Rumor: Black and Pink DS Lites coming in September to U.S. [update 1]

by Joystiq Staff { Aug 23rd 2006 at 10:15PM }

Two Nintendo fan sites are claiming that "inside sources" have informed them that pink and black DS Lites are coming to North America in September.

Random Nintendo claims:

A reliable, retail source close to Random Nintendo recently informed us that Nintendo is gearing up for the release of two new DS Lite colors next month. According to our source, both black and pink DS Lite colors will be brought Stateside on September 10.

4cr says something very similar:

Inside sources tells 4cr that Pink DS lites will start appearing on North American shelves in early/mid September.

If both sites turn out to be true, will you be turning in your white DS Lite for a black or pink version?

[Update: This story has since been confirmed by Nintendo.]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

sweet! @ Aug 23rd 2006 10:20PM

Awesome. I was going to preorder a black one but I can wait.

pockyninja @ Aug 23rd 2006 10:20PM

I want the FFIII version!

Nick Dunn @ Aug 23rd 2006 10:21PM

This is the primary reason I've been holding off on getting a DS lite; I knew I'd get buyer's remorse the minute the new colors hit the states

that guy @ Aug 23rd 2006 10:28PM

I've been purposely putting off getting a DS Lite until the black one came out. I'll be a happy boy if/when this happens. And for the record, I know a LOT of girls who will be there on launch day if the pink DS Lite comes here.

GSI @ Aug 23rd 2006 10:34PM

-->"I want the FFIII version!"

Indeed! But considering that the _really_ cool special edition console stuff never comes out in the US, you'll have to import it.

Nmaster @ Aug 23rd 2006 10:35PM

Finally...I can get my girlfriend one...

Alcoholic Zombie @ Aug 23rd 2006 10:36PM

I swear to god, if someone gives me a pink one for x-mas.

Im going to smash it right there on the spot.

Sloppy seconds @ Aug 23rd 2006 10:36PM

I've been holding out for the black one. Hopefully mine won't get a crack, have a dead pixel, or have a dreadful yellow tinted touch screen.

I bet the crack will be harder to detect...

GSI @ Aug 23rd 2006 10:42PM

-->"won't get a crack"

That was blown out of proportion (the internet tends to do that) so don't worry about.

-->"have a dead pixel"

I've never had a dead pixel on any of the portables I've owned. In fact the only thing I own that has ever had a dead pixel is one of my LCD monitors.

-->"dreadful yellow tinted touch screen"

Never heard of that one before...

pandafresh @ Aug 23rd 2006 10:44PM

Sony: Pink PSP coming!
people: who carez thats so gheyyy
Nintendo: Pink DS coming!
people: ZOMGZZZ I ken get my g/f one! lololz so kewL!

the internet is weird

GSI @ Aug 23rd 2006 10:44PM

"both black and pink DS Lite colors will be brought Stateside on September 10."

Well there IS that Nintendo conference that is being held on September 14th. May be they will release them just before the conference or afterwards.

Will @ Aug 23rd 2006 10:45PM

If that were to be true, I might upgrade my phat blue DS to a black DS Lite, especially since I've kind of ruined my touch screen by playing too much Ouendan.

Dan @ Aug 23rd 2006 10:49PM

I don't know why one would sell his/her DS Lite just so they could have a different color shell. Seems like a waste of money that could go towards actual games.
I'll keep my beautiful white one and get a pink one for my wife so she'll stop hogging mine!

GSI @ Aug 23rd 2006 10:53PM

He said "phat blue DS"...

He's not just changing the color of the system but also the size and getting an improved screen as well.

jp007 @ Aug 23rd 2006 10:54PM

I just bought a Black DS Lite while in Germany. Problems, problems, problems. The first had serious d-pad issues. I mean super serious. The diagonals were horrid. You had to almost break your thumb pressing to go anywhere, making AC:WW a huge pain. I actually had the system for about a month before I noticed, as before I was basically playing FF:Dawn of Souls, which doesn't use the diags. When I wanted to return it, both stores in the area were out of black ones. I could have gotten the white thay said, but that would have defeated the whole point of buying it while in Europe. SO I waited and waited.

A new shipment came in a few days before I had to leave. Exchanged for a new one. Tested the control pad out and worked great. Got it home(where I was staying) and then noticed the dead pixel on the top screen. Arghhhhh! Went back and got another one. This one ALSO had a dead pixel, this time on the touch screen. There were no more black one left to exchange at this point, so they called the other store. They had black. Went there, and tested it. No dead pixels. Control pad seems OK. Better than the first one. I still think pressing the SE corner needs a bit more pressure than it should, but at least I don't have to put it in a vice, as before.

But this DS has the slight problem of the "bright faint yellowish" tinge on the bottom screen. It's isn't a HUGE deal, as you really don't notice it unless you're really trying to look for it. I think saying even yellow makes it sound worse than it is, but that is how I believe IGN refered to this problem in their article "Is your DS Lite sick?"
To me, it seems like the contrast or brightness levels of the two screens jsut aren't equal. The bottom screen just doesn't seem completely black when it should be a black screen, like the top screen does (such as between when going in and outside buildings in AC:WW).
But basically, it just wasn't worth anymore hassle to try to get FIFTH system with absolutly nothing to complain about. I don't even know if this screen issue is a valid one you could use to convice sales people to exchange again.
So a word to the wise out there. While I doubt this experience is the norm, check your DS Lites before you leave the store for the dead pixels and shitty D-Pads. You will save a lot of hassel. I'm a big Nintendo fan, and this is the first time I have EVER had a problem with ANY Nintendo product, so I was a bit more than shocked and disappointed with the repeated defects. Let's hope that the Wii doesn't suffer from any crappy problems. I can imagine some kind of problem occuring with faulty sensor bars, or something like that.

spoo @ Aug 23rd 2006 10:54PM

I want a navy one :(

John @ Aug 23rd 2006 10:58PM

I'm a DS Lite virgin, and I'm soooo losing it to the black Lite.

Alcoholic Zombie: Here's an idea. Sell the Pink DS Lite on eBay. Get your money. Buy a Black DS Lite. :)

GSI @ Aug 23rd 2006 11:04PM

Be happy that they replaced the DS b/c of a dead pixel. Sony basically gives you the finger when it comes to dead pixels...BUT...dead pixels on LCDs is normal. You can't really put ALL the blame on the company since it is a side effect of the production process.

T-Bag @ Aug 23rd 2006 11:09PM

@ pandafresh,

Indeed it is.

ejflex @ Aug 23rd 2006 11:29PM

Thats always great when you order your girlfriend a pink one from Japan and pay a mere 210 dollars this past month.. and you give in and get a white one even though you'd prefer a black. Great. I just got shat on twice by Ninty.

Ash @ Aug 23rd 2006 11:30PM

The black one sounds good... not sure about the pink one tbh. XD

dish @ Sep 5th 2006 8:43AM

@GSI

my DS lite got a crack my buddy said i was 'too rough' about a week later his had one.

my DS phat has 2 dead pixels on the tops screen.

and another friend of mine has a ds phat that has a noticeably yellow tent on his touch screen.

not dissing the ds at all i love both of mine and plan on getting a pink lite (with cooking mama) for my girlfriend if this rumor is true im just saying this issues are real and may be more widespread than you think.

dish @ Aug 23rd 2006 11:32PM

idioteraser @ Aug 23rd 2006 11:33PM

jp007 why were you playing a gba game on the DS? Your story lacks credibility due to that mere fact that a gba game has to use the diagnonal pad since it doesn't have any touch screen controls.

Shady @ Aug 23rd 2006 11:34PM

@pandafresh: girls would choose a DS over a PSP.

idioteraser @ Aug 23rd 2006 11:36PM

dish all three issues you will get a replacement DS from Nintendo if you explain the issues correctly. The defects are due to the increased manufactoring. Also don't make the DS lite go flat if you are afraid of a crack. You will crack the hinge if the screw in the left one is too tight when you make it go flat enough times. It occurs on other hinge type devices if you make them go back far enough.

Night Elve @ Aug 23rd 2006 11:47PM

@ 23. Shady

I have to disagree with you =P at least my Girlfriend prefer a PSP over a DS.

And yesterday she said that she whould like to have a pink PS2 soooo.

atomic pond @ Aug 23rd 2006 11:50PM

Is the U.K Getting the Pink ones? Hope so 'cos I would like to get my fiancee' a pink light to replace her pink phat one (DS that is) ;)

Me? I'm STILL happy with my silver phat (not played it much since getting a 360 tbh and Ninty has slowed down the killer releases that gave the DS the edge over this last year).

BPM? @ Aug 24th 2006 12:00AM

I already have an Enamel Navy DS Lite, so I have no interest in Polar White, Jet Black, or Noble Pink. :)

Todd Rabanus @ Aug 24th 2006 12:13AM

seriously why does a color matter? personally i am a man with a big hands (yes it is true what they say about a amn with big hands) and the DS phat fits perfectly. but my question is why should a color matter? it's the same sytsem with the same games!!!! just a ploy, just release your system and let it speak for yourself

anUnspeakableEvil @ Aug 24th 2006 12:15AM

disco! i hope this is factual... i pre-ordered a japanese black one 2 days ago and just cancelled the order.

BlackheartR8 @ Aug 24th 2006 12:37AM

why does color matter? uhh where have you been? lol. people choose color all the time whether it's car, shirts, etc. plus black is the way to go haha.

B1gC72 @ Aug 24th 2006 1:30AM

just my luck. thanks nintendo. ive held off getting a DS Lite while waiting for a black model to match my PSP. with no black model in sight and my wrist buckling under the wieght of the Phat DS, i cracked under the damn pressure and bought a white 1 last week. and then this happens. i will be thoroughly pissed if this turns out 2 be true. oh well, i got 3 months 2 take it back, maybe i can trade it in and get the black 1 instead. crossing my fingers...

Shogan @ Aug 24th 2006 1:50AM

I'm waiting on the Navy one, or maybe a special edition version. My boyfriend got the Mario Kart DS Phat, and the plastic is different, and it's lighter than my Blue DS...

I may buy the black version and sell it when another comes out that I want more... I need a DS Lite...

GSI @ Aug 24th 2006 1:54AM

For all you people BITCHING and WHINING about how you bought a white one and then a black one MIGHT be coming out?

STFU and grow up. This happens ALL THE TIME...deal with it.

lain @ Aug 24th 2006 1:55AM

@ 19

similar story here. i just paid $200 for a noble pink for myself a couple of weeks ago from lik-sang. i was afraid this might happen. i guess i should blame myself for lack of patience.

rockintom99 @ Aug 24th 2006 1:57AM

I have yet to get a ds lite (still got my gray first gen), and if i *do* get one anytime soon, i think i would get the white one. I think it just looks cooler that way.

LordBug @ Aug 24th 2006 7:10AM

Hopefully this is true. The pictures of the black DS Lite make it look awesome. Friend of mine got one while in Europe and said it looks really good (he lives 2000 miles away so I can't see it).

I managed to sell off my phat DS to my boss. Wonder who I can pawn sell my white DS Lite to...

Anonymouse Rep @ Aug 24th 2006 7:58AM

I'm with Todd Rabanus on this one.

If the color choice was available when you first went to purchase the thing, then I could see deciding on black or white - and DEFINITELY not pink. But if you've already bought a white one, aren't you more interested in the thing for the gameplay, anyway? Instead of probably taking a monetary loss of some kind, even if it's only $5, by selling the white one just so you can purchase a black one, why not just keep what you have and play it until it breaks? By that time, you'll probably have LOTS of color choices - and let's face it, it's still only plastic on the outside.

Scuff it up with some 120 grit sandpaper, get a good can of spray paint, mask off anything important, and paint it yourself - poof, you've got a neon red DS. (Note - make sure that you use latex or enamel paints designed for plastic - nothing is quite as bad as spray painting something plastic and having the propellant destroy what you're painting. Almost sounds like I've done that with a model airplane or two in the past, doesn't it?)

Tom @ Aug 24th 2006 9:06AM

If only they made a pink N-Gage.

Insert joke here.

dish @ Aug 24th 2006 9:11AM

@23 i knw how to call customer service my ds lite is at nintendo right now being repaired.

i think as long as you open and close your ds lite the crack will happen b/c i never open mine all the way to play.

Todd @ Aug 24th 2006 9:15AM

Pink might not be as big a deal to girls over here in the states, but in Japan pink is the color that girls go gaga for. Apparently lots of Japanese girls feel that unless there is a pink DS, they won't purchase one. Maybe the same can be said for US girls. In either case, marketing being what it is, there's a big push to include girls.

Leo @ Aug 24th 2006 10:08AM

@29 -- that you wear big gloves

jp007 @ Aug 24th 2006 10:25AM

"jp007 why were you playing a gba game on the DS? Your story lacks credibility due to that mere fact that a gba game has to use the diagnonal pad since it doesn't have any touch screen controls."

idioteraser: You're an idiot. Why WOULDN'T I be playing a GBA game on my DS? I don't have a dedicated GBA, and I picked up Dawn of Souls in Germany as well. The European version is in English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian, so I've been playing through in German with a dictionary to help my language skills. Have you ever played one of the 2D Final Fantasies before? YOU CAN'T MOVE DIAGONALLY! (Oh yeah, I believe D-Pad stands for Directional Pad, not Diagonal Pad..) You can only move in the cardinal directions while moving your character on the map, so of COURSE I wouldn't have noticed the diagonal problems.

Andy S. @ Aug 24th 2006 10:41AM

jp001 - "The bottom screen just doesn't seem completely black when it should be a black screen"

Hi there. Welcome to the world of LCDs. That's how they work. In consoles, in televisions, in laptops, they simply can't display pure black. Sorry.

p-diddy @ Aug 24th 2006 11:09AM

Well, while I'm sad that I just lost my DS phat, Trauma Center, Phoenix Wright, Mario Kart DS, and three or four good GBA games while moving apartments, I guess I'm happy that I can replace the DS with a black DS lite.

Lemons --> Lemonade, right?

-p-