The DS Life: i
by Eric Caoili 
{ Oct 22nd 2008 at 11:59PM }
As far as the Nintendo DSi's new features go, most of the opinions we've heard seem to think unkindly of the upcoming hardware's cameras -- some calling it a gimmick that needlessly raises the system's price, others describing it as an absent-minded addition that hardly competes with their digital cameras or phones.
As someone who runs a column on photographs about handheld gamers, however, I'm thrilled about the whole deal! I expect to see a lot more image submissions from our readers after next, um, April, when the updated handheld finally comes to the States.
With only eight days before the DSi debuts in Japan, Nintendo has put out a trailer with a guide for the portable's new features, including the camera and image manipulation capabilities. Join us past the post break for the four-and-a-half-minute clip.
Gallery: Nintendo DSi
Will this be the next Game Boy Camera? We need a printer peripheral to plug into the GBA sl -- oh wait, nevermind.
The DS Life is a weekly feature in which we scour the known world for narrative images of Nintendo's handheld and handheld gamers. If you have a photo and a story to match it with, send both to thedslife at dsfanboy dot com.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Gun Barrier @ Oct 23rd 2008 1:09AM
The dsi has some cool video and music features.
iofthestorm @ Oct 23rd 2008 1:17AM
The photo manipulation actually looked pretty good. Also, anyone have any idea what that weird animation of mario was after the web browser? It almost makes me think they got flash for the web browser, but that seems unlikely.
bug frawg @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:24AM
You don't need a printer for the gba slot, the dsi uses sd cards remember?
Olan @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:48AM
He was referring to the old gameboy camera cartridge, that you could get a printer just to print out your horrible quality black and white photos on... although I think it would be a great idea to still include the minigames from it on the DS, hop to it Nintendo.
bug frawg @ Oct 23rd 2008 4:18AM
He was talking about having the photos printed. there are printers that accept sd cards.
JRM @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:14AM
the coloured cartridge icons in the main menu are the slots for the downloadable software. I think it said there were 40 slots in total. and from the screens, the Mario animation was not from the internet, it was from the "memo" software in the DSi.
As of right now, though, the camera is pretty much just a girl thing. I don't know how many men are going to flowers and sparkly decorations on pictures. I don't think anything short of an x-ray cam is going to encourage the men to use the DS camera--as an actual camera!
the music player: interesting but I'm sure it will get boring fast, and the recording function would have been more useful if it recorded for longer.
In all, the features are just little toys (which are already available in Japan in one way or other). I hope Nintendo proves me wrong, but I see nothing practical or engaging about the camera and music features.
Another odd thing about the DSi is that I have not yet heard of anything remotely close to video chat, or internet messaging--not even a tech demo in any of Nintendo's videos/commercials.
It doesn't fill me with a lot of confidence. I don't see how this could possibly be an iphone killer--save for the DSiWare. More than anything, I get the feeling that the reason for the DSi is all about the DSiWare. Then, they just added extra stuff to justify the "upgrade".
TheOverlord#2 @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:30PM
lol, If the DSi got a Homebrew Channel-like option from the SD card for X-Ray or other lens types, that'd be awesome!
bug frawg @ Oct 24th 2008 2:47PM
Since when did phones compete with handheld consoles? the iphone hasn't affected ds sales at all.
Hamster @ Oct 23rd 2008 8:27AM
I guess some of that stuff could be quite cool. Just take away that horrible microphone so we never have to blow/yell into into our games ever again and the DS would be perfect.
Hoshi @ Oct 23rd 2008 11:45AM
Objection! But that's so much fun..
Hamster @ Oct 23rd 2008 12:17PM
No it isn't. It's cringingly awful. Worst gimmick in gaming history.
Stephen M @ Oct 23rd 2008 1:40PM
I'm with Hoshi. PW singlehandedly turned me into being pro-mic.
Hamster @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:21PM
Well, each to their own I guess. I (and I think I speak for the majority of people here) hope and pray that Nintendo realises it was a mistake, a gimmick too far and does not include a mic in their next handheld. They musn't. It's depressing to think of the amount of DS games this tacky, contrived gimmick has ruined, we can't suffer another generation of it. It baffles me that developers think it's in any way fun to have a game grind to a halt in order for you to put a console in your face and blow into an totally ineffectual microphone. It makes me cringe just thinking about it.
Here's some more mic-hate:
http://nintendo.joystiq.com/2008/09/07/ds-daily-on-the-mic
http://www.n-sider.com/contentview.php?contentid=449
http://www.destructoid.com/doing-it-right-how-to-use-ds-features-properly-105511.phtml
http://www.pressthebuttons.com/2007/04/ds_huffnpuff.html
http://www.edge-online.com/features/gamings-worst-ideas-ever
bug frawg @ Oct 24th 2008 2:50PM
Three words: online voice chat. aw:dor, mp:h and a few others had this feature.
m-p{3} @ Oct 23rd 2008 10:08AM
If the web browser is as fast as in the video, I might be interested.
If my flashcart is working on it, I'll prefer to use Moonshell for mp3 playback, not some stupid AAC-only format.
RootiePatootie @ Oct 23rd 2008 10:46AM
I'm just not seeing anything that is causing me to *want* a DSi. A lot of cute toys but IMO that's just for the "Japanese School Girl" (to borrow a phrase from Wired mag). They'd be fun for a very short time and what?? Just not enough pluses to offset the minuses with this new product, IMO of course.
I REALLY wish the next version of the DS would allow full web browsing with all the bells and whistles so to speak (at LEAST Flash), VoIP and a webcam, all without any restrictions once I make my 'net connection at any place I wish. However, I realize that those desires may be a bit too adult for the Nintendo product. I can understand that too because parents should question if they want their young kid carrying around a device that allows them to go anywhere on the web, especially with a webcam and voice.
I've been seriously considering purchasing a netbook computer. I wish I could run my DS games on it, then I'd have the perfect carry along!
But of course, no DS will allow me to run the apps a netbook will nor will any netbook allow me to play my great DS games so I'm just having pipe dreams I guess. :-/ Guess I'll end up carrying around both.
Jayenkai @ Oct 23rd 2008 11:53AM
Yeah, the camera stuff actually looked a lot neater than I thought it would.
..
Does that make me a girl?
Dang..
And, yeah, that browser looked nice and fast, especially when compared to the pants-tastic DS browser. Here's hoping it's actually that good!
Ibinixer @ Oct 24th 2008 10:50AM
"DSi couldn't give a sh*t"
Roto13 @ Oct 23rd 2008 3:00PM
I just want it for DSiWare, really. The other stuff is fine and everything, but I don't particularly care about it.
I'm not going to whine about it, though. My current gen consoles all have tons of features I never use. This is nothing new.
NOA_KB @ Oct 23rd 2008 3:13PM
To anyone who doesn't like the music player or camera because of their phone/ipod: SOME of us can't afford video games AND monthly bills/ download costs. This solves just about all my problems. Oh yeah, mic-haters? DON'T USE THE STUPID MIC!!!!! Sorry, little carried away there.
Hamster @ Oct 23rd 2008 4:19PM
Errr, how exactly are you supposed to not use the mic in games that force you to use the mic? That's kind of one of the main reasons why people don't like it, there's no option to opt-out of it for those who want to control their games properly and not have to resort to horrible gimmicks based on bodily functions.
chibi_wings @ Oct 23rd 2008 10:15PM
the camera looks better in action, but I'm still not convinced. Sure the additions are nice, but not enough to convince me to invest in another DS. Maybe IF my current DS should meet an unfortunate end, but again this is all hypothetical. I may even buy it come April without such an excuse. i really can't say right now if I will or won't, but I am interested in DSWare. If it should happen to have some really good games, that may just give me the encouragement to buy a DSi.
Frastoglegnia @ Oct 24th 2008 7:11AM
Most of the perks of this model are covered by homebrew (including photo editing), and the camera doesn't seem terribly interesting to me personally. Three factors could make me far more interested:
1. Have the processor and wifi been upgraded?
2. Has copy protection been put in place to disable flashcarts and is it effective?
3. Will any must-snatch post-DSi games be unplayable on the DS and DS Lite?
If the DSi is more powerful than the DS/L and can still use homebrew carts, then I might be persuaded to bite. Even so, I'll probably wait six months more while various fixes and updates appear and evolve. The battery life sounds annoying, though -- "on par with a PSP," someone said in an earlier article.