5 reasons not to buy DSi...

[Juggernaut]

Last week Nintendo announced a new iteration of their highly successful DS handheld and, while many mainstream outlets had a field day, the response from the gaming community – and, for that matter, the Japanese stock market – was a resounding "huh?!"



With the impending release of this system upgrade being something of an open secret, it wasn't so much the device itself that seemed to cause the head-scratching as it was the odd specifics of its new features and the strange direction in which Nintendo elected to present it.


This newly christened DSi is an obvious member of the DS family, with its stylus and minimalist clamshell design, but Nintendo would seemingly like us to believe that it is a wholly different animal.


Even amid insistence that the system has a place alongside the DS Lite on American retail shelves, at least for the foreseeable future, I’ll wager that many, like me, can’t help but wonder if this device will prove to be the new face of mobile gaming. And, if so, wouldn’t it be prudent to get onboard early?


Well, I guess that depends on how these new features stack up. Let’s take a look, shall we?

• How about the camera? The most highly touted modification to the DSi is the inclusion of two – count ‘em: two – digital cameras. In addition to the one visible on the exterior of the unit, the DSi also boasts a second camera on the inside of the system continually pointed at the player. Sadly, these cameras weigh in at a scant .3 megapixels, and pictures are saved at a mere 640x480 resolution. So, while it might be fun to warp and scrawl atop your pics via the touch screen, it’s doubtful whether the image quality of your DSi photographs will be superior to those taken with the camera already integrated into your current cell phone. [EDIT: While several sources have reported that the DSi cameras were both 0.3 megapixels and others said 3 megapixels, Electronista has cleared up the confusion: the interior camera is a 0.3 megapixel VGA camera, while the external camera is a 3 megapixel.]

• What about the bigger screens? Of more interest to gamers is the increased screen size of the DSi. Its 3.25 inch diagonal screen width stands out as a noticeable increase from the 3 inches of its predecessor. However, despite this enhanced physical real estate, the screens are virtually indistinguishable from a technical standpoint, as the DSi still boasts twin TFT LCDs of identical resolution to those of the DS Lite. You can, however, expect these bigger screens to burn through your valuable battery charge at an increased rate.

• What about backwards compatibility? While the screens are larger -– requiring an increase in system length and width –- the DSi is slightly thinner than the DS Lite. It is of note that this slim-down comes at a cost: in this case the removal of that old standby the GBA cartridge slot. (Yes, this means add-ons like that the knuckle busting fret board attachment for the recent DS Guitar Hero title will be incompatible.) Instead the DSi features an SD card slot in addition to the standard DS game cartridge slot.

• Will it play MP3s? One purpose of the addition of this SD slot is that the DSi will also act as a music device. Notice that I said music device and not MP3 player. Rather than MP3 playback, the handheld will instead support AAC files. While the AAC file type is often described as having superior sound quality to the ubiquitous MP3, it certainly lacks its familiarity. And while the addition of functionality like speed and pitch control for songs sounds interesting, it’s also doubtful that the machine will be replacing your iPod when it comes to music playback.

• So what can I download? The system also features on-board flash memory for use in storing titles procured from the newly revealed DSi Shop. This little brother of the current Wii Shop channel will likely have both the strengths (the potential for lots of interesting new titles as well as for a backlog of games from earlier systems) and the weaknesses (slow rollout and a lack of sufficient demos) of its older sibling. So, while you’ll be able to play these new offerings as well as your current collection of DS titles on your DSi, all DS/DS Lite owners will really be missing out on is the downloadable love.

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[Kamachi]

No matter what you post, I'm still getting this. However, I'll still keep my original DS.

[c.Hood]

Yea I think I still wanna get it.. those reasons just made me want to buy it more honestly.. XD

[Alphashadow]

Originally Posted by LegendarySandwich

No matter what you post, I'm still getting this. However, I'll still keep my original DS.

same, i'll keep my lite for whenever i want to play GBA games, which won't be played much, as for the battery, who cares? it's not like you're gonna play the thing all day, along with the brightest the backlight can get, who usually uses the brightest setting? i could understand to counter the sun's glare when you're outside.

[mjwild89]

The only real reason not to get a DSi is if you already own a DS Lite. I only had mine for two years but i like to be in on the latest design models. I would very much like to play music on my DS and take pictures.

[salance]

i will buy it and u can't stop me
well i just think it still worth the money

[LeftiesWillRule]

Im not going to get it. Pokemon is the only DS game I play anyways, and I need that GBA slot.

[rojocapo]

So its a new system like ds to ds light?
just to get a few bucks then hell no i will not get it.

[FrankForce]

Nope....I will not get it either. No point as I am not too much into portable gaming anymore and I just bought my DS lite this year!!!!

[SKyLineR32]

This just proves futher reason on why not to get it. It sounds more like an iPhone or a computer than a handheld gaming system... I'm very happy with my DS Lite right now.

[Nintendo-Guy]

Getting it anyways.

[SuperSonic]

I will reserve my desicion whether or not to get one 'till I see it for myself.
However I must say that the direction Nintendo are going in with this is a little... Odd, for them.

Nintendo have never been ones for throwing in a ton of extra features in their consoles, they like to just focus on the games, and that's why we love them.
But with this, it seems like they're trying to rival the PSP with all the multimedia stuff, which to be frank, just isn't neccassary, it's not like they have tough competition from that anymore.

This could be a pretty stupid move by Nintendo.