The New Gameboy Looks A Lot Like The Old One

 

During a press conference yesterday, Nintendo announced the upcoming release of the next generation Gameboy system.  The Nintendo DSi.

 

On the plus side, the new DSi has the following features over the old DS:

 

• It has a built in .3 megapixel (640x480) webcam.


• It has an SD memory card slot.


• It's slightly thinner.


• The screens are 17% larger.


• It has improved audio capababilities


• It will come with a built in Browser.


• You can download games and save them on the DSi.

 

On the downside, the GBA gameslot has been removed, so it won't be backwards compatible with GBA games anymore.  To that I say BOOOOOO!!!!!  Backwards compatability is one of the things that made the DS so great.  Shame on them for removing it.

 

In regards to the ability to download games to the DSi:

 

For digital delivery purchases, there is a DSi Shop, from which users can download DSiWare from. Pricing categories for the DSiWare are: Free, 200 points, 500 points and "Premium" or 800 points. Customers will get 1000 free points to spend at the DSi Shop that are good until March 2010.

 

One more downside, while the system comes out in Japan on November 1st, we won't be seeing them in the US until sometime next year.  And I'm willing to bet that Nintendo is going to have issues keeping these in stock too, just like the Wii and the Wii Fit.  So, good luck trying to find one when they do come out.

 

No price point has been set for the system yet.  However, you can go see a video of the DSi in action here.