30th October 2009, 10:30 AM
Hoo boy, here we go. Welcome to 2010 where Appletendo will release new hardware every year.
DSXL = Movies. I'm expecting a Netflix announcement soon for DS. Another odd piece of news is the DSi Speak Channel. Can you say DSiphone? "Call anyone with a DSi in your friendslist around the world for free!" The larger screen makes it more of a contender against the iphone and ipod touch and makes it easier for 'stylus-free' games.
"It's for old people" is a nice scapegoat, that way if the system doesn't sell it's not a real failure. The trick is that in a year, we'll be getting the next DS/Gameboy (the one with the nVidia chipset) anyway with that screen size. So this is just a placeholder that will help the DS become more of a multimedia device for people wanting movies on the go.
In other news, The WiiHD might hit as soon as mid 2010. The rumor hits because of Netflix wanting to integrate on every system. PS3 just got netflix integration and needs a disk, Netflix mentioned that it wont need the disk in a little bit and will be just like the 360's service. For Wii, it would need that disk too and Nintendo was supposed to announce Netflix this year BUT... and this comes with a barrel of salt: Nintendo may hold off on Netflix and streaming videos/TV etc until WiiHD.
Larger screen also had me thinking. You could view it more easily from a distance. Let's say a 6 to 8 foot distance. Why? Look no further than what Natal is. It would be hilarious: Setup your DSXL or DS2 in front of you and your hand and body movements translate to actions on your WiiHD game. All transferred wirelessly. But on the other hand, the Nvidia chipset for DS2 should be able to output something like Wii graphics, so who's to say Natal-like tech will simply be in the DS2 with the emphasis on gameplay being that you put the DS2 on the coffeetable and play with hand movements and touch screen entirely.
It's going to get interesting.
DSXL = Movies. I'm expecting a Netflix announcement soon for DS. Another odd piece of news is the DSi Speak Channel. Can you say DSiphone? "Call anyone with a DSi in your friendslist around the world for free!" The larger screen makes it more of a contender against the iphone and ipod touch and makes it easier for 'stylus-free' games.
"It's for old people" is a nice scapegoat, that way if the system doesn't sell it's not a real failure. The trick is that in a year, we'll be getting the next DS/Gameboy (the one with the nVidia chipset) anyway with that screen size. So this is just a placeholder that will help the DS become more of a multimedia device for people wanting movies on the go.
In other news, The WiiHD might hit as soon as mid 2010. The rumor hits because of Netflix wanting to integrate on every system. PS3 just got netflix integration and needs a disk, Netflix mentioned that it wont need the disk in a little bit and will be just like the 360's service. For Wii, it would need that disk too and Nintendo was supposed to announce Netflix this year BUT... and this comes with a barrel of salt: Nintendo may hold off on Netflix and streaming videos/TV etc until WiiHD.
Larger screen also had me thinking. You could view it more easily from a distance. Let's say a 6 to 8 foot distance. Why? Look no further than what Natal is. It would be hilarious: Setup your DSXL or DS2 in front of you and your hand and body movements translate to actions on your WiiHD game. All transferred wirelessly. But on the other hand, the Nvidia chipset for DS2 should be able to output something like Wii graphics, so who's to say Natal-like tech will simply be in the DS2 with the emphasis on gameplay being that you put the DS2 on the coffeetable and play with hand movements and touch screen entirely.
It's going to get interesting.