I recently headed up to Nintendo headquarters in Redmond, Wash., to get my hands on the DSi. While there I was briefed on everything from hardware changes to interface updates. I even got a chance to play some Japanese DSi downloads. Read on for my impressions and a laundry list of everything you could want to know about Nintendo’s newest brainchild.

The Basics
Fans of the DS Lite need not worry. Nintendo doesn’t intend on weaning the DSi’s predecessor from the market (although we all remember what happened with the GBA and the supposed “third pillar” strategy.) Instead, they see the DSi as a complementary system, one that is a fit for gamers looking to make their DS experience more social. That being said, since Nintendo sees the two iterations as on equal footing, there is no planned priced drop for the DS Lite. Nintendo also wanted to stress that the DSi wasn’t created to fix any glaring problems with the original. They see the DSi as an enhancement, not an improvement. The DSi will hit retail April 5 for $169.00. The DS Lite currently is priced at $129.99, a $39 difference.

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The DSi has been redesigned in many capacities, but the most obvious is the new matte finish. No longer will the glossy face of your handheld device be marred with fingerprints. Launch colors include black and light blue, while Japan additionally has lime green, white and pink available. Personally, I’m saddened by the lack of lime green in our neck of the woods.

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