If you are using a NDS Phat, you really don’t need to worry about protecting that thing. It’s built like a tank and can take being tossed, dropped and even thrown into a day-bag with lots of nasty objects. But what if you are using one of those new-fangled, not to mention, fragile looking Nintendo DSi?

Now, this won’t make your precious Nintendo DSi like Iron Man, but some protection is better than no protection at all, right? Unless you are into discus playing with handheld consoles (you have to be crazy to even think that idea…hey..wait.a.minute), Hori’s Protect Case DSi should be able to protect the DSi’s matte surface from scratches and maybe, just maybe, minor spills.

There’s a convenient camera hole cut through this DSi accessory so that the DSi camera won’t be obscured. And unlike Iron Man, these don’t come in a Red and Gold colour scheme (but I figure some enterprising individual would put paper cut outs between the DSi and Protect Case), but instead it comes in Clear Black and Clear. Click on the respective colours for purchase information. For the entire list of currently available and upcoming Protect Cases, click here.

I’m actually considering getting a NDSi this Christmas to replace my aging NDS (the screen is a little shot, and the battery life isn’t that great anymore). However, I’m also taking stock on what I won’t be able to run from my games library on the NDSi.

First up, the lack of GBA port will once and for all assign the following to being permanent display units:

• Arkanoid DS controller
• Love and Berry Card Reader
• Mag Kid’s Optical controller
• Rumble Pak

I also won’t be able to run my GBA games, especially the range of bit Generations titles, Digidrive, Coloris, Soundvoyager and Boundish. These games would have benefit from the wider, more vibrant screens of the NDSi.

On the R4 front, it’s would be useless to run the flashkart on the NDSi. That means I won’t be playing emulated NES and SNES games anytime soon (along with pirated ROMs) with the R4. Also, the lack of a GBA port doesn’t permit an EzFlash 3-in-1 expansion set on the NDSi. Which means no translated Mother 3 on the NDSi.

Thank goodness my 50 over NDS games will run on the NDSi as region-locking only affects NDSi titles. Mario Kart DS should look really nice on the NDSi. I’m curious to see whether the DSVision runs on that console as well.

Price check! NDSi prices have gone down to USD 249 per system on Play-Asia. So when are you getting yours? Click here for purchase details.

Play-Asia has started selling the Nintendo DSi whereby for a cool USD 249 (shipping not factored in), you’ll get your Nintendo DSi in either Black or White (click here for purchase details). But what about accessories you ask.

As most DS owners would know, playing without screen protectors would be really detrimental to the touch screen and at the same time, styli go missing all the time. So where would one source for these items when the new DSi is out?

Don’t worry as Nine Over Ten has the list right here…most, if not all, are official, licensed products and should be available at the same time as the DSi.

Screen Protectors

• Liquid Crystal Protection Filter DSi (Hori) ~ Click here for details
• Screen Guard DSi (Keys Factory) ~ Click here for details
• Touch Panel Screen Protection Filter DSi (Hori) ~ Click here for details

Starter Packs (includes Card Case, Pouch, Stylus, etc)

• Select Pack DSi (Black) (Hori) ~ Click here for details
• Select Pack DSi (White) (Hori) ~ Click here for details

Touch Pen

• Touch Pen Long DSi (White) (Hori) ~ Click  here for details
• Touch Pen Long DSi (Blue) (Hori) ~ Click here for details
• Touch Pen Long DSi (Black) (Hori) ~ Click here for details
• Touch Pen Fit DS (Black) (Hori) ~ Click here for details
• Touch Pen Fit DS (White) (Hori) ~ Click here for details
• Touch Pen Fit DS (Blue) (Hori) ~ Click here for details
• Touch Pen Fit DS (Pink) (Hori) ~ Click here for details

Power Adapters/USB Power Cables

• USB Power Charge Cable ~ Click here for details
• Electronic AC Adaptor (US/Japan Plug 100V-240V) ~Clich here for details
• Electronic AC Adaptor (European Plug 100V-240V) ~ Click here for details
• Electronic AC Adaptor (Japan/US Plug 100V-240V) ~ Click here for details
• Electronic AC Adaptor (UK Plug 100V-240V) ~ Click here for details

Rhythm Meter

• Seikatsu Rhythm Meter (Nintendo) ~ Click here for details

Cleaning Cloth

• Game Cleaning Cloth DS (Hori) ~ Click here for details

NDSI Cases/Cover/Armor/Seals (Updated!)

• Alumnor Metal Case (Black) ~ Click here for details
• Alumnor Metal Case (Red) ~ Click here for details
• Alumnor Metal Case (Silver) ~ Click here for details
• Alumnor Metal Case (Fushcia) ~ Click here for details
• Chara Pure Cover (Mickey Mouse) ~ Click here for details (NEW!)
• Chara Pure Cover (Stitch) ~ Click here for details (NEW!)
• Chara Pure Cover (Winnie the Pooh) ~ Click here for details (NEW!)
• Chara Pure Cover (Minnie Mouse) ~ Click here for details (NEW!)
• Dragon Quest IX DSi Seal ~ Click here for details (NEW!)
• Protect Case DSi (Matte White) ~ Click here for details
• Protect Case DSi (Matte Black) ~ Click here for details
• Protect Case DSi (Clear Pink) ~ Click here for details
• Protect Case DSi (Clear Black) ~ Click here for details
• Protect Case DSi (Clear Blue) ~ Click here for details
• Protect Case DSi (Metallic Blue) ~ Click here for details
• Protect Case DSi (Lime Green) ~ Clicl here for details
• Silicon Cover DSi (Light Blue) ~ Click here for details
• Silicon Cover DSi (Lime Green) ~ Click here for details
• Silicon Cover DSi (Pink) ~ Click here for details
• Silicon Cover DSi (Black) ~ Click here for details
• Silicon Cover DSi (White) ~ Click here for details

Pouches (Updated!)

• Disney Character Hard Pouch DSi (Minnie Blue) ~ Click here for details
• Disney Character Hard Pouch DSi (Minnie Pink) ~ Click here for details
• Disney Character Hard Pouch DSi (Mickey Black) ~ Click here for details
• Disney Character Hard Pouch DSi (Mickey White) ~ Click here for details
• Dragon Quest IX DSi Pouch ~ Click here for details (NEW!)
• Hello Kitty Pocket DSi (Red) ~ Click here for details (NEW!)
• Select Pack DSi (White) ~ Click here for details
• Select Pack DSi (Black) ~ Click here for details
• Compact Pouch DSi (Black) ~ Click here for details
• Compact Pouch DSi (Light Blue) ~ Click here for details
• Compact Pouch DSi (White) ~ Click here for details
• Compact Pouch DSi (Lime Green) ~ Click here for details
• Custom Pouch DSi (Black) ~ Click here for details
• Fit Pouch DSi (Black) ~ Click here for details
• Fit Pouch DSi (White) ~ Click here for details
• Hard Pouch DSi (Black) ~ Click here for detail

Card Case

• Card Folder + Touch Pen Blue (Hori) ~ Click here for details
• Card Folder + Touch Pen Natural (Hori) ~ Click here for details (NEW!)
• DS Card Case 16 Lime Green (Hori) ~ Click here for details
• DS Card Case 16 Blue (Hori) ~ Click here for details
• DS Card Case x 4 Type Fine (Hori) ~ Click here for details
• DS Card Case x 4 Type Chic (Hori) ~ Click here for details

If touch pen colours are an indication, will we be seeing Pink and Blue DSi consoles in the near future? For even more NDSi accessories, click here for the full listing!

What did I miss on my 2 day holiday? For starters, the new Nintendo DSi announcement. But in any case, do you know where to get one come this November, as it’s a Japan-only release (US and Europe official launches are next year)? More on that later in this post; lets talk feature set first.

The DSi gets:

• Bigger screens at 3.25 inches each.
• A slimmer profile, 12% thinner compared to the Nintendo DS Lite.
• Dual cameras!
• SD card slot
• Built in Web Browser and MP3 function

But at the same time, it looses the GBA slot and apparently the battery life takes a hit as well. It’s a pity loosing the GBA slot as I can imagine using the bigger screen to play Digidrive.

Now, regardless of what I’ve to say about the DSi, you would only want to know one thing: where to get it this November? My favourite video game retailer will be accepting pre-orders soon, so make sure u book mark the following links and check back often: Nintendo DSi (White) / Nintendo DSi (Black)