eKids Toys

Nintendo DS Lite

The Nintendo DS Lite (sometimes abbreviated NDSL/DSL or DSLite, sold as the iQue DS Lite in China) is a dual-screen handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It is a slimmer, brighter, and more lightweight redesign of the earlier Nintendo DS model, designed to be aesthetically sleeker to complement Nintendo's Wii, and to appeal to broader commercial audiences. It was announced on January 26, 2006, more than a month before its first territorial launch in Japan on March 2, 2006 due to overwhelming demand for the original model. It has been released in Japan, Australia, North America, Europe, New Zealand, Singapore, and defined regions in South America.

Features

Weight: 218 g (21% lighter than the original Nintendo DS).

Dimensions: 133 mm × 73.9 mm × 21.5 mm (vs. 148.7 mm × 84.7 mm × 28.9 mm - 42% less volume than the original DS). In Imperial units, the DS Lite is 5.24 in. × 2.9 in. × 0.85 in.

Larger stylus but easier to hold. 4 (Stylus Dimensions: Length 87.5 mm × 4.9 mm vs 75.0 mm × 4.0 mm of the original Nintendo DS)

A much more durable, scratch-resistant touch screen.

A much sturdier top hinge.

In Japan, the wrist strap no longer includes a thumb stylus; in North America, Australia and Europe, the wrist strap is omitted entirely (But there is still a place to tie it to it).

The D-pad was reduced to 18.6 mm across (16% smaller than the original Nintendo DS), but the A/B/X/Y buttons retain same dimensions and are also softer to the touch feeling much like the start/select buttons on the original Game Boy Advance.

Improved screens with four levels of brightness, all of which are brighter than the original Nintendo DS. The Nintendo DS Lite's backlight can be switched off completely, but if done in-game, the screen will appear dark and nearly impossible to see.

Battery life: 12–16 hours on the lowest brightness setting, 5 - 7 hours on the highest (times reflect non-active use).

Retains the Game Boy Advance game connector ("Slot 2"), otherwise known as the Expansion Port. However, due to the reduced size, Game Boy Advance cartridges protrude by 1 cm at the front of the unit. To preserve a seamless surface, a hollow cartridge to fill the port is included.

The Nintendo DS Lite mimics some of the design features of the Wii: a D-pad with lines (also shared by the Game Boy Micro) and the typeface (Century Gothic) on the buttons.

Five colors: Ice Blue, Enamel Navy, Polar White (Crystal White in Japan), Coral Pink (Noble Pink in Japan) and Onyx / Black (see Colors below).

Capable of receiving Wi-Fi signals from the original Nintendo DS system, Nintendo DS Lites and Nintendo's Wii console.

New External Extension Connection, rendering it incompatible to accessories for the Game Boy Advance EXT2 port (Power cords and headphone adapters). The power port was changed to prevent cross-use of Nintendo DS Lite and original Nintendo DS adapters, because the Lite's power adapter supplies a higher current for the more powerful battery.

Unlike the original DS, the GBA E-reader will fit in the GBA slot (Slot 2).

Colors and limited editions

Colors

On February 18, 2006, Nintendo revealed the color schemes of the Nintendo DS Lite set for launch in Japan: Crystal White, Ice Blue and Enamel Navy. However, due to manufacturing problems only the Crystal White was available at its launch; the other two colors arrived on March 11, 2006. Nintendo released a Noble Pink version in the region on July 20, 2006, and an Onyx Black version on September 2, 2006.

In Europe, in addition to the white version, a black version (named "Smart Black") was available at launch, a color unique to the region at the time. On October 27, 2006, the Coral Pink (Noble Pink) edition was released in Europe.

In North America, the Nintendo DS Lite was only available in white (renamed "Polar White" for the region) at launch. On August 24, 2006, Nintendo of America announced two new model colors, Onyx (Jet Black) and Coral Pink (Noble Pink). They were released in North America September 12, 2006.

In Australia, the DS Lite was also only available in Polar White. On September 21, 2006, the Jet Black color was released. On October 16, 2006, Nintendo of Australia announced that the Coral Pink color (renamed Pink Nintendo DS Lite) would be released on November 2, 2006, alongside Nintendogs: Dalmation & Friends.

Other colors may eventually be released, as is customary with Nintendo's handheld gaming systems.

Limited editions

Limited edition Final Fantasy III Nintendo DS Lite

Limited edition Pokémon Diamond & Pearl DS LiteOn July 12, 2006 it was announced that a limited edition Nintendo DS Lite would be released in conjunction with the release of the Final Fantasy III remake. This package would feature a crystal white Nintendo DS Lite, with artwork of Final Fantasy III by Akihiko Yoshida. The initial cost will be ¥22,780 (193.76 USD).

On July 13, 2006 it was revealed that, in conjunction with the promotion for the upcoming Pokémon Diamond and Pearl games, a limited run of special Nintendo DS Lite packages would be available through a drawing open to members of the Japanese Pokémon DAISUKI Club. These packages would feature Crystal White Nintendo DS Lites with the popular Pokémon character Pikachu artwork on the front.

On September 1, 2006, Nintendo announced another Pokémon-styled DS Lite. The Pokemon Centre will release a Pokemon Diamond and Pearl limited edition DS Lite featuring a glitter design of the two new legendary Pokémon, Diaruga and Parukia on the front. Unlike the Pikachu DS Lite, this one will be Jet Black, rather than Crystal White. It will retail for ¥16,800 (142.89 USD) and will be available from 28 September 2006.

It was recently announced that Nintendo is planning on releasing a limited edition DS Lite with the game Jump Ultimate Stars. It will have the words "JUMP ULTIMATE STARS" printed on its case, along with the Shonen Jump mascot, the Jump Pirate.

There is also a limited edition DS Lite Love and Berry bundle based on a popular Japanese arcade game, and it is metallic pink and comes with a card reader and cards.

Launch

Japan

The Nintendo DS Lite's suggested retail price in Japan is JP¥16,800 (~$145 USD), but due to lack of supply and excessive demand of Nintendo DS systems following the Nintendo DS Lite's launch in Japan, many Asian electronics distributors raised the retail price of the redesigned handheld console to JP¥23,300 (~$200 USD). On some Japanese auction sites it was being offered for prices as high as JP¥40,000 (~$340 USD). Even though Nintendo managed to release 550,000 units in March (which was above their initial projections), many excited Japanese gamers were left empty-handed soon afterward. The shortage was supposed to be eased after Nintendo released 700,000 Nintendo DS Lites during April of 2006. However, retailers in Tokyo sold out yet again by late May 2006. This shortage would last for most of 2006 with retailers all around the country having permanent ads apologizing for the shortage and announcing the ignorance of when a restock would arrive. When the product arrived, it would sell out within days. Since the restocking was erratic and not constant, looking up for the product would take several visits to different retailers, and most of the time finding the product would be unsuccessful. This is still the case in crowded areas such as Tokyo as of December 2006 with stores turning away potential customers everyday and selling out quickly whenever one of the unannounced shipments come in.

Australia

The Nintendo DS Lite was released in Australia on June 1, 2006, for AU$199.95. The polar white color was available at launch, which included a demo of Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day! (known as Brain Training in Australia). The black color was released on September 21, 2006. The pink color joined the range on November 2, 2006.

North America

The Nintendo DS Lite was released on June 11, 2006, for USD$129.99 in the US, and CA$149.95 in Canada. Only the Polar White version was available.

There have been various reports of North American Target, Wal-mart, Kmart, and Meijer stores having sold Nintendo DS Lite units as early as May 30, 2006, breaking the official launch date.

On June 12, 2006 GameSpot reported that North American Nintendo DS Lites had sold out at major online retailers, as well as several brick-and-mortar stores.

On June 13, 2006 Nintendo announced that 136,500 units were sold between Sunday and Monday, and seemed to be on pace to the 500,000 sold by the original Nintendo DS in its first 10 days.

On September 12, 2006, two new colors were released in North America: Onyx (Jet Black) and Coral Pink (Noble Pink).

Europe

The Nintendo DS Lite was officially released in Europe on June 23, 2006, for GB£99.99 in the UK, €149.99 in the Eurozone (except in Italy, where it costs €159.00 ). In Finland and Sweden DS Lite was released on June 22, 2006, due to the Midsummer. Black and white units were available at launch. In just 10 days, Nintendo announced it had sold 200,000 Nintendo DS Lites in Europe. As of April 2006, the "Nintendo DS: in touch with original comedy" advertisements shown in the UK on Channel 4 have been changed to include the Nintendo DS Lite. The black colour is now available in other regions.

During October 2006, Nintendo launched a promotion of the Nintendo DS Lite in the UK which consisted mainly of bus shelter advertisements, as well as a new television promotion, which ended with the release of a pink version of the Nintendo DS Lite on October 27, 2006.

China

On June 12, 2006 Chinese media organization Sina reported that a container intended for shipment to Europe was stolen, which contained HK$18 million (US$2.8 million) worth of goods, including black Nintendo DS Lites and games. Later, GamesIndustry.biz reported that Nintendo had indeed confirmed that "A number of White DS Lite made for the UK market were stolen in Hong Kong."

On June 29, 2006, iQue company officially released NDSL as "iQue DS Lite" in China, for CN?1198. White and dark blue versions were available.

South Korea

Nintendo opened its latest subsidiary, Nintendo of Korea, led by Mineo Kouda, on July 20, 2006. The DS Lite was the first system to be released in South Korea by the subsidiary.

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