So......remember that redesigned DS?

[Peter Paltridge]

About a week ago Nintendo dismissed it as fake. It's not.

From the Japanese website: http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n10/news/060126.html

For those who fret that their silver DS will clash with their white Revolution controller....worry not.

[Tak Mazé]

Now that looks dang sexy =). I want to see a size comparison against the regular DS though.

[Sigma]

Looks like I will be buying another DS, this is the GBA all over again!

[Bird Boy]

Well damn. Now I'm glad I waited.

Is that sexy thing coming Stateside?

-BB

[Dark Fact]

A milky white DS? Hmmm...maybe I'll pick that up.

[Juu-kuchi]

No analog control.

MOVING ON!

[Tak Mazé]

No analog control.
MOVING ON!

Why would you want an analog stick for mostly 2D games? Trust me, I have a Zodiac and that has an anaolg control. It's horrible when you're playing 2D games.

[Noukon]

No analog control.

MOVING ON!

Why would you expect the addition of an entirely new control device on a simple shell redesign?

[Demonic Raven]

Now that is some sexy sheet right there.

I'm definitely picking this one up. I just hope that it comes in different colors, and the price is low.

[EscaflownePilot]

...I figured being greatly happy with my Mario Kart Edition DS wasn't going to last long.

Ah, it's really cool and all, but I'll be waiting until my current DS gets dropped and scratched a few more times before considering this. Plus, I much prefer waiting for special editions (especially anime themed ones, like the up and coming Bleach DS) rather than getting the normal ones.

[Artimus Gigan]

How big are the screens when compared to the current version?

If they're not signifigantly bigger, I'm going to wait for the next redesign

[Matt Hazuda]

Suprised to one has posted this yet, but Joystiq has the translated PR, bigger pictures and specs up.

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata today announced Nintendo DS Lite, a slimmer version of the best-selling Nintendo DS™. Also featuring brighter screens, Nintendo DS Lite will launch in Japan in March. Nintendo DS Lite will be less than two-thirds the size of the original Nintendo DS and more than 20 percent lighter.

Nintendo DS has enjoyed extremely strong sales in Japan and around the world, selling more than 14.4 million units worldwide. The Japanese sell-through of the existing Nintendo DS hardware exceeded 5 million within 13 months, which made Nintendo DS the fastest-selling video game system there.

Nintendo will announce more information about the availability of Nintendo DS Lite in North America and other territories in the future.

The repositioned button layout is nice (no more power button dangerously close to the d-pad), but I think I'm gonna have to stick with my Mario Kart Red DS for the time being. White seems like it would get dirty too easily for some reason, and I'm happy with mine, so no upgrade. Glad to see Nintendo isn't resting on their laurels when it comes to design though.

If anyone is wondering, yes, the GBA slot is still there, so you don't lose your old games with the upgrade.

Here's an overlayed look at the changes in design.



Yes, the microphone has been moved up to the middle, where it should've been all along. Screen size remains the same though.

I know some people will feel cheated and upset about the redesign, but to them I say "screw you." You know Nintendo loves to redeisgn their handhelds, so you could've waited, but decided to get it when you did. Be happy with what you got, rather than angry at what you didn't.

[Chad Bonin]

Attention... please note that the D-Pad is the same as the Revolution's, not that freaky flat one the original DS had.

Me wanty DS lite.

[Noukon]

How big are the screens when compared to the current version?

If they're not signifigantly bigger, I'm going to wait for the next redesign

The screens are the same size, just a bit brighter.

Attention... please note that the D-Pad is the same as the Revolution's, not that freaky flat one the original DS had.

Me wanty DS lite.

I believe that D-Pad is on the Game Boy Micro, as well. Big improvement there.

[Matt Hazuda]

The D-pad on the micro is much nicer from what I've read. Damn, now i'm tempted to get this, even though it'll be so tiny in my mighty man hands.

Also, I just noticed the power light was mvoed to the middle as well. I really hated it when you'd be playing online and that thing would be flashing right there at the bottom of. the screen; Nintendo must've not liked it either. Crap, I may have to trade in my DS and a few other things to get this. I'm guessing it'll be available in the US in the early summer, before the Revolution marketing blitz begins come August or September.

[K-S-O]

Oh, that's a nice looking DS! Makes me happy that I waited! I hope this comes in different colors because I want a blue one!

[Strollymonster]

Oh, that's a nice looking DS! Makes me happy that I waited! I hope this comes in different colors because I want a blue one!

I'd like black to match the (ideally) black Revolution I'll eventually get.

I am glad I held off buying a DS...history showed that a redesign or two was just about inevitable, so I waited.

[Artimus Gigan]

Meh, if the screens are the same size and just brighter, I think I'm going to hold off until they make an SP-esque redesign. I had no problems with the brightness of the screens, they worked fine in dark areas, and it's not really that heavy to begin with. But being that the GBA was redesigned multiple times throughout it's cycle the same should hold true for the DS, so I'm going to hold out for a big screen version of the DS. This one seems to be the DS equivelent of the Gameboy pocket.

[Juu-kuchi]

Why would you want an analog stick for mostly 2D games? Trust me, I have a Zodiac and that has an anaolg control. It's horrible when you're playing 2D games.

I'd like an analog stick handy when games similar to Mario 64 DS continue to be prevalent in the DS library. I didn't call for the removal of the control pad.

Why would you expect the addition of an entirely new control device on a simple shell redesign?

Maybe I expect too much out of Nintendo. =/

[Noukon]

Maybe I expect too much out of Nintendo. =/

I don't think you understand -- this is not, in any way, a new piece of hardware. It's a simple shell redesign. Adding an analog stick would create a serious compatibility discrepency between the original DS and the DS Lite, which would be an absolute mess. Frankly, I think it would be irresponsible of them to add such a feature to anything less than a completely new system.

Analog sticks have no real place on handhelds, anyway. A decent one creates too much of a three-dimensional profile to fit well on a portable device.