Rumor: "3DS" To Be Officially Called "Nintendo DST"?

[alexjlopez]

I received the attached press release from Natsume announcing Rune Factory 3 this morning, and found something interesting in the text. The game is said to be coming to the "Nintendo DST later this year". So if that wasn't a typo, that opens up the possibility that Nintendo's forthcoming handheld could be called Nintendo DST rather than 3DS as it has been codenamed thusfar, and that it could launch at some point in 2010.

And you know, I thought the term "DST" rung a bell. It's the name of Quanta and 3M's touch screen solution, Dispersive Signal Technology, which is said to be as big a jump from capacitive touch as it was from resistive. The touch screen text can be used with fingers or a stylus with "high precision" without making the screen thicker or significantly more expensive. This could also mean that early reports that Nintendo's next handheld would utilize Samsung's tech could be wrong.

Lots of speculation here, but hey, it's the week before E3.

Here's the press release from Natsume:

NATSUME TO RELEASE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED RUNE FACTORY 3: A FANTASY HARVEST MOON FOR NINTENDO DST LATER THIS YEAR

Beloved Series Is Back With New Sequel, Will Make First Public Appearance at E3

Burlingame, Calif., June 8, 2010 - Natsume Inc., a worldwide developer and publisher of family-oriented video games, announced today that Rune Factory 3: A Fantasy Harvest Moon will be released for the Nintendo DST later this year. The Rune Factory series combines the fun and rewarding gameplay of Harvest Moon with the fantasy and excitement of an action-RPG, offering Harvest Moon fans and traditional RPG players the best of both worlds.

"We can't wait to give fans their first look at this title at the upcoming E3 tradeshow," said Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO at Natsume. "This game has a powerful story, a compelling new cast of characters, and a lot of exciting new features. It's the best and deepest Rune Factory yet!"

The people of Sharance and their horned Univir neighbors are embroiled in a bitter conflict. An age-old hatred between humans and monsters divides them. Micah is an adventurer with an unusual secret: he's half monster! He'll have to unite the humans and the Univir in time to stop the growing evil force that threatens to destroy them both!

Rune Factory 3 introduces a number of exciting new features to the Rune Factory series: befriended villagers will now join you in battle and lend you their unique skills, players can transform the main character into his monster form to unleash a savage new arsenal of fighting moves, and the game's new multiplayer mode lets up to three players work together to conquer unique dungeons packed with rare items and fearsome monsters.

Rune Factory 3: A Fantasy Harvest Moon will make its first public appearance at next month's E3 show in the Los Angeles area and will ship to retail later this year.

For more information on Rune Factory 3: A Fantasy Harvest Moon , please visit www.natsume.com. You can also follow all of the latest Natsume news at www.natsume.com/facebook and www.twitter.com/natsume_inc.

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About Natsume
Natsume Inc. is a worldwide developer and publisher that specialize in unique and family-oriented interactive entertainment software for a variety of platforms. Most known for publishing Reel Fishing and Harvest Moon, Natsume is dedicated to producing quality video games.
For more information about Natsume Inc., visit www.natsume.com

[Bill_Loguidice]

3DS is a better, direct name. DST sounds like a disease or something you spray on crops.

[hiphopcr]

3DS is a better, direct name. DST sounds like a disease or something you spray on crops.

[Flare]

LOL... I misread that last part as "spray on cops"

[alexjlopez]

Considering how well the name "Wii" was received, I'd say those are two votes of confidence that the rumor could be true hehehe.

[spinal]

Why would someone jump to "Dispersive Signal Technology" when it might (probably?) be a simple as "Dual Screen Two", you know, Nintendo DS 2.
Just a thought.

[Bill_Loguidice]

Why would someone jump to "Dispersive Signal Technology" when it might (probably?) be a simple as "Dual Screen Two", you know, Nintendo DS 2.
Just a thought.

If that were the case, then I would suspect that would be the working name for the system, since as a release name, it's too dull and undersells the technology. So you certainly could be right and Natsume was just using one of the new platform's working names. It will surely be "3DS" or some such unique name a la "Wii", depending upon if Nintendo is truly considering this a new platform or just an extension of the DS line (and all indications so far seem to be new platform).

[BJWanlund]

Ehh, I really don't care WHAT they call the 3DS (or whatever they decide to call it). The top 5 biggest things that I NEED to know about the new Nintendo handheld:

5) What the specs are. I'm not saying this because I am a graphics whore, far from it. I want to know what kinds of titles I can expect on this device, and what delivery method Nintendo will use for the games (be it download delivery mainly or something else). I also REALLY want to see video out, which will allow many YouTube Let's Players to play DS games for their LPs without having to resort to emulation.
4) Whether or not there will be any third party launch titles for the thing. If there are some compelling third party titles (along with the DS titles that the thing is backwards compatible with), then it might look pretty darned good.
3) First-party launch titles. I want to know whether there will be a proper Mario game for launch, or a new Zelda title for the new handheld, or a Star Fox game, or a new Kid Icarus, or a new Metroid, etc. etc. etc. If Nintendo is going to bother putting their weight behind this, they HAVE to have at least ONE flagship first party title, even if that means a Mario spinoff game like Mario Party 9 (which might actually be great IMO).
2) Virtual Handheld. Obvious no-brainer that should have been on there by now.
1) I NEED A PRICE AND A RELEASE DATE. Am I waiting till November (and thus saving up the cashage it'll require to have the doggone thing day one)? Or is it early next year? Also, will it be $100? Less than $200? Less than $300?

There are still so many unanswered questions that need to be answered at E3, and since Nintendo is dedicating 2 full hours to their presser, I expect big things, but definitely NOT miracles.

BJ

[TripHamer]

Duct Stickey Tape?

[Bill_Loguidice]

Ehh, I really don't care WHAT they call the 3DS (or whatever they decide to call it). The top 5 biggest things that I NEED to know about the new Nintendo handheld:

5) What the specs are. I'm not saying this because I am a graphics whore, far from it. I want to know what kinds of titles I can expect on this device, and what delivery method Nintendo will use for the games (be it download delivery mainly or something else). I also REALLY want to see video out, which will allow many YouTube Let's Players to play DS games for their LPs without having to resort to emulation.

If it's 3D and requires the special screens, there would be no need for video out.

4) Whether or not there will be any third party launch titles for the thing. If there are some compelling third party titles (along with the DS titles that the thing is backwards compatible with), then it might look pretty darned good.
3) First-party launch titles. I want to know whether there will be a proper Mario game for launch, or a new Zelda title for the new handheld, or a Star Fox game, or a new Kid Icarus, or a new Metroid, etc. etc. etc. If Nintendo is going to bother putting their weight behind this, they HAVE to have at least ONE flagship first party title, even if that means a Mario spinoff game like Mario Party 9 (which might actually be great IMO).

While I'm not a first party fan like some people here, I would think if this were a 3D system, then I'd think fun 3D games would be more important to show off the tech rather than mascot or branded games. Those can come later. Sort of like the software that was released at launch with the Genesis or PS1. Really mostly gimmicky eye candy with little staying power, but it served its purpose in the short-term.

2) Virtual Handheld. Obvious no-brainer that should have been on there by now.

That seems logical to me and would be a killer app, even moreso than on the Wii. That would help balance out any gimmick labeling due to the 3D.

1) I NEED A PRICE AND A RELEASE DATE. Am I waiting till November (and thus saving up the cashage it'll require to have the doggone thing day one)? Or is it early next year? Also, will it be $100? Less than $200? Less than $300?

There are still so many unanswered questions that need to be answered at E3, and since Nintendo is dedicating 2 full hours to their presser, I expect big things, but definitely NOT miracles.

BJ

I can pretty much guarantee it will be priced at a premium over the DSi XL since Nintendo is going to want to keep that relevant in the supply chain. That's $189.99 right now, so I see that dropping to $179.99 or $169.99 prior to the 3DS's launch so that can retail for $199.99, with an outside chance at $189.99, though that seems VERY unlikely to me (particularly if the DSi XL doesn't drop by $20). I can't see it being priced higher than the Wii, and in fact that will be something of a conflict for Nintendo. I doubt it will have a huge effect on sales (or any, really), but it certainly didn't do Sony any favors pricing the PSPgo so close to the PS3 (and I realize that's truly apples and oranges there).

If it's available, regardless of price, I'll probably get one around October.