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GameSpot Video Games, PC, Wii, PlayStation 2, GameCube, PSP, DS, GBA, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

DS Lites up US retailers

Nintendo's new dual-screen portable now on shelves; US customers as hungry as Japanese counterparts, widespread sellouts reported.
By Tim Surette, GameSpot
Posted Jun 12, 2006 10:18 am PT

The DS Lite has finally launched in North America, and some retailers opened their doors at midnight Saturday night--the very earliest that stores could legally sell the handheld. The DS Lite is a new spin on the original DS, which was released in late 2004. Smaller, lighter, and including a brighter screen, the Lite is available in the Polar White model for $129.99.

That is, if you can find one. The launch of the DS Lite is yet another example of new gaming systems selling out on day one in metropolitan areas. The major online retailers, including GameStop.com, EBgames.com, BestBuy.com, and Amazon.com (by way of GameStop.com), are currently all sold out (as of press time), as are several brick-and-mortar stores.

Availability of the unit doesn't seem to be as bad in the US as it was in Japan. Gamers determined to pick up a DS Lite today can probably do so, providing they don't mind driving an hour or two. Scouring various Web sites for in-store availability shows that the Lite is in stock in several retailers such as Best Buy and Circuit City. The two retailers are also offering a smart deal--using printable coupons from the BestBuy.com and CircuitCIty.com Web sites, customers choosing in-store pickups can get a free copy of Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day.

The big midnight madness sale was held late Saturday night at the Nintendo Store in New York City. According to Nintendo, fans began lining up as early as noon, and the first 100 in line were rewarded with a free DS Lite carrying case and a copy of Brain Age.

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298 Comments

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OddballACamAXYZ

Aw... I want brain age! And a DS Lite!

Posted Jun 26, 2006 4:46 pm PT
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EBGameman

The DS Lite is the best peice of hardware to come out since the GBA SP. However, I wonder why people feel the need to come on a DS forum to talk about the psp. Someone mentioned a dual screen psp coming out.....it wouldnt surprise me. It should be shipped along with their motion controllers that aren't going to be as good as what Nintendo came up with in the first place. Playing catch up all the time must be hard. Great games to turn things around are coming out for it anyday now. Just hold your breath.

Posted Jun 15, 2006 8:53 am PT
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sly_demon

Got mine on sunday.. And yes it owns.

Posted Jun 14, 2006 3:12 pm PT
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Goldmember715

Cant wait to get one!

Posted Jun 14, 2006 9:40 am PT
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BaconBallz1337

DS lite ftw

Posted Jun 14, 2006 2:03 am PT
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wildsimulation

i live in New Zealand, the DS lite will NOT sell good over here.
unfortunatly neither will the wii, people just have no idea that nintendo still exists.

its sad really....

but it means i can go get my DS lite whenever without worying about stock avalibality

Posted Jun 13, 2006 10:49 pm PT
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Jedi_Osborn

is there talk of more colors? I think I'd like one, but there's no way I'm buying white. that's just a dumb color to have for something that you're going to have your grubby fingers all over.
they should make customizable face plates like the 360....

Posted Jun 13, 2006 7:32 pm PT
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daveg1

sounds good,this is one of those moments when small is better!

Posted Jun 13, 2006 5:10 pm PT
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Maquis_UK

preordered my 2nd DS Lite today. I already have an orig DS and an imported japanese Ice-Blue ( I love my boyfriend and his superior gift-giving!!). I like the white model sooooo much though. You think im a fool? nah, what I am is a fan with a lot of disposable income, and Nintendo consoles in almost every room. and what you are is a Fony fanboy hating on a superior system. go watch a stripped down umd movie.

Posted Jun 13, 2006 5:10 pm PT
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Rick-RJ

This is great for Nintendo, but now I'll have to wait to buy mine.

Posted Jun 13, 2006 4:25 pm PT
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hammer_to_fall

Sony, you hearing this, stick to what you are good at; walkmans. Sorry I forgot that you are stuck in the analog age, in a digital age. Go Apple (Of course) after Nintendo.

Posted Jun 13, 2006 4:21 pm PT
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courtez2k4

As cool as the DS Lite if Nintendo ever make another iteration it better be a little more than a makeover i.e. some extra functionality please e.g. in built rumble for a start.

Posted Jun 13, 2006 4:05 pm PT
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Mr_Nihilism

I decided to pick up a Lite here in NB, Canada, and there was no problem finding on at EB. Walmart also had plenty. The clerk there was trying to explain the difference to some mom. Funny.

Posted Jun 13, 2006 4:00 pm PT
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LanceK17

GO NINTENDO!!!

Posted Jun 13, 2006 3:54 pm PT
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metroidlink1030

"DS sux"

Heh...wow. What and imaginative post. Took you a while to brew that one, huh? I won't even start on you. You're either a huge fanboy, or just dillusional to the point of insanity if you think the DS is a bad handheld. 20 million people obviously disagree with you...

Posted Jun 13, 2006 3:41 pm PT
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vader501st

DS sux

Posted Jun 13, 2006 3:36 pm PT
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vatterott

I want to get one for Christmas.

Posted Jun 13, 2006 3:33 pm PT
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EvanO_O

Where's the psp's redesign, huh Sony? See how well a revised psp will do to sales and actual control in psp games?

Posted Jun 13, 2006 3:10 pm PT
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gaming_otaku

I want one...

Posted Jun 13, 2006 3:06 pm PT
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SephirothSyZtem

DS lite sure is a sexy beast huh?

Posted Jun 13, 2006 2:55 pm PT
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Conanfan1

I want to go out and get one now, but I'm afraid that they'll be releasing the new colors soon. I want a black DS and I'm not willing to import so I think I'll wait to see if they announce it. I think my old DS will just have to be good enough until then.

Posted Jun 13, 2006 2:38 pm PT
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Disgaeamad

Lucky USers. I'm awaiting the DS Lite eagerly over here in the UK. It looks very nice, and shiny, along with being very good for carrying around in your pocket.

Can't for it.

Posted Jun 13, 2006 2:33 pm PT
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metroidlink1030

"I want one, but I am afraid that there will be another DS right around the corner."

*sigh* This is exactly what I mean, people don't think! You do realize that it took them almost two years just to make this revision, don't you? The original DS came out in November 2004. Not to mention, this revison was based solely off of feedback from customers. There are absolutely no complaints about the DS Lite as of right now that I know of except dead pixels, but that's normal. Besides, Nintendo replaces them for free. Stop being idiots.

Posted Jun 13, 2006 2:14 pm PT
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metroidlink1030

"you guys are so gullable
who cares if the screen if a bit brighter and the size a little smaller

this is why i hate companies such as nintendo, they get all their money by doing this"

You don't understand until you actually play one for yourself. For one thing, the screens aren't just a little brighter....they're A TON brighter. It's amazing to look at the two DS's in comparison. It's really hard to go back playing a normal DS after playing a Lite. Second, the screens have better black levels, better resolution, and I believe a better dot pitch, as well, and it's obvious because the viewing angle is much better.

The system itself is also REALLY light, so much more than the original, and it is a lot smaller than you think. It's about an inch smaller in length than the PSP, and the PSP and DS Lite are about the same thickness. The unit is also a lot more comfortable to hold for long periods of time, and you don't get hand or eye strain like with the normal DS.....it's great. Not to mention....the system's sexy factor is VERY VERRRY high.

Another good thing....playing some of your old games on a Lite is really cool. I noticed things in Metroid Prime Hunters that I never saw the first time around. Mario Kart looks great, and Mario 64 is no longer pixelated or washed-out.

The last great thing about the DS Lite is the battery life. At the highest brightness setting, you get about the same battery life as your normal DS, and the highest brightness setting almost hurts your eyes in a dark room. I usually keep mine on the next to highest setting, which I believe gets you like 12-15 hours of continuous gameplay....amazing. At the lowest setting, which is a tad bit brighter than the original, you get about 20 hours. The charging time also doesn't take as long. They really made everything much more efficient. The DS Lite is an amazing handheld.

Also, haters like you need to do some research. All companies make revisions to their hardware. And I just have to ask you this one question: If Nintendo kept the original DS the way it was forever when you KNOW they have a much better design behind closed doors, would you be happy with the original design forever? People like you don't think. It's not like they're gonna release a DS Liter in two months....it took them 4 years to make the Game Boy Micro after the release of the SP, for christ's sake! Calm down!

Posted Jun 13, 2006 2:09 pm PT
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Dima_06

My friend doesn't like games too much. Most of the day, he just lies around sucking his finger. Otherwise, my friend got his CDL license, so that's one goal he has achieved. Let's hope he doesn't get in trouble with the police while driving a semi. Oh, and the DS Lite rules. Sorry to get off topic before. Too bad I can't afford a DS yet.

Posted Jun 13, 2006 2:06 pm PT
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living420

I want one, but I am afraid that there will be another DS right around the corner.

Posted Jun 13, 2006 1:54 pm PT
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metroidlink1030

Heh....now that the DS is finally getting the recognition it deserves in America, I wonder what Sony will do? Watch the PSP DUAL come out in a year...Two Four-inch screens, and they fold on top of each other in a clamshell design. Meh, I'm just kidding about that, of course, but wouldn't it be just like Sony to do that?

I was never very partial of the PSP's design, since I have big hands. My thumbs always got all cramped when I played one because the buttons are so close to the side. They're gonna have to make a re-design, or at least a variation eventually. Now that the DS has a design that looks better than the PSPs (IMO) maybe Sony will have to cool it up more for the sake of their GTA-loving mainstream crowd. (Sorry for that bashing, but I despise everything Sony has been doing lately).

Posted Jun 13, 2006 1:51 pm PT
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mistermime

I cant wait for tomorrow !!

Posted Jun 13, 2006 1:39 pm PT
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GameBeaten

I'll get one for Christmas. I'm getting tired of asking my brother if I can play his DS.

Posted Jun 13, 2006 1:39 pm PT
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Redline65

I wonder why people didn't just buy from Japan since they are region free.

No warranty comes to mind.

Posted Jun 13, 2006 1:23 pm PT
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dronionmonkey

I have a regular DS, what the heck am i supposed to do with my Normal DS?I'm not a freaking bank. i have a money limit.

Posted Jun 13, 2006 1:20 pm PT
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dim2192

you guys are so gullable
who cares if the screen if a bit brighter and the size a little smaller

this is why i hate companies such as nintendo, they get all their money by doing this

Posted Jun 13, 2006 1:15 pm PT
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faizali86

the good thing about nintendo is that its consoles are reasonably priced. i love it. looking forward to the wii. keep it up nintendo.

Posted Jun 13, 2006 12:39 pm PT
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CloudStrife57

Now all we need is the New Mario Bros. and a whole load of new colourful games to come!

Posted Jun 13, 2006 12:38 pm PT
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20Minutes

these things always come out lighter, smaller, stronger, brighter, more colorful, etc. in a couple months after they're released. which is why i never buy portables when they first come out.

consoles will come out with updated versions a lot less frequently. like the PS2 slimline, so consoles are a must have on their release date. portables i can wait for.

Posted Jun 13, 2006 12:33 pm PT
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drksamus101

i am very satisfied with my big ol' tanker-sized ds
and i'd rather be a faithful nintendo fan by getting the first version than by being a friggin poser and waiting until the best of the best ds comes out

Posted Jun 13, 2006 12:33 pm PT
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RpgReaver

I just went to EB Games and K-Mart like 30 min ago and both of them had multiple copies. Not too hard to find around here. I live about 20 min from South Philly.

Posted Jun 13, 2006 12:08 pm PT
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assassinX01

seriously, why buy something "new" when you already have the previous version, when there is no substantial difference between the two. There's no one who doesn't have a portable system buying these; it's all people who own the original DS, have extra money to waste, and buy them just to get attention. "Look i got the new (blank)!"

Posted Jun 13, 2006 11:58 am PT
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Dark_Pheonix01

Im glad they modified the design. Now the PSP has more competition with the DS, now that you can see the screen and all.

Posted Jun 13, 2006 11:58 am PT
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YakumoWarZ

I wonder why people didn't just buy from Japan since they are region free.

I love Lik-Sang.com

Posted Jun 13, 2006 11:21 am PT
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GaaraZanta

"tmacyao111
This is pointless information because the ds and the ds lite suck. The psp is better in my opinion."

No, actually it is not pointless information because as you can see, you came and read it right, other people have come and read it right? The DS doesn't suck, for why then would it be selling so well? The PSP might be better in your opinion( I'm not refuting that) but saying the DS sucks is just plain stupid, crawl out of your fanboy hole.

Posted Jun 13, 2006 11:20 am PT
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lase88

I sat here and read these ravings about how good the Lite was for 20 minutes, and was forced to go out and buy one. I am amazed at the weight and the size. The numbers they gave out don't let your realize how much slimmer the system actually is.

Yes the screens are bright too.

Posted Jun 13, 2006 11:19 am PT
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i_love_my_ds

nintendo, why do you do this to me?

Posted Jun 13, 2006 11:13 am PT
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berlindex

waiting for european realese...baaaah

Posted Jun 13, 2006 11:02 am PT
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jaefrmbk2k

i got myne 3000+ years ago cuz,

I.M. FROM

(the year 3000)

p.s. i thought it would be alot lite-r

Posted Jun 13, 2006 10:57 am PT
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Limonadi

i live in finland and i going to buy it in summer

Posted Jun 13, 2006 10:47 am PT
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Phazevariance

tmacyao111: No one asked for your crappy opinion! DS games beat out any PSP games for "fun and entertainment" value any day. Besides, why buy an overpriced PSP just to play dumbed down versions of games that are already on PS2?

Posted Jun 13, 2006 10:12 am PT
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diesil

ill buy them all hahahah(evil laugh)

Posted Jun 13, 2006 10:07 am PT
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diesil

im tradin my old ds in and getting a lite

Posted Jun 13, 2006 10:05 am PT
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xbox_gamer1

It looks awesome, but ill stick with my PSP until Microsoft comes out with their own portable.Then its good bye PSP.

Posted Jun 13, 2006 9:31 am PT
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