Nintendo pushes app development for DSi

20 March 2009 15:14 GMT / By Verity Burns

Rumours coming out of the top-secret Nintendo Developer's Conference held in London this week suggest Nintendo is shifting its focus for its DSi handheld to shorter applications, both of the gaming and non-gaming variety.

Such applications are already available in Japan through its dedicated DSiWare shop, and include micro session games like the Korogashi Puzzle Katamari Damacy from Namco and Phantasy Star 0 Mini from Sega.

However similarly to Apple's App Store, DSi users can also download non-gaming, useful applications, such as a DSi calculator and Moving Notepad.

It seems Nintendo would like more of the same for the DSiWare store when it launches in Europe and America, a very different focus than it had for the WiiWare store, where full downloadable games were the emphasis.

"Given the advanced functions in the DSi, such as the microphone and camera, the company told us that there are a variety of opportunities for a variety of apps, both in a games sense and a non-games sense, that we could offer", explained a developer.

Another added: "Nintendo is keen to have developers offering all kinds of software once the DSi store fully launches for access in Europe and America".

Apparently Nintendo has had a similar meeting with developers in Southern California to promote Wii and DSi development over there.

Hopefully we'll hear more about this in a more official capacity when Satoru Iwata makes his keynote speech at GDC next week. We'll be sure to keep you updated.

Full tags

Gaming, Nintendo DSi, Nintendo, Rumours