Nintendo’s DSi lacking in two of the platform’s best features

By Stephen Munn | October 10, 2008

One of the things most of us assumed when rumors began to circulate that Nintendo was perhaps preparing to launch a new hardware revision of the DS was that they would never drop SLOT-2 from the device. SLOT-2 is the cartridge slot on the bottom of the system that runs GBA cartridges and accessories such as the rumble pak Nintendo included in their own Metroid Prime Pinball for DS and the guitar grip controller that Activision ships with their recent Guitar Hero: On Tour… as well as several expansion packs for first party DS games that shipped on GBA cartridges in other regions. Surprisingly, Nintendo has indeed removed the port from the system.

It’s hard to gauge what this will do for the platform’s sales overall, but it didn’t help the Game Boy Micro to drop backwards compatibility. While I ditched my launch model DS in a hurry to pick up a Lite at launch, I have no plans to change over to the DSi. I own an AGT model of the GBA SP specifically so I can play Gameboy and Gameboy Color games with a backlight (neither existing DS model can play those), so I don’t really need the slot for the old games, though it is convenient when compared to carrying an extra system around. I also don’t intend to get Guitar Hero: On Tour, though I’d rather not make a decision that leaves such an acclaimed piece of software incompatible.

So what would sell me the platform? A virtual console with GB, GBC, and GBA games widely available for very little money, and the ability to play them on the DS. Many of the older GB games are very hard to find nowadays, though I own most of the ones I want already. What would be irritating about this is that if I went to such an online store and bought the ones I never got around to finding on eBay, I couldn’t play them side-by-side with my physical cartridges.

Perhaps we all have to let go sometimes, and it’s clear the DS has sold well enough where it doesn’t need backwards compatibility anymore. Still, I find it surprising Nintendo would remove features like this just as one of the Wii’s best selling points is a huge library of quality Gamecube titles that are 100% compatible. Removing backwards compatibility is clearly not a popular trend, one Microsoft started with the 360 and Sony pioneered by removing it from most recent models of PS3. Nintendo, in fact, has never been known for backwards compatibility at all in its home console platforms. Wii is their first backwards-compatible home system.

Then there’s the reported region lock. I’m not sure how this is even possible considering none of the previous DS models have this. What I am sure of is I’d need to hang onto my DSLite in order to be able to play any of the great games that only come out in Japan, like the Ouendan titles. Am I going to buy a hardware revision that excludes what remains my favorite game on the DS? Not bloody likely.

Congratulations, Nintendo, you’ve one-upped the competition in yet another area.