Holiday Blog Break 4 Me

Hey y'all. I'll be on blog break. Will try to be back on Monday for more DSi news and stuff. Hope you all have a wonderful Holiday. Best wishes!

Echoes of Time Limited Edition DSi

We've finally have an image of what is soon to be one of the first limited edition Nintendo DSi. Square Enix did a splendid paint-job on this particular special ed.

As reported on a previous post, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time's cat-with-a-bowtie mascot is on the front of the DSi. Unlike previous special editions from Square Enix, there's a nice touch of color to this one. I'm also liking the blue text wrapping around the DSi's external camera.

FFCC: Echoes of Time is set for a Jan 29 release. If you own a DSi, then better pre-order your copy at Play-Asia.

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Moving Memo Pad Animation Gallery

The site is called Ugoku Memo Hatena. I call it The Most Awesome Moving Memo Pad Animation Gallery because that's what it is.

Moving Memo Pad will be available for free on the Japanese DSiWare Store. It's basically an organizer of sorts that comes with a cool feature that lets you create your own animations. You can then share your work on Ugoku Memo Hatena, or download other people's animations.

Here's a couple of my favorite Moving Memo Pad animations. Please accept my apologies if it plays automatically.

First Place Steak



I'm Tasty



Skater Dude



My Moustache Is Alive

Trailers for DSi Shop Downloads

The Japanase DSi Shop will open December 24th, a week from now. Nintendo goodies like demos and software will be available for download in exchange with points. To get the buzz going, Nintendo decided to release a couple of trailers of upcoming downloads.

WARNING!!! If you're not Japanese, then better head somewhere else, as the following videos will sure make you curse Nintendo for not bringing the DSi to North America sooner.

Chotto Brain Training Video



Looks like some of the classic Brain Age/Training games made the cut. Also, there's some type of image-matching game. Your picture is also used for your profile, instead of just your signature. The Dsi camera is expected to be used quite a lot in this game.

Moving Memo Video



It's a software to take down notes and memo, and let's you animate them to your heart's content. You can also record your voice with a memo complete with appropriate sound effects. Calendar included.

Not included in the videos are the following awesome games:

• 3x Shuffle game
• Funny Face
• Scary Numbers
• The Bird and the Bean
• Paper Aeroplane
• Art Style AQUARIO
• Art Style DECODE
• Dr. Mario
• Utsusu Made in Wario
• Chotto Asobi Taizen

Turn Your DSi into a Talkbox

I don't know what the hell this dude is trying to tell me, but what he's doing is a step above awesome. With a straw, his wiggly mouth, and a copy of Korg DS-10, he turned a Nintendo DSi into a working talkbox. For those not in the know, a talkbox is what you use to make those robot sounds on techno songs.

Also, please note the guy's eyewear. Above awesome indeed.

Acekard Successfully Produces DSi Flash Cart

It's bound to happen, and Acekard has the claim of being the first to produce a DSi flash cart.

As the video below will show, the Acekard 2i works with a Japanese DSi. Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia plays smoothly, and before that the menu looks good as well. It is also worth noting that Acekard 2i works with both DSi and DS Lite. But will this DSi flash cart work on new DSi games when they come out?



The Acekard 2i is now available on Acekard's website for homebrewers to enjoy. Remember kids, say no to pirating!

DSi, First Month Tally: 500,000 Sold!!

I guess the early surveys were wrong after all. After the first month of DSi mania in Japan, the numbers are in: 500,000 units sold! That's 50,000 units shy of the DS Lite's record. Although Enterbrain's numbers says the actual DSi sales is 535,379.


One thing's for sure, the DSi is on its way to another Nintendo success. This brings up the total DS sales to a staggering 24,239,590 units.

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Echoes of Time Set to be First DSi Limited Edition

Just a few months after its release, the Nintendo DSi is about to receive its first limited-edition from none other than Square Enix.

In line with the upcoming release of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time, a limited-edition DSi will be available. The bundles comes with an Echoes of Time game and a white "Crystal Chronicles Edition" DSi. The game's logo and cat mascot will adorn the said DSi.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time will be available in Japan on Jan 29, 2009.

Pre-order Echoes of Time here.

Gameloft Eyeballing DSiWare

Gameloft was one of the earliest game publishers to jump aboard the WiiWare train by releasing a quiz game TV Show King. Now the company is turning it sights on the Nintendo DSi, waiting for the launch of the DSiWare service.

What kind of games could Gameloft be bringing to the DSi? True, they have an impressive list of mobile games, but their releases on the DS is nothing to be proud of. Let's all hope they step it up a notch with the DSi.

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DSi Dissected

Poor Nintendo DSi, taken apart by bunnie. Curiosity got the better of this blogger, buying a DSi just to see its insides. Got some pretty pictures too. Here's a couple:

DSi Has Sold Out

Two days after its November 1 Japanese release, the Nintendo DSi sold 170,779 units according to Enterbrain. No wonder the DSi is now sold out. Nintendo initially shipped 200,00 DSi units for its release. They are now planning to to ship an additional 100,000 by the end of the week.

Speaking of sold out, I've just read from siliconera of a scalper selling 50 DSi's over at Yahoo Auctions. Starting price is 25,000 yen compared to the retail price of 18,900 yen. Getting a little greedy there, eh? A quick search on ebay will land you a better deal.

Let's Watch Other People With DSi's

What's the best way to pass time while waiting for DSi to arrive to North America? Watch lucky bastards unbox theirs!! There's a ton on YouTube. Here are the best ones so far.





Here's a decent DSi hands on video.

DSi Launched!!

So, the big day has come and gone. Are you one of those fortunate ones with a DSi? Did you import? Ebay? I don't care how you got yours, I want to hear from you.

Unfortunately my current financial situation disallows my person to pre-order, import, or travel to Japan to get my hands on a DSi. I'll just have to wait, just like an average Joe. But the guys over at Kotaku did go to Japan, and got them a fresh DSi too!

In a nutshell, most stores are pre-orders only, and have exhausted their supplies. There are a few though with an old-school queue outside. They got a (or several) DSi unit, and from what I understand, their giving it away :)

DSi Poll Not Looking Good

Tomorrow's the big day! Finally the DSi will be released... in Japan that is. But believe it or not, not all DS fans are excited about the latest iteration of the DS.

According to a poll done by Dengeki, the Japanese are not going crazy over the DSi's release. Only 3.6% answered that they will purchase a DSi soon. 29.4% will wait before buying, maybe to see what games and software would be exclusive to the handheld. 40.7% said they will not buy a DSi.

The poll is pretty disheartening. We'll just have to wait until tomorrow to verify its accuracy.

$299.99 For a DSi Import

A couple of major importers are charging extra for pre-orders of the upcoming Nintendo DSi, deciding that $299.99 is rather a fair price to pay for the said handheld console.

On November 1, the DSi will be released to eager Japanese gamers, leaving the rest of the world Yoshi-green with envy. It will cost ¥18,900, or roughly $200. That is why many were shocked, including yours truly, to find out that trusted importers placed a whopping $299.99 price tag on the DSi.

So are you still gonna import a DSi, or will you wait? Also, it is good to mention that the DSi is region locked.

DSi Camera Potentials

With the new Nintendo DSi comes two camera; one external situated at the top half of the DSi and the internal near where the mic used to be. With this new feature comes a lot of potential. Let's just hope game and software developers utilize it well.

I myself am not looking to snap pictures up with the DSi's camera. With just .3 megapixels, there's not much to expect in terms of photography. But use the camera in-game, then we can talk! Nintendo has always been known to challenge traditional ways and means, so I'm pretty sure they can work something out.

What do you think is the future of the DSi's camera?

DSi Coming with Opera Browser, Has More RAM

An interview with Opera CEO Jon von Tezchner by techtree revealed that the new Nintendo DSi will have more RAM than the DS Lite. In addition, Jon said that the integrated Opera of the DSi will use the RAM more efficiently.

More RAM for the DSi spells nothing but good things to come to the much awaited handheld. Although there are no other news as of yet of other software or games that will make use of this bigger RAM.

DSi - Region Locked!!

If you're one of those DS fans that can't wait to have their hands on the new Nintendo DSi and therefore planning to import one, then hold your horses cowboy - the DSi is region locked! Nintendo recently confirmed that DSi software will be region-locked, meaning European DSi software can only be played on European DSi's.

Guess I have to wait until next year. What about you? Are you gonna wing it and still import a DSi?

Goodbye GBA Slot... (sob)

The GBA Slot was removed from the Nintendo DS in its most recent version, the DSi. Why Nintendo opted for this move, I do not know. The GBA slot, aside from allowing us to play Game Boy Advanced games on our DS, has some other uses too.

I'll miss the DS Lite Vibration Cartridge, for one. As the name suggests, it makes the DS respond to in-game action by vibrating, much like in Playstation's Rumble feature. Playing Metroid Pinball will never be the same again...

The Paddle Controller is another "good-to-have" DS Lite accessory. Although I can't think of any game to use it with except for Arkanoid DS.

What worries me most is Guitar Hero: On Tour and the other rumored Guitar Hero games for the DS. This game requires the GBA Slot for it's unique controls. How are we going to play that in the DSi?Are you going to miss the GBA Slot?

Nintendo DSi Released

The Nintendo DSi, the much awaited third version of the Nintendo DS, was finally announced last October 2, 2008 in Tokyo, Japan at the Nintendo Conference. As with its predecessors, the DSi looks as stylish with a few improvements.

The DSi will be approximately 12% thinner than the DS Lite. It will also house two cameras, on external and another one beside the DS mic. It will also have slightly larger screens (3.25 inches), and much improved speakers. The Power button is also moved, now located at the bottom left of the touch screen. Also, an SD card slot is added for storage of software and media files. The DSi will also ship with its own built-in web browser.

One big change is that the GBA slot is removed. This means the DSi cannot play Game Boy Advance games, and cannot make use of previous DS accessories that uses this slot.

DSi owners can also download games and software on Nintendo's online store.

The Nintendo DSi will be available in Japan on the 1st of November, 2008. The fist editions will be in matte black and white, with no future colors announced as of yet.