they can get.

 

[drohne]

oh yeah -- a more responsive touchscreen would be nice. i didn't expect them to go cheap on that particular component, even if they went cheap on everything else.

 

[Gattsu25]

I'd make it closer to this. Make the screens closer. Get larger buttons and make them Xbox/PSP style (clear plastic). Add more shine mapping like the PSP.

 

[TheDiave]

More umph under the hood and actually release a headphone/mic set.

 

[Propagandhim]

Make it less Janet Reno-esque as aformentioned.

 

[fiddlestick]

 

[Dragona Akehi]

You know, the PSP is so fucking ugly. I hate that design. Course the DS is worse but damn I can't understand the appeal of PSP's design. FUGLY. (DS 2 X FUGLY).

Last good looking handheld is sadly the Micro, and before that the SP.

 

[the year 20XX]

A sleeker, more comfortable price.

 

[Gattsu25]

You know, the PSP is so fucking ugly. I hate that design. Course the DS is worse but damn I can't understand the appeal of PSP's design. FUGLY. (DS 2 X FUGLY).

Last good looking handheld is sadly the Micro, and before that the SP.

How attractive someone looks is directly opposed to how good their taste is. Drop dead gorgeous.

 

[Dragona Akehi]

How attractive someone looks is directly opposed to how good their taste is. Drop dead gorgeous.

Har, I knew I'd catch flak for my opinion on this subject.

PSP reminds me of those american cars of the 90s -- all ugly curves that go nowhere. No good "lines". In my opinion, it's a terrible industrial design. All the tech stuff is fab (specially that screen), but the design? Yuck. I don't get how the design is "sexy", myself.

 

[Leatherface]

Dead pixels all over her legs...

nice. :lol

 

[radioheadrule83]

widescreen
better graphics
use small 1.8 GB discs
probably make it sleek n' sexy
change the button labels
then label it "PSP"


oh hellz yeah

edit: i'm original, i swear. i didn't read a single post in this thread. do i still win

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