Rumor: Nintendo DSi coming to US on April 4 at $179
by Randy Nelson 
{ Jan 13th 2009 at 8:45PM } 
IGN reports that "multiple sources close to Nintendo" have told the site that the Big N's latest handheld will make the trip across the Pacific in April. "The company has allegedly relayed to its partners that DSi will ship stateside in early April, most likely on April 4," IGN writes.
These same sources have put a $179.99 price tag on the DSi for its domestic release. In contrast, DSi retails for ¥18,900 ($210) in Japan, where it launched on November 1, 2008. If true, an April release would contradict Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé's assertion last October that the system wouldn't launch Stateside until "well into 2009," although Nintendo head, Satoru Iwata, has said it would arrive here before summer '09. Then again, he also said Nintendo expected one pre-order per every member of every family on planet Earth ... or did we just dream that?
These same sources have put a $179.99 price tag on the DSi for its domestic release. In contrast, DSi retails for ¥18,900 ($210) in Japan, where it launched on November 1, 2008. If true, an April release would contradict Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé's assertion last October that the system wouldn't launch Stateside until "well into 2009," although Nintendo head, Satoru Iwata, has said it would arrive here before summer '09. Then again, he also said Nintendo expected one pre-order per every member of every family on planet Earth ... or did we just dream that?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
HairyBalls @ Jan 13th 2009 8:53PM
Don't like that rumor price.
Tiptup300 @ Jan 14th 2009 2:23AM
Am I the only one who thought the DSi was already out. O.o
sam @ Jan 14th 2009 8:50AM
It might just be a rumour, but how much less than the Japanese price were you expecting? It might be a bit cheaper due to recent currency fluctuations but $30 less seems about right to me? I'd be surprised to see it much cheaper.
Not quite sure why people think they're paying 'just' for the cameras and media player - I mean yes those are amusing features and I'm sure there will be fun gimmicks with them in some games and wi-fi video chat will be entertaining and all... but surely the only real reason to buy one is the downloadable software. WiiWare is awesome (only occasionally, but often enough to make it lots of fun) and if they bring that awesome to DSi it'll be worth paying for. The region lock is annoying, though. (My Wii is a US model, which has usually been a very smart bet, so I might do the same if I get DSi...)
As for PSP comparisons I don't think those are relevant. The system still doesn't compete with PSP in any technical sense... and it doesn't need to compete in a price sense, either. Even if there are a few people who are only getting DS because it's cheaper (i.e. if PSP was the same price they would buy that instead), those people can continue to do so, right? DSL's still available...
Jacksons @ Jan 13th 2009 8:54PM
I'm ready for a new DS. This is not it.
A Pissed-off English Gamer @ Jan 14th 2009 11:33AM
Indeed, this is just an inferior DS lite. I like GBA games every now and again.
Moptimus Slime (Leader of the Ryan Scott Defense Force, A Wurr? My Burr) @ Jan 13th 2009 8:54PM
date: Yes
price: NO
required @ Jan 13th 2009 10:32PM
It would be more befitting for it to come out on April 1st.
Quattro @ Jan 13th 2009 10:42PM
Joystiq should have a filter that doesn't allow the combination of jobstaxi.
AwesomeTown @ Jan 13th 2009 8:55PM
I do need to replace my DSphat...
MowDownJoe @ Jan 13th 2009 8:59PM
I'M NOT ALONE!
YoRone22 @ Jan 13th 2009 9:17PM
Me 3.
Doug @ Jan 13th 2009 9:30PM
M4 Dead
AwesomeTown @ Jan 13th 2009 9:45PM
Awesome. A big phat happy family!
Alvin @ Jan 13th 2009 9:48PM
me 5
i don't even play it anymore, since my top screen broke about 4 months ago, maybe because I've had it since it released. And for that reason, I WILL buy it (and also because there's alot of cool games I've missed).
Why do people complain about the price, though, it's not THAT expensive...
Sora @ Jan 14th 2009 12:14AM
Not too expensive? It's only $20 less than a 360!
iofthestorm @ Jan 14th 2009 3:47AM
Sora: It also has better games *ZING*.
Just kidding, they aren't really comparable. But I still think such a high price would be stupid because it's close to the PSP's price. If my DS lite didn't have a massive hinge crack and screen issues I might not get a DSi at that price. $150 would be ideal IMO.
AwesomeTown @ Jan 14th 2009 7:19AM
Well, I guess I can't replace my phat with a DSI since I don't have a GBA and I have some GBA games. Lite for $99 please?
Lee @ Jan 14th 2009 7:54AM
Before you lot get in a bunch over this in England the PSP is the SAME PRICE as a 360 Arcade (from the right stores). The Wii is only £20 Less than the 360 Pro.
And look at the sales the machines still get.
Relative price to other gaming systems means sweet fuck all. Just so you know.
DSi launches in England at £150 and it'll sell like a mother.
Superstar90 @ Jan 13th 2009 8:55PM
If I can keep my DS Lite intact until then, I will replace it LOL.
Not saying the DS Lite is not strong, but I've dropped about 20 too many times... on cement.
Moptimus Slime (Leader of the Ryan Scott Defense Force, A Wurr? My Burr) @ Jan 13th 2009 8:57PM
from what I've heard, the DS Lite has seemingly ended Nintendo's streak of "Indestructible Systems"
Jason @ Jan 13th 2009 8:59PM
So you are saying that the DS lite is more susceptible to carelessness?
Ivory Tower of HighHorseness @ Jan 13th 2009 9:02PM
The DS Lite has a shitty hinge and spongy buttons that wear out over time - especially the trigger buttons.
Jason @ Jan 13th 2009 9:14PM
"The DS Lite has a shitty hinge and spongy buttons that wear out over time - especially the trigger buttons."
Oh, I guess I didn't play with it that far. Nor did Nintendo suspect anyone else would either.
Nick the Hero of Canton @ Jan 13th 2009 9:46PM
My DS Lite has received a freaking beating since I got it ages ago (Im thinking 2+ years? When did the Onyx release in NA? I got a first day one of those) and it still works 100% fine.
Ivory Tower of HighHorseness @ Jan 13th 2009 9:48PM
My DS doesn't. It's hanging off it's hinge, Ninty is sending me an advance replacement.
This is my fourth.
Levi @ Jan 14th 2009 2:17AM
My hinge never broke, but by d-pad seems to be losing it's sensitivity, and I can no longer calibrate my touch screen for some reason. So yeah, the DS Lite isn't indestructible. But it can sure take a beating! I've played it every week since I've had it. I doubt Nintendo had my meat paws in mind when they designed the thing in the first place.
BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Jan 14th 2009 3:15AM
This is what happened to my first DS Lite:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/BPMdotEXE/Random/BrokenDS01.jpg
But since I had an import model (Japanese Enamel Navy) getting support from NOA was nearly impossible... so, I got another one off of eBay (used; only about $70, I think it was).
The DS Lite isn't made from the indestructable Nintendium. I don't know if resources are running out, or if they're using it all for the money printers, but the DS Lite is definitely made from Nintendium Alloy. Which simply isn't as good.
Hopefully, though, DSi is made from Nintendium. It certainly looks to have a better hinge design, at least.
Ivory Tower of HighHorseness @ Jan 13th 2009 9:01PM
$50 for an AAC player and slightly larger screens?
donotwant.jpg
Little Big PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Jan 13th 2009 9:39PM
And a camera I think ... right?
Ivory Tower of HighHorseness @ Jan 13th 2009 9:45PM
two actually. both are vga resolution, which is borderline worthless.
Moptimus Slime (Leader of the Ryan Scott Defense Force, A Wurr? My Burr) @ Jan 13th 2009 10:04PM
Yo Dawg I heard you like cameras, so we put a camera on your camera. That way you can take pictures while taking pictures
BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Jan 14th 2009 3:15AM
$180
I don't need a new DS that badly, either.
nothankyou.jpg
Merezz @ Jan 13th 2009 9:02PM
That price point could be Nintendo's first mistake of this generation. Why pay $180 when you can get a system that can do more for $170 in the PSP? I currently have a DS, but why upgrade for that much?
Ordeith @ Jan 13th 2009 9:33PM
For arguements sake it is pretty easy to get a new 360 with a 20GB hard drive for $230 (arcade + $30 20GB).
Making a fully capable 360 $20 cheaper than the Wii. Doesn't stop the Wii from selling, and the lower price on the PSP won't hurt DSi sales either.
Little Big PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Jan 13th 2009 9:40PM
But to be fair the 360 has stolen some sales from Nintendo with the lower price point.
Thelump @ Jan 13th 2009 9:45PM
People who buy the arcade aren't people who are upgrading their current 360. Most of the time they are first time buyers, or buying to replace their broken console (therefore not needing the hard-drive.) Nintendo's objective, however, is to make people who already have a DS upgrade to a DSi. Does it really make sense to pay $10 more than the psp for a system you already have? No.
Another thing, the average consumer is not going to get an Arcade system with a hard drive for $230.. a 20gig hard drive at GameStop is $60, used. If you want a new one, unless you are a smart internet savvy consumer (unlike most Americans), you aren't getting one that cheap. You are going to end up spending $99.99 on a new 60gig.. or $50 more than the Wii.
Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Jan 13th 2009 9:50PM
It's like this.
When DS Lite launched, it was a horrible showing all around who's primary selling point was simply in the action of BEING a new Nintendo handheld. I worked retail for it's launch. Three weeks before Xmas, we started having them stack up. The news of PSP was spreading quickly and people were waiting for that instead. First week of January, to undercut Sony's then rumored price tage of $150, Nintendo dropped DS by $20. PSP came and went and now Nintendo is the dominant handheld device with no other competition (Sorry Apple Cultist). Traditionally, when Nintendo has no competition, they are NOT the most benevolent company out there. Hell, US government was forced to get Nintendo to drop the price of the NES. So with PSP no threat to DS and the weakening US dollar both against same pricing, who HONESTLY thought DSi was going to be $130?
Wiinterfang @ Jan 13th 2009 10:25PM
I though it was gonna be 150-60 not 180 or who knows 200?
I want to upgrade but dammit those prices won't make it easy, since I'm planing on getting my 360 this year.
Mr Khan @ Jan 13th 2009 10:56PM
You mean when the DS launched, Sheppy, not the DSLite, when the Lite launched is when DS really started taking off, as that was after Nintendogs and Mario Kart DS had taken off, and right when New Super Mario Bros and Brain Age came out
The early days of the DS were its dark days, though, you do have problems when your only attraction is an N64 remake
(The Award-Winning) dark_inchworm @ Jan 13th 2009 11:11PM
"When DS Lite launched, it was a horrible showing all around who's primary selling point was simply in the action of BEING a new Nintendo handheld."
When proofreading launched, it was a horrible showing all around whose primary reason for existing was to avoid making fools of otherwise intelligent men and women the world over. It is a shame, then, that people ignore it.
In other words, I'm pretty sure you did NOT mean the Lite.
samfish @ Jan 14th 2009 12:59AM
"But to be fair the 360 has stolen some sales from Nintendo with the lower price point."
There has been nothing to suggest this to be the case, though. Hardware sales certainly don't, at least...nor do software sales, given MS's blatant attempts to pander to the casual gamer crowd didn't even make a blip on the sales radar.
It got a VERY small bump when they dropped the Arcade to $200 (which is to be expected with any price drop) and then we transitioned into the holiday shopping season, when everything sells better.
We really won't know what effect the 360 being cheaper will have on it's sales until at least February when all the January sales numbers come out.
Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Jan 14th 2009 7:58AM
Gah, yes. I meant the DS. And Mr. Kahn, you forgot a lot of that early lineup was also GBA and NGage ports as well. I think only Sega dropped something worth playing at launch.
Lee @ Jan 13th 2009 9:09PM
I'll get one for me and one for the wife. Both our Lites have seen better days and this timing is just right so long as the tape holds up.
$179 I like. I was prepared to pay up to 200 given the potential of the app store. Now. More colors.
Sinnix @ Jan 13th 2009 9:15PM
Wow, that's expensive!
Danny @ Jan 13th 2009 9:19PM
Yay I am definately getting it, but that would mean activision has to release guitar hero: modern hits for the DS soon, unless they have some new DSi peripheral
Doug @ Jan 13th 2009 9:32PM
They do, it's called a GBA slot. You should check it out sometime.
Danny @ Jan 13th 2009 10:54PM
A DSi peripheral, for the DSi, the DS without a GBA slot.
Want to see what im saying?
click!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvpNQ0lLZBU
I know the video moves kinda fast, but if you watch it a few times you get my idea. It's kinda like Action Replay with the DS cart slot idea.
GundamWingEW @ Jan 13th 2009 9:19PM
Why are people saying this is expensive...
I'm honestly curious...the psp is like what $200 now? Actually now that I think about it that's the whole R&C bundle...
The psp itself is around 170 I believe. And it is more powerful than the DS when it comes to graphics so it does seem a lil out there for Nintendo to charge that much....
Still though this thing will sell like hotcakes.
Ivory Tower of HighHorseness @ Jan 13th 2009 9:22PM
I've seen the PSP core package for $160. Even then, it comes out of the box with more multimedia features than the DSi (and honestly, is there any reason to pick up the DSi over the much cheaper DS lite other than the mm features?).
This price point makes absolutely no sense.
Ordeith @ Jan 13th 2009 9:37PM
Another comparo.
the 360 Arcade + 20GB hard drive is $230.
You get Live, Netflix, Media Streaming, Codec Support, HD, DLC that works, and a DVD player.
you get none of that in the Wii, which is more expensive, and it outsells the 360 2:1
So why would the price of the PSP matter?