A few new details have emerged on the recent announcement of Dragon Quest IX for the Nintendo DS:

• DQ9 has been in development for over a year.
• Online 4-player co-operative mode has been confirmed.
• Akira Toriyama, famed designer behind Chrono Trigger, dragon ball and more, has returned to do the character designs.
• When you change a character's equipment you can see the changes on their bodies.
• No random battles (woo hoo!). Instead, monsters will roam the field and attack if you get too close.
• While in battle you can move around and attack enemies in real-time.
• Estimated release of summer 2007 in Japan.