'Nintendo has taken the wraps off its new DS system, the DSi, during a press conference in Tokyo today.

The handheld will be priced at JPY 18,900 (USD 179 / EUR 129 / GBP 101) and will be launched on November 1.

The DSi features a built-in web browser, enabling users to download games and store them on the console.

An online DSi Shop will allow users to purchase DSiWare priced between 200 and 800 points, with customers getting 1000 points free until March 2010.

The handheld boasts a three megapixel camera, and better audio capabilities including the ability to adjust pitch and playback.

With a slot for SD memory cards, users are able to take photographs on the DSi and transfer them to the Wii home console.

The new model has slightly larger screens at 3.25 inches and is 12 per cent thinner, but the slot for Game Boy Advance cartridges has been removed.

The new model will come in black and white colours.'



Nintendo DSi

I'm not quite sure what the point of this new console iteration is. It's all very neat and the price is only $180, but the more there is to a console the more can go wrong. Also, I see the price almost doubling in Europe. It's interesting to see that it has internet capabilities and two measly 0.3 megapixel cameras, but what will be done with that? Probably just 1 Wario game where you poke your own face with the stylus. The internal SD card capacity is just asking for more piracy and the camera is asking for DSes to be banned on trains (think about it). A console of this magnitude will not be able to avoid stuff like that.
I'm pretty sure it's asking too much of the DSi's software that you could take a photo, record a videos, write a blog and attach the photo and video and edit and upload it all, but that's the only use I can see for all this stuff.

Another -Ware channel? I think that might be a mistake considering how badly the Wiiware channel is doing, both in sales and critically. Will this one highlight the existence of the Wii one?

Official website:
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/dsi.html

Source:

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/nintendo-unveils-new-dsi-console