What Made the DS Unique?

The DS home screen was complete with a clock, calendar, PictoChat, Bluetooth multiplayer, battery life remaining, and the links to the games that were inserted into the device (New Super Mario Bros.).

The original DS packaging was sleek and modern as Nintendo attempted to attract older customers to buy this new console. 

This patent gave Nintendo the rights to the new features of the DS that made the device so unique.

The DS was like nothing else the world had ever seen before. Nintendo had already created some of the most revolutionary handheld consoles, but the DS was different. Nintendo crafted the DS to have something new - dual screens. The top screen was much like the Gameboy, simply showing the player what was happening in the game, but the bottom screen was a touchscreen. This screen allowed players to tap and write on the screen with the included stylus or their finger when playing games or in PictoChat rooms to chat with friends. In between the two screens was also a microphone that could be used in games, such as Mario Party to blow out candles or make the loudest noise out of all players. One of the biggest components of the DS was its ability to play both ROM and Flash ROM cards on the new device. This allowed Gameboy players to still play their previously bought games on the DS, saving them money and making the DS a more affordable option. With all of these new components, Nintendo was now ready to release its new product and change the gaming market forever.