And here it is. Finally. The must-have gadget for 2006. The Nintendo DS Lite will launch in Japan on March 2, Nintendo of Japan announced today on its official website. A-ha! So this explains the recent stock shortages in Japan.
The new Nintendo 'lighter and brighter' DS Lite boasts a slightly smaller, compact design and some really clever little touches, guaranteed to make your DS gaming experience even better. And - here is the killer - it looks as good and as sexy and as solid an iPod (for our nay-sayers, let's just say "we told you so")
The pictures that you see here do not do the system justice. SPOnG hears that the overall feel of the unit, from those who have been lucky enough to hold one in their hands, is overall one of a premium quality consumer IT product. This is guaranteed to complement Nintendo’s recently announced strategy of ‘New Ways To Play’, as it is certain to appeal to non-gamers. Much in the same way that the iPod has managed to appeal to a non-hardcore portable music player consumer over the last few years.
It also looks very much like a tiny Apple iBook, which is interesting, considering the parallels which Nintendo UK boss David Yarnton made between the two companies at the Nintendo ‘New Ways To Play’ [URL=http://news.spong.com/article/9574] press conference earlier this week[/URL]. It's like a miniature iBook for a child.
The mention of Apple in that speech was clearly far more than mere coincidence. SPOnG has known for some time that Nintendo’s President Mr Iwata is a great admirer of Apple and that he watches their market strategy and product design moves very closely. Many (fair) comparisons will of course be made between the upgraded Nintendo DS Lite and Apple’s recent iPod Nano.
Back to the console. What’s new? Size-wise, there’s very little change indeed – they’ve shaved off just over a centimetre and a half in length, 1.1 cm in height and 7mm in depth. The DS Lite measures in at 133.0 x 73.9 x 21.5mm (as opposed to the originals size of 148.7 x 84.7 x 28.9mm), a bit less than two thirds the size of the original, and will weigh in at about 218g (the original weighed 275g), just over 20% lighter than the regular DS.
The unit is currently set to retail at about 16800 yen (around $145 USD) where the standard DS currently retails in Japan for about 15000 yen (around $130 USD). The main new features will be the four adjustable levels of brightness, which will no doubt draw comparisons to the PSP. It also seems that the D-pad and buttons have been upgraded on the DS Lite, resembling the much slicker ones on the GBA micro. The microphone appears to have been centred, which is a welcome move. The power button is not visible, having been moved to the side of the console. Plus, the DS Lite will still play Game Boy Advance carts despite the smaller size.
Aesthetically, as well as taking leaves out of Apple’s book, Nintendo has given the DS Lite much more of a Revolution flavour. The DS is clearly being posited as both a stand-alone handheld and a must-have Revolution accessory.
Overall, it looks very much sexier than the clunky grey DS you currently own. This of course means that when it comes out, you are going to have to give your current one to your girlfriend and go straight out and buy it. Clever, eh?
SPOnG spoke to a Nintendo UK rep earlier this morning who couldn’t comment on exact dates for a DS Lite European launch. We’ll keep you posted on that news as soon as we have it, as it's suddenly become all that our collective little brain is focusing on and all that we want to know about in the whole world.
For those of you who understand Japanese you can see the official information [URL=http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n10/news/060126.html]on Nintendo of Japan’s website[/URL]
Nintendo's DS has already sold more than 14.4 million units worldwide. The Japanese sell-through of the existing DS exceeded 5 million within 14 months, marking the system as the fastest-selling system ever in Japan.
The future’s bright, the future’s DS Lite. What hope for PSP in Japan now?
The new Nintendo 'lighter and brighter' DS Lite boasts a slightly smaller, compact design and some really clever little touches, guaranteed to make your DS gaming experience even better. And - here is the killer - it looks as good and as sexy and as solid an iPod (for our nay-sayers, let's just say "we told you so")
The pictures that you see here do not do the system justice. SPOnG hears that the overall feel of the unit, from those who have been lucky enough to hold one in their hands, is overall one of a premium quality consumer IT product. This is guaranteed to complement Nintendo’s recently announced strategy of ‘New Ways To Play’, as it is certain to appeal to non-gamers. Much in the same way that the iPod has managed to appeal to a non-hardcore portable music player consumer over the last few years.
It also looks very much like a tiny Apple iBook, which is interesting, considering the parallels which Nintendo UK boss David Yarnton made between the two companies at the Nintendo ‘New Ways To Play’ [URL=http://news.spong.com/article/9574] press conference earlier this week[/URL]. It's like a miniature iBook for a child.
The mention of Apple in that speech was clearly far more than mere coincidence. SPOnG has known for some time that Nintendo’s President Mr Iwata is a great admirer of Apple and that he watches their market strategy and product design moves very closely. Many (fair) comparisons will of course be made between the upgraded Nintendo DS Lite and Apple’s recent iPod Nano.
Back to the console. What’s new? Size-wise, there’s very little change indeed – they’ve shaved off just over a centimetre and a half in length, 1.1 cm in height and 7mm in depth. The DS Lite measures in at 133.0 x 73.9 x 21.5mm (as opposed to the originals size of 148.7 x 84.7 x 28.9mm), a bit less than two thirds the size of the original, and will weigh in at about 218g (the original weighed 275g), just over 20% lighter than the regular DS.
The unit is currently set to retail at about 16800 yen (around $145 USD) where the standard DS currently retails in Japan for about 15000 yen (around $130 USD). The main new features will be the four adjustable levels of brightness, which will no doubt draw comparisons to the PSP. It also seems that the D-pad and buttons have been upgraded on the DS Lite, resembling the much slicker ones on the GBA micro. The microphone appears to have been centred, which is a welcome move. The power button is not visible, having been moved to the side of the console. Plus, the DS Lite will still play Game Boy Advance carts despite the smaller size.
Aesthetically, as well as taking leaves out of Apple’s book, Nintendo has given the DS Lite much more of a Revolution flavour. The DS is clearly being posited as both a stand-alone handheld and a must-have Revolution accessory.
Overall, it looks very much sexier than the clunky grey DS you currently own. This of course means that when it comes out, you are going to have to give your current one to your girlfriend and go straight out and buy it. Clever, eh?
SPOnG spoke to a Nintendo UK rep earlier this morning who couldn’t comment on exact dates for a DS Lite European launch. We’ll keep you posted on that news as soon as we have it, as it's suddenly become all that our collective little brain is focusing on and all that we want to know about in the whole world.
For those of you who understand Japanese you can see the official information [URL=http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n10/news/060126.html]on Nintendo of Japan’s website[/URL]
Nintendo's DS has already sold more than 14.4 million units worldwide. The Japanese sell-through of the existing DS exceeded 5 million within 14 months, marking the system as the fastest-selling system ever in Japan.
The future’s bright, the future’s DS Lite. What hope for PSP in Japan now?
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Comments
Showing the 20 most recent comments. Read all 43.
NiktheGreek 26 Jan 2006 20:59
24/43
tyrion wrote:
I'm starting to talk myself out of getting a DS.
Whatever your thoughts on the way Nintendo is doing business, don't deprive yourself of the DS. I'm annoyed, having gotten my system a month ago, but it's a system I've enjoyed immensely (and I see myself continuing to enjoy it for a long time to come). I certainly wouldn't like to be without it now.
fluffstardx 26 Jan 2006 21:12
25/43
Plus, think of how much the price of the original will go down once this hits shelves...
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Joji 26 Jan 2006 21:49
26/43
Tyrion, at the end of the day, the ball and the money are in your court as to whether you make that DS purchase. It's true as Doc says that all companies do this not just Nintendo, though I agree Nintendo do it the most in the games industry because they have been the most successful company in it.
Please don't forget that it was they that breathe life back into the industry when the yanks over at Atari bailed (broken record I know). For this respect I think they have kind of earned the right to release updates so long as they don't take the piss like Apple (who got to the download market first, but didn't make the first HDmp3 player). And if they didn't sell, I'm sure they'd stop chucking money at pushing them.
Speaking of Apple how many of you good people own an iPod? Apple to are guilty of special editionitis with iPod, when there are plenty of other PMPs people could choose. Or how many of you own a car, that has been redesigned in some way, but still get you from a to b just the same? Don't deprive yourselves of a DS or a motor because of such trivial stuff.
Making deliberate shortages is something that is done I feel by the likes of Sony and possibly MS often. This is different to selling out in your home nation entirely. In all the years I've been playing games I can't remember the last tme this happened in japan (if ever) than with DS. With Nintendo already in the lead against PSP and PSP the only real competition, would Nintendo really make a deliberate shortage of DS in japan? I seriously doubt it.
Get a DS and enjoy some good games. Up to you, mind.
Please don't forget that it was they that breathe life back into the industry when the yanks over at Atari bailed (broken record I know). For this respect I think they have kind of earned the right to release updates so long as they don't take the piss like Apple (who got to the download market first, but didn't make the first HDmp3 player). And if they didn't sell, I'm sure they'd stop chucking money at pushing them.
Speaking of Apple how many of you good people own an iPod? Apple to are guilty of special editionitis with iPod, when there are plenty of other PMPs people could choose. Or how many of you own a car, that has been redesigned in some way, but still get you from a to b just the same? Don't deprive yourselves of a DS or a motor because of such trivial stuff.
Making deliberate shortages is something that is done I feel by the likes of Sony and possibly MS often. This is different to selling out in your home nation entirely. In all the years I've been playing games I can't remember the last tme this happened in japan (if ever) than with DS. With Nintendo already in the lead against PSP and PSP the only real competition, would Nintendo really make a deliberate shortage of DS in japan? I seriously doubt it.
Get a DS and enjoy some good games. Up to you, mind.
Joji 26 Jan 2006 22:36
27/43
Ah, the thirst for social acceptance is a quest. I guess the DS Lite is every cool monkeys dream next to the PSP.
I can dress well like I do and still be labeled a nerd for playing my DS anywhere but I care little, for the people will always talk if that is what makes them happy and feel part of the cool crowd.
I'm single, like to party hard with an eye for the ladies. No girlfriend, because I love to spread the love to more than one female.
This truly is the age of the cool nerd, I feel at home already. LOL.
I'm sure I'll still be playing my DS public, Lite or not. A combination of Riviera on GBA and Ouendan on DS are that good IMO.
Considering the DS Lite is out in March, does this mean we'll see a Metroid Hunters & Tetris DS Lite packs in japan?
No there is an idea, Tetris and the DS under a Nintendo banner, putting nails in Sony's coffin. Somebody call the priest, not the doctor.
Don't forget folks the first version has a bonus, it's larger for larger adult hands. Different hands, different DS for you.
I can dress well like I do and still be labeled a nerd for playing my DS anywhere but I care little, for the people will always talk if that is what makes them happy and feel part of the cool crowd.
I'm single, like to party hard with an eye for the ladies. No girlfriend, because I love to spread the love to more than one female.
This truly is the age of the cool nerd, I feel at home already. LOL.
I'm sure I'll still be playing my DS public, Lite or not. A combination of Riviera on GBA and Ouendan on DS are that good IMO.
Considering the DS Lite is out in March, does this mean we'll see a Metroid Hunters & Tetris DS Lite packs in japan?
No there is an idea, Tetris and the DS under a Nintendo banner, putting nails in Sony's coffin. Somebody call the priest, not the doctor.
Don't forget folks the first version has a bonus, it's larger for larger adult hands. Different hands, different DS for you.
questworld 27 Jan 2006 05:40
28/43
Tyrion, I believe you're blowing the whole thing out of proportion. It's a change in form not functionality. It works the same way as the previous version. It's not like you buy one and then later are told that the new one has a built-in hard drive which is being used by succeeding games that would make the previous system partially obsolete. Personally, it's no different than having a new color come out. Why anyone would make such a big deal about it and saying that X company screwed them because of such trivial reasons is beyond me. Apparently there's usually a surge of sales when you models come out (i.e. PS2 slim, etc.) so I suppose it must hit you more if you're one of the people who cause such sales rise (never really get why some people change cellphones yearly myself). Still, you shouldn't take it too hard. At least it's not like getting a GBA and the SP comes out (glad it took me this long to get a GBA msyelf 'cause I got my hands on a Famicom themed Micro).
DoctorDee 27 Jan 2006 06:18
29/43
tyrion wrote:
DoctorDee wrote:
Still not with you. It's no more cynical than EVERY other company.
So we've moved from "you don't have to buy it" to the equaly facile "everybody else is doing it"? You usually have better arguments than that. :-)
But this time I don't need better arguments, since yours are so poor. Both of the ones you allude to above stand.
If you think it's cynical, don't buy one. But don't ask for a go on mine when I get it.
The level of it cynicality has to be taken in perspective. Once you do, it is not noteworthy.
You say that no-one annticipated the DS to sell well. I suspect, that had Nintendo not expected it to sell well, they would have redesigned it before launch. They didn't - therefore the only logical conclusion is that they expected it to sell.
Your argument seems predicated on the idea that someone is being exploited, and someone (Nintendo, in this case) is doing the exploiting. This is patronising to the Nintendo faithful, who you seem to be saying are having their arm twisted into buying this. They are not.
If they choose to buy this, or anny Nintendoo variation, how does this make them any more exploited than people who collect Barbies (Mattel keeps launching diifferent ones with different clothes), or Stamps, or Beermats, or Vans Shoes? Collectors are, to my mind, pathetic but they aren't exploited. I believe that you should buy something, and use it till every last iota of pleasure has been extracted from it. But for some people the pleasure is buying it, the pleasure is iwning it. Who are you to deny them that pleasure?
You say your original point was the achingly cool "What's up with that?" And that no-one has attempted to address it. I'm afraid the original point comes across mouch more as the rather less cool, "I'm stamping my feet". And since that's not a question, there really is no answer to it.
But the idea that Nintendo should adopt a Henry Ford "Any colour as long as it's black" approach confounds me. For two long electronics have been available in 'the colour they come in', and that's that. Admittedly standard hi-fi components have often given us the choice of black or silver. Spoilt for choice! In the past, there were sound reaons in terms of manufacturing and distribution limitations. But now these are largely removed. I think the question should not be the rather lame why is Nintendo exploiting us, but instead, why are other companies not giving us this much choice?
I don't want my phone/iPod/Snowboard/Vans shoes to look like yours. By providing options the companies are enabling us to express our individuality, and our aesthetic preferences. How is that exploitation?
But this speaks only to the colour variations Nintendo offers, and Sony is beginning to.
In a market where first mover advantage can have considerable commercial implications, and when Nintendo was in a race to launch DS before Sony launched PSP, I think it is phenomenally unrealistic to suggest that they should have delayed release for a re-design. I think it's equally idealistic to suggest that, having lauched something so ugly, they should keep it that way to avoid hurtng your feelings.
But, and this is a MUCH larger point here. If you do not agree with the activities of a company, you need to vote with your wallet. I do not buy Nestle or Coca-Cola products. I do not shop at Wal-Mart. I buy locally-produced where possible, small company over corporates. I urge everyone else to do the same. Not the same as me, that would be stupid - but do what their conscience tells them to do.
In this case, I suggest you, Tyrion, not buy a DS Lite.
tyrion 27 Jan 2006 09:05
30/43
This has blown out of all proportion now.
My original, "achingly cool", point was; Why do we accept this from Nintendo when we wouldn't accept it from Sony or Microsoft? A simple question with some points to back up the reasons for asking. No "foot stamping" involved.
If Nintendo are offering us a choice, why don't they make it a choice?
Why stop production of the first iteration when there may be people who are just waiting for the price to come down before buying?
Why make coloured versions limited editions, meaning the rabid collectors will snap them up instead of "normal folk" who prefer the colour or design?
Why not launch with multiple coloured versions like they did with the GameCube?
Why launch the new version just after a major selling period, wringing every last sale from the original hardware before the launch fever of the new?
By releasing the DS-Lite, Nintendo keep the price of the hardware high, at a point in the life cycle where a price drop could be expected. They have reached a point where production costs will be falling, R&D should be covered and it's usual to drop the price to bring in less well off customers. They haven't done this, they've launched a product aimed at more well off customers, at a higher price and stopped production of the older model, relegating the poorer gamer to the second hand market which they are also trying to kill off.
Thank you Hobson. Now if I buy one, I'm going against my principles and if I don't then I'm denying myself some fun on a flimsy and "poor" argument.
You may as well have finished with a school yard "I'm not going to prolong this childish discussion any further". You had made your point, you didn't need to end on that type of note.
My original, "achingly cool", point was; Why do we accept this from Nintendo when we wouldn't accept it from Sony or Microsoft? A simple question with some points to back up the reasons for asking. No "foot stamping" involved.
If Nintendo are offering us a choice, why don't they make it a choice?
Why stop production of the first iteration when there may be people who are just waiting for the price to come down before buying?
Why make coloured versions limited editions, meaning the rabid collectors will snap them up instead of "normal folk" who prefer the colour or design?
Why not launch with multiple coloured versions like they did with the GameCube?
Why launch the new version just after a major selling period, wringing every last sale from the original hardware before the launch fever of the new?
By releasing the DS-Lite, Nintendo keep the price of the hardware high, at a point in the life cycle where a price drop could be expected. They have reached a point where production costs will be falling, R&D should be covered and it's usual to drop the price to bring in less well off customers. They haven't done this, they've launched a product aimed at more well off customers, at a higher price and stopped production of the older model, relegating the poorer gamer to the second hand market which they are also trying to kill off.
DoctorDee wrote:
In this case, I suggest you, Tyrion, not buy a DS Lite.
Thank you Hobson. Now if I buy one, I'm going against my principles and if I don't then I'm denying myself some fun on a flimsy and "poor" argument.
You may as well have finished with a school yard "I'm not going to prolong this childish discussion any further". You had made your point, you didn't need to end on that type of note.
majin dboy 27 Jan 2006 09:49
31/43
am i the only one that dosent have the attention span to read posts over 15lines long?
from what i did read,joji u make some very good points,i especially like the one about the age of the cool nerd.a contadiction in terms maybe but still true.
without sounding "up myself" "big headed" etc,i would consider myself "cool"(what do i mean by cool,nice clothes,funny friends,play rugby for a great belfast team,aware of modern culture and being able to make my own decision on things etc) but i would also consider myself a NERD(what do i mean by NERD,i know my way around MAC OS and XP,spend a hell of a lot of time on computers e.g my DS is rite beside me now turned on AND THE BIGGIE i absolutely love DRAGON BALL Z)
so,i really dont know what points i have raised here but,these are my thots.
from what i did read,joji u make some very good points,i especially like the one about the age of the cool nerd.a contadiction in terms maybe but still true.
without sounding "up myself" "big headed" etc,i would consider myself "cool"(what do i mean by cool,nice clothes,funny friends,play rugby for a great belfast team,aware of modern culture and being able to make my own decision on things etc) but i would also consider myself a NERD(what do i mean by NERD,i know my way around MAC OS and XP,spend a hell of a lot of time on computers e.g my DS is rite beside me now turned on AND THE BIGGIE i absolutely love DRAGON BALL Z)
so,i really dont know what points i have raised here but,these are my thots.
Ditto 27 Jan 2006 12:28
32/43
tyrion wrote:
Why stop production of the first iteration when there may be people who are just waiting for the price to come down before buying?
Have they stopped production? Is this a fact?
Why make coloured versions limited editions, meaning the rabid collectors will snap them up instead of "normal folk" who prefer the colour or design?
Why not launch with multiple coloured versions like they did with the GameCube?
Why not launch with multiple coloured versions like they did with the GameCube?
LOL, you're talking about personal choice here, what does it matter to you which edition people choose to buy?
Why launch the new version just after a major selling period, wringing every last sale from the original hardware before the launch fever of the new?
Why not? It makes sense to deplete stocks, free up manufacturing, or prehaps they just hadn't finished the new design.
By releasing the DS-Lite, Nintendo keep the price of the hardware high, at a point in the life cycle where a price drop could be expected. They have reached a point where production costs will be falling, R&D should be covered and it's usual to drop the price to bring in less well off customers. They haven't done this, they've launched a product aimed at more well off customers, at a higher price and stopped production of the older model, relegating the poorer gamer to the second hand market which they are also trying to kill off.
This argument is absurd. Nintendo have already reduced the price in the UK, and the new model is priced at thesame price as the old one. If they didn't release a new model, what evidence do you have that they would lower the price of the original?
It's even more likely now that the price of the original will decrease, opening up the console to new consumers.
Added to that, the DS is hardly expensive at the moment. I'd say it's accessible to a very wide range of people. Remember, the DS is under £90 when after six years the SP is still £70.
tyrion 27 Jan 2006 13:18
33/43
Adam M wrote:
Have they stopped production? Is this a fact?
It's not been announced, but it would explain the shortages of DSs in Japan around Christmas.
Adam M wrote:
LOL, you're talking about personal choice here, what does it matter to you which edition people choose to buy?
No, I'm talking about knowing you will sell a certain amount each time no matter what colour they are due to collectors and drip feeding the choices every few months to maximise that effect. Of course I don't care which colour anybody else buys.
All I'm saying is that if releasing new colours was all about consumer choice, they would be released together, not drip fed and labelled as limited editions.
Adam M wrote:
This argument is absurd. Nintendo have already reduced the price in the UK, and the new model is priced at thesame price as the old one. If they didn't release a new model, what evidence do you have that they would lower the price of the original?
We are talking about Japan where the DS is still selling for the launch price of 15,000 yen and the Lite will be selling for 16,800. Admittedly, that's only an increase of just over £8, but it's about time for a price reduction in Japan, like you say the price has dropped in the UK.
Adam M wrote:
It's even more likely now that the price of the original will decrease, opening up the console to new consumers.
Always assuming they can find an old one, there are still stock shortages if I remember correctly.
It's obvious that this is not as big an issue for most people here as it is for me, so I'll just leave it alone and let you all get on with whatever you were doing before I started.
DoctorDee 27 Jan 2006 13:44
34/43
tyrion wrote:
Why do we accept this from Nintendo when we wouldn't accept it from Sony or Microsoft?
I would accept this happily from Sony, I do not accept anything Microsoft does ;-)
If Nintendo are offering us a choice, why don't they make it a choice?
That question does you no credit. You alluded to the colour choices that Nintendo like to release, accusing them of being exploitational. I responded to that point, and then said (and I quote myself), "But this speaks only to the colour variations Nintendo offers, and Sony is beginning to." before going on to talk about the DS Lite and its non obsolescing upgrade path.
By releasing the DS-Lite, Nintendo keep the price of the hardware high, at a point in the life cycle where a price drop could be expected.
The price is not high. Never has been. And a price drop could not realistically be expected. Price drops accompany demand drops. When there was no demand drop for DS, there was no need for a price drop.
You may as well have finished with a school yard "I'm not going to prolong this childish discussion any further". You had made your point, you didn't need to end on that type of note.
It was an earnest comment. My argument is that no-one who feels uncomforatble about Nintendo's marketing strategy is forced to buy a DS Lite. My personal position is that no-one who is unhappy with any organisation should give them patronage.
DoctorDee 27 Jan 2006 14:28
35/43
majin dboy wrote:
without sounding "up myself" "big headed" etc,i would consider myself "cool"(what do i mean by cool,nice clothes,funny friends,play rugby for a great belfast team,aware of modern culture and being able to make my own decision on things etc) but i would also consider myself a NERD(what do i mean by NERD,i know my way around MAC OS
I was totally with you, then you blew it. No-one who has ever played rugby is cool. And knowing your way around MacOS/XP is in no way a Nerd qualification - linux or BSD, yes... my first OS, no!
Before you go getting upset, I was variously second-row and prop. And I have two Macs at homer and one on my desk at work.
But you're not cool, but then, anyone who is bothered about whether or not they are cool is uncool. It's a strange, sad, vicious paradox. And you're not a nerd. Learn to deal.
LUPOS 27 Jan 2006 15:16
36/43
DoctorDee wrote:
But you're not cool, but then, anyone who is bothered about whether or not they are cool is uncool. It's a strange, sad, vicious paradox. And you're not a nerd. Learn to deal.
im not cool at all... and im cool with that... which makes me totaly cool! ;)
also dragon ball is far from nerd territory my frined... if you watch utena... you would be a flaming geek... if you watched densha otaku and it made you laught histericly... then you woudl be a big freaking dork... but DBZ (not even DB..tsk tsk) is to your age group what robotech/voltron was to the likes of DOC dee's age range (if im remebering your aprox age correctly doc).
also, sadly video games do not garner the nerd cred they once did... now that there are over 100million ps2 in the world its safe to say that its no longer a subcultrue activity.
ps... did i mention my pda is a carpc? hmm? hmmm? god i want to be nerd cool!!
oh i know....
thats me and a friend at the ghibli museum in tokyo... me being the handsome devil on the left (rhcp shirt)... sadly there is no photogaphy inside or else you could of had some bangup shot of me inside the kitten bus ;)
oh and for purposes of beign on topic... nintendo gets to do limited editions and multiple colors cause they are nintendo... if sony/ms did it i feel they woudl be judged more harshly... but its kind of a boy who cried wolf sort of thing... ms and sony have repeatedly done shady s**t to get more of your moeny... like memory sticks/atrac3 and needing windows MCE to stream vid to my 360... however nintendo has done nothign but deliver (for the most part) quality products at reasonable prices. as such people dont mind shelling out for the ocasional colectors edition because it keeps nintendo, a generaly well respected company in buisness, where as MS made nearly 12billion dollars last quarter... and doesnt really need to be squeeking every damn dime out of their customers and sony inspite of makeing more money than they thougt still intend to fire 10,000 people in the next few years.
as such i buy nearly everythign nintendo makes without fail... cause if they ever go under its gonna be a sad sad day... oh and because its good!
____
DoctorDee 27 Jan 2006 15:23
37/43
LUPOS wrote:
but DBZ (not even DB..tsk tsk) is to your age group what robotech/voltron was to the likes of DOC dee's age range (if im remebering your aprox age correctly doc).
You are, I'm afraid, laughably off mark.
In my day, we used to sit around poking Mr Logie-Baird with sticks (blunt sticks, mind you, the stick-sharpener had not yet been invented) imploring him to invent the televisual device before Mr Edison did so.
YenRug 27 Jan 2006 15:29
38/43
http://ds.ign.com/articles/683/683728p1.html
So the old model will still be sold alongside the new model, no forcing people to pay out more for something that's not overly different. I would predict you would see the older version slowly phased out as sales drop, much like the original GBA was once the GBA SP came out.
So the concerns of limited edition versions will be somewhat alleviated, from the off, as you should be able to choose a model colour which suits your tastes. Hopefully this will be the same in USA/EU.
EDIT: Oh yeah, I'll probably be getting one of these, may even consider importing a Jap one. I've already heard rumours that the buttons are improved (the current ones are a little short on travel and too clicky, for my tastes); I defniitely like the improved positions of the Mic, power/charging lights and various buttons; I could also make use of the improved and stepped lighting options, there's times I could do with brighter lights and when it's in the dark I would prefer a slightly dimmer level of illumination.
There were also some questions about the fate of the current DS model. In Japan, Nintendo will continue to produce and sell the original model. The price of the original model will remain at its current 15,000 yen, 1,800 yen less than the 16,800 yen new model.
So the old model will still be sold alongside the new model, no forcing people to pay out more for something that's not overly different. I would predict you would see the older version slowly phased out as sales drop, much like the original GBA was once the GBA SP came out.
The DS Lite will be initially released to Japan in three colors, Nintendo reveals. In addition to the white color shown in the first pictures of the system, the company will release two yet unannounced colors.
So the concerns of limited edition versions will be somewhat alleviated, from the off, as you should be able to choose a model colour which suits your tastes. Hopefully this will be the same in USA/EU.
EDIT: Oh yeah, I'll probably be getting one of these, may even consider importing a Jap one. I've already heard rumours that the buttons are improved (the current ones are a little short on travel and too clicky, for my tastes); I defniitely like the improved positions of the Mic, power/charging lights and various buttons; I could also make use of the improved and stepped lighting options, there's times I could do with brighter lights and when it's in the dark I would prefer a slightly dimmer level of illumination.
LUPOS 27 Jan 2006 15:39
39/43
DoctorDee wrote:
You are, I'm afraid, laughably off mark.
well dbz's prime was in the mid to late 90's... i would say 96-99 specifically... at which point my dboy... who is 18 no was only 9-12 or so... as voltron/robot tech was very early 80's... if you where similarly 9-12 at the time of its release... you would be 36ish now... which i do believe is a bit low.... of course me being a haggard nearth death 25 dbz was in its prime when i was 18ish... similarly... if you had been 18ish when volt/robo was out... you would be more like 43... is that more like it?
at anyrate... way to much tiem spent thinking about it now.
sunkai 27 Jan 2006 18:01
40/43
Boom. Pre-ordered through Lik-Sang. Come on March!
majin dboy 27 Jan 2006 22:40
41/43
DOCTOR DEE,if i am not cool nor a nerd,what am i? please piegion hole me.does that sound sexual?
and as for ur comments on rugby players,i play for an inner belfast team so it has a complete mix of steeks/chavs and people higher up the socio economic scale.therefore by the law of probability,some of us have to be cool.
and as for ur comments on rugby players,i play for an inner belfast team so it has a complete mix of steeks/chavs and people higher up the socio economic scale.therefore by the law of probability,some of us have to be cool.
majin dboy 28 Jan 2006 01:23
42/43
im currenly playing DBZ buu's fury,loving it
vault 13 30 Jan 2006 06:33
43/43
I just have to say..., after three grueling days of random reading through this post, I am finally at the last post. And I have to say to all of you, no offense, this is by far the stupidest s**t to argue about EVER! I'd rather argue over the fact that the green ranger is far superior to the black ranger till three in the morning anyday. Making a redesign for whatever reason, there is nothing wrong or immoral or advantage taking situation or whatever with it. If the product was flawed, now the redesign can fix it. If people are complaing with said product, the company can listen and respond with a redesign. Car companies do it every year. TV and audio companies do it, sometimes twice a year and with multiple models. Hell, even hair gel companies come out with new formulas and updated packaging. Is it any different from what Nintendo, Sony, or Microsoft are doing? I'll let you bickering twits decide.
There are much more important things we should be arguing over and I say we get to it!
There are much more important things we should be arguing over and I say we get to it!