Codenamed "DS," Nintendo's next-generation, dual-screen handheld game device made a splash at E3, as evidenced by a perpetual 200-ft line of industry insiders queued to get a close look at the innovative new system. Stakes are high in this arena, with the Game Boy Advance SP celebrating its one-year anniversary and 6.5 million unit sales in North America, not to mention a serious, top-tier competitor for the Game Boy franchise hailing from multimedia giant Sony. The distinguishing twin LCD screens open up a new world of development possibilities. For example, an automotive application could have the driver's view on one screen, and either a detailed track map or full dash display on the other. The three-inch screens are powered by twin chips with enough processing power to offer advanced graphics with sophisticated lighting effects, more in line with today's console systems. The lower display will be a touch screen, like a PDA, offering new control possibilities and opportunity for an on-screen keyboard. Other cool features include a microphone input, wireless networking for up to 16 systems (including game sharing), and 16-channel sound. Beyond the technology, the key to the success of DS may be its backwards compatibility, ensuring the millions of Nintendo handheld owners can continue to use their software with the new system. More than 100 developers are building games for DS. In the automotive realm, only Need for Speed from EA has been promised.
