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DSi Dated, Priced
Nintendo has announced the US release date for the DSi.
North Americans will see Nintendo’s newest handheld arrive April 5, priced at $170. The handheld will initially be available two colors; black and blue.
"Ever since the arrival of the first Game Boy, consumers worldwide have turned to Nintendo for their portable gaming," says Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales and Marketing. "Nintendo DSi builds on Nintendo's commitment to bringing fun and creative entertainment to everyone, and will allow consumers to personalize and share their very own experiences."
Nintendo’s will also launch the DSiWare service along with the handheld, which will allow users to download titles directly to the handheld. Prices of those titles are unconfirmed as yet, with Nintendo giving its software the ambiguous price of “from 200 points”.
A European release date has not been announced. Edge has contacted Nintendo for details.
Image: Kotaku.
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how c ool! i have a ds lite quite good just if there was a demo to play dsi
Nintendo shit themselves at the thought of the iPod Touch gaining market share via downloadable games, hence DSi was announced in which gamers can download games through the new handheld (as well as retail based games).
I'll stick with my DSL though.
The most pointless update of a system, ever! Where are the games (specifically made for the DSi) to warrant a purchase?
With this handheld, not only are Nintendo asking more for less, but they're going to alienate those who already have a DS/DSL with DSi only software i.e. average joe (or soccer mum) goes into a store, buys what he/she thought was a DS game, boots the game up, game won't work because it's a DSi game that will only work on a DSi system. Of course, the comsumer didn't know this because they didn't see the (i) on the fucking box and took it for granted it was a "regular" DS game.
Personally, i won't be buying. Nintendo has fucked up on this one!
"Where are the games (specifically made for the DSi) to warrant a purchase?"
Obviously the downloadeable content.
Look, i see DSi more like a new SKU, if you want those new features it's alright, buy it. In any case, is to early for a DS 2.
I won't be buying it neither, but a lots of casuals might want it, let them have it. And there's no alienation, all games will be still playable on all DS's versions but the ones on the store. At worse you will see games that utilize the camera for gimmiky stuff and not for integral gameplay mechanics.
Ermmm the DSi titles that only will be compatible with the new DS models will be download games so if you don't have the DSi you can't buy them. Regular retail games will work on both models only maybe some features wont.
Don't worry, soccer moms around the country are safe.
@ German/Rahvii:
Both of you are wrong: DSi cartridge games and downloadable DSi games are region locked, plus the DSi hardware runs faster than the current DS (plus has a camera), therefore games specifically designed for the DSi won't run on current DS hardware. How can it? The specifications of both systems are different!
DSi cart games and DS cart games aren't the same.
If you create game that uses DSi features it is not backwards compatible with the original DS. Meaning you can't put the new DSi game into an old DS to play it. The new DSi version game will not play on an original DS.
But the original DS cart games are forwards compatible with the new DS. So you can put old DS games on the DSi and it will work.
So if Final Fantasy 6i comes out... with camera support say. You can't buy it and play it on your original DS, even if the only feature is the new camera support but the game plays regularly in every way.
see?
Therefore my point on alienating the consumer still stands as there is every chance average joe/soccer mum could pick up a DSi game and take it for granted it'll work on the current DS.
@ Barla Von:
I uderstand your point and also agree that the DSi hardware has a faster processor and more RAM, therefore a game that uses the faster processor speed and extra RAM wont work on the DS Lite. Now with that point clear I have to say something which proves my point in keeping the soccer moms of the world safe.
99.5% of the games that will come out will be playable in ALL the versions of the DS on the market, why you may ask? Because of the over 90 Million DS hardware sold so far 99% are original and DS Lite models. Developers would be crazy not to make a game compatible with them.
Just like the Xbox 360 has a model without a HDD it doesn't mean that if I have a Arcade model I won't be able to play GTA 4, of course I can its just that I only wont be able to get the new DLC, but you haven't hear any stories of a poor uncle who buys his college student nephew a copy GTA 4 just to find him unable to play it cause he doesn't have a HDD, have you?
If I use your example of having Final Fantasy 6i come out... only with camera support. People with the DSi will be able to use that feature and the people with the DS Lite wont but they will definitely will be able to play the entire game, just not that particular feature, do you think that SquareEnix will make the game unable to play on 89 Million DS systems just because the only feature is the new camera support???
Do you think ANY publisher will do that with a big franchise after putting a lot of money on development??
So as you can see your point of different hardware is true but your point of alienating the consumers is not, you are wrong on that one. Soccer moms are safe for the next couple of years as developers will go for the lowest common denominator: The original DS and to a bigger extent the DS Lite.
Dude, DSi retail/downloadable games aren't compatible with the DS/DSL because if they were, then there wouldn't be any point in buying the DSi.
Personally, Nintendo can smoke the DSi through their fat pipe at that price.
@ Top_Dollar:
I completely agree and I already know that but my point is that developers wont release many games that are only DSi compatible its simply a bad business decision, they cant ignore the old models and all the money they can get by making games that work on all models, they simply have to add some DSi exclusive features but still the game will play on ALL models.
German said:
99.5% of the games that will come out will be playable in ALL the versions of the DS on the market, why you may ask? Because of the over 90 Million DS hardware sold so far 99% are original and DS Lite models.
If I use your example of having Final Fantasy 6i come out... only with camera support. People with the DSi will be able to use that feature and the people with the DS Lite wont but they will definitely will be able to play the entire game, just not that particular feature, do you think that SquareEnix will make the game unable to play on 89 Million DS systems just because the only feature is the new camera support???
Nintendo are bring over 870 games (first/third party, etc) covering both downloadable content and retail based games on the DSi! Therefore, DSi based games won't be compatible with the original DS handheld. I made this point perfectly clear on my last post!
Your 99.5% figure is nonsense.
So as you can see your point of different hardware is true but your point of alienating the consumers is not, you are wrong on that one. Soccer moms are safe for the next couple of years as developers will go for the lowest common denominator: The original DS and to a bigger extent the DS Lite.
The fact that you, yourself, a gamer, are confused by the DSi format is evidence to suggest it'll alienate even the most casual of gamer.
@ Barla Von:
Can you name 3 games from Nintendo and 1 game from publishers that will come out this year for the DSi only and not work on the old models? And I mean AAA games that are getting a big push by Nintendo or a third party not just experimental games.
You say Nintendo is bringing over 870 games right? You are simply getting by a PR move tailored to improve the image of the DSi and make people feel safe about going out and getting a DSi even when they already own a DS lite. And I TOLD you I agree that when games are made for the DSi they wont work on the old models I told you that already BUT you seem to ignore the rest of my argument just to make your point.
Just answer me this: If a new Final Fantasy is announced by SquareEnix to come out by the end of the year or early next year, Do you honestly think SquareEnix will make it so it only works with the DSi? which by the time the game comes out will have in the best case scenario 5 million units sold, or will they add some specific camera feature for the DSi but still make the game compatible with over 89 million DS already sold? Just honestly answer that and then you can start to understand my point.
I am trying to tell you that I KNOW that the games for the DSi wont work on the old models I already told you I agree on that, but what you dont seem to understand is that for the next couple of years and until the DSi installed base is big enough MOST of the games will come out for the lowest common denominator which is the DS Lite! More likely they will add a few features for the camera but that will be all for the near future. Just like the different models of the 360, why don't you reply to that argument and try to explain it? You only took the parts of my response that you seem to be able to turn around and even then you ignore some parts just to make your point.
If you are a gamer you already know that of those 870 games that Nintendo mentioned only a fraction will come out in this year, according to NIntendo there are over 600 titles available for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DS Lite as of September 2, 2008. That's 600 games since the system came out in 2004!!
Currently there are around 16 DSiware games (downloadable only) and 90% of them are not what you call big production games just Japanese board games and some old Nintendo remakes like Dr. Mario. You see there is a difference between making a download game like Dr. Mario only working on the DSi and making a full production game like Final Fantasy available for a system with two versions (DS and DS lite over 89 millions sold VS DSi with around 5 million next year)
Do you believe that as soon as the DSi comes out ALL developers will stop making games for the old models?? More importantly do you believe that big AAA games coming this year will be made for the DSi only or for both systems?
You're talking past each other.
And?
Hehehe I know, I know but its hard to resist.
What's the point?
Does the R4 cartridge work in these things?
Cool, a blue one. I already have a white DS Lite and a black DS Lite, so I was hoping to see a colorful DSi from the start so I don't have to buy white or black again.
Woop de doo. My DS has been in my man draw for about a year... DSi... not bothered.
I feel the same way about my PSP-1000. Haven't used it other then on a plane/in an airport in who knows how long. Handhelds are not for me either.
Along with all those spare batteries and radiator keys? ;)
DSi - meh. Perhaps, don't usually fancy taking a picture of myself for games. sigh.
Anyone know where I can get some dongle to allow a normal internet connection on my computer to be compatible with my DS wi-fi?
http://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-DS-Wi-Fi-USB-Connector/dp/B000MXMNG4/ref=...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/USB-Access-Point-Nintendo-Wii/dp/B000BVAPFI/ref=...