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Bloody Good DSi

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Welp, it's finally complete! Shortly after buying the black DSi at launch, I was too busy enjoying the dang camera app and the much faster Opera browser to think about anything else. Shortly after that, I began noticing how easy it was for people to know I was taking pictures of them and because of that dang pink light everyone would hide away. I thought to myself: how can I hide that dang light, but still keep the awesomeness of the DSi intact? idea A skin!

Here is the problem, though: I never liked the skins available for the DS or DS Lite. Even if I did find a cool one, it would have cost more than I wanted to pay or I would have had to wait for the mail. There were no 3rd party accessories out on the second day of the DSi, and I wanted a skin right then! That left only one option: I had to make one. I tried to ask myself "What theme?", but because the answer came to me so fast, I didn't even have time to think the word "theme" - Zombie Survival DSi.

Read more for bigger pictures and more description!

It took me a little while to figure out what I needed to make this thing work; it needed to have an amazing hold. Nothing that would slowly peel off, but not so amazing that I could never take it off clean. After wandering around inside Michaels Craft Store, I found some stuff called "Con-tac Paper" (vinyl, not paper, and yes I spelled Con-tac correctly). They come in a lot of colors, some chrome type and some shiny, etc. They are like stickers, so that helps, and when you peel them off, all they will leave is glue. So after a lot of rubbing and tiny amounts of water, the DSi will become perfectly clean again. It took a while to do, but I cut the vinyl to cover what I wanted on the DSi (all 6 out-sides), while leaving the backing on. I got some burgundy colored and some bright red colored spray paint, mixed them in the bottom half of a soda can, and then used an old tooth brush to splatter the contact paper. I then let it dry for about 2 minutes, and stuck it on the DSi! BOOM! Bad-ass, scratch resistant DSi with a covered camera light, and which truly ignores fingerprints. Then I wanted a case to carry it in...

I decided it had to also fit the theme, but could not be huge and bulky and defeat the purpose of mobile gaming. It's why I never ever bought a carry case of any kind for anything: they are all big and not full of awesomeness, plus they usually have some brand name logo. So I had to make one. I went to a thrift store found a woman's bag that was dark gray denim, complete with metal clasps, zippers, clips, a hard plastic sheet in the bottom, and black belty-straps. 5 bucks for all of this. Once again, I set to work cutting fabric and plastic, bending the plastic to make the mold, sewing the thing, and hot glue-gunning stuff. A few hours later I got a wicked tactical looking case that protects from moderate damage and can hang from a backpack, belt-loop, or anything else the C-Clasp can clasp to! I had to go to work, so the rest would wait until the next day - fast forward - today I painted it in the same style as the Vinyl skin I made. Bada-bing, I'm done - all I needed to do was put that red DSi stylus I got from Nintendo in the little stylus holder and it was complete. Maybe if I can find a small enough "S.T.A.R.S." patch I will put it on the back of it.

Here's my art gallery with bigger and more pictures. I plan on making a print-out template for making your own DSi skins, but that will be in a while if I get to it - these days I have been super busy preparing for marriage! What do you guys think of my DSi/Case?


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Comments

Giovanni MedinaWiidark Thursday, July 23, 2009 3:34:25 AM

Looks nice, almost thought it was an official skin to celebrate the release of a new resident evil game.

The Last SheikahTheLastSheikah Thursday, July 23, 2009 10:11:47 AM

I'm sorry, I just ejaculated on your blog. If you give me a mop, I'll clean it up...

SpookSpook81 Thursday, July 23, 2009 2:47:44 PM

OK, Sheikah, that was gross... :S
Psique-scarring images aside... BLOODY GOOD!!! bigsmile

Duaneborri Thursday, July 23, 2009 6:00:01 PM

Now that is a great looking DSi yes I don't have problem with my DSi cuz I like black.

Pikachu Electronkawaiipikachu Thursday, July 23, 2009 11:17:13 PM

Could you do it to a DS lite as in for those people who wouldn't want to waste money on a stopgap system .

Duaneborri Thursday, July 23, 2009 11:47:15 PM

he can do it with the DS and DS lite

AntonCaptainSeagull Saturday, July 25, 2009 9:00:21 PM

Actually I did it to my iPod too! Zombie Survival iPod!

I have been thinking about getting the MotoRazr too..

Basically anything you can stick a sticker to!

Duaneborri Saturday, July 25, 2009 9:46:28 PM

yes

.edDotEd Saturday, July 25, 2009 10:34:54 PM

love happen.

.edDotEd Saturday, July 25, 2009 10:37:28 PM

Originally posted by kawaiipikachu:

Could you do it to a DS lite as in for those people who wouldn't want to waste money on a stopgap system .



i really disagree with you on the DSi stop-gap thought. the DS lite was the stop-gap in my mind and that was worth owning, too.

DSi has so much more in it than the naysayers will admit to, including beefed up internals.

Captain FalconTriforceOfAnnoyingness Sunday, July 26, 2009 4:00:30 AM

@DotEd: sry dude, two words: GBA slot

Joel Lutherlutherjw Sunday, July 26, 2009 5:19:01 AM

Originally posted by DotEd:


DSi has so much more in it than the naysayers will admit to, including beefed up internals.


Which, as I'm sure you know, have never been utilized by ... anyone. It's astonishing to me that a new system can come out without some exclusive software, excluding the DSiWare games (most of which are total crap, not counting ArtStyle and Mighty Flip Champs). And those could have definitely been done on the DS/DS Lite.

Plus, as TriforceOfAnnoyingness stated, it's just plain stupid that I can't play classic handheld games on the system. I understand removing the GBA slot, but the fact that there's no Virtual Handheld service is idiotic.

Right now, I have to say that I regret purchasing the system.

Duaneborri Sunday, July 26, 2009 8:11:51 AM

lol to much talking lol

Pikachu Electronkawaiipikachu Sunday, July 26, 2009 11:21:58 PM

@Luther
You shall get your Virtual Portable when Nintendo release there fully fledge DS successor which is still in devoloment & benn in devoloment well before the DSi concept was ever concieved .
And that DS successor is where Nintendo be paying hundreds & thounsands of dollors for a new custom processor chip not this DSi poop .

SpookSpook81 Monday, July 27, 2009 5:35:46 AM

Kawaii: In case you haven't noticed, ALL major manufacturers agree that new generation consoles (both handheld and home units) are a VERY long time away (so far the estimates are way after 2011). And in case you haven't noticed also, Nintendo has NOT made its business nowadays by NOT being on the cutting edge of graphical processing and performance. A custom processor chip would only lead to a PS3-like dissaster: expensive consoles with way too much power that no developer but themselves would touch.

AntonCaptainSeagull Monday, July 27, 2009 10:09:59 AM

Ed is right though, DSLite is the more worthy machine for title of stop-gap. It brought nothing new to the DS besides brighter screens and extra sexy appeal. I hope that anyone who calls DSi a stop-gap before DSLite owns the regular DS and NOT the Lite.

Screw the GBA slot. However, DO add the "Virtual Handheld" downloads, we need those classic games on the go. But even with the Lite I hated having the classic cart stick out, it was the main reason I never used it, i just kept my gba micro at hand, and a GBC in my sling bag too.

Pikachu Electronkawaiipikachu Monday, July 27, 2009 11:56:25 PM

@Spook
In case you havent realise the processor chip in the DS are custom designed exclusively for the DS .
They have 2 ARM CPUS clocked a diffent speeds .
There isnt a standard ARM processor chip on the market ready for use in a random device much less one that has 2 different speeds .

You comparing it to the PS3's CPU but theres a big difference between the 2 .
the DS's CPU are bassed on standard ARM core for which plenty of devices on the market have ARM bassed processors of one sort or another meanwhile the PS3's Cell processor is a while new architecture designed from the ground up so the DS processor allready have a template to build it self on leaving the only thing to do is to do is figureout on how to implument to 2 processors on the same piece of silicon which still cost much more to do than ording in a particular readymade chip .

SpookSpook81 Tuesday, July 28, 2009 12:10:44 AM

Yeah, but you made your comment sound as if Nintendo was cooking up something revolutionary...and the truth is, it isn't. DSi IS more powerful than DS (wheather you want to admit it or not), and that's about the most you'll be getting from Ninty anytime soon.

Duaneborri Tuesday, July 28, 2009 3:15:19 AM

what is ARM?

Pikachu Electronkawaiipikachu Tuesday, July 28, 2009 11:42:22 PM

@Borri
ARM is a CPU architecture type thats been specifically designed for moblie computing devices like PDA's phones & even portable game consoles .
i got servral devices here that uses ARM CPUs GBA (classic & SP) DS (lite & phat) HP iPaq PDA & iPod touch all uses ARM CPU's .

Duaneborri Wednesday, July 29, 2009 12:00:13 AM

kk thax

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