DS-Lite vs DSi speculation...more power?

[ninzel]

I think how it will play out will be that 3rd party devs will continue to develop DS compatible games for retail but tip their toes in the Dsi market by making smaller DSi specific games or apps for DSiware download and watch to see how the DSi userbase grows.
By making DSi only games for download, you are not alienating any DS users because AFAIK there is not currently a download option for DS games anyway.
If DSiware becomes popular and begins to get a large number of quality games it can act as an enticement to current DS users.
edit: after reading that article it looks even more like this is being positioned as a direct Iphone comptitor with the focus of the Dsi being on small downloadable apps that don't make sense selling at retail(at least in the beginning).
I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for too many DSi specific games at retail.

 

[Teasy]

?

AFAIK, the DSi has more RAM and an over-clocked SoC... but filtering? In software?

We don't know that bilinear filtering isn't supported. If not it might be possible to fake it with the extra power.

It was just an example though really. Actually I remember my DS looking pretty good without it, despite how it looks in screen shots.

 

[Squeak]

With a screen as small and lowres as the DS's, you don't really need bilinear. The space is much better used for something else. Like a bigger texture cache. Coincidentally DS has awesome highres textures, as good as PSP, and sometimes perhaps better. A lot better than N64 and PSone at least.

 

[sfried]

I stand corrected. It turns out there will be "DSi Only" and "DSi Enhanced" cards after all, with enhanced probably making full use of DLC such as PM Studios' DJ MAX Technika.

 

[brain_stew]

I think people are far too quickly forgetting that there's an incredibly successful precedent for this; the Gameboy Color. That followed the exact same route as the DSI seems to be going and since the transition was very gradual, the market accepted it without any real hesitation.

Has there been any word on what the specific upgrades are then? The increase in RAM is pretty significant, and will surely feel like a Godsend for any DSiware or DSi exclusive cart developers but what about in terms of the GPU? Have they finally added some form of texture filtering for instance? Something like that could be added to any new DS game for an instant improvement for DSi owners.

 

[tongue_of_colicab]

Wow great. SO that means I'll end up with having to buy my third DS system? And they are wondering why everybody owns flashcards...

I wish that instead they would have just done a DS2 or something. Well ofcourse as far as how do I make the most money what Nintendo is doing is by far the best.

 

[eastmen]

I have a flash card. I buy all my games but I love that i don't have to cary any with me. I don't think i'll update till i can get that same feature.

 

[Teasy]

Wow great. SO that means I'll end up with having to buy my third DS system? And they are wondering why everybody owns flashcards...

I wish that instead they would have just done a DS2 or something. Well ofcourse as far as how do I make the most money what Nintendo is doing is by far the best.

Why did you have to buy your second DS system?

 

[I.S.T.]

I think people are far too quickly forgetting that there's an incredibly successful precedent for this; the Gameboy Color. That followed the exact same route as the DSI seems to be going and since the transition was very gradual, the market accepted it without any real hesitation.

Has there been any word on what the specific upgrades are then? The increase in RAM is pretty significant, and will surely feel like a Godsend for any DSiware or DSi exclusive cart developers but what about in terms of the GPU? Have they finally added some form of texture filtering for instance? Something like that could be added to any new DS game for an instant improvement for DSi owners.

The GBC was meant to be a replacement of the GBP. Nintendo went as far as saying this publicly.

 

[tongue_of_colicab]

Why did you have to buy your second DS system?

Because the first one was bulky and most of all had a screen that was useless in the sun.

 

[brain_stew]

The GBC was meant to be a replacement of the GBP. Nintendo went as far as saying this publicly.

As the DSi will eventually "replace" the standard DS Lite, given time. Even when the GBC had been around for several years there was still plenty of software developed that ran on both systems, you'd just have a noticeable quality boost on the GBC in most cases. Everything we've seen thus far seems to be following a very similar model imo.

 

[I.S.T.]

You missread my post. The GBC was officially announced as the successor to the GBP and GBP manufacturing stopped. The DS Lite is still being made.

Not that I don't think the DSi will replace the DS Lite, I do, but still...

 

[Teasy]

Because the first one was bulky and most of all had a screen that was useless in the sun.

You didn't have too though, you just wanted too. You don't have to buy a DSi either, be strong

 

[ninzel]

Sort of off topic,but what do you think the DSi strategy says about how the Wii will evolve?
Nintendo said they used the DS as the blueprunt for the Wii concept. Could this remain true in terms of how they will update the Wii?

 

[pc999]

Sort of off topic,but what do you think the DSi strategy says about how the Wii will evolve?
Nintendo said they used the DS as the blueprunt for the Wii concept. Could this remain true in terms of how they will update the Wii?

The handhelds have one "advantage" that is much much lower dev cost, so it is a lot easier to target both systems (ie explore both) or it is a lower risck to to target only DSi.

Also in the console department I think that very few of the new Nitendo market would care with the new console, so would devs.

Anyway it could be a good way to diferentiate casual games from hardercore games.

But IMO it is easier to alienate the old or new consoles, an acessorie like the expansion pack (for N64) or WiiMotionPlus is a lot easier to sell.

 

[Kiloran]

Has there been any word on what the specific upgrades are then? The increase in RAM is pretty significant, and will surely feel like a Godsend for any DSiware or DSi exclusive cart developers but what about in terms of the GPU? Have they finally added some form of texture filtering for instance? Something like that could be added to any new DS game for an instant improvement for DSi owners.

I think the upgrades are for apps that can utilize the camera; I don't think the playing on a DSi is going to change much for all other games.

 

[sfried]

I think the upgrades are for apps that can utilize the camera; I don't think the playing on a DSi is going to change much for all other games.

I could already see many "DSi enhanced" cards coming that simply complement the WiFi by supporting DSi's WPA/WPA2 connection.