Talk:Nintendo DS

Discontinuation date

I've contested this edit changing it to 2013 multiple times, due to is being unsourced. The IP address keep making arguments that say that "just because games keep coming out for it doesn't mean that it wasn't discontinued". Which...was not my argument at all, so I don't know why they keep saying that. My problem is that they keep re-adding 2013 without a source, and none of their edit summaries address the lack of source. Sergecross73 msg me 17:53, 19 December 2022 (UTC)

I want to link the GBA on the Predecessor and not on the backwards compatibility

i wanna do this to change it simply because i think it makes more sense Justthat1guyinwiki (talk) 18:03, 19 January 2023 (UTC)

 Not done - Linking is always done on the first mention, not second/later mentions. Sergecross73 msg me 18:09, 19 January 2023 (UTC)

Add Discontinuation date

Add Discontinuation date for Nintendo DS! 178.214.245.24 (talk) 08:06, 18 September 2024 (UTC)

We need to find a reliable source that establishes it first, and so far, no one has found one that has been published. Sergecross73 msg me 10:48, 18 September 2024 (UTC)

Formatting of table and incorrect information

Simple change, just unaware of how to implement, the current version of the table for the DS shows the original DS and DS Lite in the same table listing, specifically that both use a power button. This is incorrect, as the DS Lite uses a power switch, rather than a button. I am also unaware as to perform the templating of separating this information, as well as including other information such as the fact that the DS Lite has 4 different brightness settings where the DS original only has on or off backlighting. TheMegaMagikarp (talk) 01:10, 26 October 2024 (UTC)

Merger discussion

Request received to merge articles: Nintendo DS Lite into Nintendo DS; dated: December/2024. Proposer's rationale: The DS Lite is functionally identical to the original DS, as they share the same specs. Hence, though notable, I don't think the DS Lite needs its own separate article. TenthAvenueFreezeOut (talk) 12:59, 9 December 2024 (UTC)

• Support - Should be treated more how we handle the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch Lite, which are the same sort of situation - a different sized revision of essentially the same thing. Sergecross73 msg me 17:10, 9 December 2024 (UTC)
• Support - I don't see much of a difference between the two aside from looks. Toptier5stars (talk) 19:53, 9 December 2024 (UTC)
• Oppose "Share the same specs" totally ignores the design of the actual unit. The internals and externals saw a total redesign. This is like claiming that two cars should share the same article because they have the same horsepower despite being different in every other way - ridiculous on its face. Design is in fact a critical aspect of how things are judged, just like most people don't pick a house sight unseen just because it has the number of rooms they want. There is no compelling reason to merge given that both got entirely separate reviews from critics. ᴢxᴄᴠʙɴᴍ (ᴛ) 11:46, 13 December 2024 (UTC)

  What is the difference between this proposition and the Switch/Switch Lite? Or were you opposed to that too? Sergecross73 msg me 12:24, 13 December 2024 (UTC)

  I was opposed to that merger as well for an identical reason. However, DS Lite is arguably even tougher to justify because it was Nintendo's only handheld console, while Switch Lite was always an alternative option to the Switch.

  Furthermore I have to ask why the DSi was not included in this discussion given it has even less differences than the jump from DS to DS Lite. I can only assume that it would be easier to merge a non-featured article, which strikes me as carelessly ignoring the potential of an article over its current state. ᴢxᴄᴠʙɴᴍ (ᴛ) 12:38, 13 December 2024 (UTC)

  Ah, that's explains the disconnect with recent precedents then. And while I didn't nominate this, I assume the DSi wasn't included because it actually did something conceptually different - with it being the first one to allow for digital downloads with DSiWare - and that elicited separate coverage that warranted a separate article. I don't see that here, not to the capacity of needing a separate article at least. Sergecross73 msg me 13:53, 13 December 2024 (UTC)

  The Switch Lite is basically the same as the Switch, albeit without the detachable joy cons. Plus, it is also considered a cheaper alternative to the Switch, similarly to the Wii Mini.

  Although the DS Lite has redesigned internals, it still has functionally the same specs as the original DS, with only the smallest difference between the display (3" to 3.12") and connectivity (802.11 compared to 802.11b).

  Adding onto what Sergecross said, the DSi has entirely different specs, two cameras, and a different operating system compared to that of it's predecessors. Toptier5stars (talk) 19:05, 13 December 2024 (UTC)

  Again, design cannot just be ignored because one feels like it. Things win design awards purely for their exterior appearance and usability. A change in design on a mass scale is a big change, regardless of how it functions spec and game-wise. Having played both consoles, they feel different to use. It will be impossible to budge me from this viewpoint, I think - something as hugely impactful to the gaming industry as the DS Lite should have a separate article. ᴢxᴄᴠʙɴᴍ (ᴛ) 22:28, 13 December 2024 (UTC)

  You make a good point. But the DS Lite article does not have anything on there saying that it won awards, whereas the original DS was awarded Gadget of the Week by Time magazine, and also won an award from Spike Video Game Awards. The DS Lite also sold less than the DS, too.

  While I do agree with you that the DS Lite was more impactful, I believe that the DS Lite is simply just a redesign of the original DS. Similar to how the PS4 had a few redesigns in its lifespan that warranted the Slim and Pro models, which are hardware revisions of the PS4. I believe the DS Lite falls under this category, as a redesign to the original DS. Toptier5stars (talk) 23:29, 13 December 2024 (UTC)

  Agree with this. TenthAvenueFreezeOut (talk) 06:43, 17 December 2024 (UTC)

  Why are we talking about hypotheticals like this? Unless the DS Lite won notable awards for its design separate from the original DS (it didn't) it's entirely irrelevant to the merge discussion at hand. Sergecross73 msg me 21:08, 14 December 2024 (UTC)

  I easily found this article that states that, "the sleeker and more DS Lite was proof the dual-screen handheld could be popular if the hardware looked more like an Apple-designed gadget and less like a toy", "Where the DS had visible seams and thick sides, the Nintendo DS Lite was slimmer, smoother, and overall cleaner", and "the most underrated improvement was the upgrade to the stylus; it was a little bit thicker, which made touching the screen more comfortable". It clearly ties the DS Lite's Apple-esque design to destroying the PSP commercially, saying that "The DS “Phat” (as it was commonly called) was ugly and not moving enough units". In other words, yes, its exterior design played a role in the DS Lite's outsized success and its notability is not purely tied to its tech specs or the games it was capable of playing. ᴢxᴄᴠʙɴᴍ (ᴛ) 22:00, 14 December 2024 (UTC)

  The topic was "notable awards", not "articles by websites that aren't even in WP:VG/RS. I know that some people like the Lite better, sure. Plenty of writers liked the smaller size of the Switch Lite, or disliked the design of the PSP Go. That doesn't mean we need a separate article. Sergecross73 msg me 22:30, 14 December 2024 (UTC)

• Support. I'm generally less strict about console variant spinouts, but there has to be a size reason for it, and, ideally, there would be reduced redundancy. I can't From what I can see, the only difference is screen size, device size, battery capacity, and stylus size. Looking at the article, it's not so large that it needs a split yet. - Cukie Gherkin (talk) 02:54, 20 December 2024 (UTC)