Yesterday we informed you of rumours that Nintendo had already started sending out development kits for the next DS to several studios. It is now understood that the Pokémon Company is getting "special attention", being the first firm to be presented with the kit.

An insider at a third-party studio working with the DS 2 has also revealed that he was aware of a number of other developers receiving the system in a trial. Although he was told by Nintendo that the system was only the first build of what would become the final console, he was definitely impressed with what he was toying with so far.

"It’s genuinely the best thing I think I’ve ever worked with," he said. "I can tell you that it’s got a ’tilt’ function that’s not dissimilar to iPhone, but does a lot more." He also mentioned that he didn’t expect the hardware to be unveiled at GDC next month, believing that a March announcement would be too soon for the current timeline of the DS.

Here’s hoping for E3 in mid-July.

Source: CVG