My grandmother wanted to get a DSi, but she said that seeing what was on the screen wasn't the issue, it was the fact that it didn't vibrate like the Wiimote does. Apparently old people need that force-feedback sensitivity to let them know they're still holding onto something.
I love how people are getting up in arms about this new DSi. People like their systems to be smaller, more portable, yet when one comes out that's bigger, and clearly meant for people with BAD EYESIGHT, they moan and complain . . . like old people who can't read the "gosh dern labels on cans of food because the print is too gosh dern small!" . . .
Of course maybe these are the same people reading Kotaku and they're having trouble reading the article to begin with. That might explain why the missed the crucial bit about it being "aimed at an older market, the type who likes big buttons on their telephones and large print books."
And you know what, I like this because some day I'm going to be old and this gives me hope for my ability to game in later years when reading a book means getting a book on tape.
@AOClaus: well i dunno about you, but while i dont care all that much about the dsi and im up in arms about quite a few other things with it... what we all need to be asking our selves is... Really?? do we really need this? I mean correct me if im wrong how long was the original dsi out? shouldn't they have just made it this big in the first place? I mean maybe its just me, but the sheer audacity of this makes me want to start a siege on nintendo's hq with my potato canon #nintendodsi
@Ryuuenjin: No they shouldn't have made it this big in the first place because young people wouldn't want it because it's too big. What part of "for old people" doesn't make sense? This isn't FOR you, unless you're 70+, do you really consider a larger, slightly more cumbersome to carry around DS an advantage? A reason to upgrade again? Are you daft? #nintendodsi
I think this is a good idea. My mom has been thinking about getting a DSi. If there's any confirmation about the larger screens coming to the Americas anytime soon I think she might wait for it. #nintendodsi
@Showmeyomoves!: :( Sorry you lost your star bro, you are still one of my favorite commentators though.
Another interesting point that was pointed out, is that with an increase in screen size, the visual quality dips. Like putting a picture you took with a cell phone as your desktop background, the size wrecks the image clarity.
Not that any of that matters either way, the DSi2 will sell like crazy. #nintendodsi
@Slagathorian: ":( Sorry you lost your star bro, you are still one of my favorite commentators though."
Why, thank you! Never before have I received so many compliments as when I lost my star. I should definitely do this more often.
The decrease in visual quality is a good point, by the way. Another indication that this DSi XL is clearly not aimed at us "hardcore" gamers. #nintendodsi
It seems like a lot of you don't understand why they would do something like this despite it clearly being mentioned in the article. This was actually the only gripe I had with buying a DS for my parents since they have a hard time reading small print. I've tried to share games like Brain Age with my dad, who is 72, but he has a very difficult time reading the screen. This will hopefully help him and I can finally give my parents a DS to take with them when they go traveling. Thanks, Nintendo. #nintendodsi
Wow, Nintendo really is showing their true colors. How about focus on making more games for the Wii or getting more 3rd party games to the DS vs. Releasing a new small update to your handheld every few quarters. #nintendodsi
If it is bigger, they should be able to include the GBA slot again.
They should just make a new player that hooks up to your TV like the past few generations. I still own my Super GameBoy(SNES) and my GameBoy Player(GCN). I'd pay another $130 just for that! #nintendodsi
@LokeSTL: I'm curious - how would you make a system like that work for the DS? The touch screen complicates things a lot, especially since a DS player would probably have to separate the "screen" and "touch" for the bottom screen, or the top and bottom screens. Neither is desirable.
I do love my Game Boy Player, though. :D #nintendodsi
@LokeSTL: I don't get why everyone's still obsessed with GBA games. Yes it was a great handheld, but jesus people, it's almost 8 years old! Backwards compatibility is awesome and all, but when the physical game media is different, you just have to let go. Could you imagine if the made the Gamecube backwards compatible with the N64? slapping on a cartridge slot, that's just ridiculous. And if you're willing to pay 130$ for a player, why don't you go an buy an SP for 30$? That's what I did when I bought my DSi and gave my Lite to my girlfriend. #nintendodsi
@demigod4: In my opinion, good games are far and few between. Why would I stop playing all of the great games in my collection in favor of playing the 8-10 good games that'll come out in the next 10 years repeatedly. To me, evoluti9on for the sake of evolution isn't what makes games good. Story and gameplay are. I will take Ocarina of Time over Twighlight Princess any day.
As for "letting it go", that's not going to happen. Look at how successful the Virtual Console is. More than a GBA slot, I hope they start releasing GBA games on the VC. #nintendodsi
@LokeSTL: I agree that the VC is great and they should start selling GBA (and GBC, and GB) games on a virtual console type thing on the GBA, and that would be great because even though I have a whole lot of GBA games I still missed out on even more of them. It would be awesome to be able to buy them and keep them on my DSi and SD cards.
And a point I would like to add to my original point is: If you want to be able to play GBA cartridges on your DS, just don't upgrade! It's annoying to hear people complain about it, Nintendo's not forcing you to do anything. It's a choice you'll have to make; GBA games (and the few accessories that use the slot) or the new features on the DSi and DSi only games. Personally I'm very happy with my DSi and SP, I don't regret my change at all. #nintendodsi
@demigod4: Ah, I see. But I wasn't complaining at all. If the GBA slot was in th DSi, I would have said: "If it is bigger, they could include a GB/GBC slot." I have not upgraded because there is not enough draw to the new hardware to warrant a purchase for me. GBA slot or not, the new features don't interest me. (at least not yet)
If anything, I would prefer them to be downloadable to the Wii. If I could play them through the Wii on a TV, I would send all my GB/GBC/GBA cartridges to virtualNES.com so that more people could enjoy them. #nintendodsi
Man, I hate how Nintendo puts a gun to everyones head and makes them buy these upgrades.
This is such a completely minor upgrade that is aimed at a market that probably doesn't apply to most folks on this site...so for god's sake just let them have it.
Not everything the game companies do is planned and put into place to make YOUR day worse. #nintendodsi
@Nslick: Hahaha, MAKES you buy it. I think the only person that is ever FORCED to buy something like this is someone who chooses to. In fact, ALL this crap is optional, DWEEBO! #nintendodsi
@Nslick: Nope, as a supermegaultrahardcore gamer, I DEMAND that every product that gaming companies make (or even consider patenting) be specifically targeted at me and my demographic. Anything less means that company is a sellout corporate whore and I'll immediately start a boycott and/or petition against them for destroying the industry we've helped them create. How dare they. #nintendodsi
@Strife Fox †: Uh, I would REALLY not do that unless you want a DSi with a shorter battery life and uglier games because the screen is that much bigger while the resolution isn't. Think about what this news actually means before jumping the gun.
@excel_excel: @Ueziel:
I highly doubt bigger screens will be its only new feature, I may just sell mine and hold off for another year until the invetable backwards compaitble DS2 is released.
It just seems to be a big slap in the face, releasing a new model so soon after the last, at least they larger gap between the Lite and the DSi (reason I purchased one was because I only had a phat) but this is blatant greed towards your customers.
I'll agree with the bigger = uglier graphics part though, I noticed even on my DSi, the games look considerably more stretched and pixilated compared to playing them on the DS Life/Phat. #nintendodsi
@Strife Fox †: I highly doubt bigger screens will be its only new feature.
What possible reason would you have to doubt that? Nintendo hasn't exactly had a history of screwing people over with quick hardware revisions. #nintendodsi
@Strife Fox †: You act like this is a replacement for the DSi.
It isn't. It's meant for the visually impaired.
You have a DSi, you can see how large the screens already are. Can you imagine 3/4ths of an inch larger? That's quite substantial for a portable device.
Also, take a look at how much real estate those screens take up on the DSi right now. Can you imagine how much larger they're going to have to make the device to accomodate for those screens? Not to mention they'll probably throw bigger buttons on it for the target demographic too.
They really mean it when they say it's not targeted for you. As in: you shouldn't even want it. It'll be a far less portable device, with completely unnecessarily large screens that should be an insult to your eyesight if it's anything less than AWFUL.
This is not a slap in the face, or greed. It's a kind gesture to the old folks of Japan who like jumbo-text in their books and have trouble focusing on small things due to degrading vision. For those of us who still want a device that can fit into our pockets, the normal DSi will still be available.
I mean really, would you buy a book with jumbo text over the normal version? Do you roll around in a wheelchair because it's easier than walking?
@Strife Fox †: Wait a sec. You willingly bought the 3rd iteration of hardware you already owned and you're complaining about a 4th iteration? Riiiiiiight. #nintendodsi
From folks responses I'm unsure if I'm reading this right, but this is a DS version of say the above phone?
So why are folks complaining they can't have it or whatever unless they just got a DSi despite there crippling arthritis and bad vision? #nintendodsi
10/27/09
-_- #nintendodsi
10/26/09
...as if anyone recognizes that reference... #nintendodsi
10/26/09
10/26/09
Well, that's her excuse anyway. #nintendodsi
10/26/09
Of course maybe these are the same people reading Kotaku and they're having trouble reading the article to begin with. That might explain why the missed the crucial bit about it being "aimed at an older market, the type who likes big buttons on their telephones and large print books."
And you know what, I like this because some day I'm going to be old and this gives me hope for my ability to game in later years when reading a book means getting a book on tape.
10/26/09
10/26/09
10/26/09
10/26/09
I'll most likely import / purchase so I can give it to my Dad. He likes the DS, but a bigger screen is what he really needs. #nintendodsi
10/26/09
So before you start complaining, ask yourself this: Are you an old person with bad eye-sight? #nintendodsi
10/26/09
Another interesting point that was pointed out, is that with an increase in screen size, the visual quality dips. Like putting a picture you took with a cell phone as your desktop background, the size wrecks the image clarity.
Not that any of that matters either way, the DSi2 will sell like crazy. #nintendodsi
10/26/09
Why, thank you! Never before have I received so many compliments as when I lost my star. I should definitely do this more often.
The decrease in visual quality is a good point, by the way. Another indication that this DSi XL is clearly not aimed at us "hardcore" gamers. #nintendodsi
10/26/09
Or I would if I hadn't spent all my cash on Transformers, Gundam Models, Figmas, and Revoltechs...
... I mean Porn, I spent all my money on porn. #nintendodsi
10/26/09
10/26/09
10/26/09
10/26/09
True colours indeed.
rtfa much? #nintendodsi
10/26/09
10/26/09
They should just make a new player that hooks up to your TV like the past few generations. I still own my Super GameBoy(SNES) and my GameBoy Player(GCN). I'd pay another $130 just for that! #nintendodsi
10/26/09
I do love my Game Boy Player, though. :D #nintendodsi
10/26/09
10/26/09
If they released a gamecube with an N64 slot, I WOULD BUY IT TODAY.
That would totally rock. Thank you. #nintendodsi
10/27/09
As for "letting it go", that's not going to happen. Look at how successful the Virtual Console is. More than a GBA slot, I hope they start releasing GBA games on the VC. #nintendodsi
10/27/09
And a point I would like to add to my original point is: If you want to be able to play GBA cartridges on your DS, just don't upgrade! It's annoying to hear people complain about it, Nintendo's not forcing you to do anything. It's a choice you'll have to make; GBA games (and the few accessories that use the slot) or the new features on the DSi and DSi only games. Personally I'm very happy with my DSi and SP, I don't regret my change at all. #nintendodsi
10/27/09
If anything, I would prefer them to be downloadable to the Wii. If I could play them through the Wii on a TV, I would send all my GB/GBC/GBA cartridges to virtualNES.com so that more people could enjoy them. #nintendodsi
10/26/09
This is such a completely minor upgrade that is aimed at a market that probably doesn't apply to most folks on this site...so for god's sake just let them have it.
Not everything the game companies do is planned and put into place to make YOUR day worse. #nintendodsi
10/26/09
10/26/09
Wow...
Is this Don't Recognize VERY Obvious Sarcasm Day? #nintendodsi
10/26/09
10/26/09
Seriously, fuck you too Nintendo. #nintendodsi
10/26/09
10/26/09
This isn't an upgrade. #nintendodsi
10/26/09
I highly doubt bigger screens will be its only new feature, I may just sell mine and hold off for another year until the invetable backwards compaitble DS2 is released.
It just seems to be a big slap in the face, releasing a new model so soon after the last, at least they larger gap between the Lite and the DSi (reason I purchased one was because I only had a phat) but this is blatant greed towards your customers.
I'll agree with the bigger = uglier graphics part though, I noticed even on my DSi, the games look considerably more stretched and pixilated compared to playing them on the DS Life/Phat. #nintendodsi
10/26/09
What possible reason would you have to doubt that? Nintendo hasn't exactly had a history of screwing people over with quick hardware revisions. #nintendodsi
10/26/09
It isn't. It's meant for the visually impaired.
You have a DSi, you can see how large the screens already are. Can you imagine 3/4ths of an inch larger? That's quite substantial for a portable device.
Also, take a look at how much real estate those screens take up on the DSi right now. Can you imagine how much larger they're going to have to make the device to accomodate for those screens? Not to mention they'll probably throw bigger buttons on it for the target demographic too.
They really mean it when they say it's not targeted for you. As in: you shouldn't even want it. It'll be a far less portable device, with completely unnecessarily large screens that should be an insult to your eyesight if it's anything less than AWFUL.
This is not a slap in the face, or greed. It's a kind gesture to the old folks of Japan who like jumbo-text in their books and have trouble focusing on small things due to degrading vision. For those of us who still want a device that can fit into our pockets, the normal DSi will still be available.
I mean really, would you buy a book with jumbo text over the normal version? Do you roll around in a wheelchair because it's easier than walking?
10/26/09
I get the feeling a lot of people didn't even read the article, just saw the headline and flipped out.
This is no more geared towards the average person on Kotaku than the "simple type" cell phones with giant fonts designed for older people are.
Japan's got a huge aging population; I can see why they'd try to get that demographic as well. #nintendodsi
10/26/09
10/26/09
10/26/09
10/26/09
10/26/09
From folks responses I'm unsure if I'm reading this right, but this is a DS version of say the above phone?
So why are folks complaining they can't have it or whatever unless they just got a DSi despite there crippling arthritis and bad vision? #nintendodsi