Much like the Wii and the DS, this has potential I dont think many people seem to realize. Based on that alone, I’ll buy it. New games utilizing the new functions at launch might also make things more purchasable.
I don’t care about camera or music player, but downloadable games (Virtual Gameboy) are a big plus. My DSLite is pretty beat-up, but I will wait to replace it.
Do the “yes” voters not already have a DS? If they do, I just can’t understand why somebody would want a redundant feature like the camera and mp3 player. Do they not yet have an average cell phone? Why would you pay an extra $150ish to give up a GBA slot for that?
Even though the DSi isn’t a ground-breaking system by any means, its announcement has caused quite a stir.
The way I see it, DSi offers significant improvements with no meaningful (to me) drawbacks. Better wifi is a big deal for me, and WiiWare has proven to me that downloadable content can be worthwhile. The camera and music playback options aren’t a big deal… but certainly don’t hurt either.
The much maligned “drawbacks” really don’t affect me at all:
– I’m an adult who won’t activate the parental control system.
– I don’t import games from Japan, so region locking won’t matter.
– All of my old GBA games are played on a Game Boy Micro.
As someone who was thinking about grabbing a DS sometime next year anyway, there is no reason to avoid the new DSi.
I don’t yet own a DS (although my wife does), and I neither own nor want a cell phone. So the DSi is perfect for me, especially since the camera and music player aren’t just “redundant features”.
Although my GB Micro still gets used often, the benefits of moving forward outweigh the downsides of losing backwards compatability in this case – especially since all* existing DS games will work just fine in a DSi.
*Exception: The small handful that require a GBA-slot peripheral. Only the Guitar Hero DS games seem like a really big deal in this respect, anyway.
Mine is a qualified “yes.” I still have a Phat, and I’m waiting to see what the games are going to be like that are made just for the DSi, and more importantly, DSiWare. If we get a Gameboy VC, games made specially for the DSi, and the ability to play select Wii VC games on the go (probably not the last one), I’m totally in. If it’s just a DS with a camera and the SD is used for mostly photos and music, I’ll wait for the REAL DS2 (or pick up a Lite when the price drops, we all know it will).
I have a mobile phone with a better camera and mp3 function… I don’t use them.
I have a digital camera you see, and an iPod, both of which suit me perfectly for the quality of what I want.
I have a DS, which can play GBA games.
I have a classic GameBoy for GameBoy games (if I ever played them).
I have a Wii for virtual console titles.
I have many browsers around the house, and would never need to resort to using a DS to browse the web.
So what exactly does the DSi offer to me? Some games which may make use of the poor quality cameras? Camera games have been tried before and they don’t really work.
Maybe use the device to talk to people face to face? I don’t know enough people with a DS I’d want to talk to like this – webcam is the way to do it really.
It seems to be a badly placed set of features to be honest, heading into a market which is currently saturated with DS owners. Is this meant to capture those last few remaining people who don’t have a DS, or is it meant to get people to ‘upgrade’?
If it’s the latter, is there really so much in the device to make it worthwhile?
I didn’t mention the larger and brighter screen – both are good I suppose, but unless it runs in higher resolution, surely the larger screen will just make things look a bit uglier?
I have a DS, the Nintendo Browser, and a Games-n-Music card reader. So, I can already use the internet, listen to music (MP3s, not AAC), store and view photos and Play homebrew games (If you don’t have DSOrganize, you should.) I also own a digital camera.
So, all the DSi does for me is keep me from playing “Guitar Hero On Tour”, which I really like.
Here are some features that would make me consider it more:
1) WPA wireless security support. WEP has been cracked, and I hate leaving my network at home vulnerable because of the DS.
2) Improvements in basic horsepower. Higher clock speed? More memory? 3D or screen rate improvements?
3) A DSi only game (or app) that I simply can not live without. I have no idea what that would be. Maybe a really good organizer?
4) Official homebrew support, with affordable tools available to anyone. (this will never happen, but I can dream.) I would buy one just to reward Nintendo for opening up access.
Basically for me, its the downloadable games, the browser, the improved wi-fi and the ability to store games and music on a SD card. There’s nothing wrong with this system, if you don’t want it, dont buy it. Why trash it based on it having a camera that we know almost nothing about.
Here’s a good bunch of video showing a little bit of what the DSi can do.
The biggest, and I feel the most underrated and least talked about feature of the DSi, is the SD slot.
That is HUGE.
A camera and music playback won’t make me dislike it, but the sd slot WILL make me buy it.
DSWare? GB Virtual Console? Possible Wii virtual console? (C’mon, playing super mario rpg on the can is not apealing?)
A built in better browser is great as well (I don’t own an iphone and, while shopping with my gf, being able to search online for cruicial information on an item is just too convenient)
I don’t think it’s a Day 1 purchase, but I will definitely be getting one because of the possibilities that that little sd slot brings.
I like it. I can see how some who have a lite might be a little disappointed but I for one am still holding on to my original DS phat and this is looking like a great upgrade.
As it stands currently, no. I have a DS phat and I really don’t even play that enough, so there’s simply no need for me to get a DSi (or at least not until my phat dies or the DSi goes down in price significantly).
I voted “Yes” because I do want it, but with a $180 price tag and the fact that I already have a DSLite, the PSP-3000 is a real contender.
I just learned that the PSP-3000 will have a $170 price tag, so now I’m not sure if I should get a pumped-up DS to play the same games I’m playing today on my Lite, or should I expand my gaming horizons to include the PSP library… The DS library is better, in my opinion, but why spend $180 to keep the same library, when I could add more to it?
This will be a long year trying to decide on which system to get next…
No, for the same reason I don’t have a regular DS: I don’t see the appeal of a handheld right now in my life. I work at home, so there’s no dealing with transit, and I barely have time to enjoy my Wii and other hobbies, like comics and DVDs. The DS would be just another system that I’d love to get games to, but couldn’t.
I have no interest in the DSi for the following reasons:
1. I have an iPhone, which I carry at all times. It has a camera and a built-in iPod, both of which I use regularly. It also has all of the productivity and non-gaming apps I could ever need.
2. When I use my handheld gaming system, I use it for handheld gaming. I couldn’t possibly care less about the non-gaming applications Nintendo has in mind for the DSi; I rarely carry my DS, and my iPhone will almost certainly do those apps much better.
3. It doesn’t seem to be a DS 2. It seems to be a DS 1.3.
I want the larger screens, I want the camera-based games, but I despise region locking. I think it’s a sad step backwards for Nintendo, but I understand their rationale–they want to lock down the platform as part of their spring cleaning drive which will also include the Wii. I see the main motive for creating and marketing this handheld now as an attempt to stop the blood loss from the R4 and its ilk.
@jholdaway:
If you wish, you may become a following of my Nintendology religion.
Most people will agree with me that I am a Nintendo purist – and the DSi is definitely going to be a great product that people must have.
And I cannot believe people are still getting worked up over the $188 USD tag.
That IS NOT the price we will be paying here in North America for the DSi.
The price HAS NOT BEEN SET YET for North America.
The stars of Hyrule tell me it’s going to be much less than $188 USD.
It doesn’t have the same wow-factor that the Lite did…if anything all the new features subtract from the overall visual appeal that makes me love mine so much.
I do not own a DS and I have been waiting to see what the new DS v.3 might entail. The new features of the DSi seem to go both ways. I do not need a camera nor a web browser, I need a portable gaming system. I am debating buying a DSlite over the DSi because the only feature the DSi has over the DSlite for me is the SD slot. But it seems DS owners have yet to be bothered by the lack of an SD slot on the DSlite. The lite is ~60 bones cheaper and there are a lot of great games on it. I don’t really see the need for the new DSi features with the DSlite kicking as much ass as it seems to be doing now.
I still have my DS Phat. I was going to upgrade to the lite soon, mostly for the brighter screens. Now I will wait for this. I love the idea of downloadable games. That is reason enough to get this thing.
Bottom line, not enough of an upgrade to buy one, downloadable game dont care, camera dont care, and less battery life killed it for me right there. Since I have a little Nintendo Museum in my basement I might one day buy a DSi for display but that is the only reason, I would not buy one to replace my DS lite. The change from DS to DS lite was enough to warrant the upgrade, I never bought a DS because I had a feeling a better version was coming soon so I waited a few years, no big deal. I love my DS lite, I will wait for a new console with better graphics and a wide screen.
Do I need it? Nope. Am I a sucker for new stuff? Yes. I just like the idea of downloadable games with the SD storage space and the prospect of a Virtual Console with GBA and GB games. The camera is nifty too.
Hmmm I’m getting one. I need another and the new one has SD card support real support and a new set up. Plus the cameras are going to be a different thing and I’m curious to see what they do with that. I mean I’m getting a PSP for skype. If you have the money what is the big deal? Most people got an iphone for $600 LOL.
I’ll be picking it up because I got the DS before it was cool, and I never got a DS Lite, and my DS Phat is showing signs of age. But I live in the UK so there’s a good chance my DS Phat will have died by the time the DSi comes out over here.
Lol ok I take that back, if this DSi has improved voice recognition and can recognize blue (…BLUE! blu blooo) in the brain age game then I will buy it.
Hell yes I want one! I mean, I might actually stop upgrading my handheld Nintendo software, what with a bunch of GameBoys and my original DS sitting in my closet, gathering dust. Everything I wanted in a DS since the Wii came about is finally here, and with cameras and SD cards to boot! Too bad about those peripherals placed in the GBA slot. Oh well.
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October 7th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Much like the Wii and the DS, this has potential I dont think many people seem to realize. Based on that alone, I’ll buy it. New games utilizing the new functions at launch might also make things more purchasable.
October 7th, 2008 at 10:55 am
I don’t care about camera or music player, but downloadable games (Virtual Gameboy) are a big plus. My DSLite is pretty beat-up, but I will wait to replace it.
October 7th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Do the “yes” voters not already have a DS? If they do, I just can’t understand why somebody would want a redundant feature like the camera and mp3 player. Do they not yet have an average cell phone? Why would you pay an extra $150ish to give up a GBA slot for that?
October 7th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Even though the DSi isn’t a ground-breaking system by any means, its announcement has caused quite a stir.
The way I see it, DSi offers significant improvements with no meaningful (to me) drawbacks. Better wifi is a big deal for me, and WiiWare has proven to me that downloadable content can be worthwhile. The camera and music playback options aren’t a big deal… but certainly don’t hurt either.
The much maligned “drawbacks” really don’t affect me at all:
– I’m an adult who won’t activate the parental control system.
– I don’t import games from Japan, so region locking won’t matter.
– All of my old GBA games are played on a Game Boy Micro.
As someone who was thinking about grabbing a DS sometime next year anyway, there is no reason to avoid the new DSi.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:16 am
@daverage:
I don’t yet own a DS (although my wife does), and I neither own nor want a cell phone. So the DSi is perfect for me, especially since the camera and music player aren’t just “redundant features”.
Although my GB Micro still gets used often, the benefits of moving forward outweigh the downsides of losing backwards compatability in this case – especially since all* existing DS games will work just fine in a DSi.
*Exception: The small handful that require a GBA-slot peripheral. Only the Guitar Hero DS games seem like a really big deal in this respect, anyway.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Mine is a qualified “yes.” I still have a Phat, and I’m waiting to see what the games are going to be like that are made just for the DSi, and more importantly, DSiWare. If we get a Gameboy VC, games made specially for the DSi, and the ability to play select Wii VC games on the go (probably not the last one), I’m totally in. If it’s just a DS with a camera and the SD is used for mostly photos and music, I’ll wait for the REAL DS2 (or pick up a Lite when the price drops, we all know it will).
October 7th, 2008 at 11:25 am
I have a mobile phone with a better camera and mp3 function… I don’t use them.
I have a digital camera you see, and an iPod, both of which suit me perfectly for the quality of what I want.
I have a DS, which can play GBA games.
I have a classic GameBoy for GameBoy games (if I ever played them).
I have a Wii for virtual console titles.
I have many browsers around the house, and would never need to resort to using a DS to browse the web.
So what exactly does the DSi offer to me? Some games which may make use of the poor quality cameras? Camera games have been tried before and they don’t really work.
Maybe use the device to talk to people face to face? I don’t know enough people with a DS I’d want to talk to like this – webcam is the way to do it really.
It seems to be a badly placed set of features to be honest, heading into a market which is currently saturated with DS owners. Is this meant to capture those last few remaining people who don’t have a DS, or is it meant to get people to ‘upgrade’?
If it’s the latter, is there really so much in the device to make it worthwhile?
I didn’t mention the larger and brighter screen – both are good I suppose, but unless it runs in higher resolution, surely the larger screen will just make things look a bit uglier?
October 7th, 2008 at 11:32 am
I have a DS, the Nintendo Browser, and a Games-n-Music card reader. So, I can already use the internet, listen to music (MP3s, not AAC), store and view photos and Play homebrew games (If you don’t have DSOrganize, you should.) I also own a digital camera.
So, all the DSi does for me is keep me from playing “Guitar Hero On Tour”, which I really like.
Here are some features that would make me consider it more:
1) WPA wireless security support. WEP has been cracked, and I hate leaving my network at home vulnerable because of the DS.
2) Improvements in basic horsepower. Higher clock speed? More memory? 3D or screen rate improvements?
3) A DSi only game (or app) that I simply can not live without. I have no idea what that would be. Maybe a really good organizer?
4) Official homebrew support, with affordable tools available to anyone. (this will never happen, but I can dream.) I would buy one just to reward Nintendo for opening up access.
October 7th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
People really seem to hate the camera.
Basically for me, its the downloadable games, the browser, the improved wi-fi and the ability to store games and music on a SD card. There’s nothing wrong with this system, if you don’t want it, dont buy it. Why trash it based on it having a camera that we know almost nothing about.
Here’s a good bunch of video showing a little bit of what the DSi can do.
http://www.gametrailers.com/search.php?s=DSi&str_type=allmedia&ac=1
For me its a big step up from just having Pictochat.
October 7th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
The biggest, and I feel the most underrated and least talked about feature of the DSi, is the SD slot.
That is HUGE.
A camera and music playback won’t make me dislike it, but the sd slot WILL make me buy it.
DSWare? GB Virtual Console? Possible Wii virtual console? (C’mon, playing super mario rpg on the can is not apealing?)
A built in better browser is great as well (I don’t own an iphone and, while shopping with my gf, being able to search online for cruicial information on an item is just too convenient)
I don’t think it’s a Day 1 purchase, but I will definitely be getting one because of the possibilities that that little sd slot brings.
October 7th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
NO WAY!!!
I don’t buy bullshit with Region Codes or DRM in it!
October 7th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
I like it. I can see how some who have a lite might be a little disappointed but I for one am still holding on to my original DS phat and this is looking like a great upgrade.
October 7th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
I own a lite and I’m not disappointed. I just really like new nintendo tech.
October 7th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
As it stands currently, no. I have a DS phat and I really don’t even play that enough, so there’s simply no need for me to get a DSi (or at least not until my phat dies or the DSi goes down in price significantly).
October 7th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
I voted “Yes” because I do want it, but with a $180 price tag and the fact that I already have a DSLite, the PSP-3000 is a real contender.
I just learned that the PSP-3000 will have a $170 price tag, so now I’m not sure if I should get a pumped-up DS to play the same games I’m playing today on my Lite, or should I expand my gaming horizons to include the PSP library… The DS library is better, in my opinion, but why spend $180 to keep the same library, when I could add more to it?
This will be a long year trying to decide on which system to get next…
October 7th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
I think picking up the PSP-3000 makes more sense if you already own a Lite and do not yet have a PSP.
October 7th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
No, for the same reason I don’t have a regular DS: I don’t see the appeal of a handheld right now in my life. I work at home, so there’s no dealing with transit, and I barely have time to enjoy my Wii and other hobbies, like comics and DVDs. The DS would be just another system that I’d love to get games to, but couldn’t.
October 7th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Hey, if someone wants to give me one, I’ll take it.
October 7th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
I have no interest in the DSi for the following reasons:
1. I have an iPhone, which I carry at all times. It has a camera and a built-in iPod, both of which I use regularly. It also has all of the productivity and non-gaming apps I could ever need.
2. When I use my handheld gaming system, I use it for handheld gaming. I couldn’t possibly care less about the non-gaming applications Nintendo has in mind for the DSi; I rarely carry my DS, and my iPhone will almost certainly do those apps much better.
3. It doesn’t seem to be a DS 2. It seems to be a DS 1.3.
October 7th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
define:want
I want the larger screens, I want the camera-based games, but I despise region locking. I think it’s a sad step backwards for Nintendo, but I understand their rationale–they want to lock down the platform as part of their spring cleaning drive which will also include the Wii. I see the main motive for creating and marketing this handheld now as an attempt to stop the blood loss from the R4 and its ilk.
October 7th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
There are a LOT of things that I “want”.
Sure why not add this to all the much bigger and more important list of things I ” want”.
Do I NEED a new DS version 3.0 ?
No. I don’t.
I really ” want” is a new DS, DS2 would be great.
Now THAT is worth wanting.
October 7th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
wow, if we are ever going to have a cult of NOA to equal the cult of mac you have to love everything nintendo!
Anyway i have been wishing for a DS with no GBA slot and a SD reader slot and downloadable content.
Wish granted. (ps. i was all smiles when they came out with a black/crimson DS, this is even a better excuse)
October 7th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
@jholdaway:
If you wish, you may become a following of my Nintendology religion.
Most people will agree with me that I am a Nintendo purist – and the DSi is definitely going to be a great product that people must have.
And I cannot believe people are still getting worked up over the $188 USD tag.
That IS NOT the price we will be paying here in North America for the DSi.
The price HAS NOT BEEN SET YET for North America.
The stars of Hyrule tell me it’s going to be much less than $188 USD.
October 7th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
It doesn’t have the same wow-factor that the Lite did…if anything all the new features subtract from the overall visual appeal that makes me love mine so much.
October 7th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
I do not own a DS and I have been waiting to see what the new DS v.3 might entail. The new features of the DSi seem to go both ways. I do not need a camera nor a web browser, I need a portable gaming system. I am debating buying a DSlite over the DSi because the only feature the DSi has over the DSlite for me is the SD slot. But it seems DS owners have yet to be bothered by the lack of an SD slot on the DSlite. The lite is ~60 bones cheaper and there are a lot of great games on it. I don’t really see the need for the new DSi features with the DSlite kicking as much ass as it seems to be doing now.
October 7th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
I still have my DS Phat. I was going to upgrade to the lite soon, mostly for the brighter screens. Now I will wait for this. I love the idea of downloadable games. That is reason enough to get this thing.
October 7th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Bottom line, not enough of an upgrade to buy one, downloadable game dont care, camera dont care, and less battery life killed it for me right there. Since I have a little Nintendo Museum in my basement I might one day buy a DSi for display but that is the only reason, I would not buy one to replace my DS lite. The change from DS to DS lite was enough to warrant the upgrade, I never bought a DS because I had a feeling a better version was coming soon so I waited a few years, no big deal. I love my DS lite, I will wait for a new console with better graphics and a wide screen.
October 7th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Do I need it? Nope. Am I a sucker for new stuff? Yes. I just like the idea of downloadable games with the SD storage space and the prospect of a Virtual Console with GBA and GB games. The camera is nifty too.
October 8th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Hmmm I’m getting one. I need another and the new one has SD card support real support and a new set up. Plus the cameras are going to be a different thing and I’m curious to see what they do with that. I mean I’m getting a PSP for skype. If you have the money what is the big deal? Most people got an iphone for $600 LOL.
October 8th, 2008 at 1:51 am
The “store” and the camera are pluses for me, but no GBA slot is a minus for me.
Heck, I didn’t even get a DS Lite, I still use a DS Phat and I’m more than happy. =D
October 8th, 2008 at 4:51 am
I’ll be picking it up because I got the DS before it was cool, and I never got a DS Lite, and my DS Phat is showing signs of age. But I live in the UK so there’s a good chance my DS Phat will have died by the time the DSi comes out over here.
October 8th, 2008 at 9:59 am
I’ll get it just because I screwed up my Lite (too much snaking in mario kart). But I agree, Lite is so great that it’s very hard to beat.
BTW, isn’t $180 the price tag only for Japan? We can expect a different price in America (hopefully a lower one).
October 8th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Lol ok I take that back, if this DSi has improved voice recognition and can recognize blue (…BLUE! blu blooo) in the brain age game then I will buy it.
October 22nd, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Hell yes I want one! I mean, I might actually stop upgrading my handheld Nintendo software, what with a bunch of GameBoys and my original DS sitting in my closet, gathering dust. Everything I wanted in a DS since the Wii came about is finally here, and with cameras and SD cards to boot! Too bad about those peripherals placed in the GBA slot. Oh well.