Well I will be getting one so all the extras stuff, is just extra. DS is simply rocking the shit now

FunKrusher

@Robotube: The games in the download service will obviously be locked.. but the DS games will continue the same way, locking them would fuck up the compatibility in a lot of games :P

CockroachMan

@Mister_Jack: If you want that your product plays MP3 format you have to pay royalties. AAC is a better codec and it's royalty free. But it's also less mainstream, so yes this limit the DS a lot.

But iTunes Plus files should play fine on the DSi, since those don't have DRM, and basicly any people that have been using iTunes for ripping their CD collection and not messing with the preferences have been making AAC files anyway. Still is not as popular format as MP3, though.

Also i seriously doubt people are gonna use the DS to play music anyway, even if it suports it, having a dedicated player and better player is so damn cheap theese days.

Falsoman

@hobbykitjr: well put

ca$h

@Marios_shadow:
Yes. That will not incur extra fees at all.
"What? You expect Nintendo to do this!? This isn't a charity! Honestly, expecting things from Nintendo... Shheesh. BBL, gtg approve more capitalist evil!"

orentholjames

@Solaricide: I've never had to go through any license fees myself to play MP3s on...anything.

Mister_Jack

wait...ACC format? So it CAN'T play mp3 or any other music format?

animemecha

@knewknow:

it's only a 0.3 MP camera (640x480)

iNime

Great...I was thinking about getting a DS Lite this year or early next year (I have a DS Phat, and the R button is getting weak).
Now the DSi is coming out later next year, now I'm not sure what I want to do.

Mazakona

@Mister_Jack: Is there a license you have to purchase to have software that encodes or replays mp3's? I thought there was plenty of open source crap for that. LAME etc...

Solaricide

@Azza: I dont think any of us americans like being american right now.
looks like we have nothing to look fwd to until 2009.

hobbykitjr

"fully interactive camera for your everyday life."

Not at 640x480 it isn't Reggie. I was hoping the new feature on the device would make me purchase a DS.

DigitalHero

So ditching the GBA slot to make room for an upgraded Gameboy camera and an SD (not even SDHC?) slot that will be nigh useless since it only supports AAC? I'm thinking I'm going to skip the DSi and simply hope the Lite gets a price drop. I get too much use out of the GBA slot to warrant the rather useless "upgrade."

Skunky

Heh, waiting another year for this to drop stateside?
You guys will be getting ready to announce a true sequel system by the time we get our hands on this.

Demonbird

AAC? Why not just put a rotary phone on there?

Solaricide

@Robotube:
If this were region locked that would be appalling.

Demonbird

$50 extra to have a 3 mega pixel camera in your DS and a SD card with MP3 player? No thanks Nintendo

knewknow

I was hoping to see the DSi in the US much sooner. I guess I'll have it import it after all. Sucks for my wallet.

Do Kesubei

@Foxstar Sixtail: MP3 fee?

Mister_Jack

They probably let US shops import the 250$/$300 european version. It's always sunny in the rich man's world.

Fabrice

@Marios_shadow: Saving money isn't needless.

Do Kesubei

Now I KNOW its going to be region locked. Nintendo pretty much has just confirmed it. If it weren't, they'd release them simultaneously. With region lock, they can easily afford to spread out release dates for regions with a minimal fear of importing.

Robotube

@Gambly:Can you please stop babbling and bring a more viable debate to the market other then the rambling mess you've offered now? Thanks.

Foxstar Sixtail

@blizzardjesus:Because it costs more money to have a device that can play MP3's. You missed when the Wii switched over the Photo Channel to AAC early this year, didn't you?

@Mister_Jack:People who don't want to pay the MP3 fee.

Foxstar Sixtail

I just don't get how you people fall for this crap every time. Nintendo has been spoonfeeding you the same old technology with minuscule changes for years yet some how you still buy it. You people are so stu...

*Looks at his 3 version of the Ipod & Iphone*

...DAMMIT!!!!

Sex_For_Pandas

@Kenofthedead: Judging by what Fils-Aime said, it CAN'T play DSi games, at least not to their full capability.

Mister_Jack

@synapticflow:Yes and no.

Informed people without a DS may or may not hold off on getting a DS now that the DSi is coming. The DSi costs more after all and all three models of DS play the same software.

It really doesn't matter if the DSi and the DS-Lite are on the market, you want people to have choices. Besides, when has it ever mattered before? There's been 2 Xboxes on the market from launch on, there's been at times, 3 PS3's on the market, 2 PSP's..it's not really going to matter that much.

Foxstar Sixtail

@BlueWizard422: The language can be set for English (or five others), just as DS and DS Lite's UI can.

Kenofthedead

@ThickSkinned:
That's the plan.

Archaotic

@synapticflow: This close to Christmas? They're still gonna buy the shit out of the DS Lite. Nintendo are evil geniuses when it comes to getting kids to buy crap and getting their parents or grandparents to buy it for them.

Mister_Jack

@Archaotic: Bingo! Unless they cut the price of the existing DS to fire sale levels to clear the existing stock, consumers should boycott the DS all together. If you see anyone considering the purchase of a DS, feel free to let them know a better model is coming out next year.

ThickSkinned

and urraeeh for the sd slot ...urraeh

Gambly

Someone that wanted a DS lite shouldnt buy one ...and should wait for this one! lol Nintendo its getting boring...always the same crap. New model that looks like a fake new....

Gambly

At long as they have the glitches worked out and more than two colors available before the North American launch, I really have no problem. NoA, please have a Silver or brushed steel color available for the NA launch (those colors would look sleek and sharp on the DSi).

Mr_Raccoon

@Mister_Jack: It's only obsolete if the DS Lite can't play new "DSi" games.

If my DS Lite or my girlfriend's classic DS can play all those games coming out (minus some strange photobooth game here or there), what does it matter?

Besides, we can always import this DSi if we really wnat it. Region free and adjustable langauge settings and all that fun stuff.

Kenofthedead

@blizzardjesus: Yeah, who the hell uses AAC? Besides iTunes anyway, and theirs ONLY works on the iPod.

Mister_Jack

I'm surprised Kotaku didn't follow the US conference a little closer. Club Nintendo for the US @ end of year. Conduit is being published (possibly) by Nintendo. A slew of first party titles with vague dates were talked about. Sun & Punishment 2 to US, etc.

DerrickDS

Hmmm… admitting that it is too soon in America for the DSi, while at the same time announcing a new system that wasn't really needed. Now what if American customers stop buying the DS Lite and just wait until this one comes out? Then Nintendo has shot themselves in the foot and the DS Lite sales will taper off greatly instead of continuing to fly.

If you are going to let the world know you have a new system, you may as well get rid of the old one so people have to buy the new one. Leaving us a choice may make people say no to the DS Lite.

Comments?

synapticflow

@NecronomiconUK: Seriously. It's the most portable handheld EVER. So glad I picked one up when I did, I haven't seen them around in forever.

betterthantelevision

@OmniRemix: ... So why not import it?

I love needless bitching.

Marios_shadow

AAC why?

blizzardjesus

You're holding it until next year just to sell more of your now obsolete model this year? Major dick move, Nintendo!

Mister_Jack

@Azza: That cheap over there? Wow. Email me, I might buy one off you. =P

Marios_shadow

@Azza: Or, even better a Micro... soooo cuuute

NecronomiconUK

@Azza: You're assuming the recent comment by Nintendo Europe wasn't the usual bullshit they put out

NecronomiconUK

@OmniRemix: now you know how it feels for everyone who doesn't live in Japan and US

NecronomiconUK

Once I get vacation time with my new job I'm definitely going to go to Japan again. I'll have to put one of these babies on my shopping list. Of course, last time I was in Japan was when the DSLite came out, I had plans to get one of those and it didn't turn out so well... here's to crossing my fingers and hoping that two or so months after they are released I can find one.

MantisDragon

Late 2009? Seriously? And Japan is getting it NEXT MONTH?!

Thanks, Nintendo.

OmniRemix

Gotta get one last juggernaut Christmas out of the DS, eh Ninty? They should be glad I'm not working retail anymore, because if I was I'd shoot down every prospective DS sale possible by warning customers about the DSi.

Archaotic

@Marios_shadow: Why don't you pick up a GBA SP REAL cheap?

Here in Britain, we can get SPs pre-owned with charger for £15, so about $30.

Azza

@Azza: Exactly what I thought when I saw this article. That must be the first time that's happened in...... well actually, ever.

Polysics_2004

I guess this gives me some more time to say good bye to my GBA games. ='(

Marios_shadow

Darn, it makes importing one all the more tempting. On the other hand, if all the text is in Japanese, then there's really no point, right?

BlueWizard422

Europe getting hardware before America? Yay I like being English for once.

Azza

@daschupa:Because this isn't -new- hardware, it's a sidegrade. They all play DS games, it will not affect the DS marketshare one bit.

@Mister_Jack:Eating the cost or passing it on to the customer is not how Nintendo does things. The PSP was marketed as a jack of all trades, but we see how well the PSP has sold compared to the DS, right? Both models of DS.

Foxstar Sixtail

@Fabrice:

Wow. Sorry.

Fabrice

I'd be a little more excited, but the battery life on this thing is just terrible.

I'm still rocking a DS Phat, too. I think I might get a DS Lite now...it'll be cheaper, that's for sure.

AZRoboto

Yes, it has TWO cameras. The one on the INSIDE is the 0.3 mp one, so stop bitching about it having a shitty camera, people! The one on the exterior is 3.0 mp, that's good enough for on-the-fly pictures. Want a better camera? Buy an actual camera. *gasp!*

Seinosuke

Yup, smart Nintendo, but aren't you supposed to wait to unveil the new hardware until you are ready to kill off the old versions since people will wait for the newer version? Ask Apple how that goes.

daschupa

@jonaswan2: Well I'm pretty sure almost nobody is gonna be excited about an AAC player. I think eating that cost, which is really just pennies to Nintendo, would ultimately benefit them in the long run. The PSP was marketed pretty well as a multimedia device. Imagine if you took the DS' games and gave the hardware near-PSP functionality.

Mister_Jack

@iNime:You haven't been paying attention, have you?

The camera INSIDE is 0.3

The camera OUTSIDE is 3.0

A number of commenters have already pointed this out.

@DigitalHero:What would that be? Because I seriously doubt anything a Nintendo system would launch with would get you to buy one, given your posting history.

Foxstar Sixtail

@synapticflow: Doubtful. It's not like the average consumer is even going to know about the DSi.

x3sphere

@hobbykitjr: Are you seriously saying another model of the DS is the only thing worth waiting for?

NoBullet

@Mister_Jack:A licence is needed for commercial use, so they couldn't use open source alternatives. To avoid getting screwed over by Thomson, it's $0.75 per unit sold for a decoder, with a $15,000 minumum. [www.mp3licensing.com]

Sure, Nintendo makes that in a day, but AAC from Dolby is free.

jonaswan2

I actually cannot believe they've annouced this at this time of the year. smeone buy be kicking himself in the nuts. Odd are it'll be aorund sooner but they aren't gonna tell you that it'll be out in march since it would kill hardware christmas sales.

Seems to explains all the crap about the R4 tho but it was very kinda easy to guess.

Fabrice

@synapticflow: It's funny, because I was actually planning on buying a DS Lite soon (I still have the original DS, and am tired of its bulky prototype look, and it's dimly lit screen), but after this announcement, I'm definitely gonna wait for the DSi.

Seinosuke

I already have a digital camera with an SD slot, and imaging software on my computer. I already have a Nintendo DS. I have Skype. I have an iPod with 10,000 songs.

Nintendo, just deliver the games. I don't need any more gadgets.

Sustenance

@Falsoman: Oh, so you're saying the COMPANY pays a fee to play mp3s on their device. I had that backwards.

Mister_Jack

Wow, nice. New hardware, but we're not letting you have it because we want you suckers to buy the old version at full price this holiday season then have to buy the new one next year. Bend over and take it, bitches.

sarusa

Import FTW!!!!

MattB92

Other than the ability to save and download games to a memory card, I don't find anything all that alluring about the new DSi. I don't see myself upgrading from my DS anytime soon.

DugDawg

@Seinosuke:
STOP MAKING SENSE!!!!

;)

Lazlo

@Foxstar Sixtail:
They certainly are not treating it as much that way. This press release is screaming "We want to screw holiday 08 DSLite purchasers".
@daschupa: I really must agree to the Apple comment. Did Apple really need a new nano this early?

Benjammn

@knewknow: theres alot more than that but w/e floats your boat.

Kuroh

OK, so Nintendo really needs to stress that these two systems are to be sold side-by-side. Because right now, it sounds like they are trying to screw holiday buyers this year into buying a DSLite, then turn around next year with new ammo: DSi.

Benjammn

@Sex_For_Pandas: Hey it's a ds with plus features, if you seen them its pretty good and atleast nintendo attempts to put more appealing features in their system remakes than other consoles. Besides I own an old phat i need an upgrade this things on its death bed.

Kuroh

So will there be any games that take advantage of the 2 cameras and dual touch screens?

chickdigger802

no great loss.

Lombax

@Foxstar Sixtail: Thanks for clearing that up for me. Here I was thinking I was thinking my two-month old DS Lite was outpaced by a .3 MP camera.

.endejas.

@Archaotic: Consumers don't care. The current lot of holiday buying people will get a system this year if they want one for this year, regardless of what is around the corner.

And this time next year they'll all be getting the DSi.

get2sammyb

So I guess the GBA is officially dead. I remember when Nintendo announced the DS as a third pillar, not a GBA replacement.
I'm hoping that this new DSi means a price drop at some point for the DS Lite. My phat is pretty much dead and I want to replace it at some point, but I'd still rather have the GBA slot in a lite than a camera and music player is a DSi. I have too many GBA rpg's I still go back and play every couple of years.

evening-aura

@Superlocke: A good price, but the screen is too small, I used to have one of those and couldn't play for very long, my eyesight sucks.

Marios_shadow

@orentholjames: If you want it so bad, pay the damn fee.

I completely endorse capitalism, there's nothing wrong with selling a product people will buy, especially in this volume.

And yeah, Nintendo is a God damn company, you shouldn't expect them to ditch such a ridiculously popular model to bring in a new one during the holiday shopping season.

Marios_shadow

@Marios_shadow: pardon me, good sir....

err sorry, link's a bit long, but there ya go: [tinyurl.com]

;)

Superlocke

That's cool, no hard feeling here Nintendo. With all that weak-ass sh_t upgrades, who needs it. My DS Lite with the broken plastic hinge is STILL beater then what you're offering on the new DSi -- which is jack-squat!

Call me when you get a REAL display upgrade on the DS. (meaning an 1 inch or more)

jamBot

It's called the DSi? I'm surprised the apple lawyers haven't pounced on this yet.

Japanties

I'm sure mp3 would be supported. What mp3 player doesn't? I'm actually glad it supports aac because every song I have is either in unprotected aac or mp3. Then again with the whole photo channel thing I might be wrong.

freetyme

@hobbykitjr: Like a new president.

Quicksilver4648

Yawn.......

You're looking at the next GB Micro, boys n' girls. This is a short-term fix to boost short-term Japanese sales and raise interest in the brand in light of the rectal pounding the PSP's been giving it. Just like the Micro, it'll serve it's purpose and die a quick death.

J

FranksnBeans

What really helps for me is the ability to modify the way the song sounds, it can help to practice song on my guitar or to try to learn the lyrics of any song.

HELLSRIDER

@Mister_Jack: Well you wouldn't. The collection agencies wouldn't be so stupid as to charge home consumers.
They have to pay a per device fee for hardware players, and for encoders. For tht reason, the legality of LAME is debatable.

Kotakufan777

It is official. I am Nintendo's bitch. I will most likely be getting this...

I got the GBA.
I got the GBA SP

...

Didn't get the Micro because I already had a DS.
Got the DS Lite.

And I will get this.

Come on people, it's more than what Sony is offering.

"You can play the PSP on your TV... defeating the whole object of EVERYTHING!"

FanBuoy

@NecronomiconUK: That's probably the most likely explanation.

On the other hand, a lot has changed within the last few years and Nintendo isn't necessarily following the old patterns. The Wii launching in the U.S. did kind of surprise people, even if it was only by a week.
They have become more strategic with release dates and marketing and Loacalisation is much easier these days because of better coordination. (Not that a piece of hardware needs much localisation anyway)

Europe is also has a higher growth for the videogames market than the U.S. And as can be seen with Wii Fit, Nintendo seem to be keen to capitalise upon this.

Kotakufan777

Why is the power button situated below the d-pad? Surely someone who has a western (ie. bigger) grip are bound to accidentally switch off their DSis. No?

Rickster

Give me a GOOD reason why North America has to wait a year for this thing. Yes, sales of the DS are good here, but they're good everywhere!

TSlade

this'll damage the potential sales of DS for months.

CJayC

A whole fucking year! Really, Nintendo? They really just do whatever the hell they feel like don't they?

hagridore

@Ryuk:Their point, which you clearly missed was when you clearly price yourself out of your target market and focus more on media functionality then the games, your not staying true. Which the PSP did, at 250 dollars at launch, $40-50 dollar games and UMD.

The DS has the games. And once again, the suits know more about their product and their market targets then you. Remember that.

Foxstar Sixtail

well, that just sucks, I'll probly have an iPhone by then, making the purchase of this even more useless

pikachumariachi

Does it make anyone else uncomfortable that Nintendo is changing the overall format of the DS in a way which does not accommodate their previous install base? That is, I know everyone in Japan is happy to buy 10 different models of the same game system because they came out with new colors or a clip to put a cell phone strap on it, but here in America where we like to buy one console and use it until it is dead, I and many other sit in the position of now having obsolete systems.

That's not to say that a camera or MP3 playback makes an older iteration worthless, but I mean to say that now they have a different breed of DS (not a new system) that supports DS Ware. Millions of people including myself who love their DS systems will be alienated from that DS Ware unless we trade in our perfectly good systems and shell out for a new version of something we already have.

TheHeartless

so, they want to wait until the holiday seasons over, so they're going to hold it until...the next holiday season. genius!

Mikintosh

@knewknow:
no, its an AAC player, not even mp3.

roflwaffles

"He said that the music and camera functions are not meant to rival the iphones, but rather supplement game play."

Hah. How?
Sure, they could be, but Nintendo will never evolve the camera or music ideas beyond simple capture and playback. They wouldn't/can't implement it into gameplay because Nintendo DS and Nintendo DS Lite owners wouldn't be able to take advantage of such games since they lack a camera/playback functions.

Nintendo scolded people for dipping their hands in the Cookie Jar of Media Functionality, saying it's not staying true to gaming.

Guess whose hands are dripping with crumbs and slobber now?

Ryuk

As shallow as this sounds I'm getting one because it has a camera o.o, ye unlike most people my age *18* I don't have a cellphone, let alone a camera.

AznSlackerType

@TheHeartless:

As I see it, it's no different to mobile phones - yes, an old phone can still make a call, but a new one has an internet browser, or GPS or something else which is an added convenience. Sadly, it's the way technology works.

--

Really, it's been lucky that the DS has been the way it has for so long, particularly concerning GBA support. Nintendo still has the previous generation in mind - as each new handheld supports games from the previous generation (right from when the Color supported regular GB games) - except this time, the old supported games are DS cartridges, and the new ones are downloads.

It may have 'DS' in the name, but really, it'll be treated like the next generation in Nintendo's handheld line.

kawaii-clamp-fan

@Demonbird:Not completely true. Portable systems have a much longer lifespan then home consoles.

Foxstar Sixtail

@HioMrSan:Your not the target market..so why would Nintendo care about you?

Foxstar Sixtail

My r4 can hold multiple games, a few cds of music, various emulators (nes, snes, Neo-Geo), and one or two movies when I feel like it. Not to mention whatever homebrew comes out next.

Too little too late nintendo. Those who care about media already have much better options for their ds.

HioMrSan

@kawaii-clamp-fan: But think about it like this...the Gameboy came out in 1989, and the first real change we saw to it was in 1996 with the Gameboy Pocket. 2 years after that, they released the Gameboy Color...adding new functionality and having GBC-specific games. But that was almost a full decade after the original Gameboy debuted. We'll only be 5 years into the life of the DS and have had 3 different versions already, and already achieved that version that outdoes the others, but it's not quite the same...this DS won't have exclusive carts, only exclusive DLC and that makes it, in my eyes, just the DS 1.5...the thing I have qualms with isn't that they're releasing something new-if it was the DS2 of some sort, that would be fine but this is just a DS with a bonus library of games that we DS owners will not have access to.

TheHeartless

@LuppyLuptonium:Rip people off how?

Foxstar Sixtail

Are you kidding me? their reason for the delay is essentially to rip people off!

LuppyLuptonium

@Foxstar Sixtail: Simple, We now know they are releasing a new version, with new features, some of which, presumably will effect gameplay, as well as with the store how we get games. Yet they are pushing it off so they can push the old model onto unsuspecting consumers who, based on these upgrades will probably have to upgrade anyway shortly after buying.

If that's not ripping people off, I don't know what is, and I'm a Nintendo fanboy.

LuppyLuptonium

@Foxstar Sixtail: Who is the target market? Children certainly aren't the types to typically have a library of digital music that they're just dying to travel around with.

HioMrSan

ok quick question is it two touch screens or not?

stormcrow85

@Sex_For_Pandas: You're right... ppl dont see it. Its just a crazy attempt to stop the crazy psp in japan... since psp already had slot for memory, movie playback, mp3 playback, browser... conclusion, all the extras that the ds will only have now.. (coz now hardware its cheap and they can sell expensive... ppl will buy it anyway). The same story with Wii...

Gambly

@jabman: Nintendo's not known for adding things like this unless there's a game involved. I'm hoping for something like Camblaster [www.realeyes3d.com]

LuppyLuptonium

@Foxstar Sixtail: Why i should speak the obvious? - Everyone will buy the new DS, nintendo will win lots of cash, the piracy will increase, software selling will decrease (and who cares? only the 3rd parties, coz nintendo wins pretty good with the cheap hardware that has a high price). Btw, the only appellative thing in this new DS is the SD card slot...

Gambly

@Seinosuke: The exterior one is actually 0.3 also. Maybe you should listen to Nintendo and not mistranslated sites.

CHunterX

@Foxstar Sixtail: Actually, that was a misprint. Nintendo themselves have said both cameras are in fact .3 megapixels.

CHunterX

aint this like ps3 80gb w/backward to ps3 8b no backward?
"The DSi will have built in software that lets you speed up or slow down songs, change the pitch, and filter tracks." -takes me back to home alone 2 again =D

flatbush

The name makes me think of CSI.

Is there a flash included for the camera? If so wouldnt that kill the already lower battery life? and if there isn'tt you will probably just get alot of blurry images unless you are out in the sun.

But most importantly, why why why do you want a DS to take photos?

jabman

well lets see, first this device its more expensive than the PSP, its more limited specs(compared to PSP) and sure its cooler than older device but they wont bring it here until what? next year...

i pass on this one

eilegz

I'd take a DS Lite over this crap any day. I'd rather have GBA games then a crappy camera and music playback.

MixPix

Two cameras? One inside. Hmm, does this mean that Video and voice chat are around the corner? Probably not. But hey, they can just tack on the friend codes.

Ryodestined

@LuppyLuptonium:You don't know what 'ripping people off is' then.

@HioMrSan:If you don't know, you should do a little legwork to find out for yourself.

Foxstar Sixtail

crap system gets crap release date. and people say Nintendo is all about games its all about money.

atomicn

aahh...i think thats lame i just got e new ds

lancey1999

@HioMrSan: It's simple, if you aren't buying their product, you probably aren't in it's target market. So try not to worry about it.

EmeraldDragon

@Solaricide: You do know that AAC is actually considered the successor to mp3 right? It's higher quality sound too.

Ueziel

No worries America, we have more important things. Like our next president!

Shockadin

They put the second camera next to the mic? You're going to be fogging and saliva-ing up that thing up the wazoo every time you play Mike's microgames!

Unless they moved the mic and that hole next to the lens is something else entirely...

ModernGamer

@Kenofthedead: That makes you wonder what they're waiting for then. Releasing new hardware right on the holiday season seems like a smarter move.

urutapu

Seems Nintendo is headed towards the Apple Approach to electronics:

A new model of a perfectly fine item coming out like eight times a year.

Amazon_Chris

@CHunterX: Silly me for relying on multiple sources who's jobs are to report about these things. I just now found the Nintendo JP English translation of the conference, and you're right.

I guess I can't grasp .3 mp, that's just ridiculous. At least they admitted that [quote] "We have taken almost the opposite approach [of camera phones and such] and can't boast about the resolution as the DSi camera is only 300,000 pixels"

Seinosuke

this really sux, last night i was pretty excited about a closer release date in the US... boo Nintendo of North America

zhangzheng

@Solaricide:

I'm still holding out for the rotary-mobile-phone. Trust me, it's gonna be HUGE.

bainelaker

@Gambly:

You just shot yourself in the foot with that idiotic argument :

"Software selling will decrease (and who cares?).."

If you don't care, you're not a real gamer. Real gamers WANT software sales to increase - if games don't sell, developers and publishers lose money and thus can't support future development. No future development = no future 3rd party games. No 3rd party games = no consoles. Is that what you want?

Also, way to try to seem intelligent by using words like "appellative". You might be looking for "appealing". Appellative is an out-of-date adjective meaning "relating to a proper noun". Yea. Good job.

bainelaker

mmm, I guess this is alright. I just hope they release augmented reality games. now THAT would be cool.

mistamal

AAC, because Nintendo IS trying to compete with the iPhone. AAC only makes user convert files only to put on the machine. They're pirated anyway and lucky for me, I already have iTunes, so I can convert and load then delete from my computer to save space for the sensible choice of MP3.

otakujpop

@Marios_shadow:

Or you could, you know, emulate them on your DS.

NeoAkira

@Foxstar Sixtail: I realize with their experience and education they probably know more about what they need to do than me.

Are you saying that Nintendo told Sony that they clearly priced themselves out of their target market? Because their target market was the teenage-to-30-year-olds that could indeed afford a $250-300 handheld, and enjoyed media functionality. All launch systems sucked with games, so I wouldn't talk about the PSP's launch game catalog, especially if you looked at the DS'.

PSP games were never $50. $30-40 maximum.

Of course the DS has games, but that's the thing! It was perfect and fine as a DS Lite! Why put in a camera and bump up costs? To fiddle with them like an amateur photoshopper? Or transfer them to the Wii where they also hold absolutely no purpose or use? Or media functionality, sure, that's great, but most cell-phones for cheaper than a DS can hold more songs at a better quality, heck even the new cheaper iPods. For $20 more you can get a 16GB Nano.

If Nintendo wanted to dip their fingers in the media market, I think they're doing it wrong. They're over priced, what they offer is rather bare compared to their competitors, and their media functionality brings nothing new or exciting to the table, other than raising the system's price.

They should have simply made the system slimmer, cheaper to manufacture, perhaps added an analog nub, brighter/bigger screens, and that's it.

The lack of GBA port really kicks a lot of their best fans in the crotch. Their best-selling DS games, the Pokemon series, can't even be utilized to the fullest anymore.

Ryuk

The jump from DS Phat to DS Lite, justified. Lighter weight, better screen lighting, better shape, and still kept the all the basic functions.

DS Lite to DSi, however, thats a different story. DSi has an improved(?) UI, and audio and visual additons in exchange for BC with the GBA. Also a new microphone and speakers similar to the ones on the PSP 3000. The DLC is what's questionable. If its good enough in quality (GB Channel, GBA channel even) or unique DSiWare, then I'll consider getting one. I hardly use the GBA port anyway, so it wouldn't impact me much. If I do get one, it'll be after Ninty's a.) overshadowed the DS Lite with the DSi, or b.) they make something like Super Mario Land DSi, some killer app that sells the system.

Karisu-Zero

@Karisu-Zero:
That no GBA port is bugging me. It's probably gonna be my main concern if I decide to buy a DSi or not. Like, I still want to be able to play my old GBA games like advance wars, or final fantasy 5 and 6 on it and etc. I don't really want to have 2 things, 1 for GBA games and another for DS and multimedia stuff...

akumaserge

@otakujpop:You don't know what your talking about.

Foxstar Sixtail

@Foxstar Sixtail: Conclusion: It's never good to buy the first model, after 3 years comes a new one. ;)

Gambly

@bainelaker: well, if you see the example of the PSP, the 3rd parties dont care that much coz people dont care - thanks to piracy.

Appellative - designative; descriptive. Tending toward or serving for the assigning of names: "the appellative function of some primitive rites." (could also be "appealing"). So the appellative function of the DSi ...

Gambly

hmm....the music playback... i wonder if i can use the korg-10 DS music syn to record my tunes on the SD card?

or even use my own samples from the card?

bah. if it doesn't it'll soon will be. yay. homebrew patch.

:)

Onizuka-GTO

@otakujpop: wow hey kid you're clueless.

Shockadin

@Amazon_Chris: has this not happened for the past nintendo handhelds? gameboy sp was just modifications, as well as the micro.

Umm this is nothing new?

Shockadin

@urutapu: Waiting for the uninformeds to buy a Lite, then hope that they want the DSi enough that they'll buy that afterwards as well, is (ostensibly) a smarter move.

Actually, Nintendo can make the more benevolent-sounding excuse that they won't be able to pump out enough of the things to satisfy all markets. Of course, for the excuse to work, DSis would need to have a considerably different manufacturing process than the Lites.

headcase88

Who gives a shit honestly? I already have a DS, Camera, and an MP3 player.

Blek

8bitcity