Nintendo: Yeah, We Love You Guys

This article details announcements from Nintendo's recent Fall conference in Tokyo, Japan. For videos, check out our Nintendo Media Blowout.

UPDATE: Due to a translation error, it was originally announced that the DSi will feature dual-touch screens.  Unfortunately (or is it?), it still will retain only one touch-screen.  Additionally, it will be released in Japan on November 1 for 18900 yen, roughly $180 US.  A North American and European release is currently set for "2009."

That said, how many of you would spend $180 on this new handheld?  Perhaps we will see some trade-in values for the Brick and the 'Lite.


If there is anything we've learned about Nintendo over the years, it's that they take their time in making what gamers want.  You want better graphics than the NES?  Let's make it "Super."  Are you sick of using cartridges?  Here's the GameCube.  Think that DS should be able to do much, much more?  Here's the DSi.

That's one of the big announcements from tonight's (or today's, depending on where you live) big 2008 Nintendo Fall Press Conference held in Tokyo, Japan.  And something happened that doesn't normally occur, a lot of rumors turned out to be true.


New DS, Nintendo Points Announced

Nintendo's next-gen handheld and sequel to the DS, the DSi, adds some excellent features to an already thriving portable platform.  We'll see things like: dual touch screen, 12% thinner than the DS Lite, no GBA port, SD card slot, internal storage, 17% larger screens, onboard 640x480 camera, better speakers, MP3 and AAC playback with pitch and volume manipulation, a built-in Opera web browser, less charge time, less battery life, less weight, but much more awesomeness!

Aside from a load of fan service, Nintendo will be servicing you in many new ways... with this newly announced toy (this isn't going anywhere safe, is it?).  The DSi will feature image manipulation using the touch screen, and using the SD card slot, will also allow for interaction with the Wii's Photo Channel.  Wii Points will be renamed Nintendo Points (as I now call them, "NP's") for the newest in download services.

Gamers will be able to download games directly to the DSi's internal storage through the Nintendo DSi Shop, with price points of 0, 200, 500 and 800 NP's.  There's plenty going on in the handheld side of things, but what about the Wii?

Wii Storage Solution

Since the DSi is getting some nice SD treatment, the Wii sure will as well.  As rumored by some, the big storage solution for the Wii is opening up the SD card slot.  There's no confirmation yet that High Capacity cards would be allowed, but all we know is that you can download software directly to the SD memory card.  And according to IGN, it will also be possible to easily move things from SD card to the Wii memory.

Now, this is a bit more staggering, as the only change is direct download to the SD card for WiiWare and Virtual Console titles.  There is no mention of being able to read directly off the card.  Which means DLC is still up in the air.  Since this service is set to launch in Spring 2009, there *must* be more to it.

Nintendo is also set to release a WiFi adapter along with a referral program that includes a three-minute demo movie called "What's Possible With Wii" on every new Wii made. So far, this program is Japan only, with the aim to get more Japanese Wii users online.


More Software

Animal Crossing and Wii Music were shown, of course, but unlike E3, Nintendo showed us some games that are worth seeing.  First, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echos of Time will be playable on both the Wii and DS simultaneously.  It will have Mii support, for all you self-indulgent questers.

A new series of games called "Let's Play on Wii" will take GameCube games like Pikmin and adapt them for play on the Wii.  On the plus side, there is a "new" Pikmin game coming out.  On the minus side, this seems like a feeble attempt to get us to make the GameCube more "successful" in their eyes.  But I'm thinking positive here.  Since the Virtual Console was first announced as a feature for the Wii, many wondered about the possibility of seeing more GameCube titles being ported over for download (obviously unnecessary considering the console has a GameCube basically stuffed inside it).  After all, Nintendo seems to have a vision of seeing their history of games being made available in the little white box next to your TV.

And the GameCube has some excellent titles that would be even better with the Wii's control.  Nintendo making an entire series of games like this can only mean that there will be plenty of games with these new control features.  And if one of them is an online-capable Metroid Prime, I will die happy.

Retro Revisit

There were also rumors that Nintendo would drop the big retro-bomb on us with a revisit to an old IP.  And over the screams of "Kid Icarus!" came... Punch Out!

At this point, I was double-fist-pumping.  Punch Out for the Wii looks glorious.  Simply fantastic.  I can only imagine the Tai-Bo strain we will all feel just trying to beat Glass Joe.

Then comes more games.  Dynasty Warriors for the Wii, as previously announced, will appear at some point.  If full MotionPlus support is added, this could be a must-have.  Sadly, there most likely isn't any Mii support for this game.

A sequel to Sin and Punishment, a Japanese rail shooter will also hit the Wii.  And looking at the history of the Wii's rail shooters, I hope this learns from previous mistakes.

Trace Memory, a hit from DS, will see another game from the series on the Wii.  Since Trace Memory was made by the same people that developed Hotel Dusk: Room 215 (Cing), this should be a good point-and-click adventure.

What is important: Nintendo likes to make innovative hardware, and then leaves it up to the third-party companies to develop great software for it.  However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that Nintendo sees the disappointment many gamers have had in third-parties.  That said, it seems that Nintendo will have a lot of support for these new devices and services right off the bat.  After all, there were some games at this conference for all of us.

But as if Apple hasn't been pushing their way onto the handheld gaming scene, Nintendo truly pushed back with the DSi announcement.  I'm just surprised Skype wasn't announced right away for it.  Perhaps we'll see video chat instead of Pictochat?  There's no telling at the moment, but these big announcements only lead to more speculation.  I'll leave you with these things to ponder: Will we get multi-touch on the DSi?  Will we be able to use SD HC cards?  Can we use DLC for our Wii games?  Will online interfaces be brushed up at all, since they are focusing on their online presence so much?

One thing is for sure, DSi will support The Wiire's podcasts!  Now you can modify the pitch of Chris's voice on the go!

Thanks to Kotaku and IGN for their liveblogging and translation!