re: the microphone...yea, there's actually a first release game out called "Feel the Magic" that uses this feature. From what I can tell, "Magic" is a collection of mini-games wrapped in this silly little visual story about a guy trying to impress a girl. Sounds silly, but I guess the games are pretty inventive and the style is...well, looks like the results of introducing
Saul Bass to Austin Powers over some sushi in Japan.
*Anyways*...there's a part in the game where you have to get the girl's attention to warn her about something, and you actually have to *yell* into the microphone to get her to "look at you". Of course, yell too loud and there are some consequences.
If the DS does nothing other than change the way we look and play games, I think it'll be a success. Nintendo might not think so if the unit doesn't put up the numbers, but if this little device can give us some new genres, some interface options, some new ways to play, all the power to them.
And internet play? If they execute it right, that could seriously rock...