While Nintendo has been pretty good so far with the Game Boys of yore and the DS / DS Lite at keeping backwards compatibility pretty much at a maximum, the
DSi's added functionality and processing power is going to test that a bit. Nintendo has confirmed that there will be two new types of DS software, "DSi Cards" and "DSi Enhanced Cards." The former will only work with the DSi (and with the
current DS install base, we're guessing they won't be incredibly common, but the DSi's off to a strong start) and the latter will offer expanded functionality on the DSi (like mapping a photo onto a character) but will still downgrade gracefully to regular DS handhelds. This could certainly cause some confusion, but hopefully anything DSi specific will be very obviously DSi-centric, like a camera app or something to automatically spend thousands of Nintendo Points on classic titles in a flailing attempt to
relive your childhood.
posted March 26th 2009 11:23AM
I wonder If they'd have "Spanky's Quest" for gameboy to download, I loved that game.
I love my DS lite... it's the best gadget I have. (till the next-gen psp hits... and maybe even after it arrives... the games are just amazing)
But I really can't believe Nintendo is focusing its DSi campaign on these STUPID CAMERA crapware. "Add a touch of humor to your photos"?????? What is it a decade ago and touchscreens are just being discovered?
It must be the twisted Japanese sense of humor, or lack thereof.
But I really want to thank Nintendo, if it weren't for their disappointing announcement of the DSi last year (bringing down predictions of an upcoming next-gen nintendo handheld) I wouldn't have bought my DS lite.
Uhm, you forgot that the DSi has twice the processing power, and four times the RAM... -.-
(And probably a better graphics accelerator as well)
TareX @ Mar 26th 2009 11:33AM
I love my DS lite... it's the best gadget I have. (till the next-gen psp hits... and maybe even after it arrives... the games are just amazing)
But I really can't believe Nintendo is focusing its DSi campaign on these STUPID CAMERA crapware. "Add a touch of humor to your photos"?????? What is it a decade ago and touchscreens are just being discovered?
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http://gamesites.nintendo.com.au/DSi/
I just saw this moments ago, and I think NIntendo are going to hit so big with this product, people will be blown away. I think the marketing is brilliant; everything is described concisely, clearly...and they are reaching out to users of all types with this product and their bank account will show it. April 2 for Australia. The AUD$299 is very hard to swallow so the marketing better be good (and is), IMO.
@TT
No I did not know that. But I'm guessing at least a year till game developers actually release processing/memory demanding games that run on the DSi and not the DS lite.
@texdroid
Are you watching the same video I am on that site you posted? Yes the phsyical appearance and hardware improvements are good... BUT HARDLY WORTH THE PRICE.
About added functionality: "With the DSi, you can take photos of yourself, and 'create' funny distortions to it!"
That's the first thing they said. Again, not worth it.
...then another 5 minutes that act as if cellphones with cameras and photo software don't exist yet....
... then another 2 minutes that act as if mp3 players/pmps haven't been made yet... and that no phones can play mp3s just yet....
... AND FINALLY, the mentioning of gaming on the DSi.
The problem is, the DS is first a foremost a handheld gaming console. This should be where the biggest (or at least a notable) improvement lies. And finally, I bought a brand new DS lite on ebay for $95. I have a cameraphone and an mp3 player. I just needed a handheld gaming machine, and if you really think about what you "need", you don't need a camera on it... (maybe if it involves picture on picture during gaming, to see ur opponent go "OH NO U DIDN'T" during a game)... but i guess these gimmicks would better work on a next gen psp...
I still have my DS Phat and have no intention in purchasing yet another Nitendo rehash. The GB Camera was a fun and great idea when it was released back with the GB, but now we need much more. I don't understand what's the point of marginally enhancing the DS' power and create confusion with new DSi carts. Your average consumer is not well informed. Nintendo stop f*cking around and release the DS2. It would be nice to have graphics on par with the Wii/GC NOW, with the great touchscreen interface of the DS. We need to stop buying these minor updates so Nintendo can give us a full upgrade, but until then we will continue to reinforce their ill and greedy behaviors.
TareX,
We agree that the price is a bit much, especially in Australia, IMO.
You approach the purchase based on needs. The thing is, nobody really 'needs' these add-ons and extra functionality, but they will want it, I think. The gaming device doesn't compete with phones because what it does it does in a unique way that no phone or whatever can match (playing with picture effects, sound effects in a unique way) and does it far more easily. I don't see anyone dropping their phone for this, but I do see them enjoying their gaming device doing extra fun things. By the way, it doesn't play MP3s, but AACs. Another reason it won't replace any MP3 players.
In a year, can you see Nintendo being disappointed with sales? If I were to place bets, I'd say no chance for disappointment with this. It's a social device in a more social, connected world that will absolutely sell v.strongly worldwide, opening up them to a huge chunk of new unwashed masses.
There is always room for downward price movement if Nintendo see limited demand (which won't happen for a while, IMO).
I dont think they will piss of 10million current ds owners, probably just a little useless gimmick for DSi owners.
how many times do people really want to pay for games they already owned and played years ago on another platform?
You would think so, but Nintendo cares nothing about their initial user-base anymore. I was an early adopter with the DS phat. When the DS came out, all accessories that used the GBA slot would not work with the old ones, simply because of a cosmetic difference.
The fact that the entire DS-store is DSi-only is quite pathetic. It'd be fine if they marketed it as a DS2 or something like that.
you'd be surprised just how many guys (ang girls) there are out there with lots of disposable income wanting to relive their sold/broken/long-since-gone games of their youth BUT with no modern platform to play them on and no time or inclination to hunt around for second-hand goods of questionable condition.
Exactly. Real gamers don't understand how much money there is to be made from extremely casual adult gamers who just want something fun and easy, and would love it if they already knew how to play the game.
For example, I'm going to buy a DSi and the Legend of Zelda off the DSi shop as soon as it's available.
The LG/Samsung girls are better.
holy schnauzer
This is like what they did with the gameboy color. Old grey gameboy games worked with it, black colored cartridges worked with both the old and color gameboy(Like DSi Enhanced Cards will), and clear cartridges only worked in the color gameboy(Like DSi cards).
This is a easier way for developers and gamers to transition from the DS to the DSi.
Bad, bad move for Nintendo. Making software that is incompatible with a console that is still in its heyday is just plain stupid.
i'm still using the DS phat......
i guess it's time to jump a generation and get a DSi.....
Exactly the point I was going to make Rocke86.
This is similar to the GBC. Most 'DSi' games will end up being the enhanced variety. With only titles that NEED the extra power and features being DSi only.
can i has DSi?
PSP FTW !!!
(just posting to get my profile id)
They need better lcd covering 80%, better res and both touch.
oooh.... the 2nd camera can be used for control..... like eye toy.....
an air boxing game would be cool....
I thought these categories had been around since DSi launch in Japan. There is a WarioWare game that is made specifically to take advantage of the cameras and looks like a lot of fun.
I don't plan on upgrading until the true "next gen" Nintendo handheld, but might as well put out some games that take advantage of the new hardware.
So, they really should start pumping out games instead of rehashing ones. I'm going to get this just because I want to know what all the fuss is about. Is Day 1 release even going to have a DSi specific game?
Yeah man
What is the i for in DSi anyway? Inferior? Impotent? Come on Nintendo just release the DS2 already. I love the Nitendo DS Phat and never saw a reason to "upgrade" to the Nintendo DS Lite (D pad on this one sucked IMO). I really want to see graphics comparable to last generation's home consoles. If this thing had other tricks like maybe a SIM card slot, I would consider. Rumors of a PSPhone have been circulating for a while, why not go that route Nintendo? You want your DS everywhere, give it phone functionality. And Nintendo stop biting Apple with all this "i" SHiT in your products please.
Because the camera give it an 'i' to see out of.
Has Nintendo finally jumped the shark??
Hopefully these are more resilient than the previous generations of the DS too. My kids both had hinges break on their original version DS's and we're on DS numbers six and seven due to screen failures... I know I can take them apart and fix with parts from eBay, but who has time for that?
I've bought my DS (fat) when they first came bundled with Mario 64 DS and it's had zero problems.
i want one of these, soon...
got to get one of these when they come out :-D
cool.
DS2 for the love of christ, fuck this,
confusing shit
Just wait till E3 or something, DS2 should be coming out soon. This is like what the prototype of the DS2?