Why a DSi?

You've probably heard the announcement, and probably below (or not), that there's a DSi coming out soon from Nintendo for Japanese residents on November 1. It hasn't been too long since the last revision, though long enough for people not to be surprised. It's been about two-and-a-half years since the system graced Japan, and by the time the thing releases in the America and Europe, it will have been three (if it comes out around June '09). But is it really necessary?

Well, not from a purely observational standpoint. The thing boasts two .03 megapixel cameras within it's interior and exterior, which would've been standard about 8-10 years ago. As rumored, it has music playback capabilities, though it only plays ACC files. And while the thing does have an SD Card slot, we don't know specifically what downloadable software will be available for the thing beyond GB and GBA downloads. The only DS Ware announced thus far are renditions of the two Brain Age titles. Also, cosmetically, it isn't very different from the DS Lite.

But there are three reasons that Nintendo wants to sell this thing, especially to Japanese audiences:

1.  The Never-Ending Battle of the Portables

Nintendo may have been a little surprised to see that the PSP Slim is beating the DS in its home territory, so the company has decided to up the ante and release a system that's not just a mere video gaming system. Games like Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G and Phantasy Star Portable have helped move the PSP hardware, so it's about time for a DS resurgence in Japan now that the majority of Japanese citizens who wanted a Lite own one now. The fact that it's selling to an audience that hasn't been enthralled with products such as the iPhone is anothe reason.

2. Plans for the Future

They may not be revealing themselves now, but it's possible that Nintendo has some grandiose things in store that only the DSi can take advantage of. Of course, it would be good if we were aware of what those precisely were, as it would go a long way towards moving units from store shelves. If there's downloadable software on par with what's being offered with Wii Ware currently, this could turn into a gold mine. It'll need more than just a backlog of Game Boy games to sell, the majority of which are really awful. Electronics can't sell on sheer potential alone. Just ask Sony!

3. Geeks and Otaku Will Buy It

It's almost a tragedy that geeks are so magnetically attracted to the newest hardware, especially when it's cheap and portable. Nintendo knows that, and they certainly intend to exploit it to it's fullest current potential. It's only in America that the company is making some strange managerial decisions with its software, though even here it's not ravaged enough to make the N-faithful not gravitate towards the newest iteration without a second thought. Even if it isn't a significant upgrade.


Hopefully this time, there's enough to prevent people from jumping in headfirst just for the bragging rights. Sure, the screens are bigger, but that and its new features are at the expense of marginally shorter battery life. There's also the fact that the system, unlike its predecessors, won't be region free. All the more reason to wait until its US launch, if a substantial reason to own it surfaces by then (i.e. it's not like the upcoming Japanese launch). The DSi doesn't look like a device you'll need right away, though that isn't going to stop many people.