D(S)-Day: DS Lite storms European retailers
by Christopher Grant 
{ Jun 23rd 2006 at 12:55PM }
Alright Europe, now's your turn. Both Japan and the US have had their fill -- heck, even Australia and New Zealand got in on it already -- so now I guess we can let you out of the cellar so you can get your clawing, rending meatmittens on the tender, delicate DS Lite.
So you have to wait a little longer, you have to pay a little more (£100 for the Brits, 150 € for the rest of youse), you don't think Uncle Nintendo knows that? He's gone out of his way to whip up a special Black DS Lite just for you guys. This isn't Enamel Navy or Ice Blue ... this is Black. It's awesome and it's all yours.
Until they inevitably release it stateside for $130 in a couple months. Until then, who (except this guy) got one?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Aaron @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:07PM
A bunch of black marketers in Hong Kong have em' too.
Noah @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:08PM
I'm gonna brag, mine was just shipped out today, so either Monday or Tuesday of next week I'll have the sexy beast in my hands, I'm talking about the black DS lite of course. Anybody else pay the hefty price to import? I was just suckered in by the complete awesomeness of the black and couldn't just settle for the white.
martin @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:21PM
Have fun when you have to settle for dead pixels because NOA doesn't cover your European DS, and you can't take it back to the store to switch it out.
Aran @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:22PM
Hooray, finally!
I have Black DS Lite reserved, but I'm not able to pick it up from the shop until next thursday. Well, at least I know it's there waiting for me. ^^
NSMB will be released 30.6. which is next friday in Europe. Brain Training, NSMB, Metroid and Phoenix Wright sounds pretty nice pack of games to pick up with the DS Lite.
Jaap @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:23PM
In the Netherlands (or at least several stores in Rotterdam) they actually started selling them Wednesday. Seems like they don't care about 'official launch dates'.
I got two black ones on thursday. Put Hori's on 'em (Why don't they make these thing at the actual size of the DS screens? The one for the normal LCD is too big and the one for the touch screen is too small). Also got Bomberman DS, Brain Age (Dutch version) and Mario Kart. (Waiting for the New SMB).
As I type I'm trying to get Mario Kart to play online but there seem to be some connectivity problems. Not sure if that's on my side or Nintendo's side.
Sentinel @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:28PM
Well, $130 is about the same as €100. So "a little more" just doesn't seem to cover it.
Oh well, at least the Brits got screwed even worse. :)
I'm trying to resist buying one, but i'm already starting to crumble...
Padfoot2sirius @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:32PM
Got my Black DSLite from play.com yesterday! Pre-ordered it last week, got dispatched on wednesday and turned up the next day. I completely happy with it, its much better than the original DS, although i do find my self wiping off the fingerprints more than i would like...
Freddie Lyall @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:43PM
I talked to my local Gamestation guy and he reserved me a Black one...so I wondered in at 4.00pm and he told me he was getting calls from all over town of people requesting my (the last) black one!! A great feeling, and its a amazing console!!
Aero @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:49PM
I picked up my Black DS today and it absolutely rawks.
And commenter number 2, my DS doesn't had any dead pixels =P.
Pedro @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:54PM
It is just oh so sexy...
and i dont mind the high price that i had to pay in england, atleast when my hands die after several hundred hours of nonstop DS playing i wont have to pay any medical bills :)
J B Cougar @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:55PM
Do you think, gulp, that a *black market* trade will develop around these coveted UK DS Lites???
Frexy @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:56PM
True, the DS Lite in black is A REAL fingerprint magnet!
I've got one at home and it's... it's really great, really. Except for the tons of fingerprints you can see on it.... a shame really..
And IF I have to choose between fingerprints (black) or dirty inside (white)..
I'd go for white :p
J B Cougar @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:57PM
To Jaap -- maybe you have them switched? I did the same thing with books once before someone told me I was reading them all upside down.
Anyway, just kidding regardless.
Charles @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:59PM
"Until they inevitably release it stateside for $130 in a couple months."
Is it true? Can I get a Black Lite in the US that soon? That'd be nice, and sooner than I figured.
coalhalo @ Jun 23rd 2006 2:03PM
Up until now, I have had absolutely no desire to buy one. I could not bring myself to get a PSP and I have no regrets about that given the dearth of games. But after looking over the black DS-Lite photos Joystiq has posted, I'm starting to have second thoughts about buying a new handheld. Of course I'll have to wait till a US release or just maybe buy an import, because that shiny black looks fantastic.
blaze @ Jun 23rd 2006 2:08PM
@#5
Actually the US would fair the best at $130 price, whilst the UK would once again have an inflated price, but the Euro price is worst off, with them paying a couple euros more than the UK.
Either way, Europe still gets ripped off.
Lilmario @ Jun 23rd 2006 2:20PM
Just got mine a few hours ago, and it's very nice. No flaws, sexy black and really bright.
soco @ Jun 23rd 2006 2:25PM
i got mine yesterday. was gonna get white, but i stopped by the apple store first, and noticed how the macbooks are discoloring, and thought, aaah, why risk it. so i picked up a nice black one.
C. Grant @ Jun 23rd 2006 2:26PM
Charles: no inside info, but logic dictates such a scenario is plausible. We have no colors, Japan and EU do. Nintendo knows black is the hotness, so wait and release it and get some double dippers even. Capitalism FTW!
oz @ Jun 23rd 2006 2:39PM
To our Euro buds- If you can only get one game for it get NEW Super Mario Bros. Trust me, it's a blast and worth the purchase price alone for the Lite!
teknotom @ Jun 23rd 2006 2:52PM
Got the US import at a local game store last week, thank you. To be honest I only got around to getting a DS Phat a month ago (though I was saving for a vacation) and just got myself a black Lite this morning (I pre-ordered it, but there seemed to be plenty to go around). What combination of latecomer, fanboy and schmuck that makes me I don't know.
stuart taylor @ Jun 23rd 2006 2:57PM
I went into Game at lunch time and picked me up a shiny new black DS, man is it sweet, Good deal the DS and 2 games for £119 :) now if only i could get it to work with my wireless connection :(
Ianc02 @ Jun 23rd 2006 2:57PM
Phat = traded hell yeah £40 on top. Thank you for the awesome Black DSlite Nintendo.
Gray Ham @ Jun 23rd 2006 3:09PM
It's so shiney and bright! It feels wrong to touch it!!!
Anybody else have trouble getting the diagonals to function though? I'm having issues when running around my Animal Crossing town using the D pad...
Shizzle @ Jun 23rd 2006 3:16PM
I even had my own DS Lite launch party, with a guest appearance from Run-DMC and a huge PSP-like video wall.
http://games.shizzle.be/2006/06/23/shizzle-games-very-local-ds-lite-launch-party-featuring-run-dmc/
Ok, I was bored because Mario isn't out until next week ;)
neale @ Jun 23rd 2006 3:25PM
i bought one off ebay, and it arrived on launch day before i got out of bed! incredible or what!
asda is sellin white and black ones all this week for £89. only noticed this when going to buy metroid
blkmasta @ Jun 23rd 2006 3:35PM
I got mine about 4 hours ago. The sheer quality and difference it made to my games made it an essential purchase. We didn't get any free Brain Age demos, and we had to pay a little more, but hell, thats life. Although...GAME did a neat little bargain. choose from one of 6 games, and get it for £10 when bought with a DS Lite. I was getting my mum Brain Age and my Phat for her birthday anyway, so I did the sensible thing and bought Brain Age of the Queens English. Mweheheh.
PS. Try Project Rub on highest brightness... so bright, you can (literally) see it with your eyes closed. I'm not joking folks.
Saint @ Jun 23rd 2006 3:50PM
I got a black one (although, they were released thursday around here), and i've already managed to run the battery dry. Twice. Didn't really get much work done yesterday... Shame, that.
Gotta love that Power Paintbrush, thou'
Onan @ Jun 23rd 2006 4:05PM
...my...PRECIOUS....
black and white united in Berlin for 139,-€ or 129,-€ (depends how clever you are)
and yes, little "jeans-boy" says "Here we go!" instead of"Yahoooo"
Ben Roe @ Jun 23rd 2006 4:07PM
Agreed on the fingerprint thing: mine was covered in fingerprints in minutes. A fantastic handheld, though, it's amazing how dark the old DS seems now.
Euan @ Jun 23rd 2006 4:12PM
i preordered mine from amazon over a month ago. it was sent out yesterday and the royal mail lost it in the post. i'm raging to say the least.
KR @ Jun 23rd 2006 4:12PM
I actually prefer the white - any dark colored ones show fingerprints and smudges/scratches way too easily (think Ipod Nano). White ones always look clean.
Jaap @ Jun 23rd 2006 4:20PM
To #3, I had a black one with one dead pixel (actually it was working but only red). The shop exchanged it with a new one for me... so dead pixels aren't a problem.
Ben Roe @ Jun 23rd 2006 4:25PM
According to Gamespot it was a fairly quiet launch in the UK:
http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6153095.html?sid=6153095
Because, of course, "...the demographic of the DS is very much focused on kids..." according to GAME. Does anyone know any sales data on DS Fat/Lite and PSP in the UK? I get the feeling the PSP is in front here.
Shizzle @ Jun 23rd 2006 4:49PM
I'm sure the DS Lite didn't sell out in Europe (at least not in Belgium - it's easy to pick up a DS Lite here, plenty of stock). We're just not as crazy as the rest of the world when it comes to electronics.
I know a guy who fell asleep with his DS Lite turned on and he woke up with a suntan. Those bright screens are amazing! (or maybe it was the sun after all?)
MrP @ Jun 23rd 2006 7:59PM
It didn't really "storm" anything here in Norway. There were occasional competitions here and there online where you could win one, but the Lites just quietly sat in a corner in the stores that actually had them for sale.
I don't really care, though. Why? Because I got my US DS Lite on Thursday, and paid 300 Kroners less than I would've paid for it in the cheapest store there was, where all they had was a white Lite anyway. Bwahahah!
mupwangle @ Jun 23rd 2006 8:56PM
There is absolutely no demand in the UK (or at least compared to Japan or the US. I bought A DS LIte Black from Argos (major UK general crap shop) at lunchtime. Took it back at 2pm due to a bright pink dead pixel central on the touch screen. I'd only used the black DS for 10 minutes but the fingerprints were driving me to OCD!! Swapped it for a white one and am much happier. Argos still had over half their allocation.
kronholm @ Jun 23rd 2006 10:50PM
Well, I paid 1195 danish kroner here in Denmark, at EB Games. With current currency rates, that exchanges to exactly $200 dollars, or 161 euroes. I have no idea where you get the $130 prices from, because this price is the cheapest of anyone selling it here. Comparably I paid about 2000 danish kroner for the PSP when it came out. I think 1195 danish kroner is pretty damn cheap.
Also I got $16.77 off on New SMB when it's released on the 30th, and got a bag for the DS Lite too (not yet in stock), in the $200 price. This offer wasn't on at any other place than EB Games, and other places were more expensive even without the extra swag.
Anyway, loving the DS Lite. I got a white one because it's sexy.
kronholm @ Jun 23rd 2006 10:53PM
I really wish I could login or something to edit my post instead of making a new one.
Anyway, I forgot to say:
There's absolutely zero marketing going on in my country. None. No banner ads on danish sites, no tv commercials, no bus banners, no posters etc. etc. I believe -that- could be attributed to poor sales initially. Just like the PSP wasn't marketed either.
Zero_ @ Jun 24th 2006 12:49AM
"I'd only used the black DS for 10 minutes but the fingerprints were driving me to OCD!!"
How bad is it? I've been wanting a DS Lite Black, but if it really is prone to finger prints, I may have to get a white one.
calthaer. @ Jun 24th 2006 1:06AM
I hope it's inevitable for the 'states. With the notable exception of the NES GBA SP, we really got the shaft in GBA colors. The gold zelda one and the red mario one rocked - Europe gets all the best ones.
I already have an iPod; I don't need another white portable doohickey. Black is what I'm holding out for.
Ben Roe @ Jun 24th 2006 4:32AM
kronholm - Nintendo seems to slowly increasing their advertising in Europe. In the UK, I've been seeing a lot more TV adverts for the DS and Touch Generations. They sponsor a lot of shows on channel 4 as well, mostly 'alternative' comedy. They're weird adverts, things like live action Phoenix Wright or Nintendogs acted out with a toy dog.
Tatsuya @ Jun 24th 2006 4:56AM
Well, as usual we're screwed:
- Europe is served last
- We pay more (50$, that makes a difference)
- Black as a special color, what a joke! Where is the ice blue or navy blue.
Thank you for nothing Nintendo, if you really want to sell your poducts here stop treating us like sh..
I guess I'll wait a price drop to buy one.
Sri Lumpa @ Jun 24th 2006 7:52AM
Got (a black) one yesterday.
I lent my original DS (silver) ti a friend a few hours before that (was working thursday night) with 7 games: Kirby Canvas Curse, Castlevania, Mario Kart (told him to get some training so he can race against me next time), Zookeeper, Sonic Rush, Trauma Center and Phoenix wright (Take that!), keeping Animal crossing, Brain Training, Princess Peach and Advance war as I haven't finished them/am still playing them frequently and told him he had 3 weeks to try them before giving it back to me as I'm gonna go on holiday and lend it to my cousin who I discover recently loves Adventure games (so I'm gonna lend him Trace Memory and Phoenix wright among others).
I much prefer the lite's screen and was quite surprised as I liked the DS's screen much better than my SP's screen (can't compare though as my SP is in my mother's hand as a bribe to help keep my nephew/niece quiet when she babysits them)
I was concerned about the matt inner surface of the black DS lite, not knowing if it would cramp its visual style (but not too much as I preferred having an ugly DS with good games than a sexy PSP with less games appealing to me) but I find that when the DS is on its brightest setting the matt black of the inside creates a very dark area around the screens that helps shutting out the external environment, giving me more immersion (haven't tried it in daylight though).
The well talked about downsides are the GBA cartridge sticking out (I don't care as either there is one in there only when I play a gba game, which is not too often these days) and the black's ability to attract fingerprints.
So my advice is if you can try to see both a white and a black lite side by side before making your choice but unless you are money starved don't even consider buying an old DS, the brighter screen alone is well worth the £10 extra; and if you ARE money starved, consider buying an old DS second hand as they should become even cheaper now/soon.
crimsonimpact @ Jun 24th 2006 10:59AM
Got my black DSlite on D(S) day and it is indeed gorgeous. Yeah, lots of fingerprints, but I'm sure using a lint free cloth to wipe it isn't to much trouble? :D
mupwangle @ Jun 24th 2006 11:22AM
>>but I'm sure using a lint free cloth to wipe it isn't to much trouble? :D
Yeah, but I only used mine for about 30 minutes and wiped it about 50 times. Had the white one since and haven't wiped it once. ;-D The Black one looks ace until you have to touch it and I'm not quite sad enough (yet!) to buy special gloves!