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DSi gets tricolor treatment...in Japan

Third iteration of Nintendo's top-selling portable will be available in pink, green, and metallic blue shades in island nation starting March 20.

The Nintendo DSi has been on sale in Japan only since November, but it's already getting a trio of new colors added to its palette. Today, the hardware maker said that as of March 20, Japanese gamers can pick up the newly redesigned handheld gaming unit in pink, green, and metallic blue, as well as the black and white original hues. As with the currently available DSi, the newly colored handheld will retail for ¥18,900 ($194).

Demand for the DSi has been strong in Japan since Nintendo launched the third iteration of its current-generation portable. In the handheld's first two days on the market, Japanese gamers picked up more than 170,000 units, a number that had ballooned to more than 535,000 by month's end, according to Enterbrain. Through the end of 2008, all three versions of the handheld--2004's Nintendo DS, 2006's DS Lite, and 2008's DSi--had combined to sell more than 96.22 million units globally.

The DSi is expected to launch in the US on April 5 at a $169.99 price point--$40 more than the currently available DS Lite, which Nintendo plans to continue to sell after its successor's release. The device will initially be available in both a black and a bright blue hue (pictured, bottom). Nintendo's portable will go on sale in Europe on April 3, with an Australian rollout expected April 2.

As cause for the inflated price, the DSi features a .3-megapixel camera, a smaller inward-facing camera, photo editing software, an SD card multimedia storage slot, a Web browser, and music playback, as well as larger and brighter dual screens. The new functionality comes at the expense of the Game Boy Advance cartridge slot, which is absent altogether.

For more information, check out GameSpot's hands-on with the Japanese edition of the DSi.

61 Comments

  • hi-buzz

    Posted Mar 26, 2009 8:59 am GMT

    metallic BLUE, not that bright ice blue(crappy)

  • hi-buzz

    Posted Mar 26, 2009 8:37 am GMT

    black or maybe that sexy blue DSi

  • raptor400k

    Posted Mar 21, 2009 4:19 am GMT

    I still like the polar white DS, but the blue actually looks cool.

  • raptor400k

    Posted Mar 21, 2009 4:18 am GMT

    I still like the polar white DS, but the blue actually looks cool.

  • GameGoddess32

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 8:03 am GMT

    If they would come out with a lighter pink color,I might consider buying one

  • SuperfastSonic

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 2:11 pm GMT

    I want either the black or blue DSi. I think they could of released a red one instead of a light blue one though.

  • X-RS

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 8:33 pm GMT

    wow, that yellow is so misleading. makes me think of winter ;p

  • LadyFreyja

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 5:01 pm GMT

    Reaaaally want the pink one o_o

  • hatieshorrer

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 4:05 pm GMT

    I want a white DSi that matches my Wii but Im settling for black.

  • gameking5000

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 2:32 am GMT

    How long untill those those colours come to australia?!

  • flyingteddy

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 2:02 am GMT

    @togo2828,
    i use the GBA slot i'm sure i'm not the only one.

  • xdeiri

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 1:24 am GMT

    i want one so bad that i can play sonic unleashed for one

  • togo2828

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 10:13 pm GMT

    PS. I really want that Metallic Blue DSi

  • togo2828

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 10:09 pm GMT

    Guitar hero, wasn't that big of a seller world wide for Nintendo, so they said Heck no need to keep the GBA slot. They are not discontinuing the DSL so you can just buy that one instead. You just now have to make the choice, either transport your pokemon first then get it or don't get it at all. The GBA slot (I hate to say this) was a gimick inside the DS. Nintendo is trying to get away from the old but people just don't get that. And as for constantly upgrading, all systems do it. That's why there are 3 PSPs ((all which don't do half as good as the DS)) and 2 PS2s, and 4 different types of Xboxes and PS3's ((there really are alot of them)) Nintendo is just upgrading the DS again. THe DSL had a really small upgrade compared to the DSi. I don't think most people understand how great it will be to be able to download games on a popular ((most people have a ds of some type)) Handheld system. So for all the new stuff that comes with the DSi, I say, Screw the GBA slot, i didn't use it anyway, and bring on everything else WOO.

  • paxv1

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 9:41 pm GMT

    and how are we going to play guitar hero on this ds with out the gba slot....

  • paxv1

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 8:22 pm GMT

    no gba,,,,so how would i trade my gba pokemon into the ds pokemon......or any other game....i love how we can use our gba with the ds game but with out the gba slot how would we do it now....

  • Aizou

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 5:04 pm GMT

    Those colors are nice but I still like the black most. Probably because I'm a traditionalist and like my game systems black or gray. Either way I'm planning on getting one. I need a new DS, and this one sounds well worth waiting for.

  • freeezzzy

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 4:54 pm GMT

    @kiramasaki dont you buy a DSi to play DS games?????????

  • kiramasaki

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 4:51 pm GMT

    it cant play gba games, wtf; that right because ive never heard of a thing called a digital camera i need one on my ds, but God forbid if i want play, i don know, gba games

  • msudude211

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 4:02 pm GMT

    They're going the iPod Nano/Mini route.

  • HyruleanLink

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 3:44 pm GMT

    Always nice to have color options. I prefer the black and white mostly.

  • k0r3aN_pR1d3

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 3:13 pm GMT

    I've learned to not depend on companies for new colors hence why I like coloring my white DS with nail polish depending on my mood.

  • amkalfus

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 2:59 pm GMT

    i hope this is a sweet upgrade and they show some love state side for some different colors

  • -Squirrel-

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 2:58 pm GMT

    Since I'm gunna wait a few months before I hop on the DSi train, I can only hope that the US might get the metallic blue edition. And as for the hot pink, a friend of mine has been wanting a DS of that shade of pink since she picked up her pearl pink DS Lite; apparently metallic rose didn't do it for her either.

  • mAD_ADaption

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 2:50 pm GMT

    My friend finally got a DSlite last month. He's gonna be pissed when he hears about this :/

  • mariomusicmaker

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 2:49 pm GMT

    my launch ds broke this month, so i got a lite, now there is another iteration coming out? wtf, i wish i knew about this a few weeks ago... but still i guess i can give my light to my mom and use my sp for game boy av games,

  • Merl57

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 2:40 pm GMT

    japan is at least 2 ages ahead of us I think we are in the bronze age

  • freeezzzy

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 2:27 pm GMT

    so while Japan is getting new colors we in the US are waiting just for the black one????? thats not cool

  • Poppy425

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 2:16 pm GMT

    traded in my white lite to get the black dsi.

  • towelie892

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 1:55 pm GMT

    I'll be getting a black one on launch day to replace my now broken DS lite. I'm most looking forward to the GBA SP-like buttons and the download service.

  • Claudu

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 1:12 pm GMT

    santiagochile the problem is that I DO want it, because it is better and I can't see why anybody would NOT want it. And what I'm saying is not silly, because what they are doing now is a bit like changing the consoles into pc. You have to upgrade your hardware constantly if you want to take advantage of all the functions the game has to offer. That pisses me off, because even if I sell my DS Lite I'll still have to put some more money into buying the DSi like I did when I replaced my DS with DSL. It ruins the idea of all console owners being equal (meaning they all have the same hardware and can play the game the same way as every other owner out there). So we're screwed. If we buy the new one we'll pay a third time for the same thing, if we don't, we'll be left with an inferior system.

  • Killer2401

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 1:12 pm GMT

    I'll get a black DSi to replace my launch DS....I'm glad I didn't buy a Lite.

  • mAD_ADaption

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 1:11 pm GMT

    I really hope the metallic blue one comes stateside. I'm happy that I finally know the NA release date

  • CaptHowdy1965

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 1:09 pm GMT

    Well considering my daughter broke my DS, I think I'll just wait and buy a DSi, hopefully we can download gba games from the store.

  • santiagochile

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 1:01 pm GMT

    Claudu, what you say is silly. If you don't want it, then DON'T BUY IT! Is it really that difficult for you to comprehend? What is wrong with your DS Lite? If you can't afford a new one then don't spend money you don't have. I have a job and might get another one to go alongside my DS Lite, which replaced my original DS.

  • Claudu

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 12:57 pm GMT

    I really hate these constant hardware revisions that have been popularized in this generation. I feel like I'm getting screwed over and over again by every company out there. Bought a DS ? We've got a new one that's nicer and smaller and has a screen on which you can actually see anything go get that one! You got it ? Great! We've got a new that comes with a bigger screen, sd slot and a camera! Go get that one! Got it ? Great! Now we've got a new one with built in microwave and bottle-opener... And it's like that with almost every other system this gen. Screw them! Of course we had hardware revisions with previous systems, but they merely eliminated some problems or made the system cheaper to produce, they never added any major functions, so if your old one was still functional there was no reason to get a new one and you didn't feel like you've been screwed. I don't have a god damn mattress filled with money and I can't buy a new model of the same system every 6 months. I really hate this...

  • unreal_master

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 12:55 pm GMT

    cant wait to see what Dsi games look like probly not all taht amazing to run out and get one right away tho maybe next year

  • Kleeyook

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 12:53 pm GMT

    Sorry man! I'll get DSLite when DSi arrive!

  • reaper_97

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 12:52 pm GMT

    I want a black one.I think the camera is a good feature ,and that moving notepad app off of DSiWare looks neat.

  • Chico_Azteca

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 12:30 pm GMT

    I like the Black one, but i will wait for the obligatory special editions...

    or a Red one

  • PumpkinBoogie

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 11:59 am GMT

    Now see THAT'S the kind of blue color one we need to have stateside--instead of that nauseating baby blue.

    Damn....we always get the jacked up color choices (or either no color choices at all) here. This reminds me why I like buying import systems....

  • santiagochile

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 11:53 am GMT

    FoxExecutive, are you telling me that you have NO way to play GBA games?? Come on, get serious. There is NO NEED AT ALL for the GBA slot. All three GBAs play GBA games, as well as the original DS and the DS Lite.

  • FoxExecutive

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 11:37 am GMT

    I still don't understand why they felt removing the GBA slot was a necessity. I was planning on getting this and not just playing DS games, but the great GBA games as well. I understand they wanted to make it slimmer and more portable, but there were some great Castlevania games for the GBA and quite a few other games.

  • smfes

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 11:29 am GMT

    waiting for european release...

  • Expo_Smacko

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 11:20 am GMT

    I still think the black looks the best out of all the colors.

  • santiagochile

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 11:05 am GMT

    Gamespot saw my comment and updated their article.

    "As cause for the inflated price, the DSi features a .3-megapixel camera, a smaller inward-facing camera,"

    It is not 3, it is 0.3 megapixel, hardly anything to brag about. It is a neat idea, though.

  • santiagochile

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 10:58 am GMT

    "This means sales are unexpectedly weak so they are resorting to sales tactics. DS Lite on the other hand, it took them like 2 years to come out with a black DS Lite."

    Wow, this is just so false. Where to begin. In Japan the DS Lite LAUNCHED in three colors! White, dark blue, and light blue. In the US the pink and black DS lites launched LESS THAN 4 MONTHS after the White launched. Please, stop spreading lies.

  • travisstaggs

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 10:57 am GMT

    I like the blue.

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