Nintendo fights breast cancer with DS Lite Limited Edition Pink Ribbon

In keeping with a time-honored gadget tradition, a new paint job for the Nintendo DS Lite has surfaced: the Limited Edition Pink Ribbon -- not just for girls mind you, breast cancer affects us all. While the polar white console doesn't include any games or nifty carrying case, five dollars of your $129.99 purchase will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, with Nintendo promising a minimum donation of $100,000.

[Via DS Fanboy]

[blizz419 @ Sep 26th 2008 7:40AM]

you sir FAIL!

[GDUB @ Sep 26th 2008 7:54AM]

Who tell me Who does not want to wear the ribbon?

[MacroEQ @ Sep 26th 2008 8:00AM]

I am not taking anything away from the Breast Cancer campaign, of which I have given money to in the past, which rightly affects all of us but why are large organisations seemely ignoring prostate cancer, which also affects everyone too...

[Amz @ Sep 26th 2008 9:05AM]

People feel more comfortable talking about melons rather than sausages.

[--------- @ Sep 26th 2008 10:56AM]

Breast cancer cuts down women in their prime, while prostate cancer is slow growing and mostly affects seniors.

'course thats poor solace for Frank Zappas family and fans...

[Twitchy @ Sep 27th 2008 11:00AM]

Seconded MacroEQ. Check the stats people - prostate cancer kills just as many men (in relative terms) as women (www.cancer.org) - yet rarely is prostate cancer ever mentioned, let alone is research and prevention education supported by large multinationals. For shame...

[Matan @ Sep 26th 2008 8:00AM]

Cheap, seriously, a minimum donation of 100k? with such a big profit margin, and what other companys are doing, they can definitly donate more than 5$ out of the 129$ it cost i say, it just makes them sound cheap, 100k doesn't scratch the surface compared to what others are doing, its a nice gesture, but more of a PR thing

[Muhammad-Oli @ Sep 26th 2008 8:30AM]

My aunt has just been diagnosed with breast-cancer while she is living in the UK, thousands of miles away from her family here in New Zealand. I can't even imagine what she is going through without being near her to witness it, but I bet it is living hell. Luckily she isn't alone and has her husband with her to support her, but I bet it is hard on him too. Their children are across the world and probably worried sick.

$100000, while it is a nice gesture, it is hardly enough. I seem to remember reading some statistics that said 1 in 10 women are diagnosed with breast cancer (at least in New Zealand - I don't know about worldwide stats). Really, $100000 won't even scratch the surface with those kind of numbers falling ill to it. I think Nintendo could have made a few thousand of these and make them a special edition, then give 100% of the profits to the charity. Anyone can see from their recent profit reports that they can afford it.

[Zombie Ned Flanders @ Sep 26th 2008 8:39AM]

Next time you buy a DS (or TV, or iPhone, or iPod, or any other gadget...), why don't you donate $5 to a charity.
Criticize all you want, but at least Nintendo is doing something. Last time I checked, $5 > $0.
I'm sure many engadgeters donate to charity (and that's great), but most do not; that's fine, but don't try to diss Nintendo just because they're a "big faceless corporation". Anybody buying a gadget has enough $ to donate a few bucks from time to time.

[Muhammad-Oli @ Sep 26th 2008 8:51AM]

Hey, if I had millions of dollars I would donate a good proportion to charity, but as it is, I am a poor student and I myself barely get by each week. But don't think that when I am stopped on the street by collectors for a charity that I don't donate the leftover change in my pocket, because I most definitely do.

And I did say it is a nice gesture by Nintendo. I just can't help but feel they could have donated a bigger percentage of their earnings.

[Daza @ Sep 26th 2008 9:55AM]

While I do agree that $5 > $0, it would also be great to see a company the size of Nintendo giving a little bit more. Even if they gave $1 I wouldn't knock them, but I still think a little more would be better.

Not to start any gadget/company/fanboi wars here, but Microsoft and Ford did release a special edition "Warriors In Pink" Zune where 100% of the purchase price was given to charity. This really impressed me and of course worked for them too -- a generous donation to fighting breast cancer as well as some good PR.

Granted, far fewer Zune's were sold in comparison to how many Nintendo DS Lite's will be sold, but there's also a big difference between $5 and $249.99 (less taxes, presumably).

Source: : http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/18/ford-sells-pink-30gb-first-gen-zune-donates-100-to-breast-canc/

[BigD145 @ Sep 26th 2008 11:42AM]

They need to bump that minimum to at least $500,000.

[Ogo @ Sep 26th 2008 12:15PM]

I think it is nice that these companies have these charity programs. It helps create awareness which is always good and it gives us boys a reason to boy our special ladies a gadget that we want to play with.

[tom @ Sep 26th 2008 8:16AM]

Nintendo is CHEAP, 100k Minimum?...pleaseeeeee. You have made enough money off of DS and Wii. Make it 1,000,000 at least

[Starnerf @ Sep 26th 2008 8:21AM]

Buy enough DSes and they will.

[Ozzman_79 @ Sep 26th 2008 12:39PM]

What part of $100000 MINIMUM are you not understanding? Buy a DS, instead of complaining about it, and they'll be giving more then $100000. It's just that easy. Better yet, go donate some yourself.

[whatever @ Sep 26th 2008 12:59PM]

Rank me lower, but seriously people, they didn't have to do ANYTHING. Sure it's for PR, but I'm sure no one out there the day before this was released thought Nintendo was cheap for not donating ANY money to fight breast cancer research and awareness.

The entitlement people feel nowadays is astounding. "Oh, they can give $100K, so they should give $500K." I see these types of comments whenever there's a post about a gadget with a pink ribbon on it.

I'm sure you're all thinking your company makes so much money, that they should pay you 5X more, too.

It's a safe bet that the Susan G. Komen Foundation and cancer patients awaiting a medical breakthrough aren't thinking $100K towards finding a cure isn't enough.

Just be grateful that they're doing something, instead of so many other companies which choose to do nothing. And if it's not enough, donate the $129 for the cost of the DS yourself. Why should such a greedy company get ANY of your money for such a good cause, right?

[Twitchy @ Sep 27th 2008 11:02AM]

I thought that consoles were sold at a loss and the real profits were made from the game sales?

[casual reader @ Sep 26th 2008 8:40AM]

Guys,

If you want to help research why doesn't everyone who reads this site go to the Susan G. Komen site and donate $10.00. I'm sure you could do without that bargain bin game or your daily caffeine fix or that pack of cigarettes you keep puffin' away every day. Damn, I got preachy didn't I? My apologies. Just go give some money to the cause. Be well.

[Brendon @ Sep 26th 2008 8:41AM]

Now I can advertise how much I care about something without actually having to do anything.

[Muhammad-Oli @ Sep 26th 2008 9:20AM]

And you sir took my bait.

Its hilarious how any mention of the iPhone round here means low ranks and flaming. I was experimenting to see what kind of reaction I'd get, kinda like on Family Guy when Lois is running for president of something or other and all she says is "9/11" and the American audience absolutely loves her.

[404 @ Sep 26th 2008 9:42AM]

And you've proven what exactly? That you get low ranked for going totally off-topic for no particular reason? Gee, that's an obscure one.

A reference to Family Guy doesn't make it all right. You still got low ranked for going totally off-topic. Not necessarily anything at all to do with iPhones.

[SlickD @ Sep 26th 2008 9:46AM]

Doh! I just bought my second DS not long ago, if that one broke again, I'll pick one of this up. Until then, I'll do my charity through my church. :)

[Serial 8-Ball Mouse @ Sep 26th 2008 9:49AM]

Check it out. You even baited someone AFTER you pointed out that it was bait. Engadget is the easiest place on Earth to rile up the dork masses. Here, I'll join in to make it 3.

WHAT JUST BECAUSE YOU SAY IT'S BAIT THAT MAKES IT OK? WHY ARE YOU WASTING EVERYONE'S TIME?! GET A LIFE!

[tanporakuda @ Sep 26th 2008 10:16AM]

List of stupid Engadget posters:

1. Muhammad-Oli

[404 @ Sep 26th 2008 10:46AM]

8-Ball: Actually, I was pointing out that his logic was flawed. Did he get low ranked and flamed because he mentioned the iPhone like he said? Or for going totally off topic?

Nothing to do with bait, everything to do with making sense.

[kali4 @ Sep 26th 2008 11:20AM]

Although I don't like wearing a pink ribbon, I do readily admit that breast cancer is a cause close to my... erm... heart. By god SAVE THE BOOBIES!!! Honestly I am shocked at the companies that one would think would be the foremost contributors to breast cancer research, but aren't. You know, the ones that make money from boobs. Compaines like Hooters, Playboy, Modeling Agencies, MTV, etc. When is the last time you saw a "gentleman's club" hold a fundraising rally for breast cancer? As for why prostate cancer doesn't rank as high in research terms, I kinda have my own theory: What heterosexual man would be more concerned with an anal probe than a healthy set of boobs?

[jupiterthunder @ Sep 26th 2008 3:57PM]

I'm assuming you're half-joking, at least, but I think that comes from the fear/knowledge that their reasons would be viewed as disingenuous.

[flexium @ Sep 26th 2008 11:25AM]

wow.....such delay of news....Engadget posted this after I bought it already

[AlphaTeam @ Sep 26th 2008 1:21PM]

As much as breast cancer is a big deal, why doesn't anyone pay attention to diseases like diabetes which affects everyone and kills a lot more people?

[Twitchy @ Sep 27th 2008 11:10AM]

Because, unlike cancer, diabetes is often caused by people being lazy doughnut eating bastards who eventually, through their own gluttony, develop illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease. Innit obvious that the cure for many cases of diabetes is therefore to move your fat ass off the damn couch? Oh, and don't get me started about self-inflicted obese individuals who bitch and moan about being treated 'unfairly' when it comes to extra charges at the cinema or from the airlines. If I can watch my diet, so can you.

[/rant].

[Serial 8-Ball Mouse @ Sep 26th 2008 2:50PM]

@404

It doesn't matter WHY you grilled him. He got you riled up and annoyed and wasted your time and got a reply out of you.

For trolling, that equals success, regardless of the why.

[jmd @ Sep 26th 2008 9:41PM]

Lets hope it gets discounted %75 like the other breast cancer labled products will 2 months from now.