May 6^th, 2004 (12:00am) - The video game industry’s biggest and best game developers are lining up to be the first to create innovative content for Nintendo’s upcoming dual-screen hand-held innovation, code-named Nintendo DS.

"Nintendo DS is going to push hand-held technology to uncharted territories," says Yves Blehaut, senior vice president of Atari. "It’s going to energize both developers and consumers with amazing new game mechanics and new game design. Once more, Nintendo leads the way with something unexpected and totally innovative."

To date, more than 100 companies worldwide have received software development kits and are planning games for Nintendo DS, which for the first time offers gamers two separate perspectives on the action.

Companies include THQ, Electronic Arts, Activision, Atari, Ubisoft, Majesco, Capcom, Sega, Konami, Hudson Soft, Namco, Bandai, Koei and Square Enix, to name a few.

"The Nintendo dual screen is something that we’re really excited about developing for," says Nick Earl, vice president and general manager of Electronic Arts. "It’s very innovative, which is classic Nintendo."

Nintendo DS will revolutionize how people approach, perceive and enjoy video games, while including additional options that enhance the game-play experience.

"It’s exciting to see so many publishers are as inspired about the Nintendo DS as we are," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America’s senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "The creative contributions of the publishers will reinforce Nintendo’s reputation as the industry’s leader in innovation."

In effect, thanks to the success of the wildly popular Game Boy franchise, Nintendo owns the current hand-held video game market: The Game Boy line has sold more than 168 million units worldwide during the past 15 years. And with the introduction of the revolutionary Nintendo DS, Nintendo’s dominance is certain to continue in the future.

The Nintendo DS will be unveiled at the 2004 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), May 12 to May 14 in Los Angeles. The Nintendo DS remains on track to launch before the end of the year.