Nintendo DS

The Nintendo DS (also known as the NDS or DS) is a handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo, and first released in North America and Japan at the end of 2004, with launches following in February 2005 for Australia, March 2005 for Europe, and July 2005 for China (where it is known as sold as the iQue DS).

The DS (standing for Dual Screen) features a clamshell design, with two LCD screens inside - one of which is a touch-sensitive. The DS abbreviation is also used to stand for Developers' System, from Nintendo's hope that the system will give game creators new tools to produce more innovative games.

The Nintendo DS is compatible with Game Boy Advance (GBA) cartridges and has an additional port for specially designed Nintendo DS cartridges. However, the console is not compatible with games for the Game Boy Color and the original Game Boy.

The console has sold extremely well, with worldwide sales of over 26 million by September 2006, with 8.5 million of those in Europe alone. However, after the launch of the redesigned Nintendo DS Lite in 2006 (a slimmer, lighter system with brighter screens), Nintendo announced that it would no longer manufacture the original system.

In this section, we've put together a guide to the Nintendo DS, including information on its design, games, hardware and accessories, along with details on its compatibility with other systems, its connectivity and its detailed technical specifications.