Hello Gamers,As some of you may or may not know, Nintendo is releasing a new DS handheld. This new device is called the “Nintendo DSi”. The DSi looks like the DS, but is really very different.
As I’ve said before, at first glance, it will seem that the DSi is the same as the DS, but Kotaku.com gives the details:
“It eschews the GBA slot (boo!) in favour of a slight downsizing (it's a little thinner) and a range of improvements. The handheld's screens have been enlarged, and will now be 17% bigger (at 3.25 inches) than those found on the DS Lite. As for the rumoured additions, both have proven to be correct, with "audio enhancements" made to the handheld, while it will also now include a .3 megapixel (640x480) camera.”
Nintendo has been taking more and more of a step into the online aspect of video games (i.e. Wii Shop Channel, online multiplayer). The same can be said for the DSi. Nintendo.com commented on the DSi online capability saying:
“DSiWare application will populate Nintendo DSi with software that can be downloaded using Nintendo DSi Points directly to the portable system, just as WiiWare has with Nintendo’s Wii console.”
In other words, the DSi will be much like the Wii Shop Channel in which you are able to download games, content or anything for that matter. The DSi will have a built in SD Card slot, which I’m guessing will allow you to take pictures off of your computer or elsewhere and put them on your DSi to share with friends or family.
The DSi will also have an audio function “which serves as both an interactive voice recorder and music player that allows users to play with their music while they listen to it. Users can access different audio filters or control the pitch and speed of recorded voice or music files to alter voices or change the tempo of a song”. You will also be able to listen to your own music while it’s on or off. I’m sure Nintendo will be using this application in some of their games.
The last feature is the DSi Camera which will allow you to take pictures of yourself, others, or objects and save them on the DSi. It will have two cameras, one on the outside of the DSi, and the other in between the two screens so you can take pictures of yourself. As Nintendo.com said, “If the touch screen gave Nintendo DS a sense of feel and the microphone allowed it to hear, the two cameras give Nintendo DSi the sense of sight.” You will also be able to toy around with pictures much like that in the Photo Channel on the Wii.
The DSi is launching tomorrow for around $170. I’m kind of worried about the system because Nintendo .com added that it will play “most Nintendo DS games”. So, apparently, the DSi will have a new set of games only playable on it. Not to mention the DSi won’t have a Gameboy drive so you will be limited on games (unless they really outdo what they’ve done on the Wii Shop Channel game wise). Overall, I think it’s going to be better than the DS though. The one thing I’m going to stress is that Nintendo doesn’t become like SONY in which the only good thing about the system is that you can hold a lot of songs and pictures. Nintendo needs to focus on what they do best; making awesome games.
Well, that's all for now,
HANG TIGHT GAMERS!!
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