Nintendo DSi Announced: Downloadable Games, $180, Coming November 1 in Japan

Nintendo today announced the Nintendo DSi, the next version of its DS handheld. The portable system will be released on November 1 in Japan for the price of 18900 yen (around $180), and will be available in both white and black colors.

The Nintendo DSi will sport a larger 3.25 inch screen, two cameras that boast a resolution of 640x480 pixels (VGA) each, and unspecified audio enhancements, according to Wired. In addition to a new SD card slot, the DSi will feature built-in memory for the storage of games and pictures.

Users will be able to take advantage of the extra memory by purchasing downloadable games from Nintendo's online store using a new Nintendo Point currency. Games will be categorized into four tiers: free, 200, 500, and 800 Points. Nintendo is giving away 1000 Nintendo Points with the purchase of a DSi until March 2010.

The console will also see a size reduction of 12% as compared to the DS, though the Game Boy Advance cartridge slot has been removed. Nintendo further noted that the Nintendo DS web browser will be a built-in feature on the DSi.

Pictures taken with the DSi camera will be editable using the handheld's touch screen.

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