- published: 08 Mar 2014
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The Nintendo DS (ニンテンドーDS, Nintendō DS?, abbreviated to DS or NDS) is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP. The Nintendo DS also features a built-in microphone and supports wireless standards, allowing players to interact with each other within short range, or online with the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service. The Nintendo DS is the first Nintendo console to be released in North America before Japan.
On March 2, 2006, Nintendo released the Nintendo DS Lite, a redesign of the Nintendo DS, in Japan. It was released in North America, Europe, and Australia in June 2006. The DS Lite is a slimmer, smaller, and lighter version of the Nintendo DS; it also has brighter screens. Nintendo of America refers to the older model as the "original style" Nintendo DS, but it has also been nicknamed by fans and the media as the "DS Phat." On November 1, 2008, Nintendo released the Nintendo DSi, another redesign of the Nintendo DS. The DSi possesses more powerful hardware than the original DS, including a faster CPU and more RAM. Unlike previous models, it does not feature a slot for Game Boy Advance games, but instead features a slot for SD cards. On November 21, 2009, Nintendo released the Nintendo DSi XL, a model featuring larger screens, and a greater overall size, than the original DSi.