The Mystery of the DSi Cartridges

Started by SirCandle, January 21, 2018, 01:58:06 pm

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SirCandle

Okay, this has been bothering me for years now and I need some closure on it.

So way back when the DSi first came out, I remember going into GameStops in the area and seeing a couple white cartridges designed specifically for the DSi. I think they were Inchworm Animation and Photo Dojo, but I could very well be wrong. But that's besides the point.

So I pretty much just thought "Huh, that's cool," and got on with my life. So a year or two back, I remembered these carts and try to find them online. But here's the kicker:

I've found virtually nothing on them.
No game lists, no listings on any website; nothing.

And I'm positive that they exist because Nintendo addressed them in the 3DS manual, stating that they are, in fact, compatible with the 3DS. So I really just wanna know what the deal with them is. Did they not sell well? Did they have a small distribution? Were they made in small quantities? If you have anything about any of this, please let me know.
Trackballs make everything WAY more intense than you'd think.

UglyJoe


L___E___T

 



OK, I reckon I might have sold this mystery :)

The games are easy to find online, in DSi ware form:
https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-DSiWare/Inchworm-Animation-263808.html
https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-DSiWare/Photo-Dojo--264644.html

The games you'll see there are also compatible with the 3DS - because Nintendo made a point when the 3DS launched that most DSi ware would run on 3DS.

Now, you said you remember seeing them in Gamestop etc. as specifically designed for the DSi - and you also say that this was around the DSi's launch time?

Places like Gamestop would have a handheld out on show, in demo setup, showcasing some software that well advertises the 'new' features of the system etc.

So it seems entirely reasonable to think that you could well have seen a DSi out on display as a demo, running Inchworm Animation and / or Photo Dojo, right?

And that leads me to believe that for the purposes of a demo, Nintendo would have had the software on demo cartridges, rather than with a digital eshop route.

After finding this page, that theory sounds pretty reasonable.  Do you recognise any of the cartridges?  I'm not sure if there were more than two volumes made..
http://www.handheldy.cz/demo/?sort=name&only=usa&page=4

These two games aren't shown specifically on that page, but Nintendo often use a (colour) visual marker between generations, for example from DS to 3DS etc.

It seems very likely (to me at least) that what you saw was a demo video running on a DSi via one of these cartridges.  Even better, you can buy one if you want!

I couldn't find anything online on eBay or other sites yet specifically showing the software running, but I'd place a bet both games are on there.  Hope this helps...


My for Sale / Trade thread
http://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=9423.msg133828#msg133828
大事なのは、オチに至るまでの積み重ねなのです。

Lupin the Third

We used to have a sealed copy of Picture Perfect Hair Salon in our shop for years. They definitely were sold to the masses and I'm pretty sure that, like the DSi in general (vs. the DS/Lite), they were relatively unpopular.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B002NXSRAW

EDIT: I see now that you're asking about those specific DSi games. In that case, disregard my post altogether.