One the main features of the new DSi is the DSiware. It's basically just a smaller version of the Wiiware and Nintendo's first push in Portable Online Distribution. But so far it has failed to fulfill it's potential in the West, especially considering the plethora of titles available in Japan or other potential titles.
The launch titles weren't too bad(in Europe at least) in my opinion. Warioware: Snapped is fun but is certainly lacking. Pyoro and Paper Plane are nice little games and are alright for the price. The two Artstyle Games were the best games available though. Well designed, appealing puzzlers and also a free browser.
However since then the updates have most been lacklustre with only Real Football 2009(an admittedly good update considering it's a full DS game) and Dr Mario worth looking at. I think if they don't improve the updates that people will eventually stop checking and only going on the store when they hear about great games.
The best, most viable update in my opinion was Dr Mario and the first Magic Made Fun game/app. It offered a classic Nintendo puzzler which a lot of people are familar with, it also sports a funk art style for the characters. It also offered something that won't be as popular but might intrigue some people. This is the type of update I would like to see.
The main problem Nintendo faces is that whilst they have quite a few games/apps lined up they're not localised or the third parties are still sorting it out this is why I thought of some things Nintendo can do to get momentum going for the DSi and make sure they enough software for future releases:
- Court more third party developers, especially iphone/ipod developers. It's good that Gameloft have decided to release on the DSi as well as some other small third parties but if Nintendo could get even half the amount of support the iphone has there'd be a lot of happy people.
- Rerelease old GB/GBC/GBA/Gamegear etc. games in a Virtual Handheld service. This is something that all DSi owners want and it gives Nintendo a chance to profit of older games and also occupy gamer's times. The majority are also already localised. It's a win-win situation.
- Release the Moving Notepad. It's possibly the best app that's there for the DSi and it's something a lot of people want. It would also be easier to localise than the games.
- Update the DSiware with more than one item a week. Prefferably at least one 500 or above point purchase as well. This is simple and should be a no-brainer.
Now some of this is probably happening now(like the third party developers) but I think that if all four of these things happened in the next few weeks it would certainly improve the reception of the DSiware and also help us Gamers. If the DSi is seen as successful as well(which I doubt it currently is) it will also make more developers take notice and develop games for the service.
Most importantly though I think Nintendo(and pretty much every Video Game company) needs to listen to what the fans want and it will greatly help both us and them. This is already acknowledged to be a problem with Nintendo and the DSi doesn't seem to be any different, hopefully that can and will change.
