E-mail:
Password:
GameSpot Video Games, PC, Wii, PlayStation 2, GameCube, PSP, DS, GBA, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Nintendo confirms mass DS heist

Bounty of new Nintendo portables destined for UK gone; loss of reported $2 million in product won't disrupt launch.
By Tim Surette, GameSpot
Posted Jun 19, 2006 5:52 pm PT

Late last week, unconfirmed reports began to surface that a large shipment of DS Lites were stolen in Asia. Today Nintendo confirmed that the larceny did in fact take place, and that the shipment was intended for the launch of the new portable in the UK.

"A number of white DS Lites made for the UK market were stolen in Hong Kong," a Nintendo rep told GameSpot News. "Nintendo is making every effort to ensure that there is enough product available in the UK to meet market demand at launch."

The exact amount of losses as a result of the theft isn't clear, but several Internet reports speculated that the monetary damage hovered around the $2 million mark. Others reported the handheld as turning up en masse in the black markets of Taiwan and Hong Kong.

The DS Lite, which has been in high demand in both Japan and the United States, is scheduled to make its debut in the UK on June 23. The handheld was released in America on June 11, where it sold 136,500 units in its first two days on the market.

Sign up now to post a comment on this story!

216 Comments

First to Last Latest
1 2 3 4 5
« prevnext »
OddballACamAXYZ

Wow. The DS is that popular. How about stealing the PS3 launch units next??

Posted Jun 26, 2006 4:43 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Edward1211

I hope its not my chinese friend who stole them!?!?
that would suck big time!!!!

Posted Jun 24, 2006 11:38 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
nintendo56

sony hired thevies to take them and sony will get the profits

Posted Jun 23, 2006 8:08 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
metdevthegamer

Yeah, spray paint, but try not to paint the buttons and the screens. Getting your choice color right out of the box is easier, plus they look better.

And why not black? It's such a lovely color, it flatters almost everything. Personally, I would like a Navy over the Black though.

Heh, I wouldn't be surprised if the individuals who stole the DS Lites will paint them black after reading all of these comments.

Posted Jun 21, 2006 1:46 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Ben85236

Why are you people obsessed with the freakin' color? Are you telling me you'd like a broken black DS, over a functional white one? C'mon! Think! Spray paint the freakin' thing!

Posted Jun 21, 2006 12:16 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
juvinwo1

its probably a conspiracy by sony lol, you cant stop the BIG N, they will rule over all, muhahahahaha

Posted Jun 21, 2006 10:13 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
0diablo0

NINTENDO SUCKS!!

THIS IS NOT FANBOYISM THIS IS IHATENINTENDOISM

Posted Jun 21, 2006 9:51 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
metdevthegamer

Wow, is it just me or are a lot of people unaware of the black DS Lite? Well, for all of those who don't know what a Black one looks like, here's a few pictures:

http://www.mobilemag.com/content/images/7986_large.jpg
http://www.cubed3.com/media/2006/May/jb/dsblack.jpg

I hope they can recover their stock, the last thing any company needs is to lose $2 Million worth of products because of someone's greed.

Posted Jun 21, 2006 9:11 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
swmr4201

Smells like Yakuza spirit.

Posted Jun 21, 2006 8:15 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
bluecollarkid

I don't care, I got a Lite. And to the people who want black, ITS NOT BLACK, it's DARK BLUE.

Posted Jun 21, 2006 7:48 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Sanguis_Malus

Disgraceful. The depths that these criminals will ascend to.
If only their mother's were aware !!!

Posted Jun 21, 2006 6:00 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
00Rambol00

ahhhh ass munchin thieves, i hope wen they catch these b******s that they cut their hands off, $2 million dollers is a big loss!

Posted Jun 21, 2006 5:11 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
elgobbes

I once stole a truckload of Virtual Boys. No one stopped me.

Posted Jun 21, 2006 3:05 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
DFTricks

Well that just suks!

Posted Jun 20, 2006 7:21 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
rbarahona

WOW!!! I find it very hard to believe that a complete shipment of Nintendo DS Lite have been stolen. Without a doubt those units will be spotte in China and Hong Kong... even in some Latin American countries Hopefully Nintendo will be able to produce enough units for Europe, America and Japan.

Posted Jun 20, 2006 5:58 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
faridmon

i bet Sony send solid snake and that dude from splinter cell to steal those 2 million worth of a DSs, thats pretty smart job sony.
Microsoft, what stealth characters do u have? and no, master chief can't steel those DSs unless he bombs the china goverment

Posted Jun 20, 2006 5:03 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
i_love_my_ds

looks like someone really wanted a ds...........

Posted Jun 20, 2006 4:36 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
condemned100

i wouldn't mind having the white ds lite

Posted Jun 20, 2006 4:23 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Kwiksilva

The DS is one great system you have to admit.

Posted Jun 20, 2006 1:27 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
homiebo

hhmmm. people really want these DS's now days. black in white, true unity

Posted Jun 20, 2006 12:24 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Goku-stream

Ow thats big, hopefully something can be done, and hopefuully the amount shipped out and released on release date in the UK will be a sufficient amount for the UK consumers!!!

Posted Jun 20, 2006 11:36 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
marco888

I really like the polar white DS lite so I am not really affected by this but still Nintendo could have released a Black DS lite at the same time they released the polar white one

Posted Jun 20, 2006 11:05 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Zaidyn

black feels like psp, white feels like iPod. Nintendo should be different and realease it in silver.

Posted Jun 20, 2006 10:47 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
DarkHero1

I can't wait to buy my Nintendo DS Lite. Only 3 days.

Posted Jun 20, 2006 10:27 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Wonderboy2790

Don't worry, Reggie Fils-Aime saw this comming a long time ago, "My name is Reggie. I'm about kickin' ass. I'm about takin' names. And we're about making games." He's already got the names of the people responsible, now it's time for him to kick some ass.

Posted Jun 20, 2006 10:27 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
prozack28

guys all i did was fly my big ol' jumbo jet down and load em in the back. It was my easiest job ever. Im getting some psp's next week.

Posted Jun 20, 2006 10:24 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
tocool340

We know that the DS is owning sony, BUT WHY DID THEY HAVE TO GO AND STEAL THE SHIPMENT.....

Posted Jun 20, 2006 10:07 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
metdevthegamer

I think japanesegoth found them! lol!

That's really funny. New, remain sealed, from Hong Kong, very suspicious indeed.

Posted Jun 20, 2006 9:57 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
bobreturns

ouch $2 million

Posted Jun 20, 2006 9:49 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Emosupside

thats probably them , thats pretty funnny

Posted Jun 20, 2006 9:45 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
japanesegoth

i dunno if i'm allowed to post a link, but i saw this on ebay...it looks suspicious.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-NINTENDO-DS-Lite-White-NDS-REMAIN-SEALED_W0QQitemZ104752117958QQcategoryZ75555QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Posted Jun 20, 2006 9:42 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
anamnawshad

How in the H3ll did such a huge shipment got stolen!?!?!

Posted Jun 20, 2006 9:42 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
jaefrmbk2k

sounds like another sucessful mission from G.T.A.:Real Life. it shows that it's popularity is spreading worldwide. even my grandma is beatin' up old ladies on the street for petty cash. way better than the video game IMO

Posted Jun 20, 2006 9:41 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
japanesegoth

wow...stay away from hong kong then.

i heard miyamoto is going there with his rocket launcher

Posted Jun 20, 2006 9:34 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
geckosprouch

I hope Nintendo is pumping out a whack more!

Posted Jun 20, 2006 9:29 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
mattman734

They just lost 2million dollars and all you guys care about still is the color of them ... jerks

Posted Jun 20, 2006 9:10 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
MoonSaultKid

"So good, you'll steal for one?" I'm surprised nobody's made that joke yet.

Posted Jun 20, 2006 9:07 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
tebahpla

somethings wrong man. there's a conspiracy goin on...

Posted Jun 20, 2006 8:52 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Berem

Posted Jun 20, 2006 8:52 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
marioman50

"Oh wait, that's right. IT NEVER HAPPENED, BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS A P.O.S.P. "
^haha, I found that funny even though I have one

Posted Jun 20, 2006 8:47 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
tonemd_basic

whats the possibility that they can be tracked down if people use them to play games online?

Posted Jun 20, 2006 8:45 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Berem

Lol thats funny.

Posted Jun 20, 2006 8:33 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
3ternalsword207

hmmm are there any PSP's stolen also????

Posted Jun 20, 2006 8:32 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
elpuertorican

hmm.... I already got one, but i guess gettimg a DS Lite wont be so bad....not ALL of the DS`s coudve have been stolen, so no prob

Posted Jun 20, 2006 8:28 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
bc1391

I take it that im the only one that doesn't mind their "big" DS

Posted Jun 20, 2006 8:27 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Dinghy_Dog

wow, and they say americans are a bunch of crooks? i bet these people wont even be caught

Posted Jun 20, 2006 8:23 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
glhx1rush

wow, $2Mil in DS lites stolen, hmmmm, Thieves must be selling them to save up enough money for the new UK PS3 Package! You can almost buy 2 1/2 PS3's for that amount! hahahahahahaha

Posted Jun 20, 2006 8:09 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
moocow21

Wow, that's a huge theft. I'm shocked that $2 mil of DS lites could be stolen just like that.

Posted Jun 20, 2006 7:58 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Bman360

I think the Chinese mafia took them and went back in time and sold them to Sony so Sony would be able to create the PSP. 0__0

Posted Jun 20, 2006 7:55 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
cyprus646

The black DS lite !? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO well atleast i can get it from my local chinese merchant on the corner for half the price ;-)

Posted Jun 20, 2006 7:45 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
1 2 3 4 5
« prevnext »
advertisement

Latest Entertainment Headlines

Latest TV headlines from
Cartoon Network draws on comics for movies
Cartoon Network developing movies based on the comic-book series Firebreather, The Vanishers, and Mice Templar.

Story Tags

News Features

Featured Stories

E3 2008: SCEA unveils $399 80GB PS3, God of War III

Sony's press conference sees SCEA president Jack Tretton reveal Resistance for PSP and MAG, an all-new massive action game from Zipper Interactive; PS3 video store launching tonight; full video inside.
Posted Jul 15, 2008 11:31 am PT

Newsmakers

E3 2008: Video Q&A: Carmack on 'one-game' id-EA deal

Legendary Doom founder, id lead designer Tim Willits, and EA Partners GM David DeMartini talk to GameSpot about how Electronic Arts became Rage's publisher.
Posted Jul 14, 2008 10:47 pm PT