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Iwata: our goal is not to compete with the iPhone photo

In a recent interview with Nikkei Net, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata spoke about Nintendo's intentions with the announcement of the DSi, clarifying that it was not intended in any way to compete with the iPhone, but simply a way to make the gaming device more essential for everyday users.

From the interview:

“We wanted users to have the device on them at all times,” he stated. “By downloading subway maps and other things, for instance, the DSi can be useful for applications other than playing games. We wanted to create an offering that would fit naturally into people's everyday lives."

Iwata also mentioned that the hardware would "probably" launch in late 2009, which is probably more like "maybe, but likely not." I'm sure Nintendo is interested to see how Japan reacts to their shiny new invention first.

It's no surprise that Nintendo would choose this direction to move in with the DS -- all kinds of software aimed at language, cooking and other day to day necessities has already been released in Japan. However, since the iPhone can make calls in addition to providing internet services and gaming, it's still a great deal higher up on my want list than the DSi is (although I'm sure I'll want both in the end). Do you think the DSi could be useful enough to carry with you everywhere?

[Via Edge Online -- Thanks, Joe]


Continue: More Satoru Iwata stories





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17 comments | showing # 1 to 17

Gameboi's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/03/2008 10:40
Gameboi
Funny thing about Nintendo: They say this about every piece of hardware that they produce.

Anything on the market vying for consumer attention is competing with everything else. There are no exceptions.
Sam Spectre's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/03/2008 10:41
Sam Spectre
I kind of think its too big to carry everywhere. If I wanted something that did all this and was going to carry it everywhere I'd just spend the extra money on the iPhone.

Sorry Nintendo, the DSi is fail in my book.
Niero's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/03/2008 10:41
Niero
Its good, but smells like a safe bet/cop out. Why stop short at a mediocre camera/browser? I think its weird that Nintendo doesn't go after the premium phone market. Had they partnered with a premium phone carrier like Motorola or the thing Google is making and brought DS technology to a similar-priced iPhone clone it would sell like hotcakes.
falinter's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/03/2008 10:44
falinter
If it also functioned like a competent MP3 player I would get it, if only to consolidate the amount of devices I carry on me.
But right now I can't see me wanting it for no reason.

Show me something amazing that I can only get with a DSi.
Phantom Spaceman's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/03/2008 10:48
Phantom Spaceman
Hopefully this will blow up in their face, their stock price will plummet, and they'll be forced to go back to making, you know, actual games, instead of Waggle Quest VII. Or at least one can dream.
The-Excel's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/03/2008 10:51
The-Excel
I was never under the impression that they felt threatened by the iPhone.
Face's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/03/2008 10:51
Face
I don't really care about multifunctioning media devices. I still have my DS, it plays games, thats all I want.
Sam Spectre's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/03/2008 10:56
Sam Spectre
@Niero:

That would have been amazing. I wonder why they didn't go that way. To me the DSi is just as exciting as another fucking color for the DS Lite.
SaraAB87's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/03/2008 11:02
SaraAB87
If it automatically searches for open Wifi spots, has more compatibility and a web browser that is actually useful then it might just work however the included camera seems to be very, very useless (who wants a .3 megapixel picture??). Maybe if we could watch youtube videos on the included browser within reasonable speed and again, if the browser included the ability to automatically connect to any open wifi hotspot. Also, if the games don't use these features properly then the system will essentially be almost the same as the DS lite. Another question is what about current DS games, will the system optimize them to fit the whole screen or will we see a border around the game like when playing GBA games on a DS lite? Another question is will there be a game that uses these features that will actually be worth buying? I think Nintendo needs to include at least as many features as the PSP has in their new system (and probably add some new things too), because the PSP would still be my carry around system of choice. With the PSP at its current price point and memory cards getting cheaper and cheaper the price difference is nearly non existent now.

Losing GBA compatibility is not smart, Pokemon games use the GBA slot extensively so they probably won't be able to target this system to pokemon fans which represents a huge share of Nintendo DS players, pokemon fans already have the system they need in the current DSL.
SmDFrylock's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/03/2008 11:13
SmDFrylock
I thought Nintendo was competing with the PSP, except they won't support video playback, only support ACC for audio playback, add a camera that has a slightly better picture quality over your phone, and has the DS browser built in, which is painfully slow and doesn't support multimedia capabilities like flash.

Sounds like a PSP killer to me.
SaraAB87's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/03/2008 11:28
SaraAB87
Also if it doesn't have upgradeable firmware that just about kills it, at least with the PSP sony has upgradeable firmware so they could theoretically release an update at any time that would vastly improve the system. Oh yeah and where's my internet radio, the single feature of the PSP that I use the most. The PSP was worth buying for me for that feature alone as a stand alone internet radio would cost me more or around the same prices as the PSP.

I believe the PSP is also getting a camera in its 3000 model upgrade. We need a screen quality upgrade as well in the DSi, not just making it bigger.
kawaiiflamingo's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/03/2008 11:32
kawaiiflamingo
I could see the camera/barcode reader being cool in Japan. Almost everywhere you go there are square barcodes on posters, handouts, packaging, etc. Most cell phones in Japan can read the bar code by using the camera in the phone...you scan it and it sends you all sorts of information. Promotions, maps, messages, more information, you name it.
NihonTiger90's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/03/2008 12:03
NihonTiger90
Nintendo's goal is not to compete with the iPhone? Satoru, you just declared war on Apple. Get real.
Wexx's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/03/2008 12:07
Wexx
Well, I think they'd get a greater support if they allowed developers to put out their own apps with less restrictions than the iphone. That was my main concern with the iphone, and I don't see it clearing up any time soon, as the app store is a huge profit for apple at the moment. Hopefully, we'll see a lot of the iphone developers that got rejected putting their apps on the DSi. If not, well... there's always the android, which would be a more likely place for them anyway. OH WELL MARKET COMPETITION WOOOO!

iphone != gaming device, I'm sorry. there aren't any buttons!
Rainbowblack's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/03/2008 14:40
Rainbowblack
"make the gaming device more essential for everyday users."

what he meant to say is that 7 year olds can now take pictures of their penises while going to the bathroom in school and show their friends
ZekeThePlumber's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/03/2008 15:26
ZekeThePlumber
There's no incoming war! That's because Nintendo and Apple are going to merge to take on Sony, right Rob Summa?
el_chack's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/03/2008 16:58
el_chack
I'm buying a DSi, not necesarily because I'm going to replace my iPod and my digital camera for my portable gaming console, but mostly because I know that camera and SD features will be used to improve gaming experience... Nintendo, please don't dissappoint me.
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