Thursday, October 2, 2008

Dual Screens International?

Hey everybody! What's better than homework?... Everything! What's WAY better than homework?... Blatant Bias!

So Nintendo dropped something of a bombshell last night at their press conference. They have created a new version of the Nintendo DS. They call it... Nintendo DSi. I'm not real sure what the i stands for, but I'm pretty sure it's not 'Icthyioid.' In any case, they have redesigned the DS Lite and added some new features.

As you can see, it looks mostly the same as the DS Lite. The major cosmetic changes are obviously the cameras (yes, there are two), and the SD Card Slot on the side. I'm not real sure why they decided on two cameras, but it's probably so players can take pictures of themselves while holding it, and of others who are in front of it. Interesting indeed.

But far more interesting than the cameras is the SD Card Slot. Nintendo has announced that the new DS will come built-in with a web browser, and a way to download games, similar to the Wii Shop Channel. In fact, with every DSi, Nintendo is giving away 1000 Nintendo Points (previously Wii Points). That's pretty sweet.

The new DSi will be available next month in Japan and early next year everywhere else. It looks cool, and I really like the idea of downloading older games. My only concern is that I just bought my blue DS a month or two ago, so it's a little irritating that they didn't announce this sooner. Thankfully, though, it's not a completely new DS, but a redesign, at least as far as I can tell. My hope is that somehow Nintendo will create a way for regular DS and DS Lite owners to play downloaded games, which would negate my need to get the DSi for a while. At the very least, the technical specs are the same, so the same games can be played on either one. Yeah...

In other news, Nintendo has also announced new major titles on the way, including Punch Out! for Wii, and the re-release of popular Gamecube games, such as Pikmin and others. Rock, rock on!

Anyways, now is the time for me to go and work on my continuing goal of beating 108 games in this, the year 2008. Megaman, Battle Routine, Set!

-benjamines

Currently Playing: Megaman Battle Network 5 DS, Metal Slug Anthology, Wario Land Shake It!

2 comments:

Rachel said...

I think it's pretty crazy they brought out a new one without announcing it a few minths before, like they usually do. Oh well though :) We'll just have to save up and get you this one too. I love you! :)

Devin said...

I saw an article on this this morning, and I was like, "What in the blazes?" I think it's pretty cool, to be honest. The SD card slot I think is the coolest part, and the fact that you can download stuffs onto it. I read that it's gonna cost exactly the same and the Lite as well. That would rule. I do agree that it should have been announced a little earlier. All in all, I think it's pretty stinkin' cool.