DSi launch trailer heavy on features, light on games
by Richard Mitchell 
{ Feb 23rd 2009 at 5:30PM } 
Take heed, for Nintendo has dropped DSi launch trailers upon us. The trailers show off a lot of the DSi's new features, namely the SD card slot and the handheld's two cameras. Also shown are several of the DSi's applications, including the web browser, music player and photo album. What isn't shown, apart from a few DSiWare apps, is exactly how any of these features pertain to playing video games. Then again, considering it's the same hardware with a few additions, maybe we're hoping for too much.
We will say one thing, though: Man, do these people look happy to have a DSi. Check out the trailers after the break.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
nutman @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:32PM
Light on games? More like LITE on games.
Because the DS Lite. Get it?
HippoHero @ Feb 23rd 2009 6:37PM
Aha ha ha ha ha ha!
Wolf In Command @ Feb 23rd 2009 6:50PM
Bad Pun
Lars @ Feb 23rd 2009 8:00PM
LOL, maybe it's just another "feature" they're copying from the PSP.
I can hear the engineers now:
"Hmm, let's see... Internet browser - check. Image viewer - check. Camera - check. Music player - check. Direct DLC - check. Light on games - check."
Ridgecity @ Feb 23rd 2009 11:25PM
LOL What are you doing here? you should be in Hollywood or something!
Marty @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:34PM
They already have the extensive DS library of games... why feature new ones when the main focus is the hardware upgrade?
MarkHawk @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:40PM
Commercial does a great job in showing off all the new features. It's not boring but at the same time it's extremely over fabricated. It all takes place in this fake iWorld like setting. Where the elderly never die, Parents hang out with there kids, and people never get bored of looking at there self as a cat.
Strategy_Panda @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:46PM
Welcome! To the world of tomorrow!!!! oooOoooOOOooooooOOoo
required @ Feb 23rd 2009 7:31PM
Do you have to turn the power off after changing anything like you do on the popular DS?
ramuji @ Feb 23rd 2009 7:40PM
@ required,
No, I don't think so. At least, I don't recall needing to turn off my DSi after making any changes to settings. Overall, the DSi interface is greatly improved and polished compared to the DSLite, IMHO.
Ridgecity @ Feb 23rd 2009 11:40PM
I was more interested in Gramp's new wife, she's kind of hot in a MILF kind of way. She's probably british prude and wouldn't cheat on him.
Duke @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:34PM
Seems to me that people just expect the games now to come along, but bitch right away if the device doesn't do more (music/web/etc) so they just cut right to the chase on this one.
Markez @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:36PM
Yeah this piece of shit doesn't even come with a retractable spork. No sale.
JayVe @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:51PM
DS is already synonymous with handheld gaming all over the world, with 100 million units sold. Everyone already knows "DS" means "Games". This advertisement is designed to show what is New and Different about DSi.
Knight Marquise @ Feb 23rd 2009 6:17PM
Agreed.
Time to upgrade my phat DS to the new one. Although I am sorry they let the GBA slot go away.
JerJer @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:36PM
so....sterile....
chispito @ Feb 23rd 2009 7:47PM
It does remind you of some sort of dystopian future movie, doesn't it?
They should have just dug up Lucas to say, "The DSi. It's so bad."
MarkHawk @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:36PM
DSi for the hypoallergenic family near you...
Strategy_Panda @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:38PM
I don't really understand why they are advertising the camera and music playing functionality (things that can be found in almost every cell phone) and not the DSi store, which is arguably the most significant improvement.
cloud858rk @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:44PM
I can't believe there advertising that it plays music, while hiding the fact it's totally moot because it only plays a format most don't use.
Hardy @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:45PM
Because they're clearing trying to counter target Apples attempts at calling it's system a gaming system.
DS is a superior gaming machine, if you tell people it has functionality on par with the Ipod Touch then it'll hurt Apple in their lame attempt at saying their machines can play games.
Also 44 seconds into the second video, I laughed at the guys reaction to his girl messing up his face.
Moptimus Slime (Leader of the Taylor Swift Defense Force, Gobot in disguise) @ Feb 23rd 2009 6:51PM
"while hiding the fact it's totally moot because it only plays a format most don't use."
yes, because no one owns an iPod, uses iTunes, owns a PS3, PSP, Sony Ericsson phone, the new Walkman series, etc.
Nope, everyone is stuck in the past using MP3 and watching dancing babies.
chris @ Feb 23rd 2009 7:05PM
i think the camera is actually better than most phone's. except the smartphones of course. it has like a 3.0 megapixel camera, and it's more about sharing and editing the photos, not taking pictures. same thing with the music; the main focus is the sound mixing and the edit features.
Strategy_Panda @ Feb 23rd 2009 7:44PM
the DSi has a .3 mega pixel camera. Big difference
Insight @ Feb 23rd 2009 8:58PM
"Nope, everyone is stuck in the past using MP3"
Uh yeah, pretty much. Nevermind that, even though AAC is the superior format in most cases, you're still not going to hear a sound difference if you're using 192kbps+ mp3
cloud858rk @ Feb 23rd 2009 9:06PM
@Moptimus Slime
Yeah too bad DSi doesn't play protected ACC. And I don't expect the average consumer to figure out that they have to upgrade their iTunes library to Plus and then navigate to the files just to play them on there DSi.
Cash @ Feb 24th 2009 1:07AM
I was gonna say... those images look a little too clear for a 0.3 megapixel camera. Editing in post is a magical thing.
Meh @ Feb 24th 2009 1:52PM
If they didn't edit in post, THERE WOULD BE A MAN WITH A CAM ON THE PHOTO.
DrunkenPandaren @ Feb 26th 2009 7:44AM
3 megapixel camera outside, .3 megapixel camera inside.
Game_playa @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:42PM
So beautiful!, oh and the DSi is nice too..
Shagittarius @ Feb 23rd 2009 6:25PM
I'd hit it.
Strategy_Panda @ Feb 23rd 2009 8:05PM
its all fun and games until the DSi bites your willy in half. om nom nom nom
Ridgecity @ Feb 23rd 2009 11:30PM
Typical DS users, of course. I'm surprised they did the ads using Joystiq members as models.
In the other case, most PSP users smell like urine and butt.
Lee @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:43PM
But the world and their dog knows about the expansive DS game library.
ice~ @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:43PM
Im gonna buy a DSi just so i have something new and shiny to play my shiny Pokemon Platinum on :D
A27Topgun @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:49PM
Meh, it's not like the wii is a game system, it's more of a toy.
Markez @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:53PM
Wow, some dumbass rolled in here to point out the Wii is a toy and not a game system? Haven't seen one of these twits in awhile. And replied to a comment that didn't even mention the Wii. Go figure.
ice~ @ Feb 23rd 2009 6:27PM
Yea i was wondering what the Wii had to do with pokemon platinum or the DSi......
In A World (XBL) @ Feb 23rd 2009 11:23PM
Not only that, but this moron A27Topgun broke the rules on today's Halo 3 joyswag story, by posting twice with two separate answers, apparently trying to pose as two different people. Ban Hammer plzz!!!!!
Noshino @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:57PM
"We will say one thing, though: Man, do these people look happy to have a DSi"
uh, so do people on herpes commercials....
Markez @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:58PM
They're also all apparently rugged outdoorsy types. I don't know if that means the vast majority of all kayakers and rockclimbers have herpes, but I'm willing to bet on it.
Strategy_Panda @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:59PM
you can't appreciate how fun herpes is until you've got it.
p.s...... Its awesome!
Moptimus Slime (Leader of the Taylor Swift Defense Force, Gobot in disguise) @ Feb 23rd 2009 6:52PM
Confirmed: DSi gives you herpes
D_Average @ Feb 23rd 2009 6:01PM
That actress looks like a poor man's Minka Kelly.
Ridgecity @ Feb 23rd 2009 11:35PM
Sir, that's my Wife! *Slaps* I demand satisfaction!
Michael @ Feb 23rd 2009 6:03PM
Ugh, yawn. People seriously are excited about this? Same boxy design. Small screens. Oh boy its got a camera and you can apply effects to them that every camera or cell phone can do. It can play music and add filters, yawn. Oh and an app store, not very original. Surprised they didn't added an accelerometer. Haven't played with my DS Lite in years and also find the Wii to be boring. Maybe I've just outgrown Nintendo after owning all their past consoles.
PixelHustler @ Feb 23rd 2009 7:07PM
Let me guess, you're the big one-five now? Nintendo's SO not cool when you get to be a grown-up like that...
Skaz @ Feb 23rd 2009 8:10PM
Nintendo was never cool.
Insight @ Feb 23rd 2009 8:59PM
If you can't find anything to play on the DS... how the hell are you finding things to play?
Unless, of course, you're one of those guys who buys systems simply to play the next iteration of Madden...
Markez @ Feb 23rd 2009 11:05PM
Totally, can't believe it's the same boxy design, totally lame. I was hoping it'd be spherical, or conic this time around. They're just afraid to innovate.