dsiware

The DSi needs a Virtual Console: Here are the games we want to see released

When the Nintendo DSi was first announced, flaunting, among other things, an ability to download games directly from Nintendo to system memory or an SD card, our minds leaped to visions of a portable Virtual Console on the Nintendo handheld.

It would be a museum of Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, to be chosen from the hundreds of thousands of titles dating back to 1989. Much like the Wii's Virtual Console, it would be a mix of greatest hits and the obscure. Best of all, it could be affordable.

Unfortunately and quizzically, Nintendo still hasn't launched … Read more

Nintendo DSiWare gives us what we want
(in Japan): Electroplankton, Game and Watch

Nintendo's DSiWare service, like its WiiWare platform, are temptations and teases for the lovers of the independent and obscure. Because no boxes or cartridges/discs need be sold, the ability for much-loved indie titles to be finally unleashed or re-released seems to be too good to be true.

Making good on part of that promise, Nintendo has had a busy week announcing both downloadable versions of their retro Game & Watch series, as well as their cult-classic music/art title, Electroplankton.

For the uninitiated, Game & Watch was Nintendo's first electronic gaming platform, dating to the very early … Read more

DSiWare, WiiWare, and Virtual Console releases for this week

This week brings us a standalone downloadable soccer game for the DSi, some family pirate fun on WiiWare, and a classic arcade space shooter to the Virtual Console.

DSiWare Real Soccer 2009 (Gameloft, 800 DSi Points): Finally, the DSi Shop gets an independently developed third-party downloadable game! Real Soccer 2009 provides great soccer action with 198 teams to choose from. Use the DSi's camera to create your own soccer ball. WiiWare Family Pirate Party (Aksys Games, 500 DSi Points): The Pirate family is back again, pillaging the seas for gold and other treasures. Play with up to four friends … Read more

DSiWare, WiiWare, and Virtual Console releases for this week

This week brings Dr. Mario to the DSi and Wonderboy to the Virtual Console. DSiWare Dr. Mario Express (Nintendo, 500 DSi Points): The classic color-matching puzzle game makes its way to the Nintendo portable in Dr. Mario Express. Play alone or against the computer in the race to fight off viruses. Master of Illusion Express: Deep Psyche (Nintendo, 200 DSi Points): Continuing the series of magic tricks for your DSi, Deep Psyche will ask you a number of questions in order to reveal a startling truth. WiiWare Crystal Defenders R1 (SQUARE ENIX, 800 Wii points): See how many encroaching monsters … Read more

DSiWare, WiiWare, and Virtual Console releases for this week

This week adds more downloads for the DSi, a party pirate game to WiiWare, and a Sega Genesis remake of the Pitfall series. DSiWare Mixed Messages (Activision, 500 DSi Points): Mixed Messages is a party game all about communication. Play along with up to 21 different users in the game of "telephone" for your DSi. Master of Illusion Express: Shuffle Games (Nintendo, 200 DSi Points): The Master of Illusion series continues with Shuffle Games. This mini game will allow you to predict what your audience is thinking! WiiWare Party Fun Pirate (TOMY Corporation, 500 Wii points): Exchange turns … Read more

DSiWare, WiiWare, and Virtual Console releases for this week

DSiWare joins our weekly post with six new additions to the DSi Shop. Also ready for download today is a marble balance game on WiiWare and a oceanic exploration title from the days of Super Nintendo. DSiWare Nintendo DSi Browser (Nintendo, FREE): The first free app in the DSi Shop, the Opera-powered DSi Browser will let you surf the Web on your DSi. Bird & Beans (Nintendo, 200 DSi Points): This mini game lets you control Pyro, a bird with an elastic tongue. Use it to grab falling beans and earn more points the quicker you catch them! Master of … Read more

First Take: Nintendo DSi

Updated Editors' note: Now that our testing has completed with the online functionality of the DSi Shop experience, we're able to give the DSi a full review.

Just four and a half years after its initial release, the Nintendo DS has sold more than 100 million units worldwide, solidifying itself as the best-selling portable video game console of all time. By comparison, the competing Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) has sold about half as many units.

The Nintendo DSi is the third iteration of the DS, which originally released in November of 2004. In June of 2006, the company refreshed the system in the form of the DS Lite, which dramatically changed the device's overall design and vastly improved screen performance.

Rumors of a second redesign proved to be a reality when Nintendo announced the most recent--and what we believe to be the final--rehash of the system, the Nintendo DSi. This upgrade adds two small-resolution cameras to the portable, slightly larger screens, and an SD card slot. The Game Boy Advance slot found in both previous versions has been removed.

While current DS Lite owners may want to think twice about upgrading, the DSi's innovative media features and online functionality (the DSi Shop) may warrant a purchase. But if you've been holding out on a DS purchase up until now and you don't need backward compatibility with Game Boy Advance cartridges, the DSi is certainly the way go.

… Read more

DSiWare: Pricing, browser, promotion revealed

Two weeks ago, we gave you an exclusive hands-on First Look at the Nintendo DSi, the company's second refresh of the DS portable gaming system. While we had to hold back some juicy details about the DSi, we can now let you in on all the fun.

The DSi Shop, which will go live April 5, will offer downloadable games and applications via the DSi Shop that you can store on either the 256MB of internal storage or on an SD card. When Nintendo visited us a few weeks ago, we got to play some DSiWare titles like WarioWare … Read more

Nintendo DSi downloads won't just be for games

Word from the Nintendo Developer Conference in London suggests the company is encouraging third-party developers to think outside of the box when it comes to DSi downloadable content on the DSi Shop.

While Nintendo has focused its WiiWare platform around games, it seems the DSi might be a viable platform for applications outside of gaming. While we know games will be available--there are already plenty circulating in Japan--the unique photo, microphone, and touch-screen capabilities embedded in the system could make for some very interesting third-party applications.

The possibilities are potentially endless. Think about it: a Facebook app? Maybe a … Read more