Fast forward to the here and now, a few months after the release of the DSi, and we are left with a question:

How well has the new Nintendo DSi performed?

The answer to this question will tell us if the naysayers are incorrect with their naysay, or if Nintendo should have listened to its loyal flock.

How well has the new Nintendo DSi performed a less than a year since its release in the Western World?
One word: amazingly.

The Nintendo DSi was released in Japan in November of 2008, and as of March 31, 2009, Nintendo has sold 2.2 million copies of this portable. In the US, the new Nintendo DSi made its debut in April of 2009, and though it’s too early to compute the sales figures for the handheld system, retailers all over the country have been reporting more than 330,000 preorders and almost 1 million copies sold. As of the end of April, 2009, total sales for the Nintendo DSi worldwide have reached 3.02 million.

This isn’t bad at all, considering the adversity that the new Nintendo DSi has to contend with.

For starters, the DSi is primarily targeting non-DS owners. There are only a few avid gamers who don’t own any of the older iterations of the Nintendo DS, since the line has sold more than 100 million copies since its original release.

Secondly, the DSi is also targeting existing DS owners. This would make the new Nintendo DSi a hard sell, considering that DS owners have gone through two previous iterations of the gaming system.
Thirdly, the DSi is likewise targeting casual gamers with the system’s more mainstream functions like wireless browsing, audio playback, and dual cam support. However, the attention of casual gamers is also being wooed by other electronic gadgets such as mobile phone, PDAs, MP3 players and even a rival handheld gaming system.

Again, with all of these factors considered, we can say that – with the sales it has garnered – the new Nintendo DSi is a big success for the company.

The DSi has additional memory which is used by the browser. The Nintendo DSi browser is not included in the system but can be downloaded from the DSi shop for free. The DSi shop is an online shop where users can buy both purchased and free content for their device.

The Nintendo DSi browser passes Acid1 test. It nearly passes the Acid2 test. It receives 53% on the Acid3 test in Column mode and 44% in Overview mode. These tests are conducted to indicate the browser’s compliance to the web standards.

The web browser supports CSS opacity. Still, its usage slows down the browser to a considerable extent. This is particularly conspicuous when you are using it with event – driven functionality like mouseOver and mouseMove. Inspite of this, the Nintendo DSi browser has been proven to be faster than the Nintendo DS web browser.

The Nintendo DSi browser supports character sets of Greek, Japanese (hiragana, kanji, katakana), Cyrillic and Western(including diacritics) languages. The browser also supports universal symbols like male, female, musical staffs, numbered bullets etc. Mathematical symbols can also be represented on this browser. However, italic and bold fonts are not supported. The text shadow styles are also supported.

Most of the websites that are not plug – in heavy will be at ease when displaying on the web browser. However, a need to disable image download may arise. Otherwise memory may be depleted.

Thus there are ample functions that Nintendo Dsi browser can perform. You can use to address all your gaming needs and even more than that.

For many people, the ultimate criterion of a title’s merit is the number of copies it has sold. If many Nintendo DS Lite systems have loaded up the game, then such can only mean that it is a title worth investing on.

Hence, these people would rather consult with lists enumerating the bestselling video games for Nintendo DS Lite systems. Their number of sales would be a conclusive determinant of their worth as a “must have” title.

What are the bestselling games for Nintendo DS Lite systems? Here are the top 7 as of this writing:

1. Nintendogs. Of all the available games for Nintendo DS Lite systems, Nintendogs is the most unique. It simulates dog ownership, from the selection of a puppy to take home to training such a canine companion to cleaning up his poop. Many owners of Nintendo DS Lite systems agree. Number of copies sold: 22.27 million.

2. New Super Mario Bros. There is only one sure thing in the video gaming world: everybody loves Mario. Number of copies sold: 18.45 million.

3. Brain Age: Train Your Brain In Minutes A Day! This title is a series of casual games packaged as challenges that will stimulate the mind into active development. Its position in this list proves that casual games do have a place in the hearts of people who own Nintendo DS Lite systems. Number of copies sold: 17.41 million.

4. Pokemon Diamond and Pearl. The series’ position in this list is quite misleading. Diamond and Pearl are actually two different titles of the same game with distinct packaging and a few variations with game play mechanics. Nevertheless, they were treated as one game. Pokemon continues to be a hot seller for Nintendo. Number of copies sold: 16.81 million.

5. Mario Kart DS. Hailed as the best racing game, bar none, Mario Kart is a surefire hit wherever the game may appear. The same was true for Mario Kart on the SNES. The same was true for Mario Kart on the N64. The same was true for Mario Kart on the Gamecube. And the same is true for Mario Kart for Nintendo DS Lite systems. Number of copies sold: 14.61 million.

6. Brain Age 2: More Training In Minutes A Day! A continuing proof that casual gamers are slowly taking over the video game industry. Casual gamers accounted for a 27% increase in profit for the industry in 2008. Brain Age 2′s position in this list is further testament to that. Number of copies sold: 13.71 million.

7. Animal Crossing: Wild World. The Gamecube version proved that there is a market for a console game based on the mechanics introduced by the Sims series. This version for Nintendo DS Lite systems proves that people also prefer their “god games” on the go. Number of copies sold: 10.79 million.

Also, many Nintendo DS Lite bundles offer exclusive colors that one cannot find on systems that are sold separately. Remember the blazing red DS with decal stickers that came with the Mario Kart DS bundle? How about the light pink DS that came with the Nintendogs bundle? These are amazing colors that collectors desire, and they only come with Nintendo DS Lite bundles.

What is the best Nintendo DS Lite bundle available today?

The answer, of course, will depend on your gaming preference. Nevertheless, let us review the most popular of the currently available Nintendo DS Lite bundles to help you determine the best investment for your money:

1. Nintendo DS Lite Limited Edition Red Mario with New Super Mario Bros. It’s a rare red Nintendo DS Lite and a Super Mario game, how can you go wrong? This is a great purchase, especially if you’re eyeing a Nintendo DS Lite bundle as a gift for someone. There is only one thing that is universal in video gaming: everybody loves Mario. This is a sure bet. The only problem is that finding such a bundle may be difficult at this point as stocks were extremely limited.

2. Nintendo DS Lite Green Spring Bundle includes Personal Trainer: Cooking. Are you looking for a software title that is more than just a game? Then this Nintendo DS Lite bundle is for you! Personal Trainer: Cooking is exactly what its name implies: a cooking tutor that is meant to accompany you in the kitchen. For this purpose, the DS Lite acts like a book/tutorial video, demonstrating the different processes that are implemented in the kitchen. As a bonus, this bundle comes with a carrying case that will serve as an excellent protection for your DS Lite unit.

3. Nintendo DS Lite Guitar Hero: On Tour Bundle – Black/Silver. Guitar Hero is the hottest video game title today, and this Nintendo DS Lite bundle will attempt to replicate the experience provided by the series. The bundle comes with the guitar peripheral that is inserted on the Game Boy cartridge slot of the DS Lite.

4. Nintendo DS Lite Cobalt Blue Value Bundle. Don’t let the word “value” in the title fool you. This Nintendo DS Lite bundle is the most expensive among your choices, mainly because it comes with two amazing games that kids will surely love: Legend of Spyro and Bomberman. The same bundle also comes in metallic rose.

5. Nintendo DS Lite Limited Edition Ice Blue with Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day. Are you a casual gamer? Then this is the perfect Nintendo DS Lite bundle for you, as it comes with the first Brain Age game in what has become a very popular series of puzzle games. You’ll be fascinated with the challenges that the title will throw your way. Just like the Personal Trainer: Cooking bundle, this package also comes with a carrying case.

1. Liquid crystal display screen guard. Your own unit’s Lcd display : or even screens, since the case might be : are experiencing a lot of tension as well as, if they are left overlooked, may result in apparent wear and tear very rapidly. This is because the actual mentioned displays, particularly the lower 1, is going to be used a great deal during the fun servings of most games. Since the stylus pen details the Liquid crystal display surface to concern commands in order to move your digital avatar, scrapes will be inevitable. If the stylus is pressed with an excessive amount of pressure, unsightly lifeless pixels may be triggered as well. Therefore, Lcd screen protectors tend to be considered to be one of the most important Nintendo Dsi accessories in the market these days. Your unit’s Lcd displays tend to be delicate areas of the actual Nintendo Nintendo dsi, and they must be given every ounce associated with care feasible.
2. Travelling situation. Your Nintendo Dsi will require protection whenever becoming moved from place to place. Protrusions in some places tend to be impending. Scrapes brought on by friction may seldom be ignored. And – heaven forbid – such sensitive consoles may even slip by our hands and crash on the ground. The going case may serve as a good “armor” for your portable console anytime it is not getting used. If you are considering what Nintendo Dsi add-ons you should invest on, perform yourself a prefer making a going situation your main options.
3. Facts. Among the best latest features from the Nintendo Nintendo dsi is the exterior storage choice by way of a good Facts. 4GB or even 8GB, regardless. Choose one of these Nintendo Dsi add-ons which will possess sufficient storage space to your requirements.
4. An additional stylus pen (or even 2). Believe it or not, every Nintendo Dsi proprietor is actually afraid of dropping the stylus that comes with the portable console. Yes, you’re not by yourself. In addition, statistics reveal which 37% associated with Nintendo Dsi owners really lose the packed-in stylus pen inside the first 12 months of their possession of the device. It should not shock anybody, therefore, that additional styluses are a couple of the best-selling Nintendo Dsi add-ons today.
5. Headphones. Earlier Nintendo Nintendo ds models had one obvious – or should i say “booming” : problem: the amount is too soft, even if it is set at higher. With regard to owners of earlier Nintendo Ds models, headphones had been necessary accessories to enable them to completely value the audio facet of the actual games these people play. Headphones aren’t necessary Nintendo Nintendo dsi accessories, given the DSi’s enhanced audio-playing functions and seems. However, headphones will still make excellent Nintendo Dsi add-ons to be able to completely value the amazing audio encounter permitted by this newer Nintendo ds model.

The Nintendo DSi appears to be a fantastic portable machine that any gamer-on-the-go is sure to cherish and enjoy.  It is being marketed as such: the ultimate handheld gaming system that is all you’ll ever need during those idle parts of the say when time seems to slow down to a crawl, or when you get stuck in a deserted island in the middle of nowhere which, heaven forbid, hopefully won’t happen.

However, is the Nintendo DSi the supreme portable gaming machine that it is being hyped up to be?

In this article, we will explore the positives and negatives of the Nintendo DSi and answer the question of whether or not it is worth the purchase.

The Pros Of The Nintendo DSi

The Nintendo DSi is a significant upgrade to the previous two iterations of the portable console.  It packs enough features to warrant a new model.  These features include:

- Dual cam, with each camera having 0.3 megapixels.  Not only do these cameras add more functionality for the Nintendo DS, they also allow for more game play possibilities that are sure to be integrated in future titles that will be designed specifically for the Nintendo DSi.

- Lighter design.  The Nintendo DSi is 12% lighter than the DS Lite.

- Better audio playback.  Gone are the days when the DS was always criticized for having the softest sounds in all of gaming.  The Nintendo DSi’s audio features are said to rival the best MP3 players in the market today.

- External storage device.  More memory space, more files can be used.
- Faster processing, courtesy of a 16MB RAM which is 4 times faster than the DS and the DS Lite.

- Better online features like improved WiFi connectivity and a DSi store where gamers can download new titles as well as old games from the consoles of yore.

The Cons Of The Nintendo DSi

All is not a bed of roses for the Nintendo DSi, however.  There are a number of negatives plaguing the newest iteration of Nintendo’s flagship handheld system.  These are:

- The absence of the GBA cartridge slot.  Such effectively puts an end to Gameboy and Gameboy Advance backwards compatibility – at least via physical storage – as well as peripherals that rely on the same.

- The two cameras have very low resolutions.  A badly lot environment will only render useless pictures.

- It is, in essence, not really that much different from the DS and the DS Lite.

The Verdict

So, should you or should you not buy a Nintendo DSi?

In a nutshell, the DSi is an evolution rather than a revolution.  It doesn’t intend to change the basic engineering of the DS and the DS Lite.  If it’s not broke, why fix it, right?  The DSi is merely meant to improve on the DS and the DS Lite, and this purpose it does well.

So, if you already have Nintendo DS or a Nintendo DS Lite, stick with them and save your money for the next big handheld console a couple of years down the road.  If you don’t have a Nintendo handheld, then the DSi is the best choice you can ever make.

The Nintendo DSi – the logical evolution to the DS and the DS Lite – is finally here.  This means brighter screens, a lighter and sleeker design, dual cam, better audio playback, an external storage space and faster processing courtesy of a bigger RAM for Nintendo’s flagship handheld.  But do these features matter if the company cannot publish Nintendo DSi games that people will love to get their hands on?

2009 is a pivotal year for video game consoles – handhelds or otherwise.  It’s the chance for that last giant push to be associated with dominance over this decade and for that great head start going to the next.  Hence, there are some big Nintendo DSi games lined up towards the latter part of this year, Nintendo DSi games which the company hopes will capture people’s imagination and gaming dollars.

Here are the 5 Nintendo DSi games that will help define the legacy of the handheld for the decade that’s about to end:

1. Legend of Zelda: Spirit Links.  Indeed, a new Legend of Zelda game is coming to the Nintendo DSi.  Announced during the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2009, the new Zelda is a direct sequel to the highly acclaimed Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass.  This time, however, Link will be riding trains instead of ships.

2. Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days.  Dubbed as a “midquel” to the Kingdom Hearts games, this Nintendo DSi entry promises to connect the first PS2 Kingdom Hearts title with its sequel on the same platform and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories for the Gameboy Advance.  It’s Disney characters plus Square-Enix characters.  This is one of the few Nintendo DSi games that are sure to be guaranteed hits even before they are released.

3. Front Mission 2089: Border of Madness.  Liked Advance Wars?  It’s time to embrace the newest incarnation of the game’s inspiration.  Front Mission is the pioneer of the sci-fi/military-themed turn-based strategy games this side of Final Fantasy Tactics.  And it’s making a comeback – a big one at that!  The new Front Mission is one of the most eagerly anticipated Nintendo DSi games for this year (or early 2010, if translation takes a little bit longer).  If it’s as good as the SNES entries, then this game is going to be one for the ages!

4. Dragon Quest IX.   The release of Final Fantasy XIII for the Sony PS3 and the Microsoft Xbox 360 is being delayed pending the release of the 9th installment of the game that introduced console RPGs to the world.  Indeed, the newest installment of Dragon Quest is coming to – of all places – the Nintendo DSi!  Such is a testament to how much Square-Enix believes in the Nintendo DSi as a viable and trustworthy gaming platform.  Dragon Quest IX is truly one of the Nintendo DSi games that will define the handheld for many years to come.

5. Guitar Hero 2: Modern Hits.  The first Guitar Hero Mobile has been made incompatible with the new Nintendo DSi, because the upgraded system has done away with the Gamboy cartridge slow which is where the game’s peripheral is inserted.  The sequel promises absolute compatibility with the Nintendo DSi, with the guitar-like add-on to be plugged “somewhere else” on the DSi unit.

Excited about these Nintendo DSi games?  We know we are!

So, you've got a Nintendo. Great News! Now, get ready to experience the fun, enjoyment as well as flexibility associated with gaming-on-the-go. You are no more tide down towards the limited part of the Television set. You are no more limited by places where there will be electric power. “Home gaming” is becoming a good option instead of an important expression. Now you can enjoy your chosen video games throughout the bus, while going shopping, or while caught in a traffic jam (assuming of course you are not necessarily driving, obviously).

Owning a Nintendo DS is a wonderful experience. What can make the experience even more fantastic? By pampering your unit with a slew of Nintendo DS accessories, of course!

What are the “must have” Nintendo DS accessories? Here are 6 of them:

1. Spare stylus, or styluses. Almost 70% of Nintendo DS owners lose the styluses that come with their systems on the first year of owning the same. Hence, additional styluses are necessary Nintendo DS accessories these days. Some games won’t even function without a stylus.

2. Screen protector. You must double your effort to protect screen damage on your unit, mainly because the Nintendo DS has two screens. The slightest, seemingly harmless accident can cause some dead pixels or a suddenly unresponsive screen when touched by the stylus. One of the primary Nintendo DS accessories you should purchase is a pair of screen or LCD protectors. Buy a pair that is especially made for the Nintendo DS for accurate dimensions and to avoid cutting the plastic protector yourself.

3. Leather case protector. This will serve as the second skin for your Nintendo DS. Such an added exterior will provide more protection for your unit, so that when you inadvertently drop the same, it will have a higher chance of surviving the fall.

4. Travel wallet/bag. Your Nintendo DS is most susceptible to accidents when you’re on the go, which would be often since the DS is a portable machine. When not in use, put the DS inside a travel wallet or a travel bag that is especially designed for its size and make.

5. Earphones. Though the Nintendo DS and the Nintendo DS Lite’s sounds are horrendous, such will be remedied by the upcoming Nintendo DSi. However, for owners of older versions, the barely audible sound can be made louder via earphones. For serious gamers-on-the-go, earphones aren’t just optional Nintendo DS accessories. They are mandatory Nintendo DS accessories!

6. Game cartridge case. Your games need protection too. More importantly, putting them inside a game cartridge case will help you know where they are. You won’t believe how easy it is to lose those SD card games.

Look forward to our next article on gaming consoles. It may be on the Wii Fit Bundle, Balance Board or even the Xbox360. It's a surprise!