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