Roughly a year ago I decided to make the move from the original Nintendo DS to the new Nintendo DSi. Okay, it hasn't actually been a year, but I think I've had the new Nintendo DSi long enough to comment on the experience.

The best thing about this new machine is the new menu system, very simular to that of the Wii, that allows you to easily move from one application to another. And unless you have a very uninteresting life and never, ever take advantage of free things, you'll soon find out how useful this is.

For one reason or another, my old DS would frequently lose the wireless signal, making even getting the smallest of updates a challenge. Fortunately this is not a problem with the new DSi. When it finds a signal, it hangs on to it until your business is done.

What's cool about this is that when I'm stuck in a game, I can save my progress, open up the internet browser, and look for hints that'll help me get past my problem - without removing my game from the slot. Admittedly, the Opera browser on the DSi is not much better than the one made available for the DS. But it's free and whenever a better one becomes available, I'll easily be able to upgrade.

Because built into the DSi menu is access to Nintendo's online store where 3-4 new applications are added each week. These little add-ons range in cost from $2 - $8 each and reside in the system's memory. In other words, there is no need to get in your car and go to the store to spend $20 or more for a new game. You can purchase it from the comfort of your home. And since it's in the system memory, you don't have to fumble for cartridges - you can just browse the selections you've added and decide what you're in the mood for at that moment.

Speaking of cartridges, the DSi does not have a port for old Nintendo Gameboy Advance games. Rather, it has a slot for an SD memory card. I've not missed the GBA slot. I've found the extra memory very useful.

The DSi also has two cameras which I've had high hopes for, but have yet to deliver. Yes, you can use the cameras in exactly the same situations you've used a cell phone for, and you can use your pictures to customize your system, etc. But I'm still waiting for a game that really takes advantage of the cameras to create a new experience. There is a clever game that uses input from the camera to sense if you're moving the unit, but I've not tried it yet.

It also has an audio system that can be used like an MP3 player, but as it relies on an audio format that would require me to manually convert all of my files, I haven't even touched it.

The bottom line is, if you don't own a DS or (like me) your old DS system is getting a bit worn out, then you'll be very happy with the new Nintendo DSi.

Labels: Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi

In the classic film Mary Poppins, the popular Nanny states:

In every job that must be done there is an element of fun. You find the fun and snap! The job's a game.

Truer words were never spoken. Believe it or not, in every aspect of our lives, we make games. We set goals and objectives, we make rules, we congratulate ourselves when we are successful.

Case in point. When I take my dog for a walk, the dog has a habit of wanting to stop at every "interesting" stump, bush or pebble along our route - something that is counterproductive to the whole walking thing. I wondered how many steps I'd go before we'd have to stop again. And then I wanted to see what the most consecutive steps we'd take before stopping again. From there I'd have to introduce rules - what constitutes a full stop, don't "drag" the dog, etc (not that I'm the sort of person who'd do that.) So my simple chore of walking the dog became a game.

Most games we play come from such humble beginnings - goals or objectives are established (get the ball into that basket), rules are incorporated (you cannot walk and carry the ball) and boundaries are established (the game ends after a specific period of time).

The trick is how to make the game interesting so people have fun while playing it. Sure, my dog walking game is convenient as it requires no additional equipment to play while I'm walking the dog, but I'm not about to drop everything so the dog and I can go out and play the dog walking game! ;) It's a fine line.

So what are your game expereiences? Do you have a boring game that needs a little spicing up? Let me know.

Labels: Dog, games, goals, rules, Walking the dog