You should follow us on Twitter here
Join us - it's free
Sign up or Login



Articles: full stories summaries
a
a
?


 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Home #japan


Does not want: Only 3.6% of Japanese gamers plan to buy DSi 'soon' photo

I kind of want Nintendo's new DSi console, but it's not for the fancy new camera or internet browser. It's just that my old DS Lite looks like sh*t from frequent travel and even more frequent droppings, and I think this would be a nice replacement. Plus, slightly bigger screens means some relief for the eyes.

We have a bit of a wait for the US release of the console, though. And I'm not sure I want to pay the crazy import prices for a console that will not work with the North American DSi-only titles, either. 

It seems that Japan isn't as gung-ho about it either, even though they'll be able to purchase one locally, for a normal price, come November 1. A new poll by Dengeki Online shows that only 3.6 percent of those polled want a DSi in their pockets soon. The wait-and-see people made up 29.4 percent, while 26.2 percent were undecided. 

The poll also asked what new feature mattered most to those purchasing the unit, and it looks like they're with me on the improved screen size. About 15 percent wanted the new camera, and only 3.4 percent cared about the SD card slot, but 30.8 percent wants that bigger screen size. 

We'll see how the console sales actually peform in Japan this weekend. 

[Via 1UP]


Continue reading: More Nintendo stories





17 comments | showing # 1 to 17
prev next

garison's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2008 13:50
garison
really the only reason that I want this is for the downloadable games that might be good.
PappaDukes's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2008 13:54
PappaDukes
I've never owned a DS, so I would probably purchase the DSi if I was to purchase a DS.
mr spooky's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2008 13:57
mr spooky
3.6% of Japanese gamers already own so why buy another one.
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2008 14:02
Holyetheline
I don't want a DSi...
JonDarkwood's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2008 14:16
JonDarkwood
Ok, we'll see what the sales numbers say when they're walking past them in stores every day.
Shinu's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2008 14:20
Shinu
i hate it that they region locked the games. Pfff... what a horseload.
Dr Kai's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2008 14:25
Dr Kai
There is no compelling reason to buy a DSi on launch day. The only unique features are the SD card (with only a couple old Brain Training titles out at launch), integrated Opera browser, and the cameras (for low resolution funny faces and stop-animation films at launch).

However, there is also no compelling reason to *NOT* buy this once its available (see below for GBA slot loss). There are still >25,000 people a week in Japan buying DS Lites, so it is assumed that they will just start buying the DSi instead. Now in a year when there are interesting DSware titles coming out, then we'll have a reason to buy one.

The one feature lost from the DS Lite is the GBA slot. This is used sparingly, and with 50% penetration in Japanese homes, it will be hard to find someone without a DS Lite/Phat to utilize this slot for peripherals. I would suspect that next year we'll see GBA/GBC/GB games coming out on the DSi "Virtual Channel", so you'll still get to play your GBA games (for a price).
parrothead's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2008 14:54
parrothead
I don't want the DSi. I happy with my DSLite
KMCC's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2008 15:30
KMCC
Everybody who wants a DS most likely already has one. What's the term? "Market saturation" or something like that?
gamadaya's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2008 15:53
gamadaya
To me, the only good thing the DSi does is increase the size of the screens. There as so many good slot 1 devices out for the DS lite, and most of the new ones have SDHC capability. Removing slot 2 was a idiotic thing to do to make the system a little thinner, and nobody gives a crap about a horrible camera. Also, flashcart makers will probably not support the DSi very much, so even though you get an SD card slot, it doesn't matter because you lose an even better one.
Robbo the hood's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2008 16:48
Robbo the hood
Considering the PSP Brite offers less over the slim than the DSi does over the lite I see no reason why Japan won't eat it up.
Sam Spectre's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2008 17:59
Sam Spectre
The DSi is going to fail tremendously. I doubt many people are going to throw away their perfectly fine DS Lite to buy VIRTUALLY THE SAME SYSTEM with some cameras attached.
atastysammich's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2008 19:02
atastysammich
This was sort of silly timing on Nintendo's part. "Does most of Japan have a DS or DS Lite? Hang on a second, let's get out one more chart about how everyone's got one or is getting one right now... Okay, great! Here's a new one with functions that devices you already have do better, without that pesky second slot for add-ons or GBA games. Of course you've already unlocked those bonus outfits in Feel the Magic.
atastysammich's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2008 19:03
atastysammich
"
Whew! Okay, got the closing parenthesis in.
JonDarkwood's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2008 14:29
JonDarkwood
People who genuinely think this is going to "fail tremendously" are funnier than most of the shows on Comedy Central now
atastysammich's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2008 16:16
atastysammich
@JonDarkwood
That's not that hard a feat.
GohanGVO's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/02/2008 20:39
GohanGVO
Well, my DS Lite has a cracked hinge, so I may as well use that as an excuse to trade up. ;)
prev next

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!




Batman: The Brave and the Bold (Wii)
Review Round-Up: The Games of August
Dead Rising 2: Case Zero
Valkyria Chronicles II
Ufouria: The Saga
Guilty Party
Metroid: Other M
G.G Series Ninja Karakuri Den
Ys Seven
Book review: The Art of Resident Evil 5
Shank
Book review: Udon's Art of Capcom 2
Shining Force (iPhone)
Book review: Street Fighter World Warrior Encyclopedia
Mafia II
more reviews


PAX 10: A hands-off look at Guild Wars 2
with Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
Retro City Rampage
Fallout: New Vegas
Hunted: The Demon's Forge
PAX 10: with Monaco
PAX 10: Bit.Trip FATE blow-out with the Dtoid All-Stars
PAX 10: Getting classy with Killzone 3's multiplayer
PAX 10: Lost in Shadow deserves a little spotlight
PAX 10: Sonic Colors is still rockin' awesome
PAX 10: with Slam Bolt Scrappers
PAX 10: The SpyParty experience
PAX 10: Hands-off with the delightfully gruesome Swarm
See Enslaved's full opening, 'The Escape'
PAX 10: Comic Jumper Impressions
more previews




Call for entries

New posts Expand all

New to the c-blogs? Read the survival guide
- The Dtoid Army is 74672 strong -




Sundays with Sagat: Street Fighter Final Fight finale'
PAX 10: The best of cosplay super-cade of super-friends
The 3DS captured on video like never before!
PAX 10: Bionic Commando Rearmed 2 Klog hands-on interview
PAX 10: Sterling and Holmes hands-on Kirby's Epic Yarn
Gearbox's Randy Pitchford talks Duke Nukem Forever
Forums, we have them: September 2010
PAX 10: Hands-on with Monaco
PAX 10: The Helghast pay tribute to Michael Jackson
PAX 10: Exclusive chat with the voice of Duke Nukem!



tips@destructoid.com
Nick Chester
Editor-in-Chief
Niero
Founder, El Jefe
Jim Sterling
Reviews Editor
Hamza Aziz
Community Manager
Dale North
News Editor
Jordan Devore
Tom Fronczak
Ben Perlee
Ashley Davis Tara Long
Conrad
Zimmerman
Chad Concelmo
Jonathan Holmes Jonathan Ross
Brad Rice Mikey Turvey
Joseph Leray Matthew Razak
Josh Tolentino
Samit Sarkar
Hollie Bennett Daniel Lingen
   









 
  get involved

register or login
post a blog
post a forum
enter a contest
contribute a news tip
suggest a feature
be a guest editor
support

new member's guide
login assistance
tech support
report abuse
email our editors
read our dev blog
nuclear crisis?
keep in touch

RSS feed
Twitter
Facebook
Myspace
Flickr
Game nights
Meetup+play online
seriously

about Destructoid
advertising
terms of use
privacy policy
jobs at MM
buy our crap
our network

Tomopop
Japanator




All editorial content, including blogs, comments, and forums written by our community, are licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution. Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press. "Living the dream since March 16, 2006".