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Nintendo's Media Summit has just thrown us its first juicy bone of the night, and it's a big one. As was previously rumored, Satoru Iwata has revealed the Nintendo DSi, the direct successor to the DS Lite which comes absolutely jam-packed with new features and trinkets, including two cameras, music playback functions, expanded screens, an SD card slot, and a whole new, DS-specific download service. Hit the break for the full list of improvements and adjustments, as well as the Japanese launch date and price!
- Overall size has been reduced -- DSi is 12% or 2.6 millimeters slimmer than the Lite.
- Comes with an external 0.3 Megapixel camera (for 640 x 480 pixel pictures) and a VGA camera located on the hinge, directed towards the user. You'll be able to edit pictures using the touchscreen.
- Full music playback functionality, including adjustable pitch and playback speed.
- Both screens have been expanded to 3.25 inches.
- SD memory card slot is included, and there'll be on-board memory also.
- Will ship with an built-in Nintendo DS web browser.
- DSi will allow users to download games from DSWare, a new service that operates with Wii Points -- or, as they are now known, Nintendo Points.
- Logging onto DSWare for the first time will grant users 1,000 free Nintendo Points.
- DSWare comes in four pricing categories: free (!), 200 Nintendo Points, 500 Nintendo Points, and 800 Nintendo Points.
- Will come in lovely matte white and matte black. Begone, foul fingerprints that have taunted us so!
- And finally, it launches on November 1st in Japan, and will cost ¥18,900, or roughly $179. Check out the official site at the "Source" link below!
Reader Comments (Page 6 of 6)
10-03-2008 @ 10:41AM
Jacksons said...
Oh sure, NOW they do a matte finish. I'll stick with the lite, but this isn't too shabby!
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10-03-2008 @ 11:41AM
erik said...
ok i hope that they added an external light switch... i hate to move arround and find out i cant see anything on the screen cause i was playing on a low power level to save energy and then have to save my game just to go change the light!!!! that sucked... i wont miss the gba slot at all.... homebrew will take care of that :) and one more thing, this thing is going to be awsome... im getting it right away... im setting money on the side for it!!!!
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10-03-2008 @ 2:05PM
MrBojangles288 said...
Oh awesome, I'm already pumped
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10-03-2008 @ 5:37PM
Tyler said...
Stop complaining, people. I actually need a new DS. This happens to be perfect. As far as a lack of GBA slot, no one is making you throw away your current DS. I welcome the change, as I already have a Micro in my possession for GBA gaming, and it feels much better, imo.
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10-03-2008 @ 9:36PM
Ink. said...
I don't even think we'd use a camera on a system that's used to play games. i mean, that's what cellphones and digicams are for.
And i doubt that someone who could afford a DS wouldn't have a camera.
What i like about this is the smaller size; 12% thinner? And the fact that i don't have to use an R4 anymore since it supports SD cards.
On the other hand, they took out the GBA slot, which i could care less since my blasted bro deleted all my saves in pokemon, but others seem to. I just hope i won't hear any news about them replacing the DS card/cartrige slot permanently for an SD compatible one, since I have a lot of DS games.
Needs better WiFi CONNECTION. Can't they think about that first before the vain people and cameras?
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10-04-2008 @ 7:49AM
bryan51 said...
It still doesnt upgrade 3d hardware, which is only reason I would buy over psp. The tech is there and cheap now. I would buy a DS if only games looked better instead of
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10-05-2008 @ 7:16AM
mint08 said...
3d hardware upgrade ftw
10-04-2008 @ 10:03AM
zacx said...
In all the websites that have it none of them say whether its gonna have ds game compatibility-call me stupid but i'm wondering...is it compatible with the current ds slot one games?
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10-04-2008 @ 10:10PM
Ink. said...
That's exactly what i'm afraid of. But i think they'd leave the DS slot.
They say it doesn't have a GBA slot, but they never said it didn't have a DS one. It's a DS, they HAVE to leave that.
10-04-2008 @ 12:40PM
nillaP said...
I think it is a good revamp, but I don't like how it looks just like a lite. I mean i like the lite design, but it would be smarter to change at least a little bit of the appearance to make it more recognizable because I can barely tell the difference between the two
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10-04-2008 @ 5:13PM
Toph said...
I'm underwhelmed. The commenters above who have pointed out that even at launch, the DS's 3D graphics were a little underpowered are right, and now, sure, they're cute and retro, but considering that my phone can handle 3D graphics better than the DS, it would seem time for a proper hardware refresh. The only features added are the cameras and the SD card, if I'm right. I don't need another music player, especially not one that I have to unfold to use. I don't need another portable camera—most phones have cameras, and I don't see how the camera will add to gameplay, short of a few gimmicky games that use it. And to top it off, the GBA slot is gone? This is just kind of a stupid excuse for an upgrade, and certainly not worth the money.
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10-05-2008 @ 5:35AM
mint08 said...
i'm sorry, but this new ds is rather disappointing, for the fact that nintendo chose to 'upgrade' with flashy add-ons that make the ds a scattered, half-baked iphone of sorts... i was expecting the upgrade, but i don't see it getting the actual upgrade it needs: better graphics.. you know, for the games, if anybody hasn't realized that the ds is primarily a visual-type gadget for games? i'm a dsfanboy, and i know nintendo aims for innovative, even avant-garde improvements in the gaming experience, but some 'upgrades' appear really unnecessary when the most important issues aren't taken into consideration.
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