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Nintendo DSi points scheme dissapoints

by Steven Williamson on 8 October 2008, 10:18

Tags: Nintendo DSi, Nintendo (TYO:7974)

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When Nintendo's new handheld, the DSi, launches next year, digital distribution will be a key feature allowing users to purchase content and download it directly to the console by using a Nintendo point scheme, similar to the Wii Point scheme currently used to buy retro games on Wii.

Despite Nintendo announcing on the same day it revealed the DSi that it will be re-branding 'Wii Points' to 'Nintendo Points', which suggested that points will be transferable between the two consoles, it's today been confirmed that gamers will only be able to use points on the console for which they specifically bought them.

Nintendo Points will be available to purchase in batches of 1000, 3000 and 5000 and downloadable games are rumoured to be priced at either 200, 500 or 800 points.

Talking about the importance of digital downloading,Nintendo President, Reggie Fils-Aime went on record yesterday, stating that he's not worried about sales being affected by the new business model for its latest hand-held. Instead he said it's a "nice added business model. ... We'll be able to see the sales growth and plan for it. But I guess similar to home consoles, the consumer will want an experience that's best delivered through physical goods, simply because of the memory size required."

Do we really want to buy physical games anymore? It seems much easier to simply press a few buttons and then get your prodcut delivered directly into your hands. Games are also cheaper to buy without the bulky casing and manual, right?

That's probably the case, but we guess that what Reggie is trying to say, in part, is that the yet unannounced size of the on-board storage for the DSi won't be sufficient enough to handle a large amount of games.

The DSi is expected to launch in Spring 2009.

Source :: Venture Beat


HEXUS Forums :: 4 Comments

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Don't see anything wrong with this at all. Its the same on the 360 you buy points for a Live account and not the machine.

Mountain out of a mole hill comes to mind here.
You often have to buy more than the points that you actually want to get a game. I've had 500 points sitting on my Wii account for ages. However, with the content on the DSi, there might be something that I fancy, so it would have been nice to be able to transfer points that I don't particular want to use for any Wii games.

They have connectivity, so there's no reason that I can see, why this couldn't have been possible and indeed beneficial to Nintendo fans.

The only reason they haven't is to simply to make more money out of redundant points that sit in people's accounts, isn't it?

It's the same with Xbox 360, why can't you buy exactly the amount of points that you need for a game?
beanbandit
Don't see anything wrong with this at all. Its the same on the 360 you buy points for a Live account and not the machine.

Mountain out of a mole hill comes to mind here.

But thats the point, this new Nintendo system seems to do the exact opposite of the Microsoft system. Meaing if you want to buy digital download stuff on both consoles you have to spend the minimum amount twice.

Im not really seeing the point in the new console in general though.
Steven W;1538946
You often have to buy more than the points that you actually want to get a game. I've had 500 points sitting on my Wii account for ages. However, with the content on the DSi, there might be something that I fancy, so it would have been nice to be able to transfer points that I don't particular want to use for any Wii games.

They have connectivity, so there's no reason that I can see, why this couldn't have been possible and indeed beneficial to Nintendo fans.

The only reason they haven't is to simply to make more money out of redundant points that sit in people's accounts, isn't it?

It's the same with Xbox 360, why can't you buy exactly the amount of points that you need for a game?

See thats the problem with these points systems. You get screwed when you just want to buy one game, you can't. So you have to buy in their minimum amounts. Which is way more than you actually need. I still like the old pay in pounds, i know what i'm getting, i'm not being screwed over.

TheBloodyNine
But thats the point, this new Nintendo system seems to do the exact opposite of the Microsoft system. Meaing if you want to buy digital download stuff on both consoles you have to spend the minimum amount twice.

Im not really seeing the point in the new console in general though.

No this is the same system as MS use for the 360. Buy points per LIVE account that are not transferable. Screwed over, oh yes.

What these bloody companies need to do is get their systems sorted out. I want a master account, so i can tie in points/wallet and share if i want. But it won't happen. Will it put people off, nope, most will blindly carry on using the systems as is.

Its time people started to vote with their feet and not buy into these.