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GDC '09: Nintendo breaks DS backwards compatibility with DSi-only cart

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GDC '09: Nintendo breaks DS backwards compatibility with DSi-only cart
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DS

Backwards compatibility between consoles is the sort of thing that gets gamers arguing but rarely seems to have major impact in the realworld.

Nintendo's new DSi console will stretch the limits of that theory however as the company has revealed it will be providing publishers with the option to release their future games on new DSi cartridges - these will only work on the DSi console - and DSi Enhanced cartridges, which will work on DS Lite and the original DS, and also enable the extra features available with the DSi console.

It makes sense as the DSi has two cameras and also more RAM than the earlier models so developers will want to make games that take advantage of those features. DSi is also the only member of the DS family that will be able to download games from the new DSiWare online shop.

But anything that breaks compatibility within a single console release is bad news. Sony managed to get away with its Skype application not working on the original PSP-1000, because it wasn't a game, and who would want to Skype on the PSP anyhow?

Messing around in this manner with games, especially retail games, is bound to cause some confusion and anger with consumers however. And retailers, who are increasingly being excluded from the game-buying process by online stores such as DSiWare, are not likely to best pleased if they're expected to pick up the pieces.

Expect more on this as the DSi launch wagon gathers pace.

[from Joystiq]

Jon Jordan
Jon Jordan
A Pocket Gamer co-founder, Jon can turn his hand to anything except hand turning. He is editor-at-large at PG.biz which means he can arrive anywhere in the world, acting like a slightly confused uncle looking for the way out. He likes letters, cameras, imaginary numbers and legumes.