To celebrate the launch of the Nintendo DS five Virgin Megastores throughout

the UK will be opening their doors hours early to sell Nintendo DS consoles.

At precisely midnight the Oxford Street branch in London, the 235 Buchanan

Street branch in Glasgow, the Pavillion Centre store in Birmingham, the Tops

Plaza store in Liverpool and the Queens Street store in Cardiff will all

open their doors to crowds of excited gamers, clamouring to be one of the

first to touch the future of gaming.

The shopper who is lucky enough to be first through the door at each

location will get one of five special Nintendo DS T-shirts indicating that

they got a unit first. The next fifty people to purchase a Nintendo DS at

each location will get an exclusive "I was TOUCHED by Nintendo DS" T-shirt

to show off to all of their friends.

The first fifty customers at the Oxford Street branch will also receive a

special Nintendo DS goody bag. Free games will also be given out at the

Oxford Street Branch while stocks last.

One lucky attendee will also get to win a once in a lifetime, expenses paid

trip to Nintendo's headquarters in Japan, where they will get to see where

the magic happens and even meet the creator of Mario, Shigeru Miyamoto.

In both America and Japan the first 500,000 Nintendo DS units sold out in

under a week, so can you afford to miss out on the hottest gadget of 2005?

If not put on a warm coat and head down to your nearest Virgin Megastore in

time to collect your very own Nintendo DS.

The Nintendo DS will revolutionise the hand-held gaming industry when it

launches in Europe. It features dual screens, touch-screen, wireless gaming,

voice recognition and advanced full colour 3D graphics similar to those seen

on home consoles. It will launch in the UK on 11 March 2005 at the estimated

retail price of around £99. Software will be available at selected retailers

at the estimated retail price of around £29 and £19, depending on the

specific title.

The midnight store openings are at the following locations:

London ­ 14-19 Oxford Street

Birmingham ­ 41-43 The Pavillion Shopping Centre, 38 the Hight Street

Liverpool ­ 8-9 Tops Plaza, Clayton Square Shopping Centre

Glasgow ­ 235 Buchanan Street

Cardiff ­ 7-9 Capital Arcade, The Capital, Queens Street