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DS

DS Lite Sells Out in Japan

by Steven Rodriguez - March 2, 2006, 10:58 pm EST
Total comments: 6 Source: Various

Long lines, quick sellouts and a Nintendo apology.

Nintendo launched the DS Lite revision of the Nintendo DS hardware in Japan yesterday, and it should come as no surprise that just about every unit in the country was sold out in minutes.

Despite only one of the three Lite colors launching, the white DS, people still queued up in lines that were hundreds strong. Some even stayed in line when they knew that there was a good chance they wouldn't get one.

Nintendo has had so much difficulty in satisfying the demand, they've issued a three-part apology. First, because the Enamel Navy and Ice Blue colors won't be available until next week. Second, only 650,000 DS units will be shipped this month, 450K of them being the new DS Lite. Apparently, this will not be enough to go around. Finally, the next game in the Touch! Generations series that was originally slated for a March release has been delayed back to early April so that Nintendo can ship the game out with more hardware available.

It's clear that the Nintendo DS is a smash hit in Japan, with the launch of the DS Lite getting more attention than the system's original release. While it's highly unlikely that Americans or Europeans will line up when it's our turn for the Lite, it's sure to be a hot item when it is eventually released elsewhere around the world.

Talkback

TMWMarch 02, 2006

Oh wow. I hope Lik-Sang has enough to ship our way when the Enamel Navy becomes available.

MONEY.jpg!

MarioMarch 02, 2006

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Finally, the next game in the Touch! Generations series that was originally slated for a March release has been delayed back to early April so that Nintendo can ship the game out with more hardware available.

Haha wow, is that the first time a delay like that has happened to a game?

BlkPaladinMarch 02, 2006

I like that picture. You know Nintendo should bite the bullet and get any manufactuer to make more DS units of any type. Even if it drives up the price for them.

vuduMarch 03, 2006

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Originally posted by: BlkPaladin
I like that picture. You know Nintendo should bite the bullet and get any manufactuer to make more DS units of any type. Even if it drives up the price for them.
Never happening. They'd lose too much in the area of quality control. The last thing we need is for systems to have dead pixels or to break after a year and a half.

Smash_BrotherMarch 03, 2006

Nintendo has succeeded in doing what they always wanted to do: turn the DS into the next iPod (at least in Japan).

GoldenPhoenixMarch 03, 2006

Man, Nintendo better stop releasing new versions of their handhelds, it is going to hurt them. Oh wait, nevermind face-icon-small-smile.gif

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