Nintendo DSi

[FrieChamp]

So now that the European release date and price has been announced, I decided it's time for some pimping. The launch campaign is barely rolling yet, but the European trailer is already up - check it out here to find out what the DSi is all about. Look the Americans even get a blue one! Still wouldn't trade in my white one for one of those

Along with that announcement the news broke that "Rhythm Heaven" will launch in the US the same day, which I've already played heaps of. Fantastic title! It's a "Rhythm" game that's hard to describe, watch the Japanese TVC celebrity executions to get an idea.

I'm not sure if there is any interest in discussing Nintendo's (handheld) products, but I thought I would share If you have any questions I'll do my best to answer them (as time permits)!

[zaphod]

I wish Nintendo would open up the SDK for this and make an open app store like the iPhone has.

I suppose there are a lot of entrenched companies who would be extremely threatened by something like that though.

I keep seeing stories stating that nintendo wants more independent games on the Wii and DS . . . thats pretty much the best way to do it.

[Ginger Lord]

I wish Nintendo would open up the SDK for this and make an open app store like the iPhone has.

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I thought that was the point of WiiWare and presumably DSiWare. No idea on how you get your hands on the SDK though, but they did tout it as though anyone could make stuff to get on there, not just the big companies.

[Minos]

Is that Tengoku Gold or something like that?

Looking forward to the DSi but I won´t be getting one so soon.

[zaphod]

I wish Nintendo would open up the SDK for this and make an open app store like the iPhone has.

.

I thought that was the point of WiiWare and presumably DSiWare. No idea on how you get your hands on the SDK though, but they did tout it as though anyone could make stuff to get on there, not just the big companies.

Yes, but if it is like WiiWare, then there is still a lot more hurdles in place between developing something and getting it on the device compared to something as open as the iPhone.

They need to sell developer accounts to anyone willing to buy them (for a modest price) and then have a way of using normal hardware as an SDK (don't need to get a special dev kit from Nintendo). Then they need to put every submission onto the store provided it lives up to the terms they set.

If they did all that then it would be as open as the Apple app store, and the systems would be flooded with games.

Right now as far as I can tell, they are still using the system of picking and choosing among developers who pitch things at them.

[FrieChamp]

Is that Tengoku Gold or something like that?

Looking forward to the DSi but I won´t be getting one so soon.

Yep, it's the sequel to Rhythm Tengoku (the GBA game).

I wish Nintendo would open up the SDK for this and make an open app store like the iPhone has.

.

I thought that was the point of WiiWare and presumably DSiWare. No idea on how you get your hands on the SDK though, but they did tout it as though anyone could make stuff to get on there, not just the big companies.

I'm not completely familiar with the development part of the DSi Ware and the process to get it up there, but it's closer to Wii Ware than the Apple app store. So how many applications there will be to download one day remains to be seen, but there are already a bunch of small, fun titles to download. If you buy a DSi you will get 1000 DSi points for free to get you started (plus DSi Browser and "Moving Memo Pad" are free to download too), so it's definitely worth connecting it to the store if you happen to get a DSi.

[Inveramsay]

for £140, no thanks