Entertainment

GAME THEORY: MAKE IT SMALL

There’s big MONEY to be made in the portable gaming industry, and no one knows that better than Nintendo, which has sold more than 100 million dual-screened DS mini-

consoles. It aims to bolster those already impressive numbers on April 5, when the $170 DSi makes its way over from Japan, where it’s already been on shelves since last fall.

The hardware upgrades aren’t game-changing. Both screens are a quarter-inch bigger than the 3-inch originals. And now there are two integrated cameras — one on the front and one on the outside of the lid.

Overall, the player is about 12 percent smaller than the DS Lite, which makes it even better for commuters, but the reduction comes at a price. Despite having five brightness settings (compared to four on the DS) the DSi still claims a shorter maximum battery life. Plus, the slot for Game Boy Advance titles is gone. That slashes a substantial number of older games from the catalog, and also prevents players from using some peripherals like the “Guitar Hero: On Tour” controller.

To counteract the subtractions, Nintendo is finally rolling out an online application store called DSiWare, which allows users to purchase games and other programs directly from the device’s built-in WiFi. Most of the available content will be game-related and should appeal to people with a few dollars and lots of hours to kill.

More important, the presence of a download store is a key step for Nintendo in fending off its main competitors like Sony’s PSP and the increasingly gaming-capable iPhone. Like with Apple’s device, the downloadable DSi games are both simple and cheap, ranging from free up to a maximum of $8. Unfortunately, like the Wii, DSiWare uses an annoying point-card system (one point is about equal to a penny) that isn’t even compatible with Nintendo’s Wii download store.

The last of the upgrades include media-manipulation apps that let you mess around with photos and audio files. The menus have gotten a retooling to be faster and prettier, and it boasts improved support for high-capacity SD memory cards. But there’s nothing you’ll find on the spec sheet that will make current DS owners ready to run out to upgrade, which means the big N has a lot riding on the DSiWare store and people’s insatiable need to kill time in the cutest way possible.

ESEssential games for dsi

* Mario Kart. Playing over WiFi with friends is possibly one of the most addicting gaming experiences ever. ($40)

* Nintendogs. Take care of an adorable digital hound without all the costs, irritants and chewed shoes of a real live puppy. ($30)

* Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day!

If you’re sick of Su Doku or the crossword, you can subject your cerebellum to a bevy of tests designed to keep you sharp. ($20)

* New Super Mario Bros. Mario looks great in 3D, but this huge-selling

cartridge had him doing what he does best: Walking to the right and stomping on enemies. ($35)