Nintendo DSi Launches, Sony Unimpressed
Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: Nintendo, dsi, sony, psp, playstation | Themes: Digital Entertainment
Nintendo on Sunday launched the DSi across North America. Sony’s not impressed.
On April 5, the Nintendo DSI -- third iteration of the wildly popular dual-screen handheld gaming system went on sale for $169 in the U.S. And $199 in Canada. Also launched that day was the DSi Shop, a new online storefront where users can redeem Nintendo DSi Points to download an ever-growing variety of inventive games and applications.
"The concept of entertainment is clearly expanding to enable self-expression and creation in ways never before possible," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "Nintendo DSi is loaded with software to help people do exactly that. It's not just about the cameras or audio playback, but what people can do with these features that makes Nintendo DSi such an enjoyable game system."
Nintendo certainly sounds pleased at itself and the new expanded features of its handheld. Sony, on the other hand, sounds less than impressed. In a statement sent various blogs, such as Engadget, SCEA director of hardware marketing John Koller gave the following take on Nintendo’s new product:
If Nintendo is really committed to reaching a broader, more diverse audience of gamers beyond the "kids" market that they've always engaged, there isn't much new with the DSi to support that. Significant gamer demographic groups are being ignored, and there continues to be limited opportunities for games from external publishers to do well on the DSi. Compare that with the PSP platform, where we have many blockbuster franchises from our publishing partners launching this year, representing a wide variety of genres and targeting diverse demographics. Games such as Rock Band Unplugged from MTV Games, Assassin's Creed from Ubisoft, Dissidia Final Fantasy from Square Enix, and Hannah Montana from Disney demonstrate the commitment that publishers have to the PSP. From our own first-party studios, we're launching unique versions of LittleBigPlanet and MotorStorm, and we're also planning a steady stream of downloadable games — both new titles and PSone classics — to add to the content that PSP owners can already purchase wirelessly through PlayStation Store.
Sales of the previous DS generations have amassed worldwide sales of 100 million, while the PSP is at half of that at 50 million. Still, with the stranglehold that Nintendo’s had on the handheld market for decades, the PSP is a remarkable success for Sony.
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Well it's not like that kind of response isn't expected ^.^
The DS is outselling the PSP and making Nintendo more money... Of course they're targeting kids, kids play videogames. If you want to sell stuff to adults open a porn shop or a gas station...
I honestly don't care for any of the new features given in the new DS, I for one will keep my current DS Lite ( Which I hardly ever use anyways).
Who is interested in hearing the comments of the competition?
The whole industry seems like a big reality show: "Why does this skinny low life girl deserves to stay in game, when I am better"
I have both a DS Lite and a 1st gen PSP. /shrug
I'm more of a PSP guy but that's because I see the two screens on the DS as gimmicky (on most games only one screen is actually used for more than choosing menu options).
New products and competition are always good. I do wish that both systems had bigger and wider game librarys, though.
Lets put it this way.
Nintendo = Kids + Family
Sony = Everyone
Sony makes a good product. But you can't compete with companies that pray on ignorant consumers. And people are usually ignorant because knowledge scares them. I just hope we get a few less people paying the stupid tax this year (not that the DS is a bad machine, but this DSi is just an attempt to quell over-saturation of the market. Early adopters, and those with their first generation DS consoles maybe inclined to buy this new gimmick).
I lol'd so hard.
Sony can say what it wants but it doesn't match up in sales and that says something. Nintendo may not have as much games aimed towards adults but it certainly appeals better to the causal gamer and those who still love 2D side scrollers with games like New Super Mario Bro's and Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow.
The gameboy I got ~17 years ago still runs Tetris fine, thanks.
it certainly appeals better to the causal gamer
See
The gameboy I got ~17 years ago still runs Tetris fine, thanks.
Standard Sony response. The same things were said about the Wii. The PS3 and PSP are getting pummeled by the DS and Wii and Sony still seems to think they have the better devices.
Sony still seems to think they have the better devices.
It's because they do.
Don't care at all. Handheld gaming is not my thing anymore since I quit Pokemon 9 years ago.
Shocking news this just in, company says something bad about competing company's product.
as obnoxious as your post was matchboxmatt, you pretty much hit the nail on the head there...
sony's unimpressed? add me to the list. another gimmick to sell their hardware, this is where the money is at for nintendo, forget decent games, reinvent old technology, sell it for the [borderline]cheapest on the market, and make a fortune. any of you heard that they will have DSi games not compatible with the 'old' ds? go figure. im starting to really dislike nintendo. in my eye's, sony's the only company out of the three that seems to be making an effort, but that doesn't mean they aren't dumb idiots themselves... its a lose lose for the consumers =[ unless you like buying the same sh|t over and over
maybe we can get lucky and sony will increase the PS3 price by $200 and PSP by $100 to make up for the miserable sales figures they post up against Nintendo. I figure if they are going down the toilet they should do it in style by raping the consumers some more.
I bet sony is wishing they were an american company right now. They could get in line with the rest of our failing corporations and stick a hand out for a few billion dollars to waste.
increase?
This is not the headline I expected! I thought Sony was going to be all "Wow! Nintendo just released the new DSi, and it totally rocks a lot of sock. We're not even sure why people still purchase our product when their's is just so much better!"
I still have DS phat, and I'm not going to buy anything new while it still works.
It's because they do.
Well the customers don't seem to think so and they have voted in overwhelming numbers.
Better hardware != better system. You would think the last place PS3 with its bundle of technological wonders would have taught the Sony fanboys some humility but I suppose not. It isn't all about graphics and never was.
DS nontheless is a good gaming handheld console. Unlike home console, handheld console doesn't require top class graphics. But DSI is unnecessary, it is one more gimmick for money. But I like SD card slot. It is only matter of time before it is getting hacked.
"Significant gamer demographic groups are being ignored, and there continues to be limited opportunities for games from external publishers to do well on the DSi. Compare that with the PSP platform, where we have many blockbuster franchises from our publishing partners launching this year, representing a wide variety of genres and targeting diverse demographics. Games such as Rock Band Unplugged from MTV Games, Assassin's Creed from Ubisoft, Dissidia Final Fantasy from Square Enix, and Hannah Montana from Disney demonstrate the commitment that publishers have to the PSP. From our own first-party studios, we're launching unique versions of LittleBigPlanet and MotorStorm"
OK, I'm no DS "fanboy"; I've played my daughter's a handful of times (the flashcards are so great!)but how can they even say this?
DS has Guitar Hero, many Final Fantasy Games, Assassin's Creed, and Hannah Montana; so what was their point. No they don't have LBP or Motorstorm, but they have Mario and a crap load of somewhat comparable racing games. I'm not impressed by the new DSi either, but I don't think Sony should have made such a dumb statement.
It's because they do.
I agree they do have the better console and handheld when it comes to hardware and capabilities but that means nothing if it can't appeal to people as much as the competitors products. Nintendo's products may not personally appeal to you and they don't even appeal to me to be honest but we clearly have the lesser popular opinion. In a business point of view Nintendo clearly made the superior choices.
Meh.
Sony's systems are definitely better than Nintendo's systems, but they also cost more. Nintendo is outselling it's competitors because it has the cheapest systems, not because it has the best systems or the best games. Nintendo started falling behind in features with the Gamecube, the only game system of it's generation that couldn't play DVDs. With the Wii, Nintendo also fell behind in Visual Quality as it is the only non-HD game system of it's generation. These decisions allowed Nintendo to make less expensive systems, which is why they are selling so well, but cheaper doesn't mean better.
Where did that stupid link come from? I don't want links in my posts unless I put them there!
Sony's systems are definitely better than Nintendo's systems, but they also cost more. Nintendo is outselling it's competitors because it has the cheapest systems, not because it has the best systems or the best games. Nintendo started falling behind in features with the Gamecube, the only game system of it's generation that couldn't play DVDs. With the Wii, Nintendo also fell behind in Visual Quality as it is the only non-HD game system of it's generation. These decisions allowed Nintendo to make less expensive systems, which is why they are selling so well, but cheaper doesn't mean better.
Better graphics doesn't mean better either. I'd rather have my 360 and good looking games, but about anyone else in my family would rather play the Wii; they don't care about graphics. They want something they can pick up and play and have a "socially" good time. Sure the Wii is cheaper than a PS3, but even if a PS3 was cheaper than a Wii, a lot of people would still choose the Wii.