Don’t wait up for DSi-exclusive games

Japan will be the first lucky recipients of the new Nintendo DSi handheld in November 2008. North Americans will have to wait possibly until the middle of 2009 before the DSi makes its way over.

While that seems like quite a loss at first glance, Nintendo doesn’t even have games that are exclusive to the DSi ready to go. Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of sales and marketing Cammie Dunaway did an interview with Wired on the topic of the DSi where she spilled the beans. Sorta.

In the interview, Dunaway said Nintendo currently does not have plans or announcements regarding DSi-exclusive games. Instead, Nintendo is focusing more on the hardware capabilities of the DSi including the built-in memo pad and photo editing software. Apparently we will be able to purchase Japanese games from DS Ware with a North American DSi but cartridge-based titles won’t work at all.

I suppose since DS sales continue to do astronomically well, branding the DSi as a replacement right out of the gate wouldn’t be the best of ideas. Let’s just hope that Nintendo will focus more on the games in the future rather than the bells and whistles the DSi comes bundled with.

Read [Wired] Also Read [Pocket Gamer] Also Read [Gamertell]