Popular games retailer, Toys R Us, have added a listing to their site for both the white and pink iterations of the popular Nintendo DSi. Whilst Nintendo haven’t confirmed anything as of yet, it’s more than likely that this duo will make an appearance state-side at some point this year.
Nintendo is now allowing Japanese and European DSi owners to connect to popular social networking site Facebook.
Nintendo DSi owners can now upload Facebook pics and access their accounts when upgraded to the system’s version 1.4 firmware. With Facebook adoption being excessively high in the West it shouldn’t be too long before gamers in the States receive this handy update.
Nintendo’s President Satoru Iwata has revealed that Nintendo had previously designed a successor to the Nintendo DS/DSi but have subsequently decided to scrap it.
Whilst no hints were given regarding the features the console contained or its aesthetics, Nintendo firmly believed the time wasn’t right for it to introduce a completely new hand-held gaming device to consumers.
But when we are launching new hardware, the most important is thing is to sustain the momentum. If introducing new hardware won’t do anything to do that, well…”
- Satoru Iwata
During April 2009 the recently released Nintendo DSi outsold its predecessor by an incredible four to one.
Nintendo has issued a press release informing everyone that the Nintendo DSi and DS Lite’s sales combined amounted to 1.04 million sales during April 2009. The figures that were spouted also clearly show that the DSi’s predecessor, the DS Lite, was outsold by a ratio of four to one by its fresher and newer brethren.
Video gaming emporium, Game, have stated that orders for the Nintendo DSi have doubled those of the DS Lite during the pre-release phase.
With the Nintendo DSi poised to launch in both the United States and the United Kingdom, figures have come through assuring Nintendo of a highly successful hand-held launch.
The figures which came from respected UK retail outlet, Game, categorically state that pre-orders for the Nintendo DSi throughout its chain stores have successfully doubled those of the previous incarnation, the DS Lite.
One of the most bewildering decisions by Nintendo regarding its DSi console was the decision to enable region locking on the system.
After all, the Nintendo DS allowed gamers all over the world to explore niche oddities from other territories, rather than being locked down to play games from their specific region.
Nintendo’s David Yarnton attempted to explain the unwelcome decision to The Times, where he squarely placed the blame on the different game ratings used through the world.
There are many different age requirements with games around the world. I’ve been involved with the industry body, and we’ve just had the Byron review, so it’s quite topical. As an industry, we are trying to take a responsible stance in that area, to make sure that we have people aware of what content they get, and that there is a certain amount of protection.
- Nintendo UK general manager David Yarnton
Shigefumi Hino, the project leader behind the much-loved Pikmin franchise believes the DS would be a suitable platform with which to release a new iteration of the hit series on.
Speaking to online gaming publication, Gamepot, Hino claimed that the Ds has “unique advantages” when questioned about a suitable control mechanism for the series, which he subsequently believes ‘would be ideal’ for the Pikmin franchise.
With Apples iPhone increasingly becoming a solid entertainment device you’d be right in thinking Nintendo views the platform as a competitor, well according to Nintendo’s president Satoru Iwata this simply isn’t true.
Nintendo doesn’t have any intention of directly competing with existing products, but the mass media has a tendency to portray everything as a rivalry between opposing companies. It seems some people have the impression that we want to compete with cell phones or the iPod, that putting cameras or music players in our devices is out of character for us. I hope those who have such an impression will take an interest in what Nintendo can make when it dedicates itself to pleasing as many people as possible who pick up a DS, and I hope they’ll actually pick one up themselves.
US chain store Wallmart has begun its extensive online pre-order scheme for the Nintendo DSi today.
Wallmart.com has secured “tens of thousands’ of the highly sought after video gaming hand-held in anticipation of the consoles official launch, April 5th. The unit will be available in either blue or black and will retail for $169. You’ll also be pleased to note there will be no pre-order deposit necessary for the purchase.
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has revealed what we’ve all be clamouring to know – When will the DSi launch outside of Japan? Well the answer as we’ve all mildly suspected has been revealed as Autumn 2009. A long wait for the majority of us then…
