Not that I doubted it....

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New Nintendo DS Lites the Way for Mario

Lighter, Brighter Hardware Follows Latest Version of Top Franchise

REDMOND, Wash., May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Millions of people around the world already enjoy playing Nintendo DS(TM), and the system's future looks even brighter.  On June 11, Nintendo DS(TM) Lite joins Nintendo's video game family when it launches in the Americas.  The lighter, brighter version of the hot-selling Nintendo DS is expected to be priced as low as $129.99 at retailers throughout the United States.  The inaugural color is an elegant Polar White with a raised DS logo on the cover.

Nintendo DS Lite arrives just in time for players to pop in the latest version of one of the most storied franchises in video game history.  New Super Mario Bros.(R), launching May 15, updates classic Mushroom Kingdom action with new features and fun.

"DS Lite and New Super Mario Bros. represent a double shot of gaming excellence," says Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales & marketing.  "We've got something for both lovers of beautiful, new gadgets and fans of old-school gaming."

Nintendo DS Lite comes with a variety of distinctive changes that set it apart from the original -- and from all other hand-held video game systems:

  * It's less than two-thirds the size of the original Nintendo DS and more
    than 20 percent lighter.

  * Its two bright screens can be adjusted to four levels to adapt to
    different lighting conditions and to extend battery power.

  * The microphone sits in the center of the unit, and the LED lights are
    clearly visible whether the unit is open or closed.

  * The stylus is 1 centimeter longer and 1 millimeter thicker than the
    stylus of the original, and slides into a side storage slot.

  * The Start and Select buttons were repositioned for easier access.

  * A removable cover keeps the Game Boy(R) Advance cartridge slot clear
    from dust and debris when it's not in use.

New Super Mario Bros. is just one of the many Nintendo DS games that look great on Nintendo DS Lite.  Players set off on a side-scrolling platform adventure bursting with the style and superb game play that got many people hooked on video games in the first place.  The Mushroom Kingdom is populated with friends and foes, both new and old, and tons of power-ups, including mushrooms that make Mario mega- and micro-sized.  The Super Mario franchise has sold more than 184 million games worldwide, which makes it one of the top-selling video game franchises of all time.

Ever since its November 2004 launch, the original Nintendo DS has helped to redefine perceptions of what constitutes a video game.  Many systems have been sold to people who are discovering video games for the first time. Nintendo(R) Wi-Fi Connection, Nintendo's wireless gaming service, has seen more than 1 million connections worldwide.  Thousands of people every day log on to battle one another in Metroid(R) Prime Hunters or see who has all their Tetriminos (falling blocks) in a row in Tetris(R) DS.

Nintendo DS continues to broaden the market for video games.  Nintendo DS has software that appeals to older gamers, hard-core gamers and even lapsed gamers.  Brain Age(TM): Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day went on sale in the United States on April 17 after encountering massive success in Japan. Nintendo will continue that momentum by introducing two upcoming titles that require more brain power than firepower.  On June 5, Big Brain Academy(TM) arrives to challenge users with a variety of mental tests designed to evaluate various skills.  Then on June 26, Sudoku Gridmaster will keep number crunchers busy with more than 400 sudoku puzzles, each one sanctioned by the original creators of sudoku.

The worldwide innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii(TM), Nintendo DS(TM), Game Boy(R) Advance and Nintendo GameCube(TM) systems.  Since 1983, Nintendo has sold more than 2 billion video games and more than 360 million hardware units globally, and has created industry icons like Mario(TM), Donkey Kong(R), Metroid(R), Zelda(TM) and Pokemon(R).  A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in the Western Hemisphere.  For more information about Nintendo, visit the company's Web site at www.nintendo.com.
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I was about to import it from LikSang for $199US....+ shipping and I'm sure 40-60% customs charges. I think I'll wait.

I've never had any desire to import systems nor games (but maybe that's because I don't know Japanese)!  Now, the question is when can you pre-order?

cheers,

-avatar!

I'd be surprised if you couldn't do that at EB/GS now, considering it's about a month away. Hmm....

I actually like the bulkiness of the original one. It looks big opened, but folded, it's exactly the same size as the original GBA and a little bigger than the Neo Pocket (which I carried in my pocket quite frequently). The D-pad on the Lite one is a major question mark for me (the original one is nice and large), otherwise I'd have probably waited for the Lite one only for the different screen brightnesses (not a real issue, honestly).

$129.99 is a very attractive price point indeed.  Too bad it's not debuting with NSMB, but June is still just around the corner. 

On a side note, those who are considering purchasing the DS Lite Hori Screen Protectors..... don't.  The word is that some - not necessarily all - are made with a sticky adhesive which leave gunky smudges on your screens.   I can attest to that fact, as mine left an awful mess on my touch screen.  It can be cleaned off, but it's a heck of a job to do so.

Should've listened to Joe, and just went with original DS Hori Screen Protectors - those don't seem to have the sticky adhesive.

Makes me feel stupid for buying the old style when this new one is just around the corner.

Objection!  This seems to be a contradiction...don't buy DS Hori Screen Protectors and then you should have "ust went with original DS Hori Screen Protectors."  I thought Hori products were very good, since they make a lot of official peripherals in Japan.

OBJECTION!

The witness was very clear - it was  DS Lite Hori Screen Protectors that she had a problem with.

Right-o.  (Or could that be 'Wright-o'?)  Prosecutor Tang will refrain from haplessly badgering innocent witnesses with baseless allegations.

Whippersnapper!

Yeah, that's what I thought, too. But what's the diff between the DS and DS Lite protectors? Are the screens of the DS Lite that different from the original DS that they require a revamped version of the protector?

Aside from the inferior adhesive, absolutely nothing, apparently.  Screen size is exactly the same on both versions, so that isn't a factor.  It's to my understanding that the original DS protectors use suction or static to keep itself on place of the screens..... something the Lite protectors were supposed to use as well.

Has anyone here had a chance to play one yet? I got my hands on one last night, one of my die-hard gamer buddies let me try his out. He ordered his from Japan(the blue one) I'm not one to come to for making a substantial comparison, but the screens are SOOOO much brighter and crisp. My friend swears that the new screens are progressive and not interlaced, but I think the extra clarity comes from not having the light reflected back at you, since they are back-lit. Anyway, we raced each other on Mario Kart and did side by side comparisons on the visuals...there is NO comparison. I was able to see much further in the distance on Mario Kart, which is a plus to determine your direction and power-ups. We took turns...the loser played with the old DS...and every time I had to play on it, I cursed...Also, the size reduction is great. Was a little more comfortable in my hands. I have large hands, so I thought the new DS wouldn't feel comfortable, but that wasn't the case. Even though it's still rectangular, all the buttons seemed to fall comfortably under my fingertips. As for the sound Angela, even though there are only 6 holes per side, the hole diameters are a little larger. I couldn't tell a difference in volume or clarity. Sounded crisp, clean and accurate to me. Music to my ears.

As for the case, looks like the outer case was made of a polycarbonate instead of a softer pvc? Polycarbonate is a much stronger plastic, and MORE heat resistant. So if you mistakenly leave it in direct sunlight, there's less chance of it looking like melted butter. Being the US versions are white, this makes it much more appealing to play the system in the great outdoors without too much concern for heat buildup caused by sunlight. Unfortunately, that nice high gloss can be a little more prone to scuffs and scratches, but I'm sure everyone will have a nice little carrying case. If you end up dropping your DS Lite, you'll be more likely to damage the screen or internals than the outer shell. Anyone considering buying this, that already has a DS, you can't go wrong. Just the screens alone make it worth the purchase. Difference between night and day...almost literally.

I toyed around with a DS Lite last week.  It was just for a few minutes of Sudoki, which is hardly a strenuous test of gaming performance, but still I was impressed.  I have an original DS that I use for the plane flights home and from the first day haven't cared for the bulk of the unit.  The new model is worlds better in that regard... pretty close to "just right" territory I'd say.  And while my eyes would get tired playing the old DS on the plane I don't think this would be as much of a problem with the Lite.  If I could pawn off my old DS for a decent price would definitely like to upgrade.

Argh! *resets his DS*  :-)

(Yes, I would reset the game when I had too many strikes during trial.)

Yep, the sound was actually one of the first things I tested between the two models.  What I generally found was that, while the Lite model has good speaker output, it is noticeably weaker than the original DS.  Headphone volume output is exactly the same on both portables, though.  Also, the Lite seemed to eradicate the problem the original DS suffered from, where it would buzz and crackle at very low volume levels.

Other than the weaker volume output, though, the Lite is indeed a fabulous portable.  Better screens notwithstanding, the smaller, more comfortable form factor and longer battery life are substantial improvements over the original DS.

Bwaha..... the Psycho Lock system in Saiban 2 and 3 would murder you, then.  Well, not really.... you can always save and reset if you make a mistake.  Just more frequently, though, because errors you make during trials actually carry over for the entirety of the case!

I hear you can regain life energy in between trials by successfully unlocking such locks.  Then it shouldn't be that bad.
And, I'll catch you in a contradiction one of these days! :-)

Preordered my DS Lite yesterday at GameStop in Boston. Wheee!!!