New DS Announced

msmalls74 · 2 Oct 2008 at 07:18

At the Nintendo Conference today, Nintendo announced a new DS caleed the DSi.

US, October 1, 2008 - Nintendo has just announced a new model of the Nintendo DS. Called the Nintendo DS-i, the unit is a smaller handheld that features larger screens, an SD card slot for digital downloads and MP3 playback, and a .3 megapixel camera (640x480 resolution). It is roughly 12% thinner than the current DS Lite model.

Using the touch screen, users will be able to adjust pitch and playback speed of MP3s as well as edit photos taken with the camera.

The Nintendo DS-i handheld will have browser software built-in and have access to a DSWare store where gamers can spend Nintendo Points on software. Nintendo will give gamers 1000 points for free if they visit the store by March 2010 -- games will feature four price structures: Free, 200 Points, 500 Points and Premium (800 Points).

The Nintendo DS-i will not feature compatibility with Game Boy Advance games due to the lack of a GBA cartridge slot. Though it hasn't been revealed by Nintendo, it's likely that peripherals such as the Guitar Grip for Guitar Hero will not work with the DS-i handheld.

The system will be released November 1st in Japan for 18,900 yen (approximately $180 US) in a white and Matte black combo color. As of right now, the system is a Japan exclusive.

http://uk.ds.ign.com/articles/915/915507p1.html

neoboy · 2 Oct 2008 at 07:32

So basically we won't see one until next year. I'm only interested in these because it's my sisters birthday in Novemeber so I guess no point waiting since it won't be out here by then. We won't be seeing any price drops either will we? I remember Nintendo saying there are no cuts planned for this year.

2Thumbs · 2 Oct 2008 at 07:33

Hmm...

Not sure I like the fact they've removed the GBA slot.

And why bother with a .3 megapixel camera? :confused:

Unless it's a front facing one and you can use it in games and 'conference' with people! :cool:

Nismo · 2 Oct 2008 at 07:42

Not many hard details on this so far, some sites saying it has 2 cameras (think that's true) but I saw one that said it had 2 touch screens (probably false)

I was worried this would mean new DSi games only, but it just seems like a revision of the current DS and both will continue to play the same games

Streeteh · 2 Oct 2008 at 08:34

2Thumbs said:
Not sure I like the fact they've removed the GBA slot.

This...

...Actually i KNOW i don't like the idea, some of the best games i've played on the DS have actually been GBA games (FFVI, Advance wars 1+2 etc...).

neoboy · 2 Oct 2008 at 08:37

I'm sure someone is already making an add on for the DSi for GBA games.

Streeteh · 2 Oct 2008 at 08:40

neoboy said:
I'm sure someone is already making an add on for the DSi for GBA games.

It exists, it's called an R4 chip

I actually bought my GBA games though, you can't really say no for £3 each brand new, if i invested in this I would have to chuck em and invest in an R4. However i seriously doubt this DSi is worth the upgrade from a DS slim so it's not really an issue.

Raymond Lin · 2 Oct 2008 at 08:45

VGA camera? what is this? 1998 ? Might as well not bother, the camera is just going to be crap.

roboffer · 2 Oct 2008 at 08:57

More pictures here

http://www.eurogamer.net/gallery.php?game_id=&article_id=249518

JaFFa · 2 Oct 2008 at 09:35

sites I've read says it plays DS and 'ds-i' games. Does this mean it has better gfx power than the last ds ?

PiKe · 2 Oct 2008 at 09:45

JaFFa said:
sites I've read says it plays DS and 'ds-i' games. Does this mean it has better gfx power than the last ds ?

Maybe just games that have camera support?

nikebee · 2 Oct 2008 at 10:02

For all those people winging they're taking the GBA slot out... nobody is forcing you to buy one.

I've still got the original DS infact

Geffen · 2 Oct 2008 at 10:35

This is just a stop gap until a real replacement for the DS can be launched some time round 2010.

da_mic_1530 · 2 Oct 2008 at 10:42

suprised by the lack of features, is this the equivilent to the DS - DS lite or is it a proper new model

Things change I've changed · 2 Oct 2008 at 10:46

Do not like the styling at all, plus no GBA slot is a big turn off.

nikebee · 2 Oct 2008 at 10:48

da_mic_1530 said:
suprised by the lack of features, is this the equivilent to the DS - DS lite or is it a proper new model

It's just a stop gap between the current DS and whatever we're getting in the future by the looks of it.

This is still a DS in the grand scale of things.

Things change I've changed · 2 Oct 2008 at 10:55

They need to emboss the lid with some kind of design or logo, it's just too plain/flat, the black one when closed looks like a personal organiser/PDA rather than a hand-held games machine.

the shadow · 2 Oct 2008 at 11:37

lowrider007 said:
They need to emboss the lid with some kind of design or logo, it's just too plain/flat, the black one when closed looks like a personal organiser/PDA rather than a hand-held games machine.

They want it to appeal to adults.So the pda look looks fine :cool:

nikebee · 2 Oct 2008 at 11:43

Is that a camera on the back, as well as in the middle on the front :confused:

rp2000 · 2 Oct 2008 at 11:50

No mention of any Wii sort of interactivity? Both take SD cards, surely there will be some sort of Wii Game ineractivity/connectivity?

TBH the people who buy a DS do not really care about music or camera etc, so they can get away with putting in cheap crappy ones, these things will still sell like hotcakes for the mountains of childrens/gimmicky games available for the platform.

Sounds like a bit of an incremental upgrade like PSP>PSP Lite. Nice additions, but nothing that would justify buying a new one if you already have one that is good working condition. (Unless they really push the 2 camera thing which I guess could be used for really basic video conferencing, but in it's target market, Japan, most mobile phones do this much better already).

I imagine we will have to wait a while for this to come out here, but it could well be region free like the normal DS/lite.

Edit: Has the new one got a bigger screen?
Edit2: Maybe DSWare store has all the GBA and GB games just like Wii store has Home Console BC games. That would explain the loss of the Advance cart slot and inclusion of the free browser/store/points etc.

rp2000