Nintendo DS feeling blue

In every region, you can buy the Nintendo DS in a head-scratching range of locally specific colours. In Japan, for example, there are eight colours: Crystal White, Ice Blue, Enamel Navy, Noble Pink, Jet Black, Metallic Rose, Crimson/Black, and Gloss Silver. In Europe, there are four: White, Smart Black, Coral Pink, and Silver.

Now, a seventh hue is coming to the US colour roster--a dark blue version, the Cobalt/Black model. It joins Polar White, Coral Pink, Onyx, and Crimson/Black, as well as the limited edition Gold and Metallic Rose designs.

The statement explains, "Now there's a Nintendo DS colour to complement any outfit."

Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales and marketing, Cammie Dunaway, told GameSpot that more colours were likely to be released in the future, as the company is always looking at new options, but it has no specific plans as of yet.

The same goes for the Nintendo Wii, which is currently only available in all regions in one colour only--the original white. Those with long memories will recall that back when the console was codenamed the Revolution, there were several different colour models shown in promotional photos. However, again, Dunaway says Nintendo has no announcements to make about this at this time.

When asked about the possibility of another redesign on the Nintendo DS, which became the DS Lite in June 2006, Dunaway said the company would be focusing on software in 2008, to continue the momentum which led to the handheld being the best-selling game system in the US in 2007.

The new colour will go on sale February 10. A Nintendo Europe rep told GameSpot it had no plans to bring the new colours to the UK.