Lite
Latest
Modern society under attack from Mario Bros.
Shortly after celebrating Mario's rampant popularity in Japan, we now learn through Joe Larson's blog, Exploding Unicorn, that the portly plumber is nothing more than an instrument of societal destruction, wrecking young minds as the worst kind of role model. Larson points out that Mario's career is dubious at best, asking "if he can jump fifteen feet in the air, why doesn't he play basketball? One can only conclude that Mario had the worst high school guidance counselor on the planet – if he graduated from high school at all."The rogues that populate the Mushroom Kingdom are just as guilty of polluting young minds, it seems, with Shy Guy teaching kids that "the best way to treat social anxiety disorder is by jumping on it with an overweight Italian plumber. Maybe Shy Guy would fit in and make some friends if he stopped dressing like a serial killer."Read the rest and become aware of the overalls being yanked over your eyes. And please, take it seriously.[Thanks Joe!]
DS Lite street date disregarded [Update 1]
Seems some brick and mortar retailers are violating the DS Lite street date. The pictured unit was picked up by CAG moderator Trakan at his local Target, which he claims had a large display case full of the sleek dual screens. I'll be trekking out into the world shortly to check my local Walmart, Target, and Best Buy, which are luckily all right next to each other on the same street. I'll update later with my findings, but in the mean time, any of you fine readers manage to get a street-date-violated DS Lite?[Via Joystiq][Update: If you locate a DS Lite, be sure to add the offending store to this Flickr Frappr map. Thanks Jake!]
Nintendo Power dishes out Phantom Hourglass info
Some new information on the upcoming stylus-drive Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass has emerged via the latest issue of Nintendo Power. N-Sider has taken the time to condense the information for those lacking the fortitude to actually go out into the world and purchase the magazine, or even lack the strength to a wield a pen and fill out the requisite information to subscribe. Out of the repeated information, a few new items are able to be extracted.The game supposedly features one primary dungeon that Link will have to navigate, yet will become impassable to him at times, which will require him to venture into other minor dungeons to acquire an item of some sort that will allow him to progress. What's also interesting is that the dungeons will also be home to what are being dubbed "chasers." These enemies are invincible, mercilessly pursuing Link upon the mere sight of him.
Japan feels Lite rumble
Sickened by enormous GBA cartridges protruding awkwardly from their precious DS Lites, the folks over at Nintendo of Japan have seen fit to release a teeny tiny version of the Rumble Pak, that wondrous device that shakes about in your DS in unison with the blasts of Samus' arsenal. The new Lite Rumble Pak is made to suit the stylings of the newer system very closely, fitting snugly into the GBA slot for some discreet vibrating action in-between train stations. A US release shouldn't be too far behind the Lite launch. [Via DSLite Blog, thanks Thomas!]
The Horror: DS Lite malfunction
One of our fine readers sent us in this video of his DS Lite, which sadly looks like it will need some repairs (if possible). Has anyone else encountered this problem with their DS Lite or heard about a recurring issue?[Thanks Erick G! Sorry for your loss.]
US box design for DS Lite confirmed
There you have it. The final package design for the DS Lite doesn't really wow us all that much, but you can bet the handheld will when it releases in just 18 days. Trust me, I know, I held Ludwig's for about 3 seconds during E3.Best 3 seconds of my life. The worst 3 seconds followed when I tried to make off with it and he beat me to near death without mercy.
Game and Watch DS mod
In our continuing coverage of cool things that can be done with your old DS once you purchase a DS Lite (and you will), we bring to you the Game and Watch Donkey Kong mod. This fine french modder, who goes by the name of Kotomi, was responsible for the old school modded DS and seems to be keeping busy. If you check out other posts on his blog, you'll also see a Zelda Game and Watch mod along with some other cool stuff. For those of you without the ability to read French, try Babel Fish.
Nintendogs: Dalmatian and Friends in time for Lite launch
Nintendo of Europe has announced that Nintendogs: Dalmatian and Friends will ship to canine-loving Europeans on June 16th for £30/40 Euros, just days before the DS Lite launch. A nice companion for the new DS design, the game will feature 6 breeds to choose from at the beginning of the game, and a total of 14 unlockable pup. There is sure to be a great variety of canines to play with and/or train come release. The canines in the game are the most popular breeds from the other Nintendogs titles, along with the given dalmatian breed.
Confirmed: June 23rd = Lite European launch [Update]
I guess we weren't just being cruel after all when we reported on the rumor. Thankfully, Nintendo of Europe has confirmed that you fine folk across the pond will be getting your hands on a Lite less than two weeks after us over here in the United States. Retailing for £99.99/149.99 EUR, the redesigned DS is going to cost those of you over there quite a bit more money to acquire (about $187 US for the Britons and $191 US for the rest of Europe). What will you be doing with your DS Phat upon upgrading to a Lite?[Via Joystiq][Update: Added pricing. Please forgive me, I posted this very early in the morning]
Mario vs. DK 2: March of the Minis opening CG
This video shows the intro movie, taken straight from the show floor of E3, for the upcoming Mario vs. DK 2: March of the Minis. All I want to know is what do I have to do to get a couple wind-up toys like those?[Via Go Nintendo]
Japanese sales charts: Nintendo = hotcakes
The latest numbers are in from Japan and everyone's favorite handheld received another week of near-stroke due to excessive heat from so much time spent in the spotlight. Software on the system also flew off the shelves. Without further ado, here are your numbers for 5/01/06 - 5/7/06:Software Tetris DS (Nintendo): 160,148 (378,247 total) Motto Otona no DS Training/Brain Training 2 (Nintendo): 112,392 (2,164,256 total) Winning Eleven 10 (Konami / PS2): 100,860 (561,409 total) Brain Training/Brain Age (Nintendo): 84,075 (2,136,857 total) Animal Crossing Wild World (Nintendo): 83,564 (2,645,481 total) Pokemon Ranger: Diamond & Pearl e-no Michi (Nintendo): 69,415 (496,834 total) Eigo Zuke/English Training (Nintendo / DS): 59,614 (998,343 total) Mario Kart DS (Nintendo): 37,037 (1,353,596 total) Mother 3 (Nintendo / GBA): 34,591 (291,428 total) Dragon Quest Mystrious Dungeon Yangus (Square-Enix / PS2): 33,279 (215,237 total) Hardware DS Lite - 161,010 (1,383,391 total) PSP - 37,946 (720,552 total) PS2 - 32,030 (591,846 total) DS Phat - 24,428 (842,947 total) GBA SP - 7,144 (127,727 total) Gameboy Micro - 3,830 (89,331total) Xbox 360 - 2,019 (46,143 total) GameCube - 1,460 (47,340 total) GBA - 87 (2,608 total) Xbox - 44 (1,446 total)
Rumor: DS Lite in Europe on June 23rd
According to news site Puissance Nintendo's anonymous sources, the DS Lite will be releasing in Europe on June 23rd for a price of 149 Euros. Considering that Nintendo Europe has yet to comment on this latest rumor and that the US release of the console is a little under 2 weeks before this proposed date, we're very skeptical, but understand that those of you in the Old World left in the dark are dying for any word of when you'll be able to procure one of those sexy Ds Lites. For those of you who can't read French, try Babel Fish.[Thanks VoiceofPower!]
DS Lite: I like Australia more than America
Not only do you guys have koalas, which are arguably nature's greatest contribution to the world outside the platypus, but now this?! Turns out the land down under will be receiving Nintendo's sexy new DS redesign a full 10 days before the 'ole U S of A. Now's your chance Australia, rub some salt into our collective wound! [Thanks DownloadingData and Donutta!]
DS Lite on June 11th [Update 1]
It appears that Nintendo is continuing with their trend of dropping their payload of destructive news pre-E3, with the latest being the long-awaited information on the DS Lite release in America. Taking place on June 11th, the price for the DS Lite is the very reasonable sum of "as low as" $129.99, implying that bundles will be available, however American gamers will only be able to acquire the handheld in Polar White initially, with other color varieties to follow in the coming months after release. The DS Lite, whose smaller size and weight than that of the original DS, along with improved screen brightness that rivals the computer monitor you're using to read this post, was a huge hit in Japan, selling like cakes of the hottest variety. [Thanks Jamil and thrillho] [Update: Cleared up confusion of wording about the pricing.]
Extendable stylus from Hori
You know, if you're anything like me, you should be locked up get a lot of hand cramps when trying to play Meteos or Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney for any kind of extended period of time. Most of this can be attributed to the small size of the stylus (some of us aren't lucky enough to have a DS Lite yet to enjoy its better stylus). So I was pretty psyched when I saw an extendable stylus that actually fits in the slot on the DS. In checking around to see if different types of stylus with this feature were available (I honestly couldn't find anywhere to purchase it at the original link), I came across this for the small sum of $2.99 US that also locks into the DS' slot. [Via Nintendo Gal]
Import avenues once again without traffic
Popular importer Lik-Sang has filled all of their preorders and are there once again for your anxious importing mouse-click. They've even got that addictive Crystal Cocaine Lite available. I personally have been waiting for its release stateside, but it's getting harder and harder with each new happy owner I read about.
DS Lite engineers comment on their design
Gamespot condenses an interview run in the April edition of Nintendo's Japanese online magazine in which Kazuo Yoneyama and Tomoyuki Sakiyama comment on their choices that came to be the DS Lite we know today. Kazuo, a seasoned vet with the company, got his beginnings designing Donkey Kong arcade machines with Shigeru Miyamoto. Tomoyuki, who hasn't been with the company long, has contributions in the GBA Micro and original DS.The interview sheds some light on the design decisions that combined to create the DS Lite, with each explaining the reasoning behind weight and the new screens. The two speak of how the DS Lite's top screen needed to be sturdier, yet fit in the overal smaller package the team was aiming for and when no pre-existing piece of hardware met their criteria, they partnered with a LCD manufacturer and went into test mode, putting several variations of the top screen through a rigorous testing regimen. The final outcome, which some of you already know, is one brilliant piece of technology.[Thanks Retro_X!][Update: Fixed a spelling error. Thanks greatslack!]
Nintendo reports underestimation of profits
All this selling-out of the DS over in the land of the rising sun has equalled huge profits for Nintendo, shattering company expectations by an almost 30% gain. With wonderful games like Brain Training and Nintendogs, no wonder the Japanese are snatching up every last handheld they can get their hands on. Add in the newest redesign in the form of that sleek, almost hypnotizing DS Lite, and you have a potential powder keg just waiting to blow in Japan. World War III will not be started with nukes or assassination folks...no, in fact it will come from one conquering body republic united under two massively bright, beautifully-blinding screens. All joking aside, we're absolutely thrilled to see that Nintendo is profitting so much from just being creative and inventing new ways to game! The latest estimations from the big N place their earnings for the year ending March 31st at 95 billion yen, which comes out to $807 million US.
Tenchu ad raises bear trap awareness
If the above ad for Tenchu Dark Shadow makes you think you could be even the deadliest assassin, employing beartraps to thwart your enemies through your sexy, sleek DS Lite, opening it and slamming it shut with the deadly conviction only a master ninja possesses, then you need to stop watching TV. For the rest of us, we'll just get a kick out of the hilarious face the balding pursuer makes as he's butt-shoved back-kicked into the water. [Thanks mandarin!]
Nintendo to ship almost a million DS Lites
N-Sider reports of this notice on Nintendo's official website which states they're poised to ship 700,000 DS Lites come April. Why, this month alone they shipped 550,000 so hopefully this 150,000 unit increase in production will aid in relieving some of the demand the system has seen over in Japan and through importers for us unlucky folk living everywhere else. We'd hate to see anything violent happen from supply shortages again. [Via N-Sider]
