News
Nintendo Announces DSi, New Nintendo DS
Every Rumor Ever Was True. Ever. Updated with US Info.
by Coop
Update: In San Fran today, Reggie has said that the DSi will not make it into America until later 2009, so, likely, about this time. Boo.
News on this is coming in fast and hot, so there might be mistakes, as there are many conflicting reports.
Nintendo isn’t attending the Tokyo Game Show this year. Instead, they are throwing a press-only conference, which is happening as I type this. Gamervision isn’t located near or in Japan, and we currently do not have anyone who can translate Japanese, so we didn’t attend this conference. Below is the news that is announced, though, as it happens, courtesy of both GoNintendo and Kotaku, who are getting it from other people, who are hearing it from other people, who are hearing it from other people. Ladies and gentlemen: whisper down the lane.
Anyway, Nintendo has announced the DSi, the newest version of the Nintendo DS. It's rocking two cameras (640x480) and music playback, and has slightly larger screens. It also ditches the GBA slot, and is 12% thinner because of it. The pitch and sound playback speed can be adjusted and it has better speakers, and it now has two touch screens. Nintendo is really playing up the "dual" aspect of the DS, aren't they?
Hear that? It's the sound of nails smashing into a coffin. The DSi will come with a slot for an SD card and onboard memory that can be used to store full games. The Opera Browser is built in as well.
Wii Points are now Nintendo points and work for the DS and Wii. They are seperated into different sections of DSWare. Flavors include free, 200pts, 500pts, and 800pts (premium). The DSi Shop will be integrated into the handheld itself, and the handheld comes with 1000 points. No official word on if this means our Wii VC games can transfer over, but I'd hope so. Japan will see a release in November, but America and the rest of the world must wait for 2009. Boo.
The Nintendo DS Stations at Gamestops and stuff are being revamped and called...ugh... The Nintendo Zone Service. The Nintendo Zone Viewer will be included with the system, which is good, but I have no idea what it is. Here is a chart from GoNintendo detailing the differences between the two:
Price is steep, but still comparatively low and the battery life is taken down a notch, but is still fairly lengthy. Japanese price is set at 18900 yen, which is about $180. I expect to see that dropped to $150 for America, but I could be wrong. White and black will be available at launch. This looks amazing, and I will be first in line in 2009 to pick one up. They took everything awesome that the PSP has (save for graphics) and threw it into a smaller DS. That's insanity, and I'll never be bored again. Now, Nintendo, why the HELL didn't you do this at E3?
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Comments
I'm not sure that the addition of a second touch screen and a camera are going to be enough to sway me that the handheld I bought less than a year ago is actually obsolete. Neither do I feel that losing 17% thickness is necessarily a good thing. The DS is already teeny tiny (not to mention delicate....)
It's a nice evolution, to be sure. But I still think I'll hold out for something better.
Good work, Coop, way to be on the ball. I'm torn about this, personally. I love my DS lite, especially since mine is limited edition and not easily replaceable. However, the DS shop and storage capacity has me curious. It remains to be seen whether or not I will pick up a new one, but either way I will still be keeping my current DS lite.
Sooooo..., they just made it sound better, have a couple of cameras [which may suck being first-gen of its type], two golden touch screens, and adjustable music playback? Wait! They also dropped the GBA slot and added a SD slot!
Times are definitely moving forward in the portables department over at Nintendo. This is good, right? Seems so.
I quiver in excitement because all this means is that I get to ask for this for my birthday, August, or get it for the holidays if they wait that long. I'll encourage pre-ordering for it, of course, because my family doesn't know any better.
some good moves but i still don't see it as enough to sway me to picking one up.
How many more versions of the DS is Nintendo going to release!?
It's like every year they have something new and more magical to throw at people to make them cough up another $150+. I guess if people don't mind spending the cash then go for it.. but really. Come on.
What about the Guitar Hero DS franchise? Activision has to be a little miffed at the fact they just made a peripheral that cannot be used with the new DS.
@Lisa:
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1. Gameboy
2. Gameboy Pocket
3. Gameboy color.
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1. Gameboy Advance
2. Gameboy Advance SP
3. Gameboy Micro
------------------------------
1. Nintendo DS
2. Nintendo DS Lite
3. Nintendo DSi
There were others, but those were the main. This would be the third, and likely last, for the DS. Three is a good number.
They did say it's a third pillar, replacing the GBA pillar, but I think it'll be the same.
Good call 00.19... that GH peripheral hasn't even had a month before it goes obsolete!
Kinda makes me glad I don't own one yet.
Import Confirmed!
Whoa, I expected a redesign, like the Lite. Not an upgrade. While I don't see myself using it as an MP3 player or for taking pictures, the DSi Store and built-in browser are enough to convince me to set aside my DS Fat. 130$? Day one purchase.
Is it region-free though? It would make sense, but then again, we sort of all expected the Wii to be too.
And I wouldn't say the GH peripheral will become obsolete. Not unless you get rid of your current DS, of course.