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Update Nintendo announces DSi LL in Japan and Europe and calls it DSi XL in NA.

More Updates later today, but discussion continues on the last page of thread and this other thread

The Nintendo DSi has been released in North America.

Launch Date: Sunday, April 5th
Price: MSRP $169.99
Colors: Light Blue and Black

Latest News:

• DSi-Only Games are on the way, may use all-white cases.
• DSiWare updates are located in the CAG WiiWare thread and are occasionally discussed here.

Original Post:
Nintendo has announced the US launch date and price of the DSi.

Launch Date: Sunday, April 5th
Price: MSRP $169.99
Colors: Light Blue and Black
Demo Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysSKj...layer_embedded

Announcements:

• Nintendo DSi Website
• Nintendo.com's announcement and Nintendo Press Release
• Kotaku post of the launch information.
• Previous CAG discussion on rumored price and launch
• The press releases also confirms the April 5th release of Rhythm Heaven. CAG already has a thread on the game.

Last Update: Changing the title.

Previous Updates:

• Update
• 8/31: Putting in the update for DSi-only Carts - No news on DSi enhanced DS carts.
• 8/31: Putting older info behind spoiler tags to reduce OP size
• 8/31: Deleting Pre-order links
• 8/4: Updated Title
• 2/19: Put Announcements and updates behind a spoiler tag to reduce size of OP, added preorder links, and added demo video on Youtube.
• 2/18: Created Post and added additional URLs of press releases.

Better price point than 190. That's something to know.

Famitsu revealed a Katamari Puzzle game for DSiware. That's kinda neat.

Imma start saving my monies.

Yuck@blue. Why not the cobalt?

Still strangely way too early unless they figure they have a good way of selling the two models concurrently. I'll be good till something comes out on the retail end that I can't turn down. The downloadable stuff won't be going anywhere.

Thanks for the info.

I'll echo Strell's sentiments regarding the price, the previously speculated cost was way too much. I still think it's a little high, since that's the cost of a PSP, and the DS's current price is one of the biggest advantages it's had it's entire life-cycle. Nintendo is on such a role, though, they may not even consider the PSP competition.

I will agree that the price is a bit high for Nintendo.

I actually kind of see this dropping in price by midsummer by 10-20 bucks. I think people are going to shun it in light of the poor economy, sending them to the DS, which is going to screw up Nintendo's plans, which I speculate to be moving the DSi as an intermittent successor until a full fledged DS2 appears.

I base this on the introduction of DSiware, which I think Nintendo is going to start pushing really hard as an answer to the iPhone App store. Yes, I do not think the iPhone is that legitimate of a gaming device with the lack of physical buttons, but the sure are advertising it as a gaming platform a LOT lately, and the fact that a "can the iPhone beat the DS?" article pops up frequently (every two weeks at the longest) makes me think Nintendo is really starting to consider it the new contender (perhaps even more than the PSP, at least in America).

That's all my guess though. Just seems a little weird that (like botticus mentioned) that this is showing up this quickly - I was pegging it for Septmeber at the EARLIEST this year, given the steamrolling the DS is doing 'round these parts. I think Nintendo is spurred on also by the somewhat early success of the DSi in Japan, which I think is a poor thing to base it on - Japanese luvs them some gadgets, which I think is propelling the sales there more than anything else, and are about due for a drop in moved units.

Interesting year we've got building up so far.

Kind of wondering what (if any) trade-up deal GS will bust out. I've still got an old DS Phat I wouldn't mind getting shed of if it takes a little of the sting out of the purchase price. Otherwise, I'm still pretty satisfied with my DS Lite.

any news on what games will be downloadable when it hits

if there was 2 or 3 major good rpg games imight run out and buy it if not no reason to

Originally Posted by slidecage any news on what games will be downloadable when it hits if there was 2 or 3 major good rpg games imight run out and buy it if not no reason to

Nope, no DSiware announcements, but it is probably safe to assume the basics will be covered.

Not ready for DSI yet. I may get a for $130 or less but $170 ...thanks you nintendo

As much as I love my DS', I just can't pull myself to buy this.....thing.

I'm not sure if the difference in features is really worth the $40 extra over the DS lite. Until some compelling games that require the DSi come along, I think I will be perfectly happy to stick with my 1 1/2 year old DS lite.

That is one ugly shade of blue though, couldn't they have picked a warmer blue?

Originally Posted by Strell I actually kind of see this dropping in price by midsummer by 10-20 bucks. I think people are going to shun it in light of the poor economy, sending them to the DS, which is going to screw up Nintendo's plans, which I speculate to be moving the DSi as an intermittent successor until a full fledged DS2 appears.

Unless sales of the DSi are completely trash, I don't see this happening. We didn't see a price drop until about a year after the DS was released and I imagine it'll be somewhat similar for the DSi.

Originally Posted by Strell I base this on the introduction of DSiware, which I think Nintendo is going to start pushing really hard as an answer to the iPhone App store. Yes, I do not think the iPhone is that legitimate of a gaming device with the lack of physical buttons, but the sure are advertising it as a gaming platform a LOT lately, and the fact that a "can the iPhone beat the DS?" article pops up frequently (every two weeks at the longest) makes me think Nintendo is really starting to consider it the new contender (perhaps even more than the PSP, at least in America).

I don't think the iPhone is a real threat to the DS/DSi as well. It's two completely different markets, and the systems themselves are designed for two different purposes. However, I do have a feeling you are right, Nintendo is going to push the DSi over the DS heavily due to having DS ware and offer it as an alternative to Apple's AppStore. This is the key reason why I feel we won't be seeing a price drop until next year. Nintendo pushes DSi sales hard touting the advantages of the DS ware, sales are decent to moderate but not quite up to DS levels. After Christmas rolls around, Nintendo is ready to boost DSi sales so a price drop is announced.

But of course, it all really depends on what kind of legs the DSi takes. It's hard to say with the way the economy and market is right now exactly what will happen. Were this a brand new device with distinct advantages over the DS it might be different, but its not and we're basically seeing a slightly upgraded version of the DS.

Originally Posted by BlueLobstah Unless sales of the DSi are completely trash, I don't see this happening. We didn't see a price drop until about a year after the DS was released and I imagine it'll be somewhat similar for the DSi.

Back when the DS launched, it didn't have a cousin to contend with. Yes it had the GBA SP, but people were able to look at them and immediately tell a difference. "This one has two screens."

Now you'll have the cheaper DS on the same shelf. That's going to confuse people, who are going to most likely head for the cheaper of the two. Unless the features of the DSi are heavily advertised, I don't see it really solidifying as something all that different in the general populace's comprehension.

It's a different situation here.

I don't think the iPhone is a real threat to the DS/DSi as well. It's two completely different markets, and the systems themselves are designed for two different purposes.

I think so too. The only reason I have an inkling that it could be a problem is because there's so many people latching onto the iPhone's inherent game capabilities. Coupled with the immediate distribution of the App Store, it could very well present a kind of competition.

This is more of a "there's so much talk about it that it'll slowly seep into collective conscious" sort of thing.

But of course, it all really depends on what kind of legs the DSi takes. It's hard to say with the way the economy and market is right now exactly what will happen. Were this a brand new device with distinct advantages over the DS it might be different, but its not and we're basically seeing a slightly upgraded version of the DS.

This is more what I'm getting at.

Bluuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuue

LOL @ the ridiculous price.

Isn't the same price or only 1000 yen more than the lite in Japan?

Edit: Apparently it's around $23 difference in Japan with the shit exchange rates. So that's like a $20 differential unaccounted for. Apparently the DSlite costs more in Japan than the US, but the i price is about the same.

Oh yeah Nintendo, and no one gives a flying about a 3 MP camera and shitty MP3 player.

Price still blows. Greedy Nintendo trying to make money. Although, like Strell said, this just sets them up for a price drop later on.

Originally Posted by Dead of Knight Oh yeah Nintendo, and no one gives a flying about a 3 MP camera and shitty MP3 player.

Geez. Gamers sure like to think if they broadcast their opinion enough, everyone else will agree to it. You act like it's intended to be an answer for a real digital camera.

Correction: Shitty AUDIO player.

Zing.

Also, if you really do put in the time to gather and convert 16 GB of music into AAC, you'd be saving nearly $100 than buying a 16GB iPod Touch. That's for absolutely BASIC features though.

Originally Posted by Strell Geez. Gamers sure like to think if they broadcast their opinion enough, everyone else will agree to it. You act like it's intended to be an answer for a real digital camera.

Compared to cell phone cameras I'm thinking the DSi camera will fare just fine. Plus Japan seems to be snapping them up. If they can get a foothold in the US, great, if not at least the portable software store gets a foothold.

Originally Posted by Strell I will agree that the price is a bit high for Nintendo. I actually kind of see this dropping in price by midsummer by 10-20 bucks. I think people are going to shun it in light of the poor economy, sending them to the DS, which is going to screw up Nintendo's plans, which I speculate to be moving the DSi as an intermittent successor until a full fledged DS2 appears. I base this on the introduction of DSiware, which I think Nintendo is going to start pushing really hard as an answer to the iPhone App store. Yes, I do not think the iPhone is that legitimate of a gaming device with the lack of physical buttons, but the sure are advertising it as a gaming platform a LOT lately, and the fact that a "can the iPhone beat the DS?" article pops up frequently (every two weeks at the longest) makes me think Nintendo is really starting to consider it the new contender (perhaps even more than the PSP, at least in America). That's all my guess though. Just seems a little weird that (like botticus mentioned) that this is showing up this quickly - I was pegging it for Septmeber at the EARLIEST this year, given the steamrolling the DS is doing 'round these parts. I think Nintendo is spurred on also by the somewhat early success of the DSi in Japan, which I think is a poor thing to base it on - Japanese luvs them some gadgets, which I think is propelling the sales there more than anything else, and are about due for a drop in moved units. Interesting year we've got building up so far.

Regarding the iPhone:

Consider that the DS is similar to the Wii in that a lot of people who never gave a shite about video games have been drawn to it by it's relatively low price compared to other platforms and games like Brain Age, etc which are both easy and fun. Of course, the DS caters infinitely more to all types of gamers compared to the Wii, but that's a different discussion.

Since they have a substantial number of DS owners who are much more casual players that aren't interested in 40+hour RPGs, it makes sense that they might be afraid of losing some casual market share to a do-it-all device, especially one that gets so much attention. Why get an iPhone and a DS when you can have everything on one device and more (phone, GPS, iTunes which people love for some reason, etc).

Keep in mind, more casual gamers will probably care less about which games are available, they just want to play fun games. So if owning an iPhone means no Brain Age/Cooking Mama/etc, that's ok, because there's already 50 clones on every platform now (Brain IQ Challenge! Brain Buzz! Brain Busters Buzz Challenge IQ!) and people buy imitation titles all the time without knowing or caring.

Digital distribution also seems the way to go for smaller or less involved titles. Looking at the success of PSN/XBL/Wiiware & VC is proof enough of that, and that is something that the DS is lacking. Heck, even the PSP was able to integrate it years after release, whereas the DS wasn't made future-proof at all. So more than anything, Nintendo probably sees the potential, interest, and demand for the DS to go the same route, but aren't ready to launch a whole new system. In that regard, I think they'd be better off waiting and just putting all of this into the DS2, with complete backwards compatibility. Then people wouldn't be confused, because it would be an entirely new product, and the price would be more justified.

I don't care about any of the new features they've added, I think removing the GBA slot is a mistake, and I know more than a few CAGs feel the same way. So, it would take some killer apps on the download store for me to even consider upgrading, and let's face it, Nintendo's never been all that good with the must-have titles within the 1st year a system's been out, at least in the past decade.

I may be in a vast minority but I'm keeping my Lite. I just pre-ordered the Matte Blue in whole at Amazon. I just happen to be in an opportune situation where I can sell off stuff to pad the money at the moment (selling a 3rd Generation iPod with monochrome screen, repairing and selling a Crimson/Black Lite my dad was given).

The Lite is obviously going to do things that the DSi won't so I'm keeping it. No big deal.