R4 – Revolution for DS

The Nintendo DS (sometimes abbreviated NDS or DS) is a handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was released in 2004 in Canada, U.S., and Japan. The console features a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP, with two LCD screens inside – one of which is a touchscreen. The Nintendo DS also features a built-in microphone and supports wireless IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) standards, allowing players to interact with each other within short range (10–30 m, depending on conditions) or online with the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service, which launched later in the console’s lifespan. This was the first Nintendo game console to be released in North America prior to Japan.The system’s code name was Nitro, and this can be seen in the model codes that appear on the unit. The console’s name officially refers to “Developers’ System”, in reference to the new game design the system was meant to inspire, and “Dual Screen”, the system’s most obvious feature.On March 2, 2006, Nintendo released the Nintendo DS Lite, a redesign of the Nintendo DS, in Japan. It was later released in North America, Europe, and Australia in June 2006. The DS Lite is a slimmer and lighter version of the Nintendo DS and has brighter screens. Nintendo of America refers to the older model as the “original style” Nintendo DS.However, The Nintendo DS Lite is a slimmer, more lightweight redesign of the original Nintendo DS model. It was announced on January 26, 2006, more than a month before its first territorial launch in Japan on March 2, 2006.

The features and capabilities are the same as the original style DS, but the DS Lite has four levels of LCD screen brightness. However, the four levels do not include a level where the backlight is off, thus making the system more vulnerable to glare. The sound seems to be fuller and richer, yet the battery life is longer. Unlike the casing of the original style DS, the DS Lite has a shiny glossy semi-transparent outside casing that resembles the popular iPod and Apple MacBook. The LED battery and charging light indicators have been moved to the upper right-hand corner of the unit, making it viewable regardless of whether the system is open or closed. The “start” and “select” buttons have been moved to the lower right-hand side of the touchscreen, the microphone has been moved to the direct center of the opened device, and the A, B, X, Y, and D-Pad seem to have been designed to match the Wii and Game Boy Micro. Another improvement is the longer and thicker stylus, significantly reducing the amount of hand cramps as its users use it extensively throughout gameplay. Along with the other advancements, the Game Boy port of the DS Lite is shorter than the original style DS’s port. When inserted, the Game Boy Advance cartridge protrudes out approximately 1cm from under the unit. Also, the charger connector is smaller, so a different charger must be used.

Nintendo DS storage devices are storage devices used to store homebrew video games, since the Nintendo DS is not sold with a rewritable storage medium. There are two main classes of storage devices: older devices that fit in SLOT-2 (the Game Boy Advance Game Pak slot) and newer devices that fit in SLOT-1 (the DS Game Card slot). SLOT-2, or 1st generation, devices have historically been cheaper due to economies of scale inherited from their use with Game Boy Advance homebrew but require a booting tool in SLOT-1 in order to use the touch screen and other DS features. Devices that only use SLOT-1, or 2nd generation, do not work with GBA homebrew, but as of 2007, they are becoming easier to use and less expensive, rivaling many SLOT-2 devices in price.First generation devices include GBA flash cartridges, GBAMP CF, SuperCard and M3. Second generation devices include R4, CycloDS, G6 Real, and DS-X. The storage device either contains flash memory or a slot for a memory card to store homebrew. Storage devices with a memory card slot usually have a larger storage capacity than flash memory devices. Although flash memory capacity is usually measured in megabits (Mbit), memory card capacity is usually measured in megabytes (MB). (8 Mbit = 1 MB)