Honest opinions on the DSi?

[Sun-Wukong]

So the 3DS is coming out soon and undoubtedly that's what most people will be getting. I thought it might be interesting to voice our opinions on the DSi in the meantime though.

I was planning on getting a DSi XL before the 3DS was announced; my DS Phat was nearing the end of its days (I gave it to my brother to use for Pokemon stuff since then, now using my other brother's DS Phat which in better shape), and I just liked the bigger screen. The lack of a GBA port never really bothered me, I really only used it on the other models out of convenience. I have an SP that can play GBA games, not to mention play them multiplayer which the DS can't do. Plus Game Boy and GBC games.

Of course the 3DS is going to have a virtual console so all of that is pretty insignificant, plus all of the DSi's other features. It seems weird that Nintendo would introduce another model so close to the DS' true successor; if it were earlier I would have definitely gotten one, but I'm still super excited about the 3DS. At this point the DSi seems destined to be nothing more than a curious piece of history.

On the other hand, the price difference could be so big that there's a major market for the DSi after the 3DS comes out, following the price drop anyway. Maybe that was The Big N's plan all along? Stranger thing have happened.

[EVILNess]

If you need a new DS then buy a used DS lite or something. No sense in wasting all that extra money since the DSi doesn't really do more than a DS

[Kyanbu The Legend]

Well there are the multi media features which aren't fine tuned. It's the only DS model that can download game from DSi ware (including old GBA/GB/GBC titles as well as mini game titles like PSP's Minis.). And almost twice the RAM so games on it run more smoothly then normal.

It comes down to what you want in your DS.

[bluestarultor]

Really, the DSi isn't worth the markup given how little it actually has to offer that's new. I was looking through its library and it has little support. The hardware is definitely better, but the price is just too high.


Granted, the 3DS is going to be released for as much as a low-end PS3, which is even worse. $300 is just far too much for a handheld. I'm just sure it'll come down soon enough when they realize they aren't selling the things.


On the release schedule being odd, I'm actually not surprised. If you want to milk people and think you can get away with it, you do. That's what they're doing with the 3DS price, after all, and they barefacedly admitted it. The people who were going to buy a DSi with its crap library and marginal upgrades already did. Now that 3DS is coming out, those same people will shell out again. DSi will probably end up by the wayside with everyone developing for the new tech. That's really not a problem for Nintendo at this point and I'm sure they won't miss it.

[Kyanbu The Legend]

Wasn't it just an experiment to see if people would buy a handheld with media features anyway? So it's support wasn't even needed or expected.


3DS = GCN

That's not a good sign for it.

Looks like Sony wins this upcoming Gen if PSP2 launches at 250, out specs twice over, and slaughters it.

[Sun-Wukong]

Granted, the 3DS is going to be released for as much as a low-end PS3, which is even worse. $300 is just far too much for a handheld. I'm just sure it'll come down soon enough when they realize they aren't selling the things.

Actually $300 is just the direct conversion of the Japanese price, not the final US price. The Japanese price of the original DS was approximately $204 (¥16,800), compared to the final US price of $150. Not to mention the DS Lite is currently $130...

[Kyanbu The Legend]

Ah so it might not be 300 here then.

[Nique]

give me your money, I'll test it out for you and let you know how it goes.

[Regulus Tera]

Get a DSi if you still have a GBA. Otherwise get a DSLite.

[Sun-Wukong]

Okay, to the people that aren't reading or are only skimming, I'm not looking for advice (I've already decided that I'm getting a 3DS and not a DSi XL). I just thought it would be interesting to discuss the DSi for what it was worth.

[Regulus Tera]

DSiware is shit except for the new Shantae and the drawing application.

I mean, really, you only get a DSi if you cannot get anything else. Your phone more than likely has better music and photo features.

[Sun-Wukong]

I guess you haven't played Flipnote Studio or Photo Dojo. That or you just have bad taste...

[Flarecobra]

I've never heard of either one of those things...

[Regulus Tera]

I guess you haven't played Flipnote Studio or Photo Dojo. That or you just have bad taste...

Photo Dojo is a fun gimmick, but it runs out of steam really quick. And I did mention Flipnote Studio in my post.

[Sun-Wukong]

Photo Dojo is a fun gimmick, but it runs out of steam really quick. And I did mention Flipnote Studio in my post.

Indeed you did. My bad.

You should still try Photo Dojo if anyone you know has it or gets (I'm assuming you don't have a DSi for good reason). It's a beat em' up where you create your own characters by taking pictures with the camera, which just goes to show that there are good applications for the camera. Pokemon Black and White have video chat.

[A Zarkin' Frood]

The DSi has one flaw. I don't know if any other DS models have that, but it's a major issue and I wonder why no one pointed it out yet.

The power button is where you would expect the select button to be if you're used to playing with a gamepad. Horrible.

[Kyanbu The Legend]

The DSi has one flaw. I don't know if any other DS models have that, but it's a major issue and I wonder why no one pointed it out yet.

The power button is where you would expect the select button to be if you're used to playing with a gamepad. Horrible.

I don't think most people have even noticed it. It is a problem but it's not one that I'd see as a major problem.

[Regulus Tera]

The select button never did shit.

[Sun-Wukong]

The select button never did shit.
The above statement is true.

[A Zarkin' Frood]

Shut up, the select button is the center of the universe.
You don't know 'bout my pain. You don't know.

[Aldurin]

If you're gonna get a new DS, here's what should affect your decision.

If you don't play GBA games, get DSi. It's not compatible with them anyways. And I've heard that the 3DS has GBA games as downloadable (the ultimate alternative to browsing pawn shops in hope of finding them, hopefully for pawn shop prices).

There is also weird shit with the DSi where it can connect into encrypted connections and shit, but if a regular DS couldn't connect to that source then your DS games won't be able to do shit with it. My DSi can use the internet browser with my connection, but I can't use the wifi features for any of my actual games.

I don't know if the 3DS overcomes this problem, it seems like an Apple level of being stupid about what to program in.

[Ecks]

I am rather fond of my DSi (I was the idiot who passed up the sexy black one for the lolbabyblue one) for several reasons. Reason one is the screens. WAY better than my old brick DS (I've had that brick DS forever. You know how long? It's the original platinum color. THAT'S how long). I also like it for the internet browser. Sure it's slow, can't do java or youtube or half the other shit you'd expect an internet-browsing program to handle, but hey, it's handy. Despite the shovelware on the DSi Shop, there are gems hidden amongst the refuse, as several people have pointed out (PhotoDojo, Flipnote Studio, I'm rather fond of Dr. Mario myself). And I LOVE the music player to DEATH. Seriously, if you have iTunes and no iPod, and you have an SD card that works with DSi, move your library to the SD card. Seriously. It is FUN AS HELL to listen to your favorite tracks with the pitch jacked up high. Listening to Devil May Cry tunes with a demonic chipmunk on vocals is just the tops, man.

EDIT: I would, however, like to point out a little oddity I've noticed in the last couple of months. If you're at all rough with your systems, watch out. I don't think Nintendo made DSi out of 100% Nintendonium. If you tap or bump the area around the battery (the left side of the unit) with a little force, the system loses power. Dunno if it's just mine, or if all DSi do that, but I thought I'd let you guise know.