News: DSi-Only, DSi-Enhanced Game Cards Coming
Posted 25 Mar 2009 at 19:07 by Nathan Whincup
Nintendo seal the deal with your wallet by announcing that DSi-only and DSi-enhanced game cards are on the way!
Nintendo DSi Project Leader Masato Kuwahara has spoken at the GDC today to confirm that the DSi will not only benefit from enhancements when playing certain DS games, but a card has also been designed for it that can only be played on a DSi.
"DSi Cards" will work exclusively on a DSi unit and will take advantage of its extra horsepower, the larger screens and its cameras, whereas "DSi-Enhanced Cards" will work on both the original Nintendo DS (and DS Lites) and the new DSi, with gameplay enhancements and new features available when played on a DSi.
"You will use these features if you want to create textures from photographs taken with the DSi camera," said Mr. Kuwahara during his talk, The Inspiration Behind DSi Development.
Nintendo implemented a very limited but similar technique in The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages/Seasons for the Game Boy Color, as an extra shop appeared when the game was played on a Game Boy Advance.
Gameloft, who have already confirmed DSiWare support, announced last year that they would be supporting what we now know as DSi-Enhanced Cards. We'd also be willing to wager that the recently announced The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks will somehow benefit from DSi enhancements.