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Pokemans: DSVision shows you them
The DSVision content download service is getting some new content that seems extremely well-suited to DS owners: Pokémon. The Pokémon movie series will be available for the DSVision flash card starting April 20 -- though not all of them will be available online.The first release will be the first movie in the series, Mewtwo Strikes Back, released over here as Pokémon: The First Movie. It will be released as a download for just 500 yen. Strangely, the rest of the releases -- four more movies -- won't be released as downloads (at least, they aren't planned to be for now), but as MicroSD cards preloaded with one movie each for 2,980 yen ($27) Lucario and the Mystery of Mew will be released as a special-edition package containing a DSVision card for 4,280 yen ($39).This actually isn't AM3's first experiment in selling Pokémon video for play on Nintendo handhelds. The DSVision creator previously sold Pokémon movies on SD cards for play on their Advance Movie Adaptor.
DSVision's virtual store lacks virtual goods
According to Spencer over at Siliconera, the DSVision store isn't all it's cracked up to be. The launch of the service has left him wanting, considering there are only 30 items available in the online store, with users expecting much, much more from the launch of the service. He does admit that the pricing is favorable, however. Episodes of television shows are only $2, with digital manga fetching $3 per chapter. The books on available on the service range from free for a trial to $6 for a 1,000-page novel. Did any of you bother to import it?
Here's a vision of DSVision
Even though we have our own flash carts, we can't help but covet DSVision. We'd like to see for ourselves how an official cart compares to our own -- not to mention, this demo video makes the service look pretty rad. While it doesn't seem like there's too much downloadable content on the official website yet, we like that all different kinds of media (anime, manga, movies, novels) are readily available in one place. Unfortunately, most of us who don't live in Japan have to adopt a "look but don't touch" policy if we want to do the nifty official things shown in the video, as we lack something vital for buying content -- a Japanese credit card. We're used to not having as many cool toys as our friends in the East, though, so we'll just suck it up as per usual.
DSVision card available for import this week
The DSVision flash card kit, containing an officially Nintendo-approved flash card and a 512 MB MicroSD card, will be released to Japanese stores on July 3. NCSX is charging 40.90, and Play-Asia is asking $39.90. That's not terribly expensive for a flash card with bundled memory, but it is quite expensive for something that may end up being totally useless.Unless you have access to a Japanese credit card, you won't be able to buy any of the content that AM3 is selling through the system. And who knows if the thing will be usable for any kind of homebrew? It'll take experimentation from homebrew developers before anyone knows. Feeling adventurous?
DSVision pricing and release date announced
DSVision, the content download service using an official homebrew-like flash card, will (probably!) begin operations in Japan on July 3rd, though the actual hardware will be available June 26. Electronics stores throughout Japan will sell the card package for 3980 yen ($38), which will include the card, a 512mb microSD card, and a USB adapter. The site will sell novels and comics for prices ranging from 100 to 600 yen, and movies from between 500 and 1000 yen. Users will also be able to put photos on the card and augment them with graffiti and music. That is, if it comes out this time.
DSVision content service bumped to April
AM3's Nintendo-sanctioned DS flash card and content delivery service, DSVision, was originally scheduled to come out in January, which obviously did not happen. It was then delayed until March, and has now been delayed again until April. When it does eventually become available, Japanese users will be able to download manga, movies, and novels from the DSVision website and transfer it to the official DSVision card via an included MicroSD card. Looking through the official website, it would appear that the bundled card has been increased in capacity from 512mb to 2gb.No matter when it comes out, we're thrilled it is. We're delighted to see an officially-licensed company taking advantage of some of the kinds of brilliant extensions to the DS's functionality already exploited by homebrewers.
Rumor: Nintendo orders seizure of rival DS Flash cards
By now, regular readers will be familiar with DSVision, a new service that will offer Japanese DS owners downloadable media from next March, and which is fully licensed by Nintendo. The only problem? We've heard absolutely zilch about a release outside Japan.But there is hope, friends! An anonymous tipster has informed MaxConsole that French law enforcement agencies have begun confiscating Datel's DS flash card range, devices which perform very similar functions to those offered by DSVision. According to the mole, the operation to seize the cards came after a tip-off from Nintendo, which complained that the Datel cards were illegal, as they contained copyrighted code. MaxConsole reckons there could be more to the story, however, and speculates that Nintendo is clearing the way for its own range of multimedia peripherals.We'll happily admit that this is all pretty damn speculative -- hence the "rumor" label -- but we've still got every last one of our fingers and toes crossed extra tight. Although users of certain naughty devices have been able to download and view video on their DSes for some time now, the quality is typically quite low (or so we hear, officer).
DS gets downloadable content with official DSVision flash card peripheral
Piracy ahoy! AM3 and Dai Nippon Printing have partnered up to release the DSVision digital content platform for the Nintendo DS in Japan. The device -- which is officially licensed by Nintendo -- features a MicroSD flash card and a standard-sized DS card adapter. Users will be able to download movies, music, books, and manga from the DSVision website, and download the content onto the MicroSD card for portable viewing/listening.Of course, we're more intrigued by the device's ability to put other content on the DS. Piracy? Who said anything about piracy? The DSVision could do a lot to mainstream the DS's homebrew development community, especially with its official endorsement from Nintendo.DSVision is due for release in Japan this January, at a suggested retail price of ¥3,980 (or approximately $37 USD). The online digital content store isn't due to open until March. We smell a hot import item...[Via Engadget]Update: Added that this is a Nintendo-licensed peripheral. Thanks, Crono & Hakobus
DSvision bringing downloadable content to Nintendo's DS
If you're still teetering on the edge of picking up a DS Lite for yourself, here's yet another reason to go ahead and pull the trigger. Dai Nippon Printing has partnered with AM3 in order to offer up a new way to get content / media onto Nintendo's handheld. The system, dubbed DSvision, will enable DS / DS Lite owners to purchase a variety of material through the web, including books, comics, movies, music, etc., and then transfer the files over to the DS for on-the-go enjoyment. The product package will reportedly include a 512MB microSD card, a DS cartridge adapter and a USB adapter (shown after the jump) for use with one's PC. It looks as though the hardware will hit Japanese shelves in January for ¥3,980 ($37), but the web-based content delivery system won't go live until March.[Via SlashGear]
DSvision sees a future on the DS
When the GBA Movie Player came out, it was pretty underwhelming. AM3 is trying their luck again, however, this time with the DS. The service they'll be providing, called DSvision, will allow DS users to officially download certain books, movies, comics, and music onto their handhelds. The package needed for these downloads is going on sale in Japan this January for 3,980 yen ($37 UDS), which comes with a 512MB microSD card, a form fitting DS cart, and a USB adapter that connects to PCs. The DSvision downloading service, however, won't be available until March.DSvision seems to be getting a lot more thought and effort put into it than the GBA Movie Player, and it's definitely something to keep an eye out for. We have to wonder, though, how the company will prevent pirates from using their product for unauthorized downloads (our guess is, they can't). Also, people who already own an R4DS might find the DSvision package unnecessary, even though it is an official (and thus, legal) way of distributing media.[Via Cubed3]
