CrunchGear » nintendo dsi

Flipnote Studio: Nintendo DSi gets social drawing service in six languages

Serkan Toto — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:21:33 +0000

There are seven million Nintendo DSi in the world now, and the system is the first in the DS series (total sales: 102 million) boasting Internet connectivity. And Nintendo just stepped up efforts to tap the handheld’s network effect by releasing Flipnote Studio, a social drawing app that’s available for free in the DSiWare store. It’s the first user-generated web service for the DSi.

Users can draw pictures (or use photographs), add sounds to them and remix their works in the form of simple animations reminiscent of flipping through a notepad. The so-called Flipnotes can be saved on the device and then uploaded to the web where they can be shareed with other DSi users. People can then view the animations, rate or leave a comment on them.

This is possible on Flipnote Hatena (Hatena is a web company Nintendo teamed up with to create Flipnote Studio), but DSi users can also send Flipnotes to a friend’s device, too.

The service debuted yesterday in North America and will be released in Europe tomorrow. Flipnote Studio will then be available in English, German, Spanish, Italian and French. The Japanese version was released in December last year and has seen more than 1 million uploads by users since.

Here is a pretty cool Flipnote video made by a Japanese user:

Review: TekCase for the Nintendo DSi

Peter Ha — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:43:14 +0000

Short Version: Nintendo DSi owners searching for a case that not only protects their handheld but also extends the play time will find Tekno Creations TekCase for the DSi well worth the $30 investment.

Long Version:

While the TekCase adds a bit of bulk to your dainty DSi, the promise of 3x the play time is incentive enough to take a gamble on such a small investment.

Once you place your DSi into the TekCase, you really have no reason to ever pull it out. Everything is accessible and accounted for. A miniUSB port plugs directly into the DSi’s proprietary power plug, so you’ll never have to carry around the Nintendo adapter ever again. All you need is a miniUSB cable and I’m sure you have plenty of those.

Extended battery life times vary depending on your level of brightness and I managed to get over 3.5 hours with the brightness level cranked all the way up. Mileage will vary, but it gets the job done if long flights or road trips are in your future.

There isn’t too much that I dislike about the TekCase and the pros certainly outweigh the cons. I highly recommend the TekCase from Tekno Creations.

Pros:

The polycarbonate shell definitely protects your DSi from bumps and bruises and small drops
At the very least it doubles battery life
You can rid yourself of the DSi power adapter and stick with a miniUSB cable

Cons:

It’s difficult to extract the DSi once it’s been placed in the case
The case hinders the ability to tilt the screen all the way back
It’s bulky

Product Page [Tekno Creations]

DSi TekCase

Nintendo DSi to become ghost hunter

Peter Ha — Mon, 25 May 2009 19:06:25 +0000

Swedish developer A Different Game announced today that the DSi will soon aid ghost hunters on their quest to vanquish and/or send back the ethereal to the underworld. Ghostwire will utilize the DSi’s camera and mic to help you hunt down the ghosts haunting us all and determine why they’re still creeping around our plane of existence.

“The Nintendo DSi platform is perfect for this game” says Anders Bergman, lead game designer of Ghostwire. “This allows us to enhance the integrated real-world experience with the combination of camera, microphone and touch screen.”

via Kotaku

Oh, right, there are flash cards that work with the Nintendo DSi now

Nicholas Deleon — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:40:23 +0000

There’s now a flash “homebrew” device that works on the Nintendo DSi. It’s called the DS(onei), and it’s developed by a team called Supercard. It works like all those PSP hacks work: the DS(onei) runs a custom firmware that can be easily updated. So when Nintendo releases a game that breaks the DS(onei)’s compatability, team Supercard releases a new firmware that works again. That’s the plan, at least.

Is it the only card that works with the Nintendo DSi? I don’t think so. A quick search turned up the R4i Revolution, the Acekard2i and TTDSi. I don’t mess with the DSi like that—and I hope you don’t, too—so pardon my ignorance on this subject.

No direct links because I’m feeling noble right now.

via Kotaku

Nintendo DSiWare update

Peter Ha — Mon, 04 May 2009 17:00:06 +0000

If you’re prone to fits of rage triggered by lackluster updates from Nintendo then steer clear of this post, friend. I can’t be held responsible for you throwing your computer out the window or head-butting it.

Today, Nintendo updated the DSiWare channel with Animal Crossing Calculator and Animal Crossing Clock. I don’t speak Animalese nor do I wish to speak Animalese. Just give me Virtual Console for the DSi. However, both are available now for 200 DSi points each.

Animal Crossing Calculator (Nintendo, 1 player, 200 Nintendo DSi Points™): Need to figure out what you owe Tom Nook or the amount in your savings account? Animal Crossing Calculator features the full functionality of a traditional calculator, including a Memory key and the ability to display up to 13 digits, adding a layer of atmosphere unique to Animal Crossing. Use the Unit Converter to turn one unit of measure into another (such as length, weight, volume and age), or track the history of calculations you’ve performed. Listen to the Animalese pronunciation of numbers when you press them, and watch for a favorite Animal Crossing character to appear when your result meets certain criteria. Get ready for an inventive and practical way to experience the charm of Animal Crossing.

Animal Crossing Clock (Nintendo, 1 player, 200 Nintendo DSi Points): Enjoy the atmosphere of Animal Crossing in a whole new way with Animal Crossing Clock. Select from either an analog or digital clock and set up to three alarms (with snooze functionality for those who need it). Make your own Town Tune or use sounds created in Nintendo DSi™ Sound, then assign them to the alarms you’ve set. Use the system’s internal clock or offset the time however you like. Then sit back and watch as different characters from Animal Crossing appear and the color of the sky changes as time passes. You’ll never miss an important appointment with one of your Animal Crossing friends again.

Nintendo DSi watches you go #1

Peter Ha — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 22:00:06 +0000

As I was doing my business at some establishment in San Francisco I noticed that the mirror above the urinal was warped. Upon closer inspection I found that it was an advert for the DSi. Needless to say it creeped me out.

Stop Motion Nintendo DSi teardown

Peter Ha — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:50:24 +0000

We’ve seen the iFixit teardown of the DSi, but this one from TechRestore should be the new standard by which teardowns should happen. TR’s Brian Northway compiled this video with 1,304 images and countless hours of tweaking to get everything just right. And the reassembly is a nice touch, which we don’t typically see. Enjoy!

Thanks for the tip, Billy S.

TechRestore

Activision becomes first third-party DSiWare publisher in the U.S.

Peter Ha — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:57:17 +0000

It’s not live yet, but Activision’s Mixed Messages is the first third-party title for Nintendo’s DSiWare line in these United States of America. It’s a 2-21 player game that sounds a lot like the telephone game from when we were kids. Mixed Messages will cost 500 DSi Points.

Nintendo also added a new 1-player game, Master of Illusion Express: Shuffle Games for 200 DSi Points.

Mixed Messages (Activision, 2-21 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Nintendo DSi Points): Mixed Messages is the hilarious party game of mixed-up miscommunication. Sketch a picture to capture your friends’ sentence, or try to figure out what in the world they’ve drawn. You might start with, “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” and end up with “A crazy surfer outruns flying sticks of dynamite while his fans cheer!” Two to 21 players take turns writing sentences and drawing pictures to pass along a message. This isn’t a game about winning and losing – it’s all about the funny miscommunications that happen along the way. You’ll laugh when you see just how wacky things can get. Get together with your friends and mix it up.

Master of Illusion™ Express: Shuffle Games (Nintendo, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 200 Nintendo DSi Points): Master of Illusion Express titles are mind-boggling magic tricks pulled from the popular Nintendo DS™ game. Learn the illusions, practice up and amaze your friends. Master of Illusion Express: Shuffle Games will boggle your audience members’ minds as they try to figure out how you know exactly what they’re thinking. Also included is the bonus Vanishing Card trick, which the Nintendo DSi system performs for your enjoyment.

Review: Nintendo DSi

Peter Ha — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 04:30:13 +0000

The question on everyone’s mind since October 2, 2008, has been whether it will be worth upgrading to the DSi from the DS Lite, right? We’ve all seen the countless videos coming out of Japan about the DSi’s new features and I’m sure most of you have already made up your mind by now, but if you’re on the fence then I hope this review helps.

The DSi’s hardware is leaps and bounds ahead of the DS Lite. The screens are 0.25 inches bigger and a bit brighter than the DS Lite. The power switch is now a power button and serves as a reset to take you back to the DSi Menu, so you don’t have to restart every time you want to get back to the main menu. The matte finish offers better grip than the previous edition, but it’s prone to oily smudges so keep your hands clean.

Nintendo was all abuzz during the original announcement of the DSi because of the two VGA cameras that were added in this iteration. With a slogan like, “What will you and “i” do?,” it’s fairly obvious what Nintendo’s goal is for the DSi. They’re hoping to make the handheld device just as social as the Wii. The first US DSi commercial is evidence of that.

Either bumper activates the internal camera from the main menu, which you can switch to the external after launch. It may not be Nintendo’s intention to eliminate your camera, but both VGA cameras aren’t that bad. Considering Japan’s obsession with sticker picture booths it comes as no surprise that the picture editing software lets you edit images to add borders, cat ears or Mac-like Photo Booth effects. If you haven’t seen the first US commercial then check it out to see some of the editing software’s abilities.

I was never quite satisfied with the DS Lite’s speakers and I’m happy to report that the DSi’s speakers are loud and clear. They’re also much more conspicuous. By adding an SD card slot, you can now ditch your MP3 player if you’re looking to travel light. DSi Sound allows you to manipulate your music by adding sound effects, changing pitch or overlaying your own recorded snippets. Other effects include filters, like, radio, instrumental, echo and 8-bit game. Visual effects are played on the top screen that include playable Super Mario and other visual treats. The parakeet that lives inside offers tips and repeats your recorded tracks, which is a bit creepy.

The Opera powered DSi browser works just as you’d expect. You can check out the video I took the other day if you’re wondering how both screens work for browsing. However, I’ve been notified that my device memory is too low to display certain pages even though I’ve only been to one or two sites.

Let’s be honest, the DSi Shop is totally worth the $170, but Nintendo decided to ditch the GBA slot, which is a bummer for anyone that has an archive of GBA games or newer games like Guitar Hero: On Tour that uses the GBA slot for the accompanying grip. However, I’m hoping the rumors of a Virtual Console for the DSi are true. Download speeds will depend on your Internet connection, but all my downloads averaged a minute or less. And each game or app can be stored on the DSi or SD card. And don’t forget that you’ll receive 1000 free DSi Points by purchasing on or before October 5th of this year.

Of the five DSiWare titles available, I’ve downloaded all but Master of Illusion Expres: Funny Face. I’m not that enthusiastic about the games that utilize the camera, but the WarioWare title seemed like a must have to show others what the new handheld and software is capable of. Let’s hope Nintendo pushes out some more titles and apps in the next month because the existing lineup isn’t appealing to everyone, but Bird and Beans and Art Style: AQUIA are my favorites of the bunch.

My review thus far probably sounds like a big endorsement for the DSi, but it’s not perfect. Battery life is considerably shorter than the previous generation by a few hours and nixing the GBA slot eliminates the use of all previous accessories that one might have purchased. The battery is user replaceable and I’m positive that larger capacity batteries will hit the market soon. But I can honestly say that those are the only two issues that I have with the DSi.

As cheesy as the photo editing and audio software are, they’re neat to have and use. The Web browser is now included, which eliminates the need to spend another $30 or so unless you’re the homebrew type. The DSi Shop has the potential to be huge, but only time will tell what Nintendo has in store for us. If you currently own a DS Lite, then I suggest you wait around for a bit to see what happens with the DSi Shop. If you have an older model or you don’t own one at all, then, by all means, go out and purchase one immediately.

Product Page

TekCase for DS Lite, DSi adds protection and extra battery life

Peter Ha — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:30:20 +0000

The TekCase from TeknoCreations adds a bit of bulk, protection and battery life for your Nintendo DS Lite or Nintendo DSi. A hard polycarbonate shells protects your precious handheld and adds up to 3x the battery life for extended gameplay. The case charges over USB and comes with a USB wall adapter.

The DS Lite TekCase launches on May 1 and offers up to 2.5x the battery life while the DSi version hits retailers a month later ands adds up to 3x the battery life. Both will retail for $29.99.

Product Page

Nintendo DSi: First US commercial, Japan gets more DSiWare

Peter Ha — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:30:11 +0000

Video: Nintendo DSi Shop goes live in the US [Update 2]

Peter Ha — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:37:13 +0000

The DSi shop wasn’t supposed to go live until Sunday, but it looks like Nintendo opened it up late last night. ~~We’ll have video shortly, but in the meantime check out the games and apps that are currently available.~~ Videos are now live demoing the DSi Shop and the DSi Browser.

Nintendo DSi Browser – 0 points
Bird & Beans – 200 points and 11 blocks of memory
Master of Illusion Express: Funny Face – 200 points and 19 blocks of memory
Art Style: AQUIA – 500 points and 91 blocks of memory
WarioWare: Snapped! – 500 points and 61 blocks of memory
Brain Age Express: Math – 800 points

20,000 DSi points is the maximum number of points to purchase or have in your account.

Birds & Beans details state that “This game content was previously released as part of WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$ for Bame Boy Advance.

Master of Illusion Express: Funny Face was previously released as part of Master of Illusion for Nintendo DS.

Points can be purchased in 1000, 2000, 3000, or 5000 blocks for $10, $20, $30 and $50, respectively.

Nintendo DSi unboxing and hands-on

Peter Ha — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:07:11 +0000

First, apologies for not taking video, but I’m not in range of Wi-Fi, so I hope the picture gallery will suffice for now. I’ll be sure to take video of the DSi menu and all its little treasures later on today.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have manhandled the DSi in Japan back in February and last month at GDC, but having my own to tinker with is something else. I can’t say that I prefer the new menu system to the old one, but it’s growing on me. For those that are unfamiliar with the old DS menu – everything from the system settings to pictochat were all on the same screen. In the new menu system there’s a scrolling slideshow-like setup that requires a little bit of hunting and pecking.

The addition of cameras wasn’t that impressive to me, but the integration into games like WarioWare: Snapped makes perfect sense. And editing images with all sorts of silly add-ons can get addicting. Even for this jaded bastard.

DSi Sound is surprisingly fun to use. Imagine adding jumping Mario or coin collecting blips to Tupac’s “California Love” because that’s what I’ve been doing for the last 20 minutes. There are a variety of other sound effects that you can add to music from your SD card, but you can’t record them. While you’re editing tunes on the bottom screen, the top screen has various things going on that include Mario and Excite Bike. You can control Mario, but it doesn’t look like you can play along in Excite Bike. You can, however, record whatever you feel like in the other Sound mode. I’ll cover this feature more in depth in the upcoming video.

Without Wi-Fi I can’t access the DSi Shop so that will have to wait until the video overview as well.

As far as hardware goes, the DSi feels much lighter and sleeker than the Lite. I especially like the matte black finish and rubbery grip. The camera isn’t great, but it’s not horrible and it’s perfect for what Nintendo intended.

That’s it for now, folks. Look for the video to come a bit later today.

Nintendo DSi

Nintendo DSiWare lineup announced, launch event details, teaser unboxing sans DSi cake

Peter Ha — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:33:20 +0000

Nintendo launches the third iteration of its popular DS handheld, the DSi, on April 5th and today they’ve announced the first batch of DSiWare titles. This is important because we all get 1000 DSi Points to redeem in the DSi Shop. Aside from the following five titles, you can also download the DSi Browser for your Internet viewing pleasure.

• WarioWare™: Snapped! – Using the built-in Nintendo DSi camera, this outrageous title puts players right at the center of fast-paced mini-games, challenging them to race the clock and get a peek at Wario’s photo album.
• Bird & Beans™ – Using an elastic tongue, players must scramble to collect falling beans. The harder a bean is to catch, the more points it’s worth.
• Brain Age™ Express: Math – In this math-focused edition of the popular Brain Age series, players can enjoy a mix of new and familiar training exercises. A new Themes mode also lets Nintendo DSi users experiment with images and voice recordings in fun, unusual ways.
• Master of Illusion™ Express: Funny Face – This game uses your Nintendo DSi as a prop in a card trick. Draw a face on the touch screen and astound your audience as the face tells them which playing card they picked.
• Art Style™: AQUIA™ – The newest addition to the eye-popping Art Style series, this mesmerizing underwater puzzle game challenges players to help a scuba diver reach the ocean floor by matching a series of colored blocks.

If you’re in or around Universal City, CA, this Saturday then stop by the GameStop at Universal CityWalk for the midnight launch of the DSi. You can hang out with Cammie Dunaway from Nintendo and my BFF Kevin Pereira from G4’s AOTS.

We’ll have our unboxing of the DSi in just a bit. I was really hoping for that snazzy blue DSi to match my Lamb Chop mouse pad, but no such luck. And I didn’t get a cake either.

Free DSi points when you purchase a Nintendo DSi

Peter Ha — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 03:00:58 +0000

A few things went unannounced during Nintendo’s GDC keynote this morning and the biggest news on the DSi front is the confirmation of 1000 free DSi points if you purchase the third generation DS within the first six months of launch. That’s quite a bit of free swag considering DSiWare games and apps will be divvied up into four price tiers: free, 200 points, 500 points and 800+ points. The DSi point to $ ratio is 100 to 1, so 1000 points is a considerable amount of free booty. So be sure to pick up your DSi between April 5th and October 5th if you want to cash in.

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Video: Nintendo DSi trailer for the US

Peter Ha — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 03:56:57 +0000

A closer look at America’s exclusive blue Nintendo DSi

Peter Ha — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:26:37 +0000

It’s actually just a peek at the packaging for the blue DSi in case you’re interested. It’s coming April 5th, so pre-order (or from Amazon) now if you’ve been jonesing for a new DS.

Want a Nintendo DSi? Head to Gamestop to place a pre-order.

Matt Burns — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:00:10 +0000

The Nintendo DSi will finally land in American gamer’s hands on April 5th and Gamestop is already taking orders – as they should be. You have two options.

One: Reserve just the system for $169. Fair enough.

Two: Reserve the system plus an accessory kit that makes Gamespot a lot of money for $194. It includes a DC adapter, earphones, a wallet and extra styluses. Worth the extra cake? Doesn’t sound like it to me.

Limited quantities are available for the first run though, so you may want to hurry up and fork over you cash to Gamestop.

Nintendo DSi priced and dated for Europe [Update]

Peter Ha — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:29:38 +0000

Once again we’re getting the short end of the stick. Nintendo announced this morning that the DSi would be launching in Europe on April 3rd, which is two whole days sooner than us. However, we still have the exclusive on the blue DSi while Japan and Europe get the white and black models. No word on whether or not Europe will be getting Rhythm Heaven, though. The new DSi is priced at £149.99.

Trailer DSi Europe
by Nintendo-Univers

19 February 2009 – Nintendo will launch its new handheld console, the Nintendo DSi, in Europe on 3 April 2009. The Nintendo DSi will be available in black or white and is the thinnest and lightest member of the Nintendo DS family. The console is packed with new features that will excite fans of and newcomers to the Nintendo DS range.

There are many ways to have fun with the Nintendo DSi, from creating, customising and sharing photos with friends & family or listening to and experimenting with your favourite music, to playing more than 1000 Nintendo DS games and downloading new Nintendo DSiWare games directly onto your console. The Nintendo DSi also features built-in Internet browsing capabilities, meaning the fun begins the moment you switch it on!

Nintendo DSi brings motion-detecting cameras to handheld gaming
The Nintendo DSi incorporates two cameras, adding an entirely new dimension to gameplay. The cameras are able to accurately detect facial features and players’ movements. Moving the upper body, hands, arms and head in front of the camera now means play can be directed by movement alone, bringing a whole new way of interacting with the handheld.

Play with your pictures
The Nintendo DSi’s cameras face inside and outside; mounted on the console’s flip-up lid so users can snap themselves or their friends and families just as they choose. What sets the Nintendo DSi’s cameras apart, however, is that the Nintendo DSi Camera software comes fully loaded with 11 special camera effects so that users can take shots using a range of special effects.

Users can edit their images in real-time or after they’re taken. Choices include a distortion tool which allows users to use the Stylus to distort their image in a variety of quirky and fun ways. Turn any face into fans’ favourite Mario with his famous moustache and hat, or frame the image beautifully in a style of your choosing. Everything you create can be saved into a personal photo album which in turn allows you to use your Nintendo DSi as a personal digital photo frame! Users can share their snapshots with friends and family wirelessly. Or by saving the content onto an SD memory card, users can upload to their personal computer or their Wii and share with friends and family using WiiConnect24!

Play with sound
The Nintendo DSi has enhanced volume and sound quality so that users can experience the Nintendo DSi Sound application, as well as in-game music, at its best. As well as bringing portable music to the Nintendo DSi (as players will be able to play AAC-encoded music files on their console), Nintendo DSi Sound introduces new ways for Nintendo DSi users to experiment and play with sound and music – changing the pitch, speed and even apply effects to sound files that are played on the console.

For example, users can slow down a phrase in a foreign language to get the pronunciation just right. But they can equally have fun recording their own voices and manipulating the play-back – adding sound effects to create new fun with sound. Players can also change the speed or add sound effects to songs, enabling them to create their own unique mixes, as well as learn words and instrumental solos more easily.

Download Nintendo DSiWare and customise your Nintendo DSi with a whole host of new titles and applications…
You can customise your Nintendo DSi by downloading games and applications from the Nintendo DSi Shop, in addition to being able to carry around your Nintendo DSi with your very own unique photos & music files. A variety of fun software will be available for download in the forthcoming months. Examples include an application which enables users to make animated cartoons or combine photos to create mini-movies (incorporating both sound and moving images); or the fun-filled WarioWare software which utilises the motion-detecting camera for a completely interactive experience. Users will also be able to download the Nintendo DSi Browser for free from launch, offering quick and easy Internet access from their Nintendo DSi.

All of this and more can be downloaded directly from the Nintendo DSi Shop via the Internet, and thanks to the Nintendo DSi’s built-in flash memory these can be saved directly onto your console, meaning you can take all of your games and other applications with you wherever you go.

Packed with features, but thinner than ever
In addition to all of the new features, the Nintendo DSi comes in a matt finish and is a full 12% thinner than the Nintendo DS Lite, making it Nintendo’s most portable handheld ever. However, it also packs a punch with bigger, brighter, 3.25” screens. As well as offering downloadable software via the Nintendo DSi shop, the new handheld is able to play games made specifically for the system and most Nintendo DS games – offering access to a library of hundreds of existing titles.

Nintendo DSi launches across Europe on 3 April in black and white.

Nintendo DSi for America gets priced, dated

Peter Ha — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:21:31 +0000

I’m glad I didn’t buy a DSi when I was in Japan the other week.

Today, Nintendo announced that the updated portable gaming system would be making its way Stateside on April 5th. But that’s not all. There’s a new color, too! At launch, there will be a black and blue DSi for $170. Wait. We actually have something that Japan doesn’t? It’s kind of an ugly blue, but that makes it so much more cool.

Also coming on April 5th with the new DSi is Rhythm Heaven, which has sold more than 1.6 million copies in Japan.

Are you getting one?

Nintendo DSi

Nintendo pioneered hand-held entertainment in the ’80s and made it fully mobile with the Game Boy video game system. Now, Nintendo is transforming the way people access, experience, create and share content with the new Nintendo DSi system, the third iteration of the world’s best-selling portable video game system. Nintendo DSi launches in the United States on April 5, 2009, at an MSRP of $169.99. The colors available at launch will be Blue and Black.

“Ever since the arrival of the first Game Boy, consumers worldwide have turned to Nintendo for their portable gaming,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Nintendo DSi builds on Nintendo’s commitment to bringing fun and creative entertainment to everyone, and will allow consumers to personalize and share their very own experiences.”

Some features that will be built into the system and ready to enjoy upon purchase include the Nintendo DSi Camera, Nintendo DSi Sound and Nintendo DSi Shop. The most noticeable feature of the slim Nintendo DSi system is its two cameras – one camera is on the external body, and the second one points at the user when the device is flipped open. As the first truly interactive digital camera in a video game system with 10 different interactive “lenses” that can manipulate your photos, the Nintendo DSi Camera offers an easy way to take and share your photos with family and friends. The cameras also present people with unprecedented ways to interact with their games while giving developers a new tool to devise creative games and experiences. If the touch screen gave Nintendo DS a sense of feel and the microphone allowed it to hear, the two cameras give Nintendo DSi the sense of sight.

Another enhanced feature is the Nintendo DSi Sound application, which serves as both an interactive voice recorder and music player that allows users to play with their music while they listen to it. Users can access different audio filters or control the pitch and speed of recorded voice or music files to alter voices or change the tempo of a song. The mic is located between the two screens when the device is flipped open, and there is also a stereo headphone output that lets users listen to music saved on an SD card, even with the screen shut.

In the world of software, Nintendo DSi will be the platform for the most relevant and fun on-the-go games and applications. The Nintendo DSiWare application will populate Nintendo DSi with software that can be downloaded using Nintendo DSi Points directly to the portable system, just as WiiWare has with Nintendo’s Wii console. Developers big and small are invited to create software that makes use of the properties and functions of the hardware. Nintendo DSiWare games and applications will be available at a range of values, starting at 200 points.

In addition to downloadable games, Nintendo DSi is able to play games made specifically for the system and sold at retail. The system can also play most Nintendo DS™ games, and will have access to a library of more than 850 titles originally made for that system.

Also on April 5, a new Nintendo DS game, Rhythm Heaven, will join this roster of games available for both Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DS owners in the United States. Having sold more than 1.6 million copies since its July 2008 launch in Japan and still increasing sales today, this infectious game challenges players to tap and slide the stylus on the touch screen in time to original music created by legendary Japanese pop-star producer TSUNKU♂. Simple gestures with the stylus combined with fun music and quirky visuals make Rhythm Heaven a completely unique musical experience for players of all ages.

Additional features and news of Nintendo DSi will be revealed as April 5 approaches. For more information about Nintendo DSi, visit www.nintendodsi.com.