Iwata: DSi not competing with cell phones, iPod

Yeah, two multimedia companies with products aimed at overlapping demographics, featuring similar, and in some cases, exactly the same features competing? Nah, never.

I own neither a DS or an iPhone (ironically I have owned both in the past but sold them both), but I must say that the fact that Nintendo is only now adding music playback after like 5 years is indicative of the threat they must be feeling from Apple. They're obviously trying to future-proof their product as these multimedia devices become all encompassing (ie, web, music, gaming all-in-one).

It's not about the iPhone/pod being better or as good as the DS or PSP at gaming. That doesn't matter. The fact is it's parents that are choosing between buying an iPod or DS for little Timmy, and parents are going to relate more to an iPhone/pod more than a DS, because they probably own one themselves. They see everything it does and can easily say "hey, my kid would love this too".

Again, not a Apple fanboy talking, I'm fine with my Nokia. I'm just saying that the iPhone/pod gets a lot of press over their gaming features, and no matter how good or bad the games might be, they really are stealing the spotlight, and Sony/Nintendo are arming themselves. After what, like a two year draught, Sony finally gets their ass in gear and decides to announce a bunch of top level games for the PSP? Coincidence? Maybe. It just seems like we're witnessing the same pattern that occurred when the iPhone came out and there were no other phones like it. It jumpstarted the phone industry and everyone felt threatened so they started coming out with phones featuring similar features.

No, the DS and iPhone are not competing. Even after your "explanation", I can't fathom how you can conclude that.

Wait, how is it that Nintendo is copying Apple now yet the PSP has had music playback since launch and it wasn't accused of the same? Its not like Apple just launched the iPod, its been out for almost a decade.

Secondly, I highly doubt parents would chose an iPod (much less the much more expensive iPhone) over a DS on a whim. It would either be because Timmy asked for one or his parents are they type who just give him whatever he wants and then wonders why he fails in the job market. If anything it would be the other way around. Since the DS and Wii are apparently only selling to the over 120 MILLION babies and soccer moms around the world and their never shall be a middle ground, Im sure Timmy's mom would see all the games targeted for her (which are apparently all of them) and say "hey, heres something we both can use!"

Thirdly, THEY. ARE. TWO. DIFFERENT. FUCKING. INDUSTRIES. One is sold as a PHONE with iTunes support, the other is sold as a GAMING DEVICE with cameras and music playback. Maybe once the NPD starts tracking iPhone and iPod Touch sales you'll be able to convince me that the markets are competing. But I doubt that'll ever happen

"It just seems like we're witnessing the same pattern that occurred when the iPhone came out and there were no other phones like it. It jumpstarted the phone industry and everyone felt threatened so they started coming out with phones featuring similar features."

Did I read this right, Malkmus? No other phone had internet capability? No other phone had a touch screen? No other phone was a GIMMICK?

that reminds me, why is it when Apple built an entire product around a touch screen nobody claimed they were copying the DS or talked about how it was trying to compete with the DS and PSP (at least not initially) , yet when Nintendo adds music playback everyone screams bloody murder about how they're ripping off Apple?

Nintendo has had first party music and video playback since the GBA though, via play-yan yes?

Another thing people tend to forget - iPod wasn't the first mp3 player on the market.

I think the App focus of DSi is where people are getting the "iPhone will be our bitch" impression from. Frankly, I could see how that arguement could go somewhere but anytime Nintendo takes on ANYTHING like this, apps or added functionality, they do it in the most incredibly half-assed way possible.

Take MP3 functionality. PSPs MP3 isn't as advanced as a dedicated device like iPod by a longshot. But it's competant and functional. Now look at Wii's MP3. A feature only usable in the photochannel, doesn't allow even the most basic sorting, and requires a sideshow to be set up. Some things about DSi has me intrigued but Nintendo doing apps to compete with iPhone is going to be a clusterfuck of epic proportions.

Now as to the quote on how they don't intend to compete, remember how Nintendo didn't intend to compete with 360 and PS3? Now that they are kicking both consoles asses, amazing how they aren't competing with that product still in their press releases. Especially not when they make comparisons. Also, remember how DS was a third pillar? Apparently Nintendo needed that third pillar because the second one just up and fucking vanished.

In other words, DSi is not intended to compete with iPhone and iTouch unless, of course, the sales reach up there. If that happens, watch the tune change instantly as if someone playing WiiMusic dropped the remote.

Early on they said that the DS wasn't competing with the PSP.

Nindows XP?

Nintendows Viista?

And then - when their new gadget kicks ass - Sony and Microsoft pick that line right up, don't they?

Sorry.. But Nintendo copies just as much from Sony and Microsoft as they do from Nintendo. I mean, are you still blaming Microsoft for copying Nintendo with their imaginary motion controller?

Snowblind,
Nobody said anything about copying. We were talking about the "We're not competing." line. Specifically how Nintendo said it before the Wii came out and how Sony and Microsoft are saying it now.

Can't blame Nintendo because they probably thought (like everyone) that the Wii wouldn't have taken off like it did. Conversely, I don't blame MS or SCE for for making the same point Nintendo was making before the Wii launched. In a good number of ways they aren't competing for the same consumers but only naive fanboys will believe that they aren't all video game consoles and by default in a competition.

Nintendo struck gold by making a game machine for people who aren't gamers. Now we are seeing both Sony and MS struggle to get some of that casual pie while Nintendo is struggling to put compelling games that traditional gamers actually want to play - aside from the hardcore fanboys.

Gaming isn't owned by just geeks anymore and it's healthy for the industry to have a console for non gamers. The perfect console has something for everyone and thats why the PS2 is the most successful console of all time. So far the 360 is the closest thing to the PS2 in terms of it's balance but it's still far away. The Wii is on the opposite end of the spectrum of the PS3 and is almost exclusively casual. It's obvious that a console manufacturer can be successful doing either of the two extremes but a healthy console has users from all age groups and categories.

Tell that to the PS3 and Xbox 360...

I believe he was referring to Apple

Moptimus,
Yes, I know. I was referring to the irony of that statement in light of the fact that the same was said about the Wii vs. PS3 & Xbox 360.

I meant that he meant Apple didn't stand a chance, not the DSi

Oh. lol. Maybe you're right...

I was trying to be ironic. I guess I should have been more clear

Define "stronger".

Stronger as in more durable?
Or stronger as in it has better games?
Because I believe the DS is more durable (I've seen people abuse that thing and it be perfectly fine whereas the PSP easily snaps)
I also believe more developers are supporting the DS than PSP.

I'm obviously not the biggest Nintendo fan at the moment, but I have to massively disagree with that. Even if the PSP did have the "stronger" library or whatever, that wouldn't matter. Nintendo have the brand recognition, just as Apple do with MP3 players, even if it's not as good, that won't matter to those who aren't informed about these matters.

I see parents, and even eldererly people in stores all the time looking at Wii/DS games, where as they walk straight past the PSP.

I think he meant stronger as in more powerful hardware. Kids are going to get endless entertainment from both devices. My kids have both and love them both equally. Kids are funny like that ... their not fanboys. Sony is doing better now with their recent games announcements and that Hannah Montana PSP.

i think by stronger, he means stronger innards, which is true. 3d games look beautiful on psp (crisis core & chains of olympus anyone?) and never look more than decent on ds. but like the wii, graphics don't matter as much to nintendo as different kinds of games and players do.

Yeah, it's much cheaper. People were more willing to pay $600 for an iPhone than a PS3, remember?

haha i remember that. a few of my friends got iphone and when i was raving about the ps3, they said it was too expensive. fast forward to now, and they all have different phones and ipod classics/nanos. go figure.

I would buy an iAnything on day one.

Ummm...actually that's an opinion there smarty pants.

I think someone needs to play this

http://pbskids.org/arthur/games/factsopinions/

Fact: iPhone is a mobile phone. DSi is not. Different devices for different needs.

What I'm tying to say is that the Nintendo DSi is selling more than any other handheld out right now.

It's like they made that game just for the joystiq comments section!

You never owned a Micro?

I still cant believe they threw in a 0.3 mp camera

Pointless in the sense of underused potential, possibly, but nowhere near the most pointless revision of a handheld, by far

@Strike Man:
If you've ever used a Game Boy micro, you'd see how neat it is. Sure, it can't play GB/GBC games, but for GBA? It's amazing.

@BxGT:
They threw in two of them! But, once again, I'm going to try to clear the misconception that "higher MP = better picture."

Simply put, it doesn't. All the megapixel count means is how big the picture resolution is, it has nothing to do with the picture quality.The quality of the picture is determined by the quality of the optics. Most (if not all) point-and-shoot type of cameras have tiny optics (because they're more "aesthetically pleasing"), so they're unable to capture enough outside light, making low-lighting pictures too dark and fuzzy, or overly bright because of the flash.
A 5MP camera with a high-quality lens will take better pictures than a 10MP camera with a low-quality lens.

So, the DSi's cameras have a 0.3MP resolution. That means VGA (640x480) resolution, which is still bigger than the DSi's screens. So, the small image resolution isn't even going to matter on the device you're taking/viewing the pictures on... the DSi.

With that said, I cannot comment on the quality of DSi pictures.