Topic: Please Help a Newbie !

I'm totally new to the world of Nintendo and I don't know who the whole thing works with getting games, etc. I'm thinking of buying a DSi XL for my 6-year-old who is currently using a Leapster. She says she wants an iPod, but I think this would be more educational, plus it seems like it comes with a music feature similar to an iPod (am I correct?)

Are there enough games out there for this age group?
Are the games purchased online and dowloaded similar to how songs are purchased from iTunes for an iPod?
Are there any free games?
How do the points work?
Is the music feature like an iPod? Can you load it with your own music?

Thanks!!

#1. Yes, every DSi comes with a music feature, the problem is that you can only play ".AAC" music files (most music comes in the format ".MP3"). I personally have no idea how to convert a MP3 file into a AAC file, but I'm sure there's some way to do it.
#2. Yes, there are plenty of games that would be age-appropriate for a six-year-old girl.
#3. Yes in a sense. Both iTunes and the DSiWare shop use credit cards and special in-store cards for purchasing content.
#4. There are a few free applications, but they aren't necessarily games. You can download a notepad app that allows you to create flip-note animations. You may be confusing this with the App Store, which hands out a free game every day of the week.
#5. You're able to buy a points card in an electronic store and them redeem that code on the back of the card for points, which then are free to use to purchase any game on the DSiWare service.
#6. Yes, but once again the only format that the device will recognize is AAC files.

Hope that helps.

EDIT: My bad, a DSi can only recognize ".AAC" files.

Hi ChitChat

Yes the DSi has a music feature, I've never used it so someone else will have to tell you the details about but from my understanding you can download and save music to an SD card in order to use it. It does not support MP3 though. I think it uses AAC or something like that. (I don't know much about music files)

• Yes there are quite a few games to appeal to younger gamers. The DS has a wide variety to appeal to all. For example she may like games such as nintendogs. It plays DS games so you can go to the store and buy plenty of games as well as downloading.
• I do not know how downloading works for an ipod you do not download/purchase music from the DSi shop, only games and apps. All you do is connect and use points to purchase games, also downloading is not as big for the DSi as the ipod.
• There are only two free apps atm, internet channel and flipnote studio, so no free games at this time. The games are inexpensive though.
• For points you can buy a 2000 point card at a store for 20 bucks, you just scratch of the back and enter the code on the DSi shop channel to redeem your points and buy games. You can also you a credit card to buy them online. There you can buy 1000 2000 and 5000 points at a time (I think you can also get 3000 but it's been awhile for me.)

Hope this helps!

The music player on the DSi uses AAC (or MP4) music files. If you have music in your itunes library, all you have to do is convert the songs you want into AAC format by using itune's converting function

The only difference is that a ipod can handle videos and movies, and its more portable.

Wow, thanks for all the quick replies! You're a great group of gamers!

To clarify on music files: .aac is the format currently used by iTunes (and has been for a couple of years now). If you get some music from elsewhere that is still .mp3, you can convert files from .mp3 to .aac in iTunes. It's very easy to do.

As for games, if you get a DSi, you can download games from the DSiWare shop online. There are a lot of great games on the shop for all ages, but I can't think of anything specifically "educational" aside from the BrainAge games. There aren't many apps, but one that sticks out (and is free) is Flipnote Studio. With Flipnote, you can draw on the touch screens to create your own animations. Definitely could help stimulate her creativity, if she's artistic at all. There are also many, many retail games for young children that are educational on the DS. They usually run from $15-$20 new (less used). Just search Amazon for "educational DS games for kids," and you'll find a bunch.

I have no idea what the selection of iTunes apps is for young children, but you could search that from iTunes on your computer.

In general, Apple App Store games are cheaper than DSiWare downloable games and nearly always cheaper than retail titles. However, you need an iPod Touch to use "apps" and that costs $230 vs. the DSi's $150 (or $170 for an XL).

Hopefully that helps. Let us know if you have any other questions!