DSi nearly had two DS slots, three extra millimetres

It’s always fascinating to reflect on what could have been. Did you know that Tom Hanks almost starred in Groundhog Day instead of Bill Murray? Or that Lara Croft’s original name was Laura Cruz?

In the latest instalment of Iwata Asks, a group of Nintendo producers has revealed that at one point in its development the DSi was going to have two DS slots, but size issues forced a change of plan.

Iwata
There were a lot of requests among gamers, of course, and from in house as well, for two slots. We also thought that would be good, and, even though we were aware of the drawback of increased size, we decided to proceed with two slots. But when you and your team made an actual model and I held it in my hands, all I could think was, “It’s so big!”

Kuwahara
Compared to the final version, it was much bigger. It was about three millimeters thicker too.

Iwata
When you try to add two slots, it can’t be helped. So you gave up on that, and decided to make it smaller.

Kuwahara
Yes. That size change was hard. It left quite an impression on me.

This vaguely suggestive exchange isn’t the only interesting revelation in the interview. Apparently, Nintendo considered using a single, swivelling camera rather than two, and Shigeru Miyamoto likes to upend tea tables (albeit metaphorically.)