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Press Release Oct 6th:
RF MICRO DEVICES ANNOUNCES PRODUCTION SHIPMENTS
OF WIRELESS LAN TRANSCEIVER FOR HANDHELD NINTENDO
DS GAME SYSTEM
Greensboro, NC - October 6, 2004 - RF Micro Devices,
Inc., a leading provider of proprietary radio frequency
integrated circuits (RFICs) for wireless communications
applications, today announced the Company has begun
production shipments of its 802.11 wireless local
area network (WLAN) transceiver for use in the new
Nintendo DSTM. Nintendo is a leading provider of
hardware systems and interactive video games for
both the home entertainment and handheld gaming
environments.
By enabling wireless connectivity in the Nintendo
DS, RFMD's WLAN transceiver provides a wireless
link to other Nintendo DS units within range. Additionally,
with its chat software and wireless capabilities,
Nintendo DS gamers are able to transmit text messages,
handwriting and even drawings to one another.
The Nintendo DS features dual screens providing
two perspectives on the action at once. Its touch-screen
input enables users to easily access items, move
characters or navigate menus. The Nintendo DS also
contains a microphone, which could enable players
to control the system using voice commands.
"RFMD's energy-efficient wireless device enables
Nintendo to include wireless technology in the Nintendo
DS handheld at a low cost," said Satoru Okada,
general manager, research and engineering at Nintendo
Co., Ltd. "The embedded wireless functionality
will enable developers to create rich game designs
which were not considered possible in the past,
further expanding the fascinating world of Nintendo
DS."
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PRESS RELEASE (Oct 7th 11.30am)
MARIO, MADDEN NFL, THE URBZ AND MORE READY FOR NINTENDO
DS LAUNCH
DS Changes the Rules: Players Control Games with
Touch or Voice, Monitor Two-Screen Action, Compete
Wirelessly with Others
REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 7, 2004 - Imagine using the
touch screen of Nintendo DSTM to call a secret audible
at the line of scrimmage when your wireless opponent
threatens a blitz. Is your Sim feeling blue? Redesign
her apartment or create a pet with the touch of
the screen. Can't find that last star? Use the second
screen to track down your nemesis in the vast worlds
of Super Mario® 64 DS.
From MarioTM to Madden and The UrbzTM, familiar
characters and dynamic franchises will dominate
the launch season for Nintendo DS, while allowing
fans to play their favorites in entirely new ways.
In the first 30 days of system availability, thanks
to unprecedented support from third-party publishers,
players can enjoy 10 to 12 DS games covering all
genres. By the end of the first quarter of 2005,
the Nintendo DS library will grow to 20 to 25 games.
Nintendo DS will launch in the United States
on Nov. 21 at an MSRP of $149.99.
"DS provides the road map to the future of
video games," says Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo
of America's executive vice president of sales &
marketing. "The overwhelming support of strong
third-party titles, combined with Nintendo's flagship
franchise, makes this the strongest software support
for any Nintendo system in more
than a decade."
As part of an incredibly strong launch offering,
players will receive a free playable demo of Nintendo's
upcoming Metroid Prime Hunters game, titled Metroid
Prime® Hunters: First Hunt. Each system also
offers a built-in PictoChatTM feature, which lets
users type text or draw pictures and transmit them
wirelessly to up to 15 other Nintendo DS users nearby.
In all, more than 120 games are currently in development
for Nintendo DS around the world. Titles available
in the launch window include Super Mario 64 DS from
Nintendo, Madden NFL 2005, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR®
Golf and The UrbzTM: Sims in the CityTM from EA,
and a major title from Activision. Other third-party
titles available during the launch period include
Ping Pals from THQ, Feel the Magic: XY/XX from SEGA,
Rayman DS and Asphalt Urban GT from Ubisoft and
Ridge Racer DS and Mr. DRILLER: Drill Spirits from
Namco.
Players can expect Nintendo-published games
to retail for as low as $29.99.
In the coming months, publishers will release a
wide range of novel software. Nintendo's list of
DS-specific first-party franchises includes a multiplayer
Mario Kart, as well as Metroid Prime Hunters, WarioWare,
Inc.TM DS, Animal Crossing, Yoshi's Touch &
Go, Advance Wars® DS and a new Super Mario Bros.,
among others.
Third-party publishers will add GoldenEye: Rogue
AgentTM and Need for SpeedTM Underground from EA,
Viewtiful Joe from Capcom, Bomberman from Hudson
Soft, Frogger from Konami, a Final Fantasy: Crystal
Chronicles title from Square Enix, and many more.
The dual-screened Nintendo DS is a portable video
game and communication system that opens up new
possibilities for both software developers and game
players. Each dual-screened unit, which features
a sharp, angular, silver-and-black design, has a
built-in stylus for use on the touch screen, a built-in
microphone for voice recognition and wireless capabilities
via both local area network and Wi-Fi connections.
Nintendo DS represents a third, distinct hardware
line for Nintendo, along with Nintendo GameCubeTM
and Game Boy® Advance SP.
Each title takes advantage of the unique Nintendo
DS features. For example, in Madden NFL 2005, one
screen will show all 22 players on the field, while
the other will display the key action. Players also
will be able to compete head-to-head wirelessly.
In Super Mario 64 DS, players choose one of four
characters as they experience the groundbreaking
Mario game in completely news ways exclusive to
Nintendo DS, such as head-to-head wireless battling,
new touch-sensitive mini-games and innovative control
options. In Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt, up
to four players can compete wirelessly. Multiple
control schemes take full advantage of the touch
screen, giving all gamers an ideal way to play.
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