Nintendo launching DSi in North America on April 5

by Jason Dobson on Feb 18th 2009 8:37AM

Early adopters can begin forming a line outside their electronics boutique of choice as Nintendo has officially announced the street date for the DSi. The company's third stab at its popular touchable moneymaker will hit and, we predict, promptly fly off store shelves on April 5. The date is just 24 hours off of an earlier prediction last month, which by prognosticator standards isn't half bad.

For those who have been living under a rock (it's difficult to take pictures of you under there), this latest hardware revision will shoehorn a pair of cameras onto the handheld, as well as an interactive voice recorder and ability to play tunes stored on an SD card. Downloadables are also promised with what Nintendo creatively calls its DSiWare application, with software available for a range of prices starting at 200 DSi Points. It's unclear what software will be available at launch, however. What we do know is that the system will retail for $169.99, a bit cheaper than expected, and will be available in any color you want. As long as those colors are either blue or black.

Source

Tags: ds, dsi, launch, nintendo, nintendo-dsi

Reader Comments (99)

wtf no white? :(

(also hey, they are just using the names of colours without an adjective in front?)

Gah... Pastel blue.

Nintendo thinks Americans are either colorblind, or largely homosexual, apparently.

The DSi is a solid addition to the ds family. Anybody complaining about the DS having inferior hardware to the psp proabably doesnt own a DS. I used to have a PSP and a DS, I sold the PSP cuz the DS was way better. It has a lot more good games and the touch screen gives you innovative games to play, games that cannot be played on a console (like the psp games).
At least they didnt go making a stupid DS micro, then again you never know what might be coming with the big N

there is white they just never added it on this website haha i have all 3 colors white (my brothers) , black (sisters) blue is mine so yeah and they are all english versions

so it's the same price as the psp, but weaker hardware wise. tsk.

I love my PSP but it lacks the Games the DS has. if Sony had a similar line-up as the DS then the PSP would be THE best selling handheld system out easy

I agree the DS has better games, so why get a DSi? You can still play those awesome games on a Lite or Original. If you tell me you want a DSi for the cameras I'll have to smack you.

I'm gonna get a DSi just because the Touchscreen on my Lite stopped registering properly recently (calibrating doesn't solve the problem).

...Any news on the European release?

I want the DSi for the downloadable titles.

I was on the fence about the DSi because I figured it was just a crap PSP as well...
I have a cameraphone, a PSP, and a DS Phat... thats all I really need to make up for the DSi right?

Wrong. Really shouldn't have been so shallow in thinking that.
The camera, SD card slot, and everything in between about the DSi will be USED to it's full extent in GAMES. When it comes standard like that... who knows the possibilities.

I've already heard about the WarioWare Camera DSiWare title from GoNintendo.com's podcast... and I realize that this is going to be a REALLY fun handheld system to play with. Do WANT.

troll harder

I'm gonna get a DSi because i've still got my DS Phat and some newer DSi games might use the cameras.

well well, I WOULD be one of those people in line IF I could get a Blue or Red one. just dont like those first color offerings.

There is a blue one, that picture isn't correct.

I see the new pic. Not sure I like that Powder blue either. the Blue on the DS Lite is more what I'm talking about

LOL!!! You changed accounts cause people kept harassing you based your picture! This is just to damn priceless XD

actually no. My other account was acting stupid and I couldnt post a message without it saying it needed to be verified. and if you didnt notice its the SAME pic thats on the other account

Adding you to PSN, cheers.

I showed up as mario before

well thats Weblogs raggedy ass programing for you

Well, I for one am excited.

Is there a picture of the blue dsi yet?

look up.

Zzzz....

More underpowered hardware from Nintendo. Now with CAMERA. Woopideedoo.

The sad thing is I should probably rebuy Nintendo stock on this one.

Wow, what a waste of time by Nintendo. This whole re-releasing business is reminding me how Sega constantly tried to increase the life of the Sega Genesis by adding the CD and 32X add-ons. Nintendo is trying to do the same with the DS, instead of releasing add-ons they are constantly re-releasing the DS hardware. I guess since they have so much money they can trick people into buying the same system three times (the DS) with only minimal new features. The DS Lite was fine, but this new DSi is just ridiculous. Sadly, it will probably sell out, regardless of the fact that this is a waste of time and money.

hell its working(Unlike with Sega)

the thing is selling like Hotcakes in Japan

Yeah, this is totally unlike Sony releases new versions of the PSP. I mean, this is the 3rd DS and the PSP has only had 3 versions.

Gameboy, Gameboy Pocket, Gameboy Pocket Light (if you're being picky), Gameboy Color = within 10 years

GBA, GBA SP, GBA SP with backlight (if you're being picky), GB Micro = within 4 years

PSP-1000, PSP-2000, PSP-3000 = within 4 years

DS, DS Lite, DSi = within 4 years

Did you bang your head and forget everything except the DS?

Umm, as I keep saying, the DSi actually has twice the clockspeed and 4x the RAM of the DS Lite, which is part of why it has slightly lower battery life. So no, not underpowered so much.

Phase 1: Release a bulky, ugly portable console with experimental games.

Phase 2: Release a sleek, smaller, lighter version of the previous console. Games are now quality. Make massive profit.

Phase 3: Upgrade the system so it offers most of the features that your direct competitor released four years ago. Watch people drool over your incredible innovation.

Phase 4: flood the earth and build an ARK out of $100 bills

Phase 4: ???
Phase 5: Profit/0?

PSP has two cameras and a completely useless MP3 player that can speed up/slow down the sound for no apparent reason?

If so, why?

:)

Seriously, I personally would guess Nintendo aren't even considering PSP with these features.

1. The big new feature is downloadable games, and that's clearly based on their own Wii service. (Which wasn't exactly an original idea but.)

2. Then there's the other stuff that's thrown in to attract kids. The camera software looks like Nintendo still thinking 'hmm, wish it was us who made Print Club' (cf Game Boy Camera etc). So more like Sega's influence than Sony's...

3. 802.11g, internet browsing etc just because it's 2009 and they can.

Pretty sure PSP's media support was intended to make it a serious media player contender at least initially... and I doubt most people think the DSi is going to be that.

CTRL+F
Type "innovation"
If in IE hit enter

The only person to say innovation is you, chief.

innovation . There you go Lee.

Superfluous.

I'd only think about upgrading if they'd kept the GBA slot. As it is right now, I can't see myself halving my portable gaming library just to add a few features I already have on my cell.

Yeah the loss of the GBA slot kills it for me. If I wanted a new DS, I would be making sure to pick up a DS Lite while they are still available.

I'm a bit disappointed that it's not a cobalt blue, but blue is blue.

And to be completely honest, there's a damn good reason for getting this beyond the camera (which I really don't much care about): DSiWare. And if you're a security nut, the fact that it supports WPA and WPA2 wireless should also make you happy.

For that matter it also supports 802.11g wireless. 802.11b isn't as common as 802.11g.

I'll get one of these when they release more colors. I think though, with the drop of the GBA slot...the DS line is finally its own. But...where is the GameBoy line, Nintendo? Why did your third tier become your second? WHY DID YOU KILL THE GAMEBOY?!?

@Seph

Come on now, the DS is the Gameboy's successor. Nintendo was lying when before the DS launch they claimed they would be two independent lines. They only said that to prevent GBA sales from slumping before the DS launch. Maybe they'll launch a new Gameboy some day and prove me wrong, but I never believed that from the day they said it.

Well, it's about this time! I have been bear with my old DS phat version with crack.

Would rather have a GB/GBA/DS player. What's the holdup on that?

April 5, US$169.

Nintendo will definitely see an opportunity to re-release GB and GBA games on DSiWare, and here's hoping they take advantage of it.

How sardonic, offering the public black and blue. I guess its only a little less obvious that a phallic shaped DS that jumps out of your hands and smacks you in the face intermittently.

D(ildo)S Lite

^ Oh I see what you did there. ^

I'm waiting to see what support DSiWare gets. And a price drop.

Since Gameloft is supporting it, we might see such titles as Ferrari GT: Evolution and Asphalt 4: Elite Racing, which are highly popular on devices like the iPods and iPhones.

They just need to start the service with a bunch of GOOD games so the developers come.

I absolutely adore my DS Lite, but...as for the DSi: Am I the only one who thinks it's a total waste of time and ressources?

Why couldn't they make a next generation portable instead of sticking 2 cameras and removing the GBA function?

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Nintendo launching DSi in North America on April 5

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