Tag Archive for 'Nintendo DS'

Warning: This article is a translation of an article that originally wrote on my personal blog and make temporal references may no longer be appropriate.

Those of you who "know" and read to my "rants" about video games, you probably know that I am a big fan of Nintendo. I do not consider myself a fanboy, my opinions on games and consoles are not based on a stupid tag-based zealots. I recognize the pros and cons of each platform and games, regardless of the brands behind them. After this little "disclaimer", I am now ready to write about the new Nintendo DSi.

The Nintendo DSi was the first console that I pre-ordered in store. Not because he was afraid he could run out due to high demand, but because I had a hunch that most stores would not have a great stock for the launch. Why? First, because we are talking about Nintendo and Portugal, if you do not know, is the largest European market for the Playstation. Secondly, because there are plenty of Nintendo DS Lite's in stock in stores that are trying to sell the stock before renewing with the new Nintendo DSi.

Was I right? Well, say I got my DSi from day 3, day of the European launch, and today, 5 days, there were still some major consumer electronics stores that do not have a DSi. Coincidence? Perhaps, but my DSi rests safely in my hands

Rants apart ... As for the console itself, as you may know, the "technological leap" is greater than it was with the DS Lite. The "i" in DSi is probably not for the Internet, but it should be, since it will be the Internet and the new DSi Ware store that is the great engine of this console.

We can still play all DS games, and according to Nintendo, the way games are specifically for the DSi, but the purchase of games and applications on the DSi Shop is the strongest point of this console.

As a token of appreciation, Nintendo is offering 1000 Nintendo DSi points, to register the console until October, these points can be used to download some of the few launch games available on the DSi store. As usual, we Europeans have less to choose from. The DS web browser is free, which makes it mandatory on the first download to be done. I do not know how it compares with the previous browser (paid) version available for DS and DS Lite, but this version is still developed by Opera and is as functional as any other mobile browser, even from it can Twiiter

Of the five games on the DSi store available at launch, the only one that caught my attention and deserves that can be bought is WarioWare: Snapped! If you've played any of the previous Wario Ware games will not regret playing this, especially when playing with the DSi camera. At the end of each round are shown in the figures that make sad while playing

Returning to the console, the DSi is smaller than the DS Lite, has bigger screens, support for SD cards so you can store pictures, sounds, music (AAC only, not MP3) and backup games downloaded from the online store. I hope in future to do the same as Nintendo did with the Wii and let the games can be played directly from the SD card.

Along with the DSi Store, the DSi comes with the usual PictoChat and DS Download Play, as well as two new "applications": Nintendo DSi Camera and Nintendo DSi Sound. The first lets you use both cameras (yes two) to take photos and manipulate them with various effects such as frames, filters, distortion, color change, etc.. This application uses the detection of ruptured, in order to do some tricks in real time, as showing cat ears and whiskers, even when shooting. In addition, they can share the photos to DS for DS or copy / move directly to the SD card and create a calendar with pictures that are taken out.

The Nintendo DSi Sound audio player is the console. As I said earlier, is limited to AAC files, no MP3 support. Nintendo has already done this with some Wii firmwares ago, so there was no surprise here. We can listen to full albums, simply copy them to the card (in AAC format) with some funny views, but even better is the ability to change music in real time with various effects. We can also record audio from the built-in micro console and play around with effects and filters.

These features are not impressive, but are fun to play, making sure we spend some good moments, but Nintendo left out one of the major features available in the DS's past: the Game Boy slot Now it is not possible to play games Game Boy, or even use all available accessories for the DS using this slot. There are some rumors that the DSi Shop will have games as the Game Boy Wii Virtual Console, but I'm not so sure it will be for now. There are still too many Game Boy's and NDS's in stock in stores and all these machines support the Game Boy games

Two cameras and fun applications for audio and picture are not what I would call features bombastic to sell a new console, but the DSi Ware store will become the permanent on the DSi console very interesting. Nintendo has released in Japan a few titles for DSi Porreiras like Dr. Mario and Braintraing and brands like Namco are already supporting the store with titles such as Mr. Driller.

The big question is: is it worth buying?

It depends on what you want. If you do not have a DS, this is the model to buy. Moreover, it depends on your love for Nintendo and hope in your DSi Ware store. The fans sure will buy, and over time the DS Lite will disappear ... so as always, is a matter of time and money