Nintendo announces DSi with dual cameras, "DSi Shop" content store (updated)

As expected, Nintendo has announced the new DSi at its Fall presentation in Japan. The device features a dual touchscreen layout almost identical to the DS Lite, though the company is calling it a "third platform," which means it's complementing the existing system, not necessarily replacing it. Looks-wise there's not much different happening, but it's some 12 percent thinner -- partly because it omits the GBA cartridge slot. The displays are slightly larger, at 3.25 inches apiece, and there's an external three megapixel camera as well as a front-facing camera located on the inside hinge. The DSi has an SD slot and internal storage -- we're not sure how much at the moment -- but photos can be taken directly to the Wii Photo Channel on the card. Nintendo's also launching an online "DSi Shop," which will sell content directly over WiFi, including a free browser app and "DS Ware" game -- and the company will offer free wireless connectivity at "Nintendo Zone" hotspots located in Japanese McDonalds. The shop will take the newly-renamed Nintendo Points (formerly Wii Points), 1000 of which will come free with the handheld until March 2010, and content will be priced in 200 / 500 / 800 point brackets. The DSi will come in white or black finishes, and will cost ¥18,900 ($178) when it launches in Japan on November 1st -- the rest of us will have to wait until next year.

Update: We've added the official Japanese DSi site link, check it out! Our brothers at Joystiq have done a comprehensive spec-check of the DSi compared to the PSP-3000 and iPhone / iPod touch. Be sure and take a gander. You can also watch Nintendo's DSi demo video after the break, and trust us, it rules.

Update 2: Joystiq is liveblogging Nintendo's San Francisco media event.

Gallery: Nintendo announces DSi, "DSi Shop" content store

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[GreezyG @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:46AM]

woot?

[gabe @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:17AM]

3 Mega pixel camera

bigger screen

Video Chat

i'd say Woot!!

[GreezyG @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:21AM]

Hey, ya that does look pretty cool. I haven't had a hand held gaming system since my gameboy I got in 5th grade... Which was well ya a long time ago

[maveric101 @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:37AM]

i still don't know why you would want/need two screens. all the best games ever made used one screen. give me one large widescreen display up top, and dual analog on the bottom. pure win.

[maveric101 @ Oct 2nd 2008 2:23AM]

/imo

why do people low rank others for having an opinion? i wasn't trolling or saying the DS sucks. it's a nice handheld, i just think there a better one could be made. (imo)

[Cal @ Oct 2nd 2008 2:45AM]

No back compat, no woot (not that I'd buy one anyway)

[Johan S @ Oct 2nd 2008 2:46AM]

Larger screen but no bump up in resolution??


They need to increase the resolution .. and make the screen wider dammit.

[Josh @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:43AM]

Please update the content..

No dual touch screen
0.3MP camera

Not worth it IMO. A 0.3MP picture will look awful on a decent TV.

SD slot is nice, would make homebrew a cinch, but if it doesn't support GBA ROMS then i'm not interested.

[1234321 @ Oct 2nd 2008 6:26AM]

.3MPx is standard SD, 640x480, which would look fine on a decent TV should the bitrate be high enough
I don't see what a TV has to do with this though, the DS screen res is well below VGA (it'll still probably look bad but that would be because of a bad lens rather than a low MPx)

[Tonicboy @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:47AM]

@Cal

Why do you say there's no back compat? Details are scarce but it looks to me like it just plays DS games. Screen is same resolution, one touchscreen. Really, it's looking more like a DS Lite 2 than a "third platform" to me. I'm guessing that this was mostly a move to block out Slot 1 Card products to fight piracy. Which is why I'll stick to my DS Lite, thankyouverymuch.

[stevereportdotcom @ Oct 2nd 2008 9:21AM]

Not bad.. wish the screen was a little more bigger.

[RyanTV @ Oct 2nd 2008 11:53AM]

woot? more like huge Yawn. The big N has more money than god herself, they could have done a bit more than yet another incremental upgrade.

[J. Evans Turner @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:22PM]

There were chatting Mii's of Reggie and Iwata!

[Josh @ Oct 2nd 2008 2:05PM]

I presume part of the fun will be transferring pictures to your Wii?

So 640x480 doesn't lend itself too well to the ever prevalent HDTV, it just seems like they could have put the effort in with a 1MP or something.

However, this is all pointless if the sensor is awful..

[fernian @ Oct 2nd 2008 9:04PM]

People lower your comment because they disagree with it. That's what those + - are for. That's their opinion on your comment. Deal with it.

[Bob Dober @ Oct 6th 2008 5:32AM]

why...2....cameras? 1 would be cool, 2, overkill.

[Joe Anstine @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:46AM]

cool

[Muhammed @ Oct 9th 2008 10:33PM]

fool
pool
drool
TOOL!

[wako @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:48AM]

crap i just bought a DS too =/

[Drewj @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:30AM]

Well, thank you for bring us the new DS!

[Daniel @ Oct 2nd 2008 2:01AM]

and your username is "wako"
Coincidence?

[Axle @ Oct 2nd 2008 6:51AM]

fuck i bought a ds like two months ago. Whatever i want this one so ill buy it too.

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:55AM]

Me too.

But new DSi could be pretty useless to me since I play games off R4 - and I'm not going buy DSi unless R4 would be declared compatible.

Also, they made DSi thinner than DS Lite. DS Lite was already hard on your hands because you do not have any grips on its surface. I expect it's going to be even more problematic - tiring for fingers - with DSi.

[ZaxCG2 @ Oct 2nd 2008 9:06AM]

HAH! I knew I was smart to skip out on the DS Lite. :D This is my reward for sticking with my DS Phat Brick.

[BrokenMonkey @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:53PM]

I still have a DS Phat so maybe I'll pick one of these up butI'dliketoknowifR4orsomethingsimil arworkswiththenewDSi.

[Frogboy @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:28PM]

Crap, I just bought a Pandora. :)

[iPwn @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:50PM]

@ frogboy:

The Pandora will be great too, if not better.

[natalie @ Dec 17th 2008 10:17AM]

u agree that a dsi rock?if u doo,hi 5!!!(loz)

[paralipsis @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:48AM]

Need... more... info!!!!

[Ts @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:48AM]

Details. This one-liner stuff is killing me!

[thedesolate1 @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:57AM]

I wonder if its SDHC compatible? God I cant wait till they hack this thing... 32GB of GBA roms. W00t!

[Timmy P. @ Oct 2nd 2008 5:48PM]

I completely agree. I Also wonder if this means DS Lites get a software upgrade. I really really hope it does, because I'm to broke to upgrade.

[natalie @ Dec 17th 2008 10:17AM]

hi 5!!!i need more info 2...

[Striker @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:51AM]

Hey, at least they threw in a logo for the time being!

[acme @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:48AM]

ds needed more cowbell anyway

[Mikeo @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:48AM]

So... what can we expect? A common rail (finally!) and variable valve timings?

[scottp22192 @ Oct 2nd 2008 9:13AM]

Err, yes? Both intake and exhaust using multiple cam lobes.

[Striker @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:48AM]

I love the new practice of posting the article before the material is ready, that way Engadget can ensure they put out the news before anyone else!

[ehru @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:59AM]

Greates avatar ever.

& a camera ey.

[Kyle @ Oct 2nd 2008 10:13AM]

I up-ed you simply based on your avatar.

"I'm not signing a release!"

[Elias Santiago @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:48AM]

I want to see some Pictures... Is it going to have Gamecube graphics?

[Striker @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:50AM]

Lol with graphics like the GameCube, it wouldn't be very spectacular lol.

[Anthony @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:56AM]

@Striker
If it had Gamecube graphics I would be thoroughly impressed.

[Hardcore @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:58AM]

The Wii barely has Gamecube graphics, do you think a portable that looks almost exactly the same as the DS is going to as well?

[Striker @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:00AM]

/sarcasm
lol, I guess I made it too subtle, reading that again made me realize that it sounded like a total Nintendo hater comment. I'm actually really interested in this BTW.

[rippinhonda @ Oct 2nd 2008 2:44AM]

what is with all this low ranking going on?!

The new DS is kinda weak sauce and will not have better graphics than the ones before it, just bigger screens and a camera. If you like that then buy it?!?!?!!?!?


OK.. Peace-nasty

[Jenny @ Oct 2nd 2008 2:56AM]

idk what's up with the low ranking either, a few valid comments are ranked low.

So far Nintendo hasn't wowed with graphics, instead they've relied on the playability of games. Which is dangerous territory, as games are so 'hit or miss'. My DS reminds me of my old NES/N64, which is mainly why I like it. Most of my games are NES or 64 reproductions.

[Chanzo @ Oct 2nd 2008 4:34AM]

@Striker

You're also getting low-ranked because you flanked your comments with 'lol'. To some people this is an instant low-rank.

[uwaga dude @ Oct 12th 2008 11:03AM]

what's up with this post-rank obsession?

[adex2491 @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:49AM]

O rly?

I'm interested...