On April 5, 2009, Nintendo launched their latest invention in the United States: Nintendo DSi. Everyone had wondered what the new Nintendo DS would feature--another screen, the ability to install game data to the device, perhaps enhanced PictoChat? None of these were included, instead an extremely weak and low quality camera was installed and Internet capability. With the latter came the ability to download games from an online DSi store to play, such as classic rereleases and short new games/applications. Now on the subject of the Internet, this doesn't seem bad, right? Get to relive the adventures of the Oregon Trail or play an exclusive version of WarioWare, nice! Wrong. The Internet capabilities of the Nintendo DSi is horrible, and in this blog post, I am going to prove that it and the rest of the DSi are not an improvement over the Nintendo DS Lite, its predecssor.
First of all, the Internet. The main capabilities of the Internet on the DSi are limited to a weak Opera-based web browser, Nintendo Wi-Fi, and downloading remade games to play. To critique the Opera browser, it's slow. Extremely, extremely slow. Even Google takes about fifteen seconds or longer to load, and that's one of the fastest sites out there! Images take forever to load, and the browser is missing many core components to run and show graphics, such as Java and Abode programming. And that's not all, folks! This kills your battery very, very quickly. The Internet is so weak that it makes the Nintendo DSi seem more like an reproduction of the DS Lite with a few upgrades, rather than a whole new system. This was unnecessary.
This is a personal draw-back from me: the Wi-Fi. Nintendo W-Fi isn't necessarily a bad thing, but the design of it by Nintendo is horrendous. A router is required by the Nintendo DSi to access Wi-Fi; a new system was an opportunity to fix this problem that's always been there with Nintendo Wi-Fi, but it actually makes it worse. You'll notice that on a Nintendo DSi, the cartridge at the bottom is missing for Game Boy Advance games. The reason for is that Nintendo would rather allow WPA security, terrible cameras, and a slightly lighter device than the ability to play Final Fantasy VI Advance or Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. Granted, I'm Square-Enix bias.
Now, WPA security is a security form present in access points, and other special routers. However, while the DSi allows you to now connect with WPA, it then waves it in your face by a thread it's pulling up when you grab for it. By that, I mean you can use it, but you can't use it for Nintendo Wi-Fi! How ridiculous! For this reason, I cannot use Nintendo Wi-Fi on my Nintendo DSi. An even worse part is that Nintendo doesn't even give a reason. This is the message it gives when you try connecting with WPA:
"Allows use of high-security proxy settings. Cannot be used with Nintendo DS-compatible functions."
They don't even give a reason! They give a support website even, and on it, the statement is repeated by saying something along the lines of "WPA does not work for Nintendo Wi-Fi; sucks for you, nothing can be done. Deal with it." Yes, Nintendo, THIS was worth getting rid of GBA backward compatibility. The DS Lite allowed for me to play GBA games, and I wasn't taunted with WPA connection that doesn't actually work!
Beyond that are the cameras, the second reason why we lost the ability to play precious, enjoyable GBA games. The cameras are super, super weak. If you don't have full lighting, it gets very fuzzy and terrible quality. The resolution is lower than that of a cell phone! They are 0.3 megapixel; my phone is ten times that much, if not more! There's no use in these cameras, Nintendo is obviously trying to compete with camera devices, like the iPhone and new iPod touch. However, the difference is that those don't have horrible Internet and cameras!
Reason #3: DSi download store. The download store allows you to download old games and remade ones. For example, a remake of Oregon Trail, Dr. Mario, and a new version of WarioWare are all available for purchase. However, the inventory of the DSi store is very lacking; within five months of launch, critics criticized the lack of updates and production of new merchandise to the DSi store. The reason is simple: it was obvious that quickly that the DSi was a flop. Of the new features, this is my favorite, but it is lacking in comparison to it and the entire system's potential.
Basically, all of the new features that make the Nintendo DSi "better" than the Nintendo DS Lite are not that great! And, again, no backward compatibility with GBA cartridges! All because Nintendo instead wanted to add a gimmick Internet source, weak cameras, a download store (can't complain too much about this, though), and wanted to make it lighter. That's right, the DSi had to be made lighter for some reason. Oh, and they did: the DS Lite was 218 grams, and the DSi was only 214 grams! Seriously, you have got to be kidding me! The DS Lite had four extra grams and GBA games as compared to the DSi's four less grams. Nintendo got the idea right in the next model, the Nintendo DSi XL, which was in fact larger with bigger screens, but it was too late to bring back backward compatibility. Poo.
Ultimately, the Nintendo DS series of devices is innovative and entertaining, and it's no wonder why Square-Enix, SEGA, Nintendo, Capcom, and more continue to release large titles on these systems. However, the DSi specifically was an unnecessary update to the system. For a gamer who has no interest in GBA games, I wouldn't even recommend this. Just wait for the Nintendo 3DS; it has 3G Internet and 3D. I'm not buying it, since I'm not willing to buy an expensive new system for just one game, but it is a huge improvement over the lacking DSi. If you are for some reason on a game show and have to choose between a Nintendo DSi and a Nintendo DS Lite, pick the latter. It could play GBA games, man!
tl;dr: "Your Nintendo DSi isn't worthy of my money, but it might make a good coaster for my drink!" - Variation on a Tabbeh meme.
Beyond that are the cameras, the second reason why we lost the ability to play precious, enjoyable GBA games. The cameras are super, super weak. If you don't have full lighting, it gets very fuzzy and terrible quality. The resolution is lower than that of a cell phone! They are 0.3 megapixel; my phone is ten times that much, if not more! There's no use in these cameras, Nintendo is obviously trying to compete with camera devices, like the iPhone and new iPod touch. However, the difference is that those don't have horrible Internet and cameras!
Reason #3: DSi download store. The download store allows you to download old games and remade ones. For example, a remake of Oregon Trail, Dr. Mario, and a new version of WarioWare are all available for purchase. However, the inventory of the DSi store is very lacking; within five months of launch, critics criticized the lack of updates and production of new merchandise to the DSi store. The reason is simple: it was obvious that quickly that the DSi was a flop. Of the new features, this is my favorite, but it is lacking in comparison to it and the entire system's potential.
Basically, all of the new features that make the Nintendo DSi "better" than the Nintendo DS Lite are not that great! And, again, no backward compatibility with GBA cartridges! All because Nintendo instead wanted to add a gimmick Internet source, weak cameras, a download store (can't complain too much about this, though), and wanted to make it lighter. That's right, the DSi had to be made lighter for some reason. Oh, and they did: the DS Lite was 218 grams, and the DSi was only 214 grams! Seriously, you have got to be kidding me! The DS Lite had four extra grams and GBA games as compared to the DSi's four less grams. Nintendo got the idea right in the next model, the Nintendo DSi XL, which was in fact larger with bigger screens, but it was too late to bring back backward compatibility. Poo.
Ultimately, the Nintendo DS series of devices is innovative and entertaining, and it's no wonder why Square-Enix, SEGA, Nintendo, Capcom, and more continue to release large titles on these systems. However, the DSi specifically was an unnecessary update to the system. For a gamer who has no interest in GBA games, I wouldn't even recommend this. Just wait for the Nintendo 3DS; it has 3G Internet and 3D. I'm not buying it, since I'm not willing to buy an expensive new system for just one game, but it is a huge improvement over the lacking DSi. If you are for some reason on a game show and have to choose between a Nintendo DSi and a Nintendo DS Lite, pick the latter. It could play GBA games, man!
tl;dr: "Your Nintendo DSi isn't worthy of my money, but it might make a good coaster for my drink!" - Variation on a Tabbeh meme.
Also, everyone, Merry Christmas! May you have a blessed, glorious holiday with family to unwrap presents, celebrate the birth of Christ, and be thankful for everything we've been given!
Merry Christmas to you too, Doorsey.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I thought the DSi was major disappointment, but not this big a disappointment. I mean, it makes the PSPGo look better. And PSPGos can't even play UMDs! Instead, you have to go through all this work to get online, make a PSN account (or access one if you already have one) and buy games. So it's a DSi minus the useless camera, the card slot, and the touch screen. It gets a better internet though.
PSPGo was purely a merchandising tactic by SONY to make money. I agree, disappointment in it, and everything has to be downloaded.
ReplyDeleteHence the reason I have a PSP 3000.