¥18,900, or roughly $180. That's how much the Nintendo DSi will cost when it launches on November 1st in Japan. For North American importers, that's a $50 hike for a system with a few extra functions, but also with its GBA compatibility removed. At the same time, it's not a dramatic leap for Japanese consumers -- ¥18,900 is just ¥2,100 ($14) more than what a Lite costs there.In your view, is the DSi fairly priced? And what's the highest price you would be prepared to pay when it arrives in your region next year?
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
10-09-2008 @ 12:09PM
leonus11 said...
@ SephFinale
it seems pretty likely that they will have a GBA download service. though the question is will it be on the DSi? or on the Wii VC?
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10-09-2008 @ 12:24PM
TJF588 said...
It hasn't been on the Wii's VC yet. Thus, it would likely be DSi-oriented. The question is about DSiWii activity with those titles.
As said, the price of DSi here will be different from the direct conversion in Japanland, and $150 does sound like a round number. Also said, it's not so much the GBA capabilities of the slot, since we have someoptions on those, but the GBADS game compatibilities and, especially (for the masses, at least), perpheral uses. Really, for Nintendo to pull a dick move like this right after Guitar Hero came out AND before the next one comes out. Yeesh...
Oh, and I'm, too, quite tired of the slot moan-&-groan. DSFanboy's making it sound like that's all the DSs are good for with how often it's brought up.
10-09-2008 @ 2:23PM
leonus11 said...
not really my friend. i doubt that ninty will stop selling DS lites and if they do then GBA games will HAVE to be made avaliable for download on the Wii VC or DSWare feature. and also, the sites called DSFANBOY. not DSLitefanboy or OURFAVORITEDSMODELFANBOY. if they like a certain DS or every DS made then they may do so since they ARE DSFANBOYS.
10-09-2008 @ 12:25PM
Chris said...
one billion trillion dollars !!!!muahahaha
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10-09-2008 @ 12:30PM
Zealot said...
If the DSi were to come over here at roughly $180, the PSP would be able to claim that it's no longer significantly more expensive (or, in comparison to the DSi, even slightly less expensive) than its competitor, which could potentially be bad for DS sales all around considering Nintendo's policy of immediately throwing the old model under the bus as far as promotion goes. Commercials for games will say "DSi" instead of "DS Lite", posters and signs in big retailers, electronics stores, game stores, etc. will be pitching the new model, and so, for the uninitiated looking for a handheld, that's what they're going to compare price-wise with the PSP and make their decision based on that. People who already own a DS have been, by and large, resistant to upgrading, so, if Nintendo's target is new buyers drawn in by convergence and the multimedia doo-dads, they need to tread carefully when they consider the price internationally.
Of course, I'm not for actively trying to "destroy" competing systems (I'll be first in line for a PSP if Monster Hunter Freedom 2nd or either of those two new Level 5 games ever get localized), but the logic behind DSi pricing is still important from a business standpoint.
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10-09-2008 @ 12:38PM
TurboFool said...
I'm really not convinced I WILL buy one. That said, the DS's physical lifespan for me has been lower than previous systems. I just had to replace the case on my lite due to the hinge crack and my speakers are crackling. I was looking forward to replacing it with the new one because of this. Problem is the new one isn't piquing my interest much. I'm not concerned about the lack of GBA slot (haven't played a GBA game in over a year on mine), but the new battery life and relative lack of new useful functions has me unimpressed. Just doesn't feel like a $150 upgrade to me.
But maybe when it hits here if there's enough compelling DSi-specific games and the DSware service really does seem worth it, and my current DS lite is just driving me batty, I might do it. Otherwise I'll skip it like the Micro.
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10-09-2008 @ 1:14PM
Eccentric-Servbot said...
I have no real interest in the DSi. Like, at all.
I don't need a camera, theres on in my phone.
I don't need mp3 playback, I have an iPod.
I don't care about better Wi-Fi, I barely use it anyway.
I still use my GBA slot.
Unless this download crap releases something that significantly interest me, the chances of me getting a DSi are 1 in 10000000000000000000.
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10-09-2008 @ 2:25PM
Peter S said...
Not really that interested. I like the idea of better wifi support, but not to the tune of buying a whole new device. I don't use the wireless much now, but that's because it doesn't support WPA and I don't want to reconfigure my router just for the DS. I'd probably use it more otherwise.
It's an interesting device and the direct download is interesting, but I'd have to see what is really done with the unit overall before I can make a better decision.
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10-09-2008 @ 2:32PM
mahmud said...
I'll buy it for my little sister when it drops to 100. Me personally? I'm fine with my lite.
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10-09-2008 @ 3:14PM
Michael said...
I just thought on something
the Wii is in many way oriented toward multiple players, in other words Wii=we. One of the articles recently posted expressed Nintendo's vision of 1 DS per person in a household, in otherwords perhaps DSi=me. irrelavent to the actual topic but still... if I'm expected to not only upgrade but get DSis for my wife and both my kids Nintendo has gotta lower prices or lower it's expectations.
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10-09-2008 @ 3:55PM
InvisibleMan said...
At first I thought the $180 price was right... then I saw that the PSP-3000 would be $170! Since I already have a DS Lite, I think $180 is too much in comparison for what you get with a PSP, not to mention that I would be playing the same games on the DSi that I would play currently on my DS Lite. For extra features, and to expand my gaming possibilities, I will go with the PSP-3000.
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10-09-2008 @ 6:02PM
Jacksons said...
There's slim to no chance I'll be upgrading (downgrading?) from my DS Lite, but a price like that would make it a definite no. Seriously, the PSP is $170 and the base model Xbox 360 is $200. The DS's technology is not worth anywhere near $180.
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10-10-2008 @ 1:43AM
mahmud said...
Nintendo will move these units when they include an R4 with every purchase... Ha!
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10-10-2008 @ 6:29AM
waltzinblack said...
Slot-2 removal and region-locking nailed the DSi's coffin shut for me.
And even if those two things didn't amount to a total deal-breaker, the alleged $180 price-point would. $50 more for a half-gone Lite posing as a watered-down PDA? I'd rather just save myself $10 and grab a PSP.
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10-10-2008 @ 9:29AM
Agenor said...
You should not complain for you prices, USA guys... Here in Brazil we pay a LOT - I really mean a LOT - more for a Nintendo DS, X360, PS3 and so on.
For a hypothetical example, let's just convert the currencies to COINS. Simple coins, ok? Here in Brazil my monthly earn salary is around $2.000 coins. Let's say one of you guys have also the same salary in USA, $2.000 coins.
We buy a BigMac + fries + soda for $10 coins.
I bet you buy at this price too.
We buy a book USA imported book for $40 coins.
You spend $10 coins on it.
In USA you buy the NDS for $199 coins.
Here, we buy ours NDS for $400 coins!
Almost one quart of my salary!
A original DS game is aroun $100, $120 coins!
Hell yeah...
Imagine other systems...
PS3, $1400 coins.
Letest Mac mini? $3.000 coins!
We are fried.
Agenor.
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