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New Nintendo DSi Announced
Posted by
CmdrTaco
on Thu Oct 02, 2008 09:50 AM
from the gimme-my-puzzlequest dept.
from the gimme-my-puzzlequest dept.
justme8800 writes "The DSi has a bigger screen, an SD card expansion, a 0.3 megapixel camera, is thinner (no GBA slot), and has improved audio. To be released in Japan on November 1st, everywhere else sometime in 2009."
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Games: Nintendo's Wii Storage Solution — SD Cards 79 comments
Lucas123 writes "After gamers complained for the better part of a year, Nintendo finally came out with a solution to the Wii's lack of storage capacity — a 2GB SD card from which users can execute games, adding to the console's measly 512MB of onboard storage. The card is expected out in the Spring. With the ability to download, the card should allow users to store up to 60 games."
This news came out of the same press conference that announced the Nintendo DSi we discussed earlier today. They made a number of other announcements as well, including Gamecube remakes for the Wii, updated to make use of the Wiimote, Club Nintendo coming to North America this year, and the Wii Speak Channel, an online voice chat utility.
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Games: Nintendo DSi Software Will Be Region Locked 148 comments
aliquis writes with news that software made for the recently announced Nintendo DSi will be region-locked. Nintendo's reasoning is that the DSi "embeds net communication functionality within itself and we are intending to provide net services specifically tailored for each region." It's also been discovered that accounts with the DSi's online store won't be linked with the Wii store, so points for one won't work with the other. Nintendo has stated that they don't intend for digital distribution to replace retail sales. We discussed the DSi's announcement last week.
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More Info (Score:5, Informative)
FYI, there are more pics and details here: http://www.wiimedia.com/news/view/next_gen_nintendo_dsi_wii_storage_solution_and_more/ [wiimedia.com]
And here: http://www.dsfanboy.com/photos/nintendo-dsi/ [dsfanboy.com]
Some of these details are a bit confused. For example, Nintendo appears to have announced a 300,000 pixel camera (0.3 megapixel), yet it's also being reported as a 3 megapixel camera. Also, there was a report (now believed to be unsubstantiated) that both screens would have touch capability.
What *is* known is that Wii Points will becomes Nintendo Points. Why? Because the DSi will have internal flash memory along with the SD Card slot that can be used to download games (both new and previous gameboy games) from the DS Shop Channel. Just like the Wii. The system also appears to have TWO cameras. One on the inside of the hinge, and one on the front cover. (More evidence that we're talking about a 0.3 megapixel camera capable of 640x480 resolutions.)
Nintendo also announced a Wii storage solution. The Wii Shop Channel will have the option to download directly to an SD Card. A player will then be able to use an "easy copy to the Wii's main memory" to play the game. It's not clear if Iwata meant the Wii would use some of its flash memory as cache, or if you really have to do the copy yourself.
The DSi will be priced in Japan at 18,900 Yen. Which is approximately $180. The DS Lite sells in Japan for ~$150, so that should give some clue to its likely American price.
Nintendo also announced new games in the form of Punch Out for the Wii, Sin and Punishment 2 for the Wii, Mario and Luigi 3 for the DSi, and Trace Memory for the DSi. They are also going to be "refreshing" the GameCube line (e.g. Pikmin and DK Jungle Beat) and re-releasing them for the Wii. I'm not sure what that's supposed to accomplish, but whatever.
Nintendo of America will hold its own press conference at 12:30 PM EDT.
Hopefully we'll get a few clarifications at NOA's press conference.
BTW, if you want to see videos of Nintendo's new stuff go here [nintendo.co.jp] and scroll down to the box that says "Nintendo Conference". Inside that box are two large buttons. One is a video for the Wii, one is a video for the DSi.
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Yeah, I think the point is now that the DS has an SD slot you won't have to have a homebrew cartridge in order to share data between your Wii and DS.
A lot of the new add-ons the the DS are excellent, and they seem to be jumping ahead of homebrew in order to prevent piracy.
Resident Evil 4 and Animal Crossing (Score:2)
They are also going to be "refreshing" the GameCube line (e.g. Pikmin and DK Jungle Beat) and re-releasing them for the Wii. I'm not sure what that's supposed to accomplish
Even if it's not an actual sequel, consider the case of Capcom's Resident Evil 4. It was ported from GameCube to PS2 to Wii, with enhancements each time. Or consider the first Animal Crossing game, which was ported from N64 (as Doubutsu no Mori) to GameCube (NTSC J, as Doubutsu no Mori +) to GameCube (NTSC U/C, as Animal Crossing | Population: Growing!) and back to GameCube (NTSC J, as Doubutsu no Mori e+), again with enhancements in each edition.
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"refreshing the GameCube line" sounds interesting to me...
There are GameCube games I would like to play (Wind Walker), but I don't really want to buy GameCube accessories to do it... and it takes effort to find that stuff anyways. This should also somewhat mitigate the rather poor lineup of upcoming games on the Wii.
Re:More Info (Score:4, Insightful)
The only accessories you need are a GameCube controller and a save card. Both can be found at your local GameStop for less than $10. Along with plenty of used GameCube games.
I imagine what this is really about is giving some games a second chance to shine. The GameCube wasn't exactly Nintendo's most popular system. And some of their best games (e.g. DK Jungle Beat) were sold in a fire sale because Nintendo needed to shift gears to a new strategy. (I got Jungle Beat + 2 bongos NEW for $14!) By reintroducing these games, they're pushing them out to millions of customers who never got the chance to play them when the GameCube was still supported. The advantage to re-releasing them as Wii titles rather than GameCube titles that work with the Wii is that Nintendo can distance themselves from the failure of the 'Cube.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
I'm sure we'll find out shortly, but I wouldn't be surprised to find that both figures are accurate.
The pics indicate that it has two cameras (one on the outside of the clamshell and the inside camera the middle of the hinge facing the user. My guess is that the low resolution is on the inside to facilitate stuff like video-enabled chat.
Re:More Info (Score:4, Informative)
First off, that article does not confirm what the grandparent said. Secondly, I wrote that article. So take it with a grain of salt.
Parent
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Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Summary is wrong. (Score:2)
The included camera is 640x480 or approximately 0.3 megapixels, not 3.0 megapixels.
There are already incompatible games (Score:5, Informative)
Guitar Hero doesn't run on DSi. Nor does anything beyond the first third of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl (after you get the national Pokédex). And there's speculation on forum.gbadev.org that Nintendo might have used this as a chance to beef up the security against homebrew through a combination of digitally signing new DS titles and whitelisting old titles.
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But you can also insert an SD card directly into the DSi now, I'm sure they will find a way.
Why DSi you ask? (Score:5, Funny)
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Those features are great and all... (Score:4, Insightful)
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Nintendo announced a new WiFi adapter. So WPA support is probably in the new revision of the DS.
Re:Those features are great and all... (Score:4, Informative)
Nintendo announced a new WiFi adapter. So WPA support is probably in the new revision of the DS.
But possibly only for internal "channels" and new WFC titles, as existing WFC titles use a Wi-Fi driver on the Game Card, not in the internal firmware.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
but where the hell is my goddamn WPA support?
According to this link http://bb.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/news/23361.html [impress.co.jp] (in Japanese) The DSi supports WPA(TKIP/AES) and WPA2(TKIP/AES)
GBA slot will be missed. (Score:5, Insightful)
Losing the GBA slot is unfortunate, there were a lot of really good GBA titles that are still fun to play now.
In all likelihood Nintendo realizes this, and will re-package the old GBA titles on DS media form factor, and re-sell us the same games again, like they have with the Virtual Console on the Wii.
This makes total financial sense, but it's too bad. I can't think of any way as a consumer to act in a way that would give the incentive to Nintendo to retain backward compatibility so that I don't have to re-buy games I've already played. If we all don't re-buy, Nintendo would just not re-package to re-sell, rather than retain backward compatibility.
It seems like console makers have some incentive to provide backward compatibility during the intro period when they are transitioning from the old platform to the new, but once the new platform is entrenched they drop backward compatibility to cut costs/up profits.
Guess I'll keep my GBA SP2+ around, then.
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Nintendo already dropped Game Boy (Color and original) compatibility with the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Micro. That they would drop the slot altogether isn't all that surprising.
Re:GBA slot will be missed. (Score:5, Insightful)
GBA support isn't the real problem. The real problem is that the GBA slot was the DS's expansion port. Games like Guitar Hero: World Tour plugged hardware into that port. Without the port, these games will not work on the new DS. Even if the software is otherwise compatible.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Of which 2 or 3 games, one of which being the DS browser (now built into the system) used that exp. port. The exp. port-less system won't be sold in the US in quantity until 2009 so they still have another christmas' worth of DSes to be sold with the expansion port. Shrinking market? Perhaps, but that's 5 months from now and most of those DSes will continue to work for another year or two.
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Re:GBA slot will be missed. (Score:4, Insightful)
IAADSD (I am a DS Developer)
Posting anonymously for obvious reasons.
The main reason for the removal of the GBA slot is likely the removal of the ARM7 for replacing with a simpler, less expensive hardware that does the same (DS has both ARM9 and ARM7. DS games run on ARM9 while ARM7 can't be accessed by the developer -runs custom nitnendo code-, and GBA games run on ARM7). I think DS was engineered from the begining for this to happen.
This will mainly impact homebrew developers, as homebrew will not run on DSi.
Parent
No GBA slot, no sale. (Score:2)
I see no reason to pick this one up if they remove the GBA slot. One of the more popular features of the Nintendo handhelds is the backwards compatibility. The ability to only have to carry one device to play all my games was a nice feature. Also, there are several DS games that can have extra features unlocked or data transferred from GBA carts. Obviously, this kills that bonus as well. As much as I would really like to have the better wireless features, I will just have to make do.
heh (Score:2)
I just picked up a used ds lite with 3 games for $100. That should hold me for a while. I like that I can play GBA games on it - wouldn't want to give that up to be honest. The camera and music don't matter - I have other devices for that. The wireless store is cool - but not enough for me to shell out a bunch of money again. I'll probably end up getting a used DSi somewhere down the road I guess.
I'm more interested in seeing what happens with Apple. I keep seeing articles saying the ipod touc
The end of backwards compatibility for real? (Score:3, Insightful)
Backwards Compatibility for Money (Score:4, Insightful)
Presumably this is what the "Nintendo Store" is for. Instead of letting you play your old cartridges, Nintendo will charge you $5 or $10 and let you download them.
I have a Wii and a DS and I really enjoy both, especially with a CycloDS to play my MP3s and videos. I'm not interested in the DiiS, er, DSi, and I don't really go in for the "Virtual Console" on my Wii, but I see how this new handheld brings Nintendo's portables in line with its Wii business model. "Downloadable content" is the new "backwards compatibility." For all three console manufacturers now, come to think of it.
Parent
No WPA! (Score:5, Informative)
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Or, you know, they could just add WPA support.
GBA slot missing is not a problem (Score:2, Informative)
Because GBA games can be run from SD
Lack of GBA slot easily solved (and improved on) (Score:4, Interesting)
Virtual Portable. Not only downloadable GBA games, but GBC, GB, Gamegear, NeoGeo Pocket, Lynx, etc. That's not a press release, just my own note of an obvious thing for Nintendo to do. Aside from being able to play your GBA games this way, you'd be able to carry all of them with you without carrying/fiddling with any cartridges. Too bad they aren't doing the same with the DS games. Or are they? Or perhaps for new DSi-only games. That's certainly the direction they should be going: all download.
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radio shack (Score:2)
Homebrew? (Score:2)
I own a DS for home brew. I set it to auto-load DSOrganize when I turn it on, and I have various home brew games on it as well as my own creations.
I can't imagine that Nintendo didn't change the security, so the cat and mouse game will continue. Hopefully it won't end. Otherwise *gulp* I'll have to start developing for the iPhone. :(
Get a Pandora (Score:3, Insightful)
Otherwise *gulp* I'll have to start developing for the iPhone.
The iPhone is even worse. Even the cheapest model (iPod Touch 8 GB) is $229, more expensive than a DS Lite + M3 Real. And there's as much anti-jailbreak cat-and-mouse on an iPhone as there ever was on a PSP. I'd recommend getting in on the next round of Pandora preorders.
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Because part of the fun is developing on a platform that has users. Does anybody actually buy things like the Pandora other than homebrew developers?
Which DSi are we talking about? (Score:5, Funny)
Someone please clarify for me... Is this DSi Miami, New York, or the original one that was in Vegas? If there's no Grissom, then I'm not interested.
Re:Which DSi are we talking about? (Score:5, Funny)
RTFA - It's DSi Tokyo
Parent
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The jury's out on homebrew compatibility... (Score:5, Interesting)
One of the driving forces behind the development of the DSi is the rampant piracy in the DS market. You can buy a flash card and 1GB microSD card that'll run copied ROMs for less than $20 these days. I fully expect Nintendo has incorporated some fairly aggressive tech to prevent copying. That's not a bad thing, except that it throws up yet another roadblock for homebrewers. The DS is a capable, affordable and widespread platform that would benefit tremendously from independent development, yet there's no way that Nintendo is every going to let that happen without extracting a pound of flesh through their online download service.
We're officially in a new era in which manufacturers see it as their duty to lock down their portable computers - I hope that the Pandora is a success, although I fear we'll have to wait a few years before a manufacturer comes along and blows the market open with a tiny box that can run third party code without obstruction
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It will fall hard just like it has on the Wii.
when will they get it through their heads that they can not win that war?
Re:The jury's out on homebrew compatibility... (Score:4, Insightful)
It will fall hard just like it has on the Wii. when will they get it through their heads that they can not win that war?
They are winning that war; its just that their notion of win is different than yours. Nintendo's goal isn't to stop the people who are homebrewing from homebrewing, its to stop the masses from engaging in piracy (make it hard enough that most people either won't understand how to do it, or won't care to spend the time); that their actions give homebrewers some small challenges is just a side effect.
The homebrew community laughs when Nintendo releases an update that breaks homebrew, but then the community has a fix within hours. What the community seems to be missing is that Nintendo hugely stops the proliferation of the explotation of the system every time such an event occurs. Sure your system barely misses a beat, but how many non-tech friends/relatives are you going to set up their system to run homebrew when you know that every month or so they are going to be calling you for help? More to the point, how many non-tech people are going to keep using pirated games when for reasons they can't understand the games stop working every time the system updates?
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
One of the driving forces behind the development of the DSi is the rampant piracy in the DS market.
How rampant? Thousands? Millions? Got some numbers?
New shiny toys (Score:3, Interesting)
I'll be honest, I haven't played my GBA games in a while (gasp! zomgshockhorror what sort of nerd is this?!?) and I'm not in the homebrew community (gasps have now been replaced by sounds of fainting from the peanut gallery), so I won't be missing that end of it. And I still have my trusty GBA SP if worse comes to worse, and I don't NEED to trade in my old DS ("DS", hard stop — yes, just the DS, not Lite). And (potentially) finally being able to ditch WEP on my wireless network would be a very nice addition.
And I'd be willing to bet Nintendo will have a way to access the camera from games, leading to all sorts of frivolity and goofiness along the way (members of the peanut gallery are now calling for my head). So I say, bring it on.
OMG! Ponies! (Score:5, Insightful)
(Seriously, best theft deterrent I've ever had)
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Well I am not going to rush out for one of these. I like some GBA games I own and I have Opera for it. .3 megapixel camera? Big deal. :)
A
Now If Nintendo included a VIOP and maybe a Video over IP that could be cool.
Sort of an Nintendo Phone
Re:These new devices come out so often (Score:5, Insightful)
The original DS came out in 2004, the DS Lite in 2006. Two years for a consumer electronics product is a reasonable cycle. Do you also complain about auto manufacturers producing new models every year?
Parent
Re:Any DRM? (Score:4, Informative)
If it's anything like Nintendo's previous portable systems, there is no region lock. There should also be language settings in it to switch it to english.
FYI, I have a DS Lite bought in Canada (labeled C/USG-USA) but it has English, Deutsch, Français, Español, Italiano and Japanese language settings.
Parent