Nintendo Announce New DS: The Nintendo DSi

[Ocelot]

I admit to being one of the five people that still don't own a DS since they apparently sold like 8 billion units, so I may actually get around to picking this one up. .3 megapixel camera, and a 17% larger screen rounds out this package. (And I think both screens may be touch screen? Maybe not)


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During their Fall Press Conference today, Nintendo have - as expected - announced a new version of the Nintendo DS. Called the Nintendo DSi, it eschews the GBA slot (boo!) in favour of a slight downsizing (it's a little thinner) and a range of improvements. The handheld's screens have been enlarged, and will now be 17% bigger (at 3.25 inches) than those found on the DS Lite. As for the rumoured additions, both have proven to be correct, with "audio enhancements" made to the handheld, while it will also now include a .3 megapixel (640x480) camera. And that's just the start of it. The DSi also features an SD memory card slot, making it possible to take pictures with the DSi and then view them on the Nintendo Wii. The DSi features a built-in browser, and it's possible to download games and keep them on the DSi.
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For digital delivery purchases, there is a DSi Shop, from which users can download DSiWare from. Pricing categories for the DSiWare are: Free, 200 points, 500 points and "Premium" or 800 points. Customers will get 1000 free points to spend at the DSi Shop that are good until March 2010.
The DSi will be released in Japan on November 1. It will retail for ￥18,900 (USD$180), and will be available in two colours, white and black. It will be released in other markets sometime "next year".

[Bungle]

I've always wondered how my penis would look on a DS.

The camera seems a bit silly to have but I'm sure it's got all sorts of bonus features I'm not even considering. I'll be happy if shoulder buttons don't just stop mysteriously working.

[the creeps]

what about internet ? has that been improved

[Bungle]

There's a lot of talk about the sd card slot being used to hack it and make downloading games much more viable; much like the psp can be hacked and most games downloaded.

Do you mean like surfing sites or online multi-play?

[the creeps]

both.

[Skybase]

I've recently pre-ordered one of these. I love my DS-Phat due to the extended battery I got for like $5 on clearance, but think I'm finally ready to expand to a Lite version.

[Bungle]

DS phats are so much louder! Are you gonna hack your new one Sky? Free games is the only reason I use the psp much; meaning they're ok but there's no stand out game that would send a casual gamer like me running to the store to spend money--even though the God of War game is pretty godddam cool.

Only time will tell for the website browsing Creeps; but it is supposed to make online gaming easier. I don't know if they're improve the ease of finding your real buddies and getting in games with them.

[Clownbaby]

I think getting rid of the gba slot is a bad move. cant play guitar hero without it. dont think i'll be picking it up

[johnnychacski]

Yeah so I preordered it, then read the article on IGN ripping it a new ass hole...I hope to god a good mod comes out for it...

[Skybase]

DS phats are so much louder! Are you gonna hack your new one Sky? Free games is the only reason I use the psp much; meaning they're ok but there's no stand out game that would send a casual gamer like me running to the store to spend money--even though the God of War game is pretty godddam cool.

Only time will tell for the website browsing Creeps; but it is supposed to make online gaming easier. I don't know if they're improve the ease of finding your real buddies and getting in games with them.

Hack? Meh, I've got the iTouch DS and the DS-X. Just as long as they continue to operate on the DSi. If they don't support native DSi software, I'm sure we'll see some come out that do.

I haven't looked to see if there's a way to do this similar thing on PSP yet . .to play games say from the memory slot w/o hacking it. . is that still the only way?

[Skybase]

I think getting rid of the gba slot is a bad move. cant play guitar hero without it. dont think i'll be picking it up

Isn't it amazing how many companies do something like this?

Such as Sony getting rid of the capability to use the hard drive on the PS2 (Final Fantasy XI) etc.

[Ocelot]

Isn't it amazing how many companies do something like this?

Such as Sony getting rid of the capability to use the hard drive on the PS2 (Final Fantasy XI) etc.

Yeah.. strange move honestly. I guess it saves them money on their bottom line, and only shafts a small percentage of the consumers who will use it.

I am still pissed about the PS3 backwards compatibility, mostly because my PS2 is now broken. I hope they do something similar to what Microsoft has done and just allow you to download an emulation update.

[Nataku187]

I don't think the DSi is going to replace the DS Lite, the GBA slot is still making Nintendo profits with Pokemon and Guitar Hero needing those slots. Think about it if you have two portables on the market, that would mean people would buy each of them. DSi is super casual, it's just broadening the market even more then DS Lite did. Which means more money in Nintendo's pocket. The DSi is a niche item, and not everyone will get one, unlike the DS Lite where everyone has one it appears.

[Ocelot]

I'm about to buy a ds flash cart thingamajig. No use for a DSi, no use for buying games. It'll be the best investment I'll ever make for this system. I kinda impulse bought one for christmas and it hasn't seen much use. The DSi actually will come with a built in sd card slot, but why even bother since the other cards are so much more accessible and cheap (about $30 from sites I've seen).

[taters]

No GBA support. I wont buy it, all the new features I already have on my phone.

Hopefully DS classic will get cheaper.

[Skybase]

Yeah.. strange move honestly. I guess it saves them money on their bottom line, and only shafts a small percentage of the consumers who will use it.

I am still pissed about the PS3 backwards compatibility, mostly because my PS2 is now broken. I hope they do something similar to what Microsoft has done and just allow you to download an emulation update.

Sony's too arrogant as a company to change on that. They've made their statement. . .and they'll live or die by that statement.

That's what I hate about Sony. Regardless of whether they realize later that perhaps something wasn't a great idea, they'll never go back. They first stated the compatibility was removed to help decrease the cost of the system. When it was found out how little the "Emotion Engine" actually cost to place in each machine they admitted this wasn't the reason. Sony then stated that they were still supporting the PS2, and that if people wanted to play PS2 games they should purchase the PS2 system. The PS3 system is a new generation.

Sony wants so badly to FORCE the market to move forward in their direction that they'll shoot themselves in the foot over and over again to force the changes.

They don't REALLY want people to buy PS2 games. They want to get their APU (accessories per Unit) up. Sony doesn't want you displaying "inferior" graphic games to other potential buyers. They don't want you to wait on the new PS3 games cuz you've got plenty of PS2 games to get you by for now, or can pick up for nothing at a pawn shop.

Ever since the walkman, Sony thinks they're synonymous with technology.

[Archangel]

They're also Japanese, which means they'll NEVER admit that they fucked up.

[Skybase]

They're also Japanese, which means they'll NEVER admit that they fucked up.

truth.

[Joe's Job]

X-Box three-shitty is still pretty bad (Still a 33.3% chance at failing)
all in all, I think everyone except americans can make something better, take a look at our car companies... We make technology and the Japanese make it better and sell it back to us... sad :(

but true :)