Nintendo Brings Facebook Photos to DSi

Do kids need to push photos to their Facebook profiles? Nintendo thinks so...and a new Nintendo DSi Camera application lets them do just that.

Nintendo is looking to tap into the Facebook generation, announcing today that a new version of its Nintendo DSi Camera application will enable Facebook members to take photos with either of the DSi’s integrated cameras and upload them directly to Facebook using the DSi’s Wi-Fi wireless connectivity. Once users have taken a photo, they’ll be able to tap a Facebook icon on the DSi’s touch screen to have the images sent to the user’s Facebook profile.

“Facebook and Nintendo DSi build on the trend of personalization that is so important to consumers,” said Nintendo America’s executive VP of sales and marketing Cammie Dunaway, in a statement. “We’re giving people the tools to express themselves in creative new ways and show off the results to their friends and family on Facebook.”

The new feature will be available as part of a free downloadable system update available after 5 PM PDT today. Users must have registered with Facebook, and the DSi has to be configured to use Wi-Fi wireless networking to connect to the Internet. The features are also subject to parental controls that let parents manage what features and content children can access on their DSi systems.

Nintendo’s decision to integrate the DSi handheld gaming system with Facebook may generate some controversy; although many teens and even adults enjoy the DS and DSi systems, they’re largely marketed to children and pre-teens. The minimum age to sign up for a Facebook account is 13 years of age, and the site recommends children between 13 and 18 get their parents’ permission before signing up with the site.

NIntendo notes the NPD group says Nintendo has sold 1.7 million DSi units in the United States to date.