Key publishers announce support for Nintendo DS

Nintendo's new Dual Screen handheld console is set to receive third party software support from key Japanese publishers Konami and Namco, while leading western publisher EA has confirmed that it is evaluating the system.

According to a report in Nihon Keizai Shimbun, both Konami and Namco have confirmed their intentions to develop for the NDS, with a Namco spokesperson commenting that "we're not at the development stage yet, but we intend to support Nintendo DS."

Working with Nintendo on unusual hardware isn't a new thing for either of the companies, with Konami having recently produced the light-sensitive Game Boy Advance title Boktai: The Sun Is In Your Hand, while Namco created the drum controller for GameCube title Donkey Konga, which launched in Japan before Christmas.

Meanwhile, major western publisher Electronic Arts has confirmed to GamesIndustry.biz that it is evaluating the Nintendo DS, but has not yet reached a decision regarding whether to develop for it.

One of the most unusual rumours we've seen passed around about the NDS in the days following its announcement surfaced this morning, however - with several sites reporting that the handheld may be based on 3D screen technology from Sharp, which utilises two LCD panels at slightly different angles to create the illusion of depth in the image.

Although it's been reported that Nintendo has previously spoken to Sharp about integrating this technology into a game system, the suggestion that this is what Nintendo DS actually is seems a bit far fetched - not least because the console giant has already confirmed that the screens will be stacked vertically, and has talked about uses for the second screen such as showing different angles in a football game.