Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9973 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Nintendo
• Released on: 2005-10-07
• Platform: Nintendo DS

Manufacturer's Description
The Nintendo DS is no ordinary console. What on the face of it appears to be merely an upgraded Game Boy Advance is packed with a suite of never-before-seen features which make it unique within the gaming world.

The most obvious new feature is the two screens (DS stands for dual screen), the bottom of which is a touch screen. This makes an enormous difference to the way you play and interact with the game, as you use a stylus or the handy thumb strap to control the action.

The way this works in a game varies enormously, with first person shooterMetroid Prime: Hunters using the touch screen and D-pad to create a control system that's just as responsive as a PC keyboard and mouse. Other games, like Yoshi's Touch & Go, have you actually drawing on the touch pad to create platforms, while other games use the extra screen to display inventory or map info.

But there's more to the DS than even that. It also has a built-in microphone (one new medical game has you operating on patients with the touch screen and reassuring them everything's going to be okay via the microphone) and it can be connected wirelessly to sixteen or more other consoles. Not only that but some games and utilities even allow it to connect online via Wi-Fi.

Although the DS is far more powerful than the GBA it can display 3D graphics somewhere between a Nintendo 64 and the GameCube--it is still backwards compatible, so you can play all your old GBA games in single player mode on the same console.

With a battery life of between 6 and 10 hours the Nintendo DS gets pretty much everything right. With a range of games that seem to offer far more originality and imagination than any other home or portable console this is could well be the most exciting new console of 2005. --David Jenkins

Technical Specifications

• Size (when closed): 148.7mm wide, 84.7mm long, 28.9mm tall
• Top screen: a backlit, 3-inch, semitransparent reflective TFTcolor LCD with 256 x 192 pixel resolution and .24 mm dot pitch, capable of displaying 260,000 colours
• Touch screen: same specs as top screen, but with a transparent analog touch screen
• Wireless communication: IEEE 802.11 and Nintendo's proprietary format; wireless range is 30 to 100 feet, depending on circumstances
• Other features: embedded PictoChat software that allows up to 16 users to chat at once; embedded real-time clock; date, time and alarm
• CPUs: One ARM9 and one ARM7
• Sound: Stereo speakers providing virtual surround sound, depending on the software; integral headphone socket
• Battery: lithium ion battery delivering six to 10 hours of play on a four-hour charge, depending on use
• Two separate game slots, one for Nintendo DS games and one for Game Boy Advance games. The Nintendo DS is fully backwards compatible with all Game Boy Advance titles. The new format for games also means that the Nintendo DS has no moving parts that can be misaligned if the unit is dropped

Customer Reviews

'absolutely amazing'.
I fist got this on my 8th birthday.When I opened the packaging I was delighted.I played with it all day.The sweet little puppies stare out longingly from the screen.You can choose from a range of 6 different breeds: Miniature Dachshund,Pug,Beagle,Shih tzu,Golden retriever and Siberian Husky.There are a range of toys,supplies, clocks,records and cute little accessories for your puppy!(Aaaaaaaawwwww!)Whatever gender and whatever breed every puppy has a different personality.You need to care for your puppies regularly wash them if necessary you can tell how hungry,thirsty or dirty your puppy is by touching its name.you can take your puppy for a walk by touching the go out menu and select walk.When you've done that you can draw your route as long as it starts and finishes at your house.Also when on a walk pass through question mark areas and you will either find a present or meet another puppy and it's trainer.On walks you can go to the gymnasium,two parks or two discount stores(which are cheaper than the pet supply.)You are allowed to go shopping you can shop at five different shops:pet supply,kennel,secondhand shop,interior decorater and dog hotel.At the pet supply you can buy supplies,at the kennel you can buy more puppies.At the dog hotel you can drop off dogs,pick up dogs or donate dogs.If you choose pick up you can pick up a dog from the hotel.If you choose drop off you can drop off a dog at the dog hotel.Finally donate a dog if you choose this icon and donate a dog you can never see that dog again.Secondhand shop you can sell supplies you no longer need.Finally interior decorator where you can remodel your house.when you first get your puppy let it get used to it's new surroundings before you try to take it for a walk or enter it in a competition.Once you've named your puppy you can take it everywhere with you but there is a slight poblem your dog's name can only have seven letters.My favorite dog is a shih tzu called 'LU LU'he's gorgeus.I hope you find my reveiw helpful to you.whatever people say this game is one of the best of it's kind and I would definitely recommend this product to children of all ages.There is one last thing I want to say'BUY THIS PPRODUCT!'

Gorgeous little game and console!
Nintendogs is an adorable game that'll keep going "Awwww!!!" for hours. The graphics and detail put into the game is uncanny, the dogs really do appear realistic and intelligent, and you'll fall in love with them the moment they come bounding up to you! Although some have called the game repetitive, as long as you work towards the competitions and different personalities and breeds, you'll be hooked.

The game is made all the more fetching (sorry) by the beautiful pink console it comes with. :) Although the console can feel a bit chunky and heavy at first compared to the other Game Boy consoles, the splendid lighting, graphics and features are worth it. The touch screen is genius, it really is value for money with all its little tweaks. The Picto Chat is very entertaining too even if you don't have friends to connect with, and its great fun to meet your mate's pets and gets other breeds for your family of fury friends!

You can buys toys, special food, collars, hats, random stuff and much more. Its lovely when you walk your dog and they bring you little presents which you can either sell for money or use them for their special purposes. Some items are really useful and can make the game great. Training them is funky too, you can teach them easy commands to show them whose boss, or teach them really hard stuff to compete. The breeds are good because they all have different attributes just like in real life, and you can get them just to see what they can do, or how they react to you.

Remember that they game is in real-time so your dogs will always be waiting for you. This meaning walking and feeding everyday so don't slack - its an actual commitment. They will run away or get ill if you don't, and trust me, you'll be too in love with them after a while to bear it!

The only tiny problem (which shouldn't matter if you look after it) is that it feels breakable, and therefore is. You won't be able to mess up the inside parts by dropping it, but do you really want to crack your pretty pink shell? I suggest getting the Pink DS pack which includes a carry case, GORGEOUS pink earphones, pens, screen protectors, adaptors and cleaning kit and a few other things. Just be careful with the screen protectors because if you try and remove them after placing them over your screens, they have a tendancy to leave a sticky residue, but otherwise they're briliant.

Addictive
The fact that you get a pink console with this game just makes the whole thing more worth while!

The great thing with these games is that you can trade dogs, the bad thing about theses games is that noone else seems to have a DS!

I bought the DS for a long coach journey to London and i was thoroughly entertained. Only problem is that your friends do quite annoyed at you after a few hours of talking into your games console, and to be honest you do look a bit stupid but then again you have a DS and thats just pure cool! Quite possible a game to be played on your own, or with some really tollerant friends.

The dogs are really cute, don't think that you can only chose a labrador. There are a couple of different types of dogs and different colours, i have a black pug called sparkle, and as you play the game you 'unlock' other dogs to buy.

This is pretty much an upmarket tamagotchi, but it doesn't die! it just gets really hungry!