Before G4's Dan Hsu spoke to Reggie Fils-Aime about the DSi, the closest estimate we had for a North American release date was "well into 2009." Reggie has narrowed the window a bit, saying that because of strong DS Lite sales (Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G hasn't happened here to distract people from the DS), the DSi launch is "going to be in our next fiscal -- so, certainly after April."
He then went on to downplay the immediate importance of DS Shop downloads in North America, in a way that we can't help but read as stating the obvious given that we won't be able to buy anything to play DSWare until "down the road:
"We believe that as we continue to drive sales for DS hardware in total, the biggest opportunity's going to be on packaged software. Down the road, with the DSi Shop and downloadable software, certainly will be a growing opportunity and something developers are excited about, but it really is much longer down the road."
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
10-03-2008 @ 6:11PM
RasenganFury said...
Im not getting this since there is no gba slot. Plus based on past renovations to the gba, this will be the last ds and next is a new system.
1.Gameboy Advance
2.Gameboy Advance SP
3.Gameboy Micro
1.Nintendo DS
2.Nintendo DS Lite
3.Nintendo DSi
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10-03-2008 @ 8:37PM
FantomRedux said...
you could say past renovations to all Nintendo handhelds to an extent
Game Boy
Game Boy Pocket
Game Boy Colour (if it counts)
10-03-2008 @ 6:42PM
Vidikron said...
The problem is I need a new DS NOW... or, rather, my wife does. She's worn noticeable marks into her current DS playing various casual games that make use of the stylus. We've already been holding off due to the rumors of a DS hardware revision, but now that it's official we find out Japan is going to get it a half or more before us. Fucking lame, Nintendo.
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10-03-2008 @ 6:44PM
Vidikron said...
Oops... that should read:
"Japan is going to get it a half YEAR or more before us"
The "Fucking lame, Nintendo" that follows is correct however.
10-03-2008 @ 8:46PM
Pistolero said...
No offence but I feel the reasons Reggie Fils-Aime gave for their decision are perfectly valid. It's still not stopping you from buying a replacement for your wife. I mean, the DSi is 7+ months away from a US launch and 5 months away from a UK launch.
10-04-2008 @ 12:16AM
Vidikron said...
Sure, the reasons are valid from a business standpoint. They hope to dump all their old models in the US market where your average cosumer won't be aware of the impending new model. Then, if Nintendo is lucky, they'll score multiple sales from someof those people when they find out about the newer model down the road. Plus, by pushing it to the next financial year they make next year's books all nice and pretty.
But as an informed comsumer that knows about the new model I'm getting screwed. I'm not going to buy the current model knowing it's going to be outdated in half a year. That would be foolish, especially if they actually do use the cameras for some of the games. I nor my wife use the GBA slot so that's a non-factor. So now I'm stuck waiting half a year so Nintendo can dump their outdated stock and make next year's financial statements look prettier.... or attempt to import one at a premium price.
10-03-2008 @ 7:24PM
FantomRedux said...
I don't see how the DS can't pull of any particular genre of game, assuming that what you meant by styles of game. It has one of the biggest libraries out there. Thats not counting the GBA library. Last I checked, were well into the 2700's with ROM release numbers. Thats probably around 1500-1800 games if you take the different regions out. And theres a great range of games there too. Youve got RPG's, FPS's, Strategy, Sports. Admitedly, most of these are fairly lackluster on the DS, but thats the developers faults for not putting enough care into the games. Either way, while the DS may be low on the horsepower in comparsion to the PSP, and even the iPhone, the Wii is in comparison to the 360/PS3, but the games on that are just as exciting to play, if not more so, than the 360/PS3 because of the unique hardware.
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10-04-2008 @ 2:49AM
Kralos said...
April? pffft. I'll just import it then. And if I wait a bit, they should come out with some limited edition in Japan I can try to get, and it'll still be before april.
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10-04-2008 @ 5:47PM
chao1212 said...
not if youre getting dsware, you wont
10-04-2008 @ 3:53AM
Andy said...
@FantomRedux
Quick, call the Nintendo Defense Force!
Anyway, I still can't understand why they're delaying this until April. People are not gonna buy a Lite now AND a DSi in April. So why should the current sales of the Lite be the focus for the holiday season? Hell, if anything, releasing the DSi before the holidays might mean that some people would otherwise not buy one (like they already own a Lite or were going to buy a Lite) might buy one. Maybe it's just me, but I'd have tried to release it by the Holiday Season...
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10-04-2008 @ 9:28PM
Shadow31 said...
I'm in the gaming industry and I believe I can answer this logic. Yes, most consumers won't buy a DS Lite now AND a DSi in April, especially if they know about it. However, the average American is impatient and therefore will buy the DS Lite, finding the DSi a useless upgrade. Let me rephrase that: there will be enough people who will buy DS Lites by holiday season that Nintendo will make money then.
Okay, fast forward, not to DSi launch where people waiting on it will actually buy it then, but past the DSi launch by 6-12 months. The DSi will pick up speed. People who bought the DS Lite now will begin to wear from the advertising and hype of the DSi. Nintendo, along with some 3rd party companies, will be in the perfect position to release some big, gimicky games (see pretty much every huge casual game released on Wii and DS). These games will use one or more of the DSi's features (camera, internal memory, music playback, DSWare, etc) that make it DSi exclusive. Basically they doubled their money.
So correct, people will not buy the DS Lite now and the DSi in April (assuming it comes that early, which is unlikely). Nintendo just has to downplay the difference between the systems until the DSi is released when they can focus on its hardware. They're not really looking at the sales for this year, but rather, the overall potential sales.
10-04-2008 @ 3:54AM
Diortem7 said...
I don't think older DS users will need to update their old systems. All that Nintendo needs to do is release an add-on, like the Play-Yan, so that the old models can play DS Ware games too. In fact, I'm almost certain they will eventually. It will probably be sometime after the DSi launch though, that way more people will be inclined to buy the new model. After all, DS Ware is really the main selling point for the DSi.
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10-04-2008 @ 4:20AM
xcdjy said...
Not to jinx it, but I've got the strangest feeling that UK will get it first. Don't ask why...
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10-04-2008 @ 10:34AM
chibi_wings said...
everyone knows Europe will get it first. Nintendo of Europe stated they will get DSi Spring 2009, while Reggie just confirmed NA will get it after April, so summer 2009.
10-04-2008 @ 11:36AM
xcdjy said...
Okay okay okay, don't like... throw crabs at me.
Just joshing. Nah, I meant it as a follow-on to what DSFanboy said yesterday about 'if NA are getting it this date, odds are UK will get it even later than that' or something along those lines :D
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10-05-2008 @ 12:19PM
Atreyufan said...
Wow..People should stop complaining that the graphics suck on the DS. Graphics don't not make a game. Sure it makes the game looks good but it all comes down to what the consumer likes and the game play. Which I think for the DS Nintendo knows what they're doing with game play. (Also I'm talking about the DS not the wii so don't throw a bi**h fit when you read this because the wii doesn't have good game play in your eyes" Also you think the DS has bad graphics try and put a game like Final Fantasy IV on the iPhone and let it work without crashing.
Then talk to me.
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