Nintendo DSi shows potential
The latest in a long line of Nintendo’s repackaged, portable hardware, the Nintendo DSi ($169.99) launched last month and promptly sold 435,000 units in its first week. But while demand remains high, many gamers are still wondering if the extra RAM, built-in cameras, and most significantly, downloadable applications, warrant the higher price tag. It all depends on how willing you are to wait.
When its predecessor, the Nintendo DS Lite, launched in the summer of ’06 it was a significant upgrade over the original model, offering better backlighting, longer battery life, and a sleeker exterior. Comparatively, the aesthetic differences between the Lite and DSi are mostly negligible. The DSi sports slightly bigger screens and ditches the glossy finish, but the button layout and general feel are the same.
The DSi also lacks backwards compatibility with old Game Boy Advance games. This is admittedly a bummer, particularly for the handful of gamers who still partake in occasional Guitar Hero: On Tour jam sessions. However, for people who want to upgrade but don’t want to part with their older library, a used Advance SP would be an inexpensive fallback for most games.
Presumably, the Game Boy slot was left out to keep manufacturing costs down, but Nintendo would have been wiser to nix the camera and audio playback features first. At some point, developers will begin utilizing the camera in actual games, but at the moment it is little more than a diversion. The software is just too limited. Even 1998’s Game Boy Camera featured basic animation tools and games.
Ultimately though, the quality of the DSi shop software will determine whether the new system is a worthy follow-up. Downloadable console games have become an industry staple in recent years, and last year iPhone games skyrocketed in popularity. Considering how Nintendo has aped Apple’s style with both the Wii and the DS Lite, it seems natural that they would follow suit with the DSi. Unfortunately, the initial lineup doesn’t do much to instill confidence in the store.
There are a few standout titles exclusive to the DSi that are currently available for download. The best of the bunch is easily Art Style: Aquia (pictured), an underwater themed tile puzzler with a hypnotic soundtrack and just enough depth to justify the $5 cost. Nintendo has also packaged stripped down versions of games like Dr. Mario and Brain Age. They’re affordable, but you’ve likely seen enough of these games by now.
Most of the other titles are $2 diversions mined from older games, such as WarioWare, Inc. Nintendo even had the gall to release an Animal Crossing clock program, despite the fact that the system already includes one.
Only one game, WarioWare: Snapped, uses the camera in a meaningful way. It prompts players to pose in front of the screen to perform random tasks, such as watering plants, grabbing coins, and scaring babies; but temperamental motion sensing and a five minute length keep it from being something special. Still, it’s the only game that gives a glimpse of the DSi’s potential, so it’s not the worst way to spend the free points included in the box.
And in the end, that’s what you would be buying with the Nintendo DSi — potential. Nintendo has been slow to move toward online software, as anyone who frequents the WiiWare shop can tell you. But even if Nintendo fails to capitalize on the opportunity, plenty of third parties could conceivably fill in the gaps. It will just require some patience.
Most Recent Arts Comments
Karen Vaccaro is a remarkable person as well as a dedicated performer. I couldn’t imagine a better night at theater!
The director should’ve added the wrinkle that the ban on dancing’s the only thing keeping Bomont from attracting the green/tech/jobs of the future!
Now that’s Class!
I have read several of her books and liked them. I guess because I’m not an overweight, lesbian, intersexed Jewish amputee with divorced parents I can’t comment on the offensiveness of some of her jokes.
You forgot to mention fat people. She made fun of obesity. And divorce. Children of divorce were lampooned, too. Jewish people. She hit on a lot of “groups.“ I fit into a number of them. If you didn’t like her speech you won’t like her books. If…
Lesbians: Anecdote about her mom being a lesbian, and getting her mom introduced to Rosie O’Donnell, and mom and Rosie talking about oral sex, and Weiner acting disgusted. She probably meant the disgust in a “don’t wanna hear about my mom’s vag” kind of way, but all…
Oh. Wow. What exactly did she say, Emma? Do you remember?
I went to this. In the first 5 minutes of her talk, she made fun of lesbians, intersexed children, and amputees. I was honestly surprised at how offensve she was—it was like she thought the Champaign Public Library was a venue for Last Comic Standing. I…
Theresa—are you speaking generally about that monologue, or did you attend the Friday night showing at UIUC?
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Illinois has simply had no luck at all in these Mizzou games. None. I think maybe we’re do for a couple of bounces to go our way. If we get one or two (or sever or eight) breaks, I think it’s a win.
Jason, Savoy could easily join the CPL tax district, which is probably closer to most Savoy residents than the Tolono library is. But my impression is that Savoy residents as a whole don’t want to pay the cost of the CPL (Tolono’s library taxes are cheaper), even…
Sorry, but I am lagging behind on updates to the map. Also, some construction projects were delayed from their original start date. On a more positive note, I am putting together a map of haunted houses in Central Illinois. I have a few plotted already, and I…
I’ve never gotten the privilege of all the services CPL cardholders get. I just want to be able to go out of my way to drive to the CPL to check out books, pay fines, maybe buy some coffee, and enjoy the library. None of those activities…
These days, there is more to using a library than checking out books. At one time, paying into the Lincoln Trails system probably would cover the expenses incurred by other libraries in the system. Now, with Internet, videos, coffee shops, wireless Internet hubs, etc., I suspect the…
(speaking as a Savoy resident) By paying taxes to support a member of the LTLS, we are paying our “fair share” to use any LTLS library—Tolono, Champaign, Urbana, etc. This is how library systems work. The 6% of CPL’s circulation represented by Tolono users is NOT significant…
I read Timbo’s argument. I think the key word is “speculating.“
I would be interested to hear more about the “word on the street”—how are individual hauling companies fulfilling their promise to recycle?
Timbo makes a smart, sound argument. Reread it.
I joined on 09-09-09 after living here over a year, and having to listen to my dad tell me how his best friend is, like, #27 or something crazy like that, and how said friend never lived further than 50 feet from the Illini Inn while going…
And, I might add, no one is being prevented from using the Champaign library. They are just being asked to pay their fair share if they are going to use it as their primary library.
The equation is pretty simple here. If you want social services, then pay the taxes required to run those social services. These things only work if everyone puts in their fair share. As a heavy user of the Champaign Library, I say bravo to this new policy.
Curtis Orchard is always good for an hour or three, especially if you have rugrats.
What is the increased marginal cost of serving a resident of Savoy or Mahomet? I suspect negligible. What is the increased revenue to be realized by this new policy? I suspect very little. Aside from these financial aspects, what are the most probable results from this new…
Looks like you are also all members of the killer sideburns club.
Thanks for the article, Ben. I was not familiar with this band until now and even though I won’t be able to attend the show on Friday they are now on my radar. A *good* jam band is hard to find, and these folks appear to fill…
Nice article, love the Dead quote in the beginning. If they can get down here to Central FL I’ll definitely be heading out to the show. Some of my friends have finally stopped wincing when I say “jam band.“ I’ve now tried my best at more descriptive…
@Annie: Yeah, my bad. That was the best part! Drinking + memory exercises = fun @Rob: According to Ask the English Teacher, “My dictionary says ‘drunk’ is an archaic past tense of ‘drink.‘“ We’re all about the new grammar around here.
Katie, have the residents of Savoy and Tolono thought about having their taxes raised a little to help their public library expand? That’s a possibility for them. And then everybody wins.
good call on that Herring recording, Josh. Love that version of Exit Music….here’s a clip of the Cinco de Mayo show (from about six months prior). As I recall, this Shakedown went on for roughly a half hour, while getting into the Trampled Underfoot jam in the…
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The main character’s name is actually Lisbeth, in case you want to correct.