Original DS browser available online only

When the DS Lite's Web-surfing software hits retail, the browser for its predecessor will be available only via online outlets.

Earlier this year, Nintendo pegged a June 4 North American release date for its Opera-developed DS Web browser, trailing behind the software's European and Japanese debuts of 2006. As in both of those territories, the software will arrive in two packages: one compatible with the original DS hardware and one with the redesigned DS Lite.

However, North American stores will be stocking only the DS Lite edition of the browser. Web-wanting owners of the original DS will have to order it online. A representative of the company told GameSpot that "a version of the Web browser for the original Nintendo DS will be available online, while a version for Nintendo DS Lite will be available at retail."

The online store of GameStop is currently offering preorders only for the DS Lite edition of the browser, which it has tagged with a $34.99 price. A complete list of sites that will sell the original DS browser is not yet available, but the Nintendo representative did say it would be carried on Nintendo's own Web site.

This is not the first time Nintendo has kept one of its offerings from the aisles of most brick-and-mortar outlets. Last year, Nintendo released the DS music title Electroplankton exclusively through its online store, the Nintendo World Store in New York City, and "major online retailers."

200 Comments

  • mariomaker26

    Posted Oct 4, 2008 6:17 pm PT

    the original ds is betterz!! its more durable!! y spend more $ on sumthin thats less durable! its like buying a harly for an extreme amount of $ when a cheaper motercycle has more miles on it! shame on you nintendo!

  • mariomaker26

    Posted Oct 4, 2008 6:17 pm PT

    the original ds is betterz!! its more durable!! y spend more $ on sumthin thats less durable! its like buying a harly for an extreme amount of $ when a cheaper motercycle has more miles on it! shame on you nintendo!

  • mariomaker26

    Posted Oct 4, 2008 6:17 pm PT

    the original ds is betterz!! its more durable!! y spend more $ on sumthin thats less durable! its like buying a harly for an extreme amount of $ when a cheaper motercycle has more miles on it! shame on you nintendo!

  • mariomaker26

    Posted Oct 4, 2008 6:17 pm PT

    the original ds is betterz!! its more durable!! y spend more $ on sumthin thats less durable! its like buying a harly for an extreme amount of $ when a cheaper motercycle has more miles on it! shame on you nintendo!

  • mariomaker26

    Posted Oct 4, 2008 6:17 pm PT

    the original ds is betterz!! its more durable!! y spend more $ on sumthin thats less durable! its like buying a harly for an extreme amount of $ when a cheaper motercycle has more miles on it! shame on you nintendo!

  • mariomaker26

    Posted Oct 4, 2008 6:16 pm PT

    the original ds is betterz!! its more durable!! y spend more $ on sumthin thats less durable! its like buying a harly for an extreme amount of $ when a cheaper motercycle has more miles on it! shame on you nintendo!

  • gonzalo929292

    Posted Sep 5, 2007 10:32 pm PT

    WUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, i have only the original DS, and all these new things for ds that only come for DS LITE, i dont know if i have to buy the new DS or wat?

  • Mikirou

    Posted Jun 15, 2007 3:34 pm PT

    I don't have this yet but I can't wait to get it. Sadly, I've HEARD you can't watch videos on Youtube, it blocks porno ( D: aw. ), and I've also heard about something about Myspace...But when I get it, I'll tell you what I know. Not what I've heard.

  • Devoo55

    Posted Jun 14, 2007 12:48 pm PT

    Who cares about original DS.. DS LITE FTW! WOOOT

  • MendellW

    Posted Jun 10, 2007 10:09 pm PT

    Wow this is garbage... it's like they're punishing original DS owners for not waiting and getting a lite. Hey Nintendo, did you know that without the first DS's owners YOU GUYS WOULD HAVE NO DS SALES!!!! Oh well, Microsoft still loves me.

  • gaara378

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 11:12 am PT

    Us original Ds owners are getting screwed royaly! We want the original Ds version NOW!

  • Cuk8ke

    Posted Jun 5, 2007 11:59 am PT

    This isn't a comment, I only have a question. When will the Web Browser for the original DS be available online? I've checked nintendo.com and there's no way to purchase it today, June 5th. I prefer my original DS over the smaller DS Lite.

  • stpaul

    Posted Jun 1, 2007 2:00 pm PT

    the difference between sony and its competitors is that Nintendo and Microsoft give consumers options. for example, i have absolutely no interest in blue-ray or HD-DVD; yet i have some passing interest in wi-fi. Nintendo and Microsoft give me the option of tailoring a basic gaming system to my own personal preference. However, Sony expects me to pony up the big bucks to purchase a system with features I don't want or need. Case in point: I'm not going to get a DS browser due to its price and limitations. Nor am I going to buy the HD-DVD ad on for the 360. I'll just enjoy those systems for what I really care about, namely games. But hey if you want to pay through the ass for Sony's bloated, overblown products, go right on ahead.

  • godoo

    Posted May 28, 2007 3:05 pm PT

    the DS can do anything they just made it seem cheaper at first lower than PSP by 100 and then upgrade it every few months which makes it seem less expensive nentindo is very good at doing this

  • mysticsimba

    Posted May 24, 2007 4:19 pm PT

    what i would like to know is if you can view youtube.com on it. i hated that you couldn't do that on the psp. considering i have 3 sibs and its hard to get on the computer.

  • TWINE007

    Posted May 15, 2007 1:50 am PT

    Has anyone had any luck with online banking with the browser as I haven't been able to log into either NAB or ING Direct (both Australian websites) - both sites load up fine but when it comes to log in time nothing happens! I've had no probs accessing my e-mail but this is giving me the s@$*s - If anyone has had issues with this or has found a way around it please let me know. Many thanks.

  • theKSMM

    Posted May 13, 2007 9:34 pm PT

    So how do you download this software? Does the DS have internal memory to store downloadable programs? And if so, how do you launch it? (As you can tell, I haven't spent much time with the DS, and I'm not too familiar with its specs.)

  • Brizen__Beez

    Posted May 8, 2007 10:30 pm PT

    This is a unique product. Intrigued definately by the capability of the DS which makes this even more interesting. A price tag of $35 bucks seems a lot, but it does provide an excellent service to those people that if they ever want to browse the internet on the go, at coffee shops, or anywhere else they connect without using a laptop, surely this is a unique product. And recently, Iv'e seen a lot more people hang out with their DSs showing its popularity and usefullness, so definatly putting a web browser that integrates with the system is a good choice. Maybe not for so much money...

  • R3DN1N3

    Posted May 8, 2007 10:22 am PT

    This is perfect for those people who don't have a laptop or PSP and CANNOT live without checking their myspace page(my brother) or gamespot news blogs(that's me!). Hmmm......$35 bucks seems a bit much though. Well if the browser gets a good review then I'm buying this along with my DS-lite. My bro will have to wait lol.

  • hammer_of_thor_

    Posted May 8, 2007 5:42 am PT

    I think the browser is pointless, that's why I'm not paying for it. If you don't want it, don't get it and stop whining.

  • FallenOneX

    Posted May 7, 2007 10:06 pm PT

    OMG, OMG, the world is going to end! Nintendo is charging us $35 for something you don't even need! How dare a corporation try to make money off consumers. That's like a phone company trying to "sell" you ringtones of the latest songs! And then tahy have the nerve to only sell one version online, that would be like big companies like EA and Capcom only offering extra downloadable content online instead of....... Do I really need to continue, or will you people quit crying about how you feel cheated? Just because a service is included in the base price doesn't make it free. You people kill me...... How many of you use Windows? Why use windows when Linux is a perfectly free OS that can do the same damned thing? It's called preference, and that's what you're paying for. That's why I'm responding to this on the Linux desktop.

  • Mattjs95

    Posted May 7, 2007 5:37 pm PT

    woot

  • Nin10doFan44

    Posted May 7, 2007 4:03 pm PT

    People want the DS Web Browser so you can go on the internet because your older brother or sister is always hogging the computer!

  • Harerazer

    Posted May 7, 2007 3:23 pm PT

    The real question is why anyone would want to surf the web on a DS?

  • playwrite

    Posted May 7, 2007 12:41 pm PT

    why are there 2...?

  • Shifty_Pete

    Posted May 7, 2007 12:07 pm PT

    I'm with HVAC. Charging more than the cost of the cartridge for the browser is just a slap in the face. This is something the DS should have had built-in.

  • YukoAsho

    Posted May 7, 2007 10:57 am PT

    Havoc - Agreed. When PCs, the PSP and the PS3 all come with free web browsers, it's clear that Nintendo is just half-assing it to say that they have online capabilities. Between making wired connections on the Wii a hassle, asinine friend codes, and now a $35 web browser, it's clear that Nintendo wants to say they're serious about online without actually being serious about online.

  • Hvac0120

    Posted May 7, 2007 9:25 am PT

    HOLY BUCKET OF NICKELS AND DIMES BATMAN!!!

    $34.99 for a WEB BROWSER?!?!?!

    Get outta here! - I will NEVER pay for a web browser. I will ALWAYS assume it is a free feature (aside from actual internet connection from ISP) with any web-abled device I purchase.

    Wow. Nintendo is pulling a BIG Microsoft move on us here....maybe it's Opera's choice to charge that much...?.....

  • LINIKINthePARK

    Posted May 7, 2007 9:06 am PT

    " littlewiz77
    *doesnt read*
    so, you have to buy the browser, online?
    How will you get it, without the internet?
    Posted May 5, 2007 8:12 pm PT"

    So no internet you probably won't hear about it anyways

  • joshuahaveron

    Posted May 7, 2007 8:16 am PT

    cool but i dont know if ill end up getting it .............................

  • chrisdojo

    Posted May 7, 2007 6:50 am PT

    lite is the way to go anyways....

  • macksed

    Posted May 7, 2007 1:18 am PT

    how come america is getting it so much later than the Brits??? oh well...im not complaining...its about time we started gettin stuff first (or even at the same time)

  • vaejas

    Posted May 6, 2007 4:47 pm PT

    Amazon = works for me.
    However, it's obvious that Opera would delight in charging for their browser. They only recently started offering the full PC version for free.

  • Mindchamber

    Posted May 6, 2007 4:12 pm PT

    a couple of questions to those who have it.

    1) what flash plugin is it running? Flash 7 or higher like the wii?
    2)how do you input letters? does it have a keyboard on teh 2nd screen for the stylus?
    3) can you map keyboard keys to your DS? like changing the arrow keys to work with the direction pad for example?

    if all these features are there, its worth the price, otherwise, Ill pass.

  • d_cjay13

    Posted May 6, 2007 3:38 pm PT

    meh who cares ive got a psp ill just use that for my wi fi online browser and use my ds lite for the good wi fi multiplayer but for people who only have an original ds like i used to this is a rip off. gamers buy the first ds and then they get screwed over in the end. there is no hardware differences in the two ds except maybe screen size! wtf im still not gonna buy it for my lite.

  • KahnArtizt

    Posted May 6, 2007 2:44 pm PT

    why the hell do we have to PAY for an internet browser? the psp has one for free and it probably runs better too since psp is more powerful. ok so we get to click stuff with a stylus. big deal! thats the only advantage that the ds browser is gonna have over the psp's so why charge? no one will buy it!

  • Yodax007

    Posted May 6, 2007 2:15 pm PT

    I guess you guys missed the fact that you can STILL BUY A BROWSER FOR THE ORIGINAL DS. You just have to order it online.

  • Nemesis_x2

    Posted May 6, 2007 12:47 pm PT

    God im somewhat happy that i didnt buy one this week cheek,no bs lmfao.....

  • Alkerio

    Posted May 6, 2007 10:48 am PT

    I really hate this. I hate how Nintendo punishes faithful people who bought a DS first by releasing other ones later. Now they are further punishing faithfuls by doing crap like this. It's stupid.

  • cshadows11

    Posted May 6, 2007 10:27 am PT

    wow. so this is how nintendo rewards those who bought the ds when it first came out. and the worst part is, i was going to buy a psp, i mean theyre sexier, cooler and the games are less childish, but no i bought a ds. there is no way in hell i am going to buy a **** little ds lite.

  • T-bone123

    Posted May 6, 2007 9:09 am PT

    This is probably the stupidest thing Nintendo has ever done for handhelds. I know the hardware is a little different, but come on. They never did this with the GBA and GBA SP.

  • animemog

    Posted May 6, 2007 8:47 am PT

    This has been out for a long time since the DS is region free and I've heard it's not too impressive, is slow, etc. Hopefully that'll be fixed when this US version is released.

  • tenorio_rotc

    Posted May 6, 2007 8:13 am PT

    So why are there two versions of the browser?

  • koopatroopa1015

    Posted May 6, 2007 8:04 am PT

    I think this is a little over the top. It looks pretty cool but the internet just isn't for handhelds, it's not going to work as well... hey I thought the Max MP3 player for the DS was cool, but this is a little over the top.

  • Platyphyllum

    Posted May 6, 2007 8:03 am PT

    Why the heck are people saying that Nintendo is excluding the "early owners"? They said they're gonna sell the original DS version of the browser online

  • Generic_Dude

    Posted May 6, 2007 8:02 am PT

    Be forewarned that anyone expecting a portable Wii broswer will be severely disappointed. This one is VERY slow, first off. Secondly, there are nearly no features and given the fact that almost every site uses Flash nowadays, that can be an issue. The interface is surprisingly clunky too. I figured they could do a lot better with a stylus. Overall a bad product... the speed just makes it unusable for me.

    I didn't even know North America was getting this. I wouldn't have gone out of my way to import one from Japan. I can't even read Japanese.

  • rokkuman09

    Posted May 6, 2007 7:36 am PT

    Hey at least, original DS owners can get it all.. I have a DS and have been thinking about upgrading to a Lite.. but maybe I shouldn't and just order the web browser for my DS.. I would love using my DS at Starbucks to browse the internet.. That would be pretty.. geeky lol.

  • Sherban

    Posted May 6, 2007 6:21 am PT

    This would be a really cool FREE download. I don't even know if I'd pay $5.00 for it; but $35.00? Really Nintendo? You might as well not have released it. Oh yeah, and good job excluding your early adopters... again. I guess they're sending a message to us, the bread and butter that got Nintendo where they are: "We don't need you anymore". That's fine, I'll just cuddle up next to the real gaming platforms, and watch you waggle your way into oblivion.

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