New Portable System Offers Customized Gaming Experiences.
REDMOND, Wash.– Nintendo pioneered hand-held entertainment in the ’80s and made it fully mobile with the Game BoyTM video game system. Now, Nintendo is transforming the way people access, experience, create and share content with the new Nintendo DSiTM system, the third iteration of the world’s best-selling portable video game system. Nintendo DSi launches in the United States on April 5, 2009, at an MSRP of $169.99. The colors available at launch will be Blue and Black.
“Ever since the arrival of the first Game Boy, consumers worldwide have turned to Nintendo for their portable gaming,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Nintendo DSi builds on Nintendo’s commitment to bringing fun and creative entertainment to everyone, and will allow consumers to personalize and share their very own experiences.”
Some features that will be built into the system and ready to enjoy upon purchase include the Nintendo DSi Camera, Nintendo DSi Sound and Nintendo DSi Shop. The most noticeable feature of the slim Nintendo DSi system is its two cameras - one camera is on the external body, and the second one points at the user when the device is flipped open. As the first truly interactive digital camera in a video game system with 10 different interactive “lenses” that can manipulate your photos, the Nintendo DSi Camera offers an easy way to take and share your photos with family and friends. The cameras also present people with unprecedented ways to interact with their games while giving developers a new tool to devise creative games and experiences. 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.
Another enhanced feature is the Nintendo DSi Sound application, 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. The mic is located between the two screens when the device is flipped open, and there is also a stereo headphone output that lets users listen to music saved on an SD card, even with the screen shut.
In the world of software, Nintendo DSi will be the platform for the most relevant and fun on-the-go games and applications. The Nintendo DSiWareTM application will populate Nintendo DSi with software that can be downloaded using Nintendo DSi Points directly to the portable system, just as WiiWareTM has with Nintendo’s WiiTM console. Developers big and small are invited to create software that makes use of the properties and functions of the hardware. Nintendo DSiWare games and applications will be available at a range of values, starting at 200 points.
In addition to downloadable games, Nintendo DSi is able to play games made specifically for the system and sold at retail. The system can also play most Nintendo DSTM games, and will have access to a library of more than 850 titles originally made for that system.
Also on April 5, a new Nintendo DS game, Rhythm HeavenTM, will join this roster of games available for both Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DS owners in the United States. Having sold more than 1.6 million copies since its July 2008 launch in Japan and still increasing sales today, this infectious game challenges players to tap and slide the stylus on the touch screen in time to original music created by legendary Japanese pop-star producer TSUNKU♂. Simple gestures with the stylus combined with fun music and quirky visuals make Rhythm Heaven a completely unique musical experience for players of all ages.
Additional features and news of Nintendo DSi will be revealed as April 5 approaches.
For more information about Nintendo DSi, visit www.nintendodsi.com.
Pre-order your Nintendo DSi now at Amazon.com
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I didn’t think they were going to release the Nintendo DSi in the U.S. so early in 2009, since they originally said it would be well into 2009 before it was launched. I figured they wouldn’t released until the Fall, but it is nice to see it coming sooner.
I think I will get the black version even though the blue one is different, but I think I want the classic black.
I wonder if I should pre-order this soon? Do you see the DSi being as hard to find as the Wii and Wii Fit at launch?
Will you trade-in your Nintendo DS Lite to get the DSi or will you keep both? Do you still have the original Nintendo DS?
This will be the 5th DS in my household, which, for the record only has four people, three of which play. I guess if I have to pick one I’ll go with the black just because that ice cream blue isn’t exactly my cup of tea, though, just to be different I might grab one. I do think they’ll be a hard find, but probably because they’ll be shipped in limited quantities.
I’d still prefer a red DSi, but if I want one of these, I’m not sure I’ll be able to hold off until winter when they’ll inevitably announce a new color.
Also, thanks for adding in the pictures.
No problem on the pictures and I already pre-ordered a black Nintendo DSi from Amazon.com using the link above.
At least I should get one at launch if Amazon.com comes through, but I might also pre-order one around here somewhere just in case. Maybe I will go to GameStop this weekend or I wonder if Best Buy will have pre-orders available?
Gotta start saving my pennies. I want one at launch, but we’re talking $200 with the game…I’ve gotta step up the sidegigs to pay for this.
Since the DSi is region locked, guess I have to buy one here this time.
Hey, does the SD card slot just open this up to pirates? What I mean is that this would/could essentially put the final nail in the coffin of the PSP, right? That system sells a fair amount, but only to people who want to pirate via the memory stick. Couple the WiFi Internet access with an SD card and you’re all set for pirated stuff, not to mention, adult content. Aside from maybe the ability to watch video (which this thing may or may not be capable of) this would pretty much do the same thing, only with better games, right? Maybe I’m way off, but I wonder if Japanese PSP sales have dropped down to embarrassing numbers for Sony… it’ll be interesting to see what happens after this thing gets its big release.
Amazon is no longer taking preorders for the DSi apparently. I have mine preordered luckily and look forward to either playing it or selling it depending on the situation I’m in financial wise.
The DS was already capable of running hacked software via the GBA slot. The SD slot should be no different, but turns out that there have been problems hacking the DSi hardware. Well…there is someone who posted a video months back showing their hacked DSi displaying a little program they wrote.
Wow! I can’t believe the Nintendo DSi pre-orders are already gone on Amazon.com. I wonder how many they had available? I am glad I ordered mine yesterday. I thought I was crazy ordering it right after reading this news, but I guess maybe I wasn’t as crazy as I thought.
The pirating of Nintendo DS games on the current Nintendo DS systems has been going strong for awhile. My friend has one of the hack cartridges that accepts a SD card that he has all the Nintendo DS games on that he downloads from the Internet. I don’t know all of the details, but he has games from Japan even before they are out over here.
I am not sure if this device will work on the new DSi, so they may have to work on a new hack to do that. I wouldn’t be surprised if they have it working not too long after launch or they may already have it working on the Japanese DSi version already for all I know.
Has there been any mention of the Nintendo DSi have video recording capability? It would be nice if they could record video with it that would compete with the Flip Video Camcorders ( http://www.theflip.com ). Maybe they will bring out a new game or software package that will allow video recording through the built-in camera???
Amazon is taking preorders once again, false alarm. But I’m guessing they’re allocating a certain amount of preorders everyday or something.