Storm your shops! DS Lite street date broken [update 2]

by Christopher Grant { May 31st 2006 at 2:00AM }

Several CAGs have reported finding DS Lites -- which aren't scheduled to be on store shelves in North America for another eleven days -- at local big-boxes Target and Wal-Mart. Cheap Ass moderator Trakan said his local Target had a "shitload" in stock and they weren't equivocal about selling 'em, street date be damned!

Anyone in the Joystiq nation manage to grab a DS Lite early? Any retail employees want to let us know if your store's already got these out? Feel free to post your successes (or failures) in the comments as a service to other readers ... especially if you're near me in the Philadelphia area.

(Update 1: All right kids, Joystiq reader Jake had the common sense to use this thing called "the internet" to come up with a better solution than us just posting our successes willy-nilly. The solution: Frappr. He's gotten us started; the Brier Creek Target in Raleigh, NC was a negatory as of 11am this morn'.)

(Update 2: Updated the image to sate those who won't believe it if they can't see it. Image from elliothtz's Flickr site. Redirected image and "Read" link to Frappr page to help aggregate this data.)

Tags: DS Lite, DsLite, Retail

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)

David @ May 31st 2006 2:05AM

Whoa, holy!!! Let me know where's I can best gets one of them DS Lites from and early!!
YYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWw!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

rk @ May 31st 2006 2:09AM

I was just at EB reserving a DS lite earlier today, I asked the clerk if I was sure to get one on the 11th (didn't want to get burned like everyone who pre-ordered 360's). He looked it up in his little binder and told me they'd be receiving them on the 31st of this month (showed me the print out when I questioned the date). This was an EB in Redmond, WA. (and yes, I feel weird buying a Nintendo product given where I work)

Eric Bostrom @ May 31st 2006 2:09AM

Woo! it's 11pm here, target and walmart close @ 11. I'll check target + best buy on the way home tomorrow.

amiga_tone @ May 31st 2006 2:09AM

I might actually see if the EB Games here in Australia is handing them out tonight. I called this morning and asked them when they would be open and they just said at the usual time of 9am.

Be blowed, I want mine now!

DarkNeo @ May 31st 2006 2:14AM

I know for a fact that all EB/Gamestop stores are strictly adhearing to the 6/11 street date...but...most stores will be recieving shipments either Thursday or Friday.

BPM? @ May 31st 2006 2:24AM

SOOO tempted...

I really want Enamel Navy... D:

But I don't know how much longer I can wait to get a DS Lite (since my current DS is pretty scratched up...).

I don't care much for the white DS Lite...

Maybe I could buy a white one, and trade it to someone who has Enamel Navy? Hmm...

The ZeroCorpse @ May 31st 2006 2:25AM

Speaking for one of the other big box stores, I can say that if the street date is broken locally, we may have the option to do so ourselves.

Cool!

Timothy Dorr @ May 31st 2006 2:54AM

Well, if the street date is broken, then EB should be able to fill my reservation. We always broke street date if someone else did when I worked at Babbages (now GameStop).

Hotdrop @ May 31st 2006 3:08AM

wow ill have to check it out it would be awesome if it was

Greg O. @ May 31st 2006 3:13AM

#2 (rk)

You do realize that Nintendo of America HQ is in Redmond too, right? :-)

bv @ May 31st 2006 3:16AM

Are people excited for the ds lite because of the new form factor or is it that people have been holding out to buy a ds since the anouncement of its slim fast release? What is/are the killer app(s) that makes this portable worth buying? (im genuinely interested)

sabre @ May 31st 2006 3:17AM

pfft...I've had my Japanese Enamel Navy DS Lite since March... :-P

sabre @ May 31st 2006 3:21AM

-->What is/are the killer app(s) that makes this portable worth buying?

Umm yes it's worth buying (more then the PSP) and just read the reviews for alot of the recent titles and some of last years titles...you'll find plenty of reasons.

(I own both the DS and the PSP btw.)

cringer8 @ May 31st 2006 3:22AM

Here's something to think about; spend an extra $80 to get a black DS Lite from the UK and you can get it now (and it will be black). Once you go black (PSP) you'll never go back :)

Jay Cryer @ May 31st 2006 3:28AM

I've called all the Wal-Mart/Targets around the central valley in California, and none of them have it. Anyone having luck in CA?

Tameaome @ May 31st 2006 3:28AM

just got mine

LordAlu @ May 31st 2006 3:30AM

"Here's something to think about; spend an extra $80 to get a black DS Lite from the UK and you can get it now (and it will be black). Once you go black (PSP) you'll never go back :)"

Excuse me? The DS Lite isn't out in the UK until the 23rd of June... how on earth could you get one now from over here when it's nearly a month away for us in the UK?

the_toad @ May 31st 2006 3:38AM

I might have to go down to my local target (i guess its a super target now[but it was the first target ever]) and see if they are dense enough to have them for sale already... not that my broke arse can afford it

cringer8 @ May 31st 2006 3:39AM

@bv

Metroid Hunters online can be fun, depending on who you get matched up against. The One player mode is super-tight, but the bosses are WEAK.

Mario Kart DS is the best one yet (I haven't liked them since the N64 version, but this one's good). It's also an online title.

New Mario Bros. is a great side-scroller with TONS of flashbacks sprinkled throughout. Difficulty level is relatively low, but it's a side-scroller, so...

The Zelda:Phantom Hourglass is VERY fun (I played it at E3). It's COMPLETELY stylus controlled. The controls are smooth and the animation is NICE.

Brain Age is a GREAT title, but it's hard to explain why. Once you pick it up and get going, you'll see. Just the massive amount of Soduku boards is worth the money. It's a big help on bus rides.

There's a Starfox title coming up that should be stellar (from reviews I've read after E3). But I can't speak first-hand on it.

I've heard the Tetris DS is good fun.

You can play any GBA title on it (and there are too many great GBA titles to list).

All and all, I have found myself playing my DS waaaayyy more than my PSP. Probably because the battery life is more dependable.

Also, when you want to stop playing, but can't save your progress, just close the lid and it enters a power save mode. I have had mine on power save for over 24 hours (cause I forgot) and when I returned, it wasn't even asking for a charge. The game will be right where you left it. Pretty convenient.

And lastly, the new screens on the DS Lite are clearer and higher res than even the PSP's. The brightness on level "four" setting is supposed to be ridiculously bright.

bv @ May 31st 2006 3:43AM

Sweet review cringer8, you sure you don't work for the regginator? :) I appreciate you picking out some titles that might be worth the buy, I'm definitely leaning towards a ds lite purchase now. Thanks sabre too for the tip.

cringer8 @ May 31st 2006 3:43AM

LOL. Sorry, Lord, it's getting late. By the end of my sentence my brain forgot where it was going. It should read:

"OR you can get it now (but it WON'T be black)"

I should go to bed...it took me way to long to write that review above. Lots of "backspacing."

bv @ May 31st 2006 3:44AM

Oh i forgot to ask, cringer8, when and where do you play the ds? Just wondering if I'll even have a reason to play it :/

rk @ May 31st 2006 3:46AM

"You do realize that Nintendo of America HQ is in Redmond too, right? :-)" -- Greg O.

Yep.. I know, I have one or two friends who work there. They ate crow a few months back when they finally broke down and got 360's, I guess its my turn. :P

Nick @ May 31st 2006 3:54AM

Got mine tonight at Walmart. Evansville, IN for those who are looking. A quick side-by-side comparison is amazing. I don't know how I didn't go blind looking at the old screens.

Zo� Kunami @ May 31st 2006 4:10AM

@bv

I dunno about cringer8, but I spend most of my time playing DS to and from work on the city bus. Occasionally, when a game really grabs me (Phoenix Wright, Mario Kart DS, Kiby Canvas Curse, Animal Crossing, and Advance Wars DS have all done this), I'll continue playing while I'm at home, too.

I will say this much: I love my consoles (I own all three current gen systems), but in the last year, it seems I've played nothing but DS. It's just very easy to pick up, and quite hard to put back down once you do. That's been my experience, anyway.

szkud @ May 31st 2006 4:16AM

I'll be at my local Target hell or high water tomorrow morning.

cringer8 @ May 31st 2006 4:33AM

I play mine at home, because I have a wireless router for my laptop. I haven't played a console game since I've owned it. But I also play on the bus ride to work and at work (if I get a moment).

The original DS was too bulky for me to carry in my pocket, so I only have it on me when I have my bag (and that's usually only on work days).

Handling the Lite at E3 (if you can call it that; they were rigidly affixed to little stands) it seems much more pocket friendly (MUCH thinner).

Perhaps Nick can shed some light on the portability of the new Lite.

*Side Note: My dyslexia gets WAY out of control when I’m sleepy…these comments are a real effort to hammer out. Please forgive any typos. I wouldn't see them if I tried.

Jdoki @ May 31st 2006 4:43AM

@#10

The great thing about the DS is it's variety of titles. From straight up AAA stuff like Mario Kart, New Super Mario Bros, Metroid and Advance Wars; to quirky titles like Pheonix Wright Ace Attorney, Animal Crossing and Trauma Center : Under the knife.

It caters to almost every genre (quality RPG's are a bit lacking unfortunately at the moment), and the touch pad is definitely not a gimmick. E3 convinced me the line-up is looking stronger and stronger with titles like Star Fox and Zelda.

I've had a PSP since launch which is now gathering dust, but my DS gets played regularly. Last half decent title I bought was Daxter, which just feels like a watered down PS2 platformer rather than 'designed for handheld' title.

The icing on the cake with the DS is WiFi, it's simply implemented, but hugely fun.

I have a phat DS which will be ebayed to make way for a Lite - their improved screen brightness, better buttons and reduced size make the trade more than worthwhile.

atomicpond @ May 31st 2006 4:48AM

Don't matter how early they start selling it, you still aint getting the lovely black model like us U.K guys! :P

Seriously though, I've been after a DSlite for a while now, but recently realised that I really do not need one. My silver phat version does just fine, the only thing I would change/want is the brighter screen. I will probably pick up a lite next year if the good games keep coming!

Nick @ May 31st 2006 4:56AM

@Cringer

Considering I've only had it for 2 hours, I can't really comment on its portability. While it has a much more pocket-friendly shape and size, I kinda worry about damaging that nice shiny exterior. I've been trying out my old games on it to see how it looks. Overall, the brightness truly has to be seen to be believed. My only complaint is that there seems to be some color shifting, or perhaps, the games were designed with the low light screens in mind and I'm now seeing the true colors. Either way, my oranges and pears in animal crossing are an ugly day-glow color now, as are several of the menus.

Adrenalin @ May 31st 2006 5:09AM

its here in Australia (Melbourne at least)

a bunch of store catalogues have it in them here

Scott @ May 31st 2006 5:34AM

This doesnt surprise me at all. The aussie release date for the DS Lite is the 1st of June, so perhaps nintendo is going to just chuck them all out at the same time?

steven @ May 31st 2006 5:49AM

I no every 1s talking about the ds lite.........But i just want to say some things about the psp. I bourt it about what 9 months ago now second hand off ebay. The 1st game i bourt was gta liberty stories and it was a great game but ever since i traded it in for somethink differnt i can not find another game as good.

Iv just bourt socom and im hoping i can get in to that because there is not to many other games that i like to choose from. In other words the psp needs more of a range in games because im sick of football and racing games.......and for some reason i use my psp for music then playing games.........

CUBS-BEARS-BULLS-RULE @ May 31st 2006 5:51AM

IF ANYONE KNOW IF U CAN GET THEM AT BEST BUY OR JUST WAL MART AND TARGET CUZ I GOT A $70 GIFT CARD SORRY ABOUT CAPS MY BUTTON IS MESSED UP BUT REFER TO ME BY MY NUMBER OR CUBS BEARS BULLS RULE THEY REALLY RULE

steven @ May 31st 2006 5:51AM

ds lite is it beter then the psp?

Paul Cosgrove @ May 31st 2006 5:52AM

I'd like to think that the UK release will see a similar disregard for street date, but I'm not holding out much hope for GAME here in Belfast letting them go early.

I tried to get Animal Crossing for my girlfriend the day before street date, but they wouldn't let me have it - despite the fact that they had dozens of boxes on the #2 shelf of their charts.

I spent a couple minutes arguing with the guy at the desk that if it's on the shelf and at #1 they must have sold some, surely. He told me that it wasn't for sale until the next day, and that I should have known that it wasn't for sale yet because quote, "it doesn't have a price sticker on it".

It didn't have a "coming soon" or release date on it either, though.

Ephemeris @ May 31st 2006 5:56AM

awwwwwwww... Just tell me where I could pick one up in NYC! I wanted to wait for the black one, but since they're out earlier than planned...

kyou @ May 31st 2006 6:00AM

Honestly the PSP is the most expensive paperweight I've bought in my entire life. The DS in the other hand.... I don't leave my home or take a dump without mine.

Rosewood @ May 31st 2006 6:26AM

Wichita, KS Targets (all of them) will have them on sale in response to this as of today (May 31 2006).

The manager at Wal-Mart said if the Targets here in town do that, then they will have them on sell. Best Buy confirmed that they would also follow suit. I was unable to contact anyone at Gamestop or EB Games this early.

that guy @ May 31st 2006 6:46AM

I work at a gaming web site and we received a DS Lite last week (I'm sure many more sites did as well). It's disgusting how sexy this thing is (I hope I don't sound too pathetic here). In all honesty, it really is worth every penny, and I know that in Canada if you have a regular DS, you get $50 for trade-in at EBGames if you want to get a lite (in other words, Lite would then be $99.99 CDN).

The games look and sound even better on the lite, and it just looks awesome. The guy at work who got it (he was a total non-believer of DS beforehand) loves it, but the thing is ... his wife is the one who won't put it down!

Soop @ May 31st 2006 7:02AM

Aww...
I have to admit, PSP has its moments, but I haven't touched mine for a while. Sony really screwed it up with that firmware business. I have 2 UMDs that require 2.0+ and to use them on my 1.5 I have to mess around something chronic to get them to work. And I want to play NES and SNES too. I've been toying with the idea of getting a DS lite, but I was thinking whether or not to keep my PSP. I'll have a proper look tomorrow and come to a conclusion.

I have to say though, if you know enough people with PSPs, the multiplayer is soooo good.

dvddesign @ May 31st 2006 7:37AM

Hey BPMOmega...

I love the Enamel Navy DS... It's so bad!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajservo1/
>:)

Bwahahahahahahaha.....

Olly @ May 31st 2006 7:41AM

For all UK residents, GAME are doing an offer where if you trade in your old DS, you can get the DS lite for £59.99. They are accepting pre-orders now and most shops have non-working models in store for you to 'try-out'. All stores will have both the White and Black models available at launch.

Very sexy.

Premaximum @ May 31st 2006 7:51AM

Does anyone know if there's a Fire Emblem game planned for the DS? I loved Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones for GBA, was an excellent game (It's along the lines of Advance Wars, but think roleplaying, if you haven't heard of it), and I think it could be pretty innovative with a stylus/touch screen.

Anyone able to confirm/deny? That will probably be the selling point for me. I'm not into Mario that much, or Metroid, I'm a bigger fan of the 2D Roleplaying games. Tactics Ogre, FF Tactics, the original Final Fantasys, Fire Emblem, Golden Sun, etc...

Also, anyone know about a Pokemon game for the DS? Yeah, I know, little kid, whatever...I still love that game and I'm eighteen now, lol...so damn addicting...stupid Pikachu. -_-

Londoner @ May 31st 2006 7:54AM

@ Olly, why bother? CEX is buying them for £45 cash (Exchange £56), which you can keep towards the purchase of the Lite from whichever store you choose.

Steven @ May 31st 2006 8:07AM

"Trakan said his local Target had a "shitload" in stock"

Was that really necessary to post?

Nick Borrego @ May 31st 2006 8:28AM

Bah! I went to Walmart w/ my friend and hung out for a couple hours but they didn't have any in their cases. I'll try Target when they open at 8am.

striderhayasa @ May 31st 2006 8:30AM

I agree a lot of you about he variety and diversity of the library on the DS. Ive spend a lot of time playing my DS instead of my consoles (yes I own all three too)

Abbout Metroid though, I can honstly say that its one of the most intense FPS I've played in a while. It's amazing that it's on DS. My rivals list is like an all star cast...Deathangel, NSKirby200, Samus,James ....these guys gave me great challenges and did things in battles that you'd only see on PC fps.
My ds is the road warrior, it's with me no matter where I go.

There's just so much to play for it its retarded. NSMB, Age of Empires is just awesome, Mario Kart, Meteos, Tony Hawk which is still addictive, Mario and Luigi:Partners in Time, Advanced Wars, Castlevania....so much to play.

I live in philly and I'm heading out in a bit to see if any near me broke the street date. I live close to Center City too. I was thinking about picking up Bleach today (hopefully Got Game or Gamechamp has a copy if not, Lik Sang it is) That'd be great with a new DS lite.

daniel @ May 31st 2006 8:42AM

premaxium-your in luck there are 3 upcoming pokemon ds titles 4 if you count pearl and diamond as one, theres also pokemon ranger you are an older trainer whos some kind of ranger on a sort of pokemon reserve i think and theres pokemon dungeon where you play as an actual pokemon, theres 2 out already but theyre not proper pokemon games pokemon dash is a racing game with pokemon, pokemon link/trozei is a puzzle game featuring pokemon