DS Lite (the DS redesign) revealed!

[Zappster]

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/2268/0601262xn.jpg

The new DS Lite measures in at 133.0 x 73.9 x 21.5mm (as opposed to the originals size of 148.7 x 84.7 x 28.9mm) and will weigh in at about 218g (the original weighed 275g). The unit is currently set to retail in at about 16800 yen (around $145 USD).

Release Date: 2nd March 2006

It will have 4 adjustable levels of brightness.


IGN Article (http://ds.ign.com/articles/683/683684p1.html)

1up.com's Article (http://1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3147494)
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Personally I think it looks decent. Much better than the original DS but then it's harder to make it look worse than that. The adjustable levels of brightness is a decent addition(a very useful feature on the PSP as well). Not sure if I'll get one straight away though. The D-pad looks suspiciously similar to that of the Micro's, and if that's the case that is a fantastic addition IMO as for me the Micro's dpad is quite simply the best dpad on any handheld at the moment. I'll wait to hear impressions from people on how comfortable it is to play, because if it offers increased comfortablity when playing games like Mario Kart which make my hands hurt after an hour of play then I might just pick it up earlier.

[DarkSide02]

That' does look rather slick, but it's sorta what this did with the gameboy sp you know? i wouldn't buy it but i still wouldn't object to getting that as a gift you know? i like mine the way it is just make a skin for it and i'd be ok. but that does look neat the symbol on the cover is eh okish it looks very shiny and white though

[Teh_Messenjah]

Bah... I hate when Nintendo does this with its handhelds. Now my plain, platinum DS will look so bad compared to those nice, sleek white ones.

[Sety]

Thankfully I held out a long time......now I can get this.

[Tabris]

Bah... I hate when Nintendo does this with its handhelds. Now my plain, platinum DS will look so bad compared to those nice, sleek white ones.

Agreed *cries*

Oh wells. I'm happy with my DS.

[mxg]

0h! This is just great now I will be even more pennyless I am goona tarde in my PSP and DS to get a black version of this when it comes out becuase it look much better than the DS at this point.

[Benoit]

Bah... I hate when Nintendo does this with its handhelds. Now my plain, platinum DS will look so bad compared to those nice, sleek white ones.
Your concern is silly and shouts the "I have to be at least as cool as the others!" syndrome.

[Teh_Messenjah]

Your concern is silly and shouts the "I have to be at least as cool as the others!" syndrome.
But I'll look so cheap... Then later in 2007, they'll redesign it again and I'll still be stuck with the original. :(

[Taylor--]

Meh it would be nicer to get a smaller one, but I'm honestly not going to go and rebuy it just because it's smaller and maybe designed better. The only reason I bought the GBA SP when I had a GBA already was because it had a back light.

[Syn13]

I'd probably get this to match my PSP, I'll just get my bro to buy it for me since I don't see my DS anymore.

[Fel]

This is exactly what I've been waiting for for the past 15 months.
It's finally about time for me to go out and get a DS.

And it looks like the Revolution...

[SlugZilla]

Looks like Apple DS. I hate the glossy coating, it makes even the smallest scratch stand out but really other than that the design is really not special, just sleeker than the original.

[DarkSide02]

i think the gloss is just how the picture came out it might be like that. but yeah my ds is ok i'd rather a smaller one but this is just as fine, i mean it has no added features i think like the sp did, backlight was the main reason i wanted it. and my ds would be ok as soon as i get some money and make a custom skin for it to hide the fact the paint is rubbing off on the edges you know?

[Tommy]

This pisses me off because I bought my DS last month. Damn you Nintendo why do you tease me like this?!?!?!

[Benoit]

But I'll look so cheap... Then later in 2007, they'll redesign it again and I'll still be stuck with the original. :(
So what? What's important is not what others think, but what you think.

[peegai]

But I'll look so cheap... Then later in 2007, they'll redesign it again and I'll still be stuck with the original. :(

I bet you're also one of those people which owns an i-pod, like everyone else. :p

[Teh_Messenjah]

So what? What's important is not what others think, but what you think.
Bah, I was kidding. I do hate how Nintendo always does this, since I always buy things on release date and a few months later everyone else has a nicer version. I know I won't buy this one either, though.
*Glares at his old GBA with no backlight*

Also Peegai, I don't own an iPod. Much too expensive, I don't even have an MP3 player. :p

[mangatron]

Looks like Apple DS. I hate the glossy coating, it makes even the smallest scratch stand out but really other than that the design is really not special, just sleeker than the original.

Of course, to begin with, a scratch means it was mis handled in some sort of way...and I do like my GBA SP, it looks like it got ran over from a tank :heh: I'm glad though that my DS isn't like that, man my SP just looks so pummeled lol...and it still works great mind you.

Now that DS re-design was in the works ever since that prototype came out, and I must be the only one in this world who wants that prototype DS :heh: I'm thinking of getting this one, but I need to get myself to buy the Micro lol...I have the money, it's in stock, and yet....it takes me one glance at my Gaming suitcase and I say "there's no more room" :heh: :heh: :uhoh: :heh:

[WolfCoder]

Feh! I'm planning on getting my DS painted and detailed to a nice black color with my gamer logo in red somewhere on the front.

I agree with the SP thing, It's a cool looking iDS that I will accept as a gift, but I won't buy it. (hehe! iDS!)

I'm also going to build a dual backup battery supply system so when my DS runs out of juice it simply gets power from the secondary source. That makes it run very long on one charge. (It's not actually a hard thing to do, take a look at the adapter plug-in port to see what I mean).

[U<3Anime]

I knew this would happen, but wasnt expecting it to happen so early..I'm not a fan of the design for the original ds, so i should i really get a DS now.:D

[Benoit]

I do hate how Nintendo always does this, since I always buy things on release date and a few months later everyone else has a nicer version.
I see it as a reward for the people who waited. :) Though, honestly, apart from a nicer design, we're not sure that there will be usability improvements. That's what really matters.
I know I won't buy this one either, though.
*Glares at his old GBA with no backlight*
It's your loss. The GBA SP was a definite improvement. I didn't buy a GBA until the SP version was out, as the original's screen was so dark.

By the way, the GBA SP has a frontlight. The recently released next version of the GBA SP has a backlight. ;)

[GATX207_Blitz]

whoever gets link to an online store for this please link it in this thread thanks

[Taylor--]

whoever gets link to an online store for this please link it in this thread thanks

It'll be available everywhere in march.

[GATX207_Blitz]

It'll be available everywhere in march.

uhm no it will be released in japan that day there is no word on an american release. if you can find me proof of it then show me and i'll be quiet, but for now:

1 I don't live i japan
2 I don't plan on moving there in the near future
and
3 I want to buy it when it comes out in japan seeing how there will be the several languages for the menus and its universal

[Taylor--]

Sorry my bad.

play-asia.com
lik-sang.com

Are more then likely to have it, otherwise I don't think you'll have to wait long for the North American/Europe launch.

[mangatron]

Sorry my bad.

play-asia.com
lik-sang.com

Are more then likely to have it, otherwise I don't think you'll have to wait long for the North American/Europe launch.

I recommend Play Asia. I've bought some rare things from them since they seemed to be the only ones who have it :heh: and they've got quite fast shipping for airmail.

[GATX207_Blitz]

I recommend Play Asia. I've bought some rare things from them since they seemed to be the only ones who have it :heh: and they've got quite fast shipping for airmail.

no worries taylor-- and thanks on the suggestions

and mangatron i shall check out play asia I think lik sang had expensively priced items.

[Taylor--]

http://ds.ign.com/articles/683/683728p1.html

Well it looks like the release here won't be too far off from the Japanese, then again it's just speculation.

EDIT: Just found this video: http://www.youtube.com/w/DS-Lite-CG?v=VAlESOK37n8&feature=Views&page=2&t=t&f=b of an actual DS Lite compared to a normal DS. Look's pretty damn small.

[Benoit]

Look's pretty damn small.
Don't abuse that apostrophe!

[Ending]

Looks a little plain to me, like one of those old Game & Watch -things I used to own as a kid, back in the late 80's. Hope they add a few more details.

[shikamarufoo]

Thankfully I held out a long time......now I can get this.
Same here...was planning to get one since DS has more innnovative games then the PSP. My PSP rocks with all it's *homebrew;) *

[mantidor]

As has been said, this redesign isnt really solving major problems as the SP did with the backlight, so as the owner of an old DS Im not concerned, and although I like the looks of the handheld I dont feel the need to go and buy it. Seriously guys having to get the latest model of things is compulsive behaviour :p

[Yoska]

Seriously, it looks sexy but if that's all then there's no real reason aside of a broken DS to replace your old DS with this. It's a bit disappointing actually - buy few games instead or give the money to the needy or whatever. But if you are new to Developers' System then you really should just go with Lite though. Guess who still has a sever year old, museum approved mobile phone... yeah and it still works like a magic.

[Kupo!]

I don't have a DS yet, so I'll probably wait till this awesome thing comes out.

[Potatochobit]

im also waitiing. im kind of happy its coming out.

[Kiron22]

uhm no it will be released in japan that day there is no word on an american release. if you can find me proof of it then show me and i'll be quiet, but for now:

1 I don't live i japan
2 I don't plan on moving there in the near future
and
3 I want to buy it when it comes out in japan seeing how there will be the several languages for the menus and its universal
http://www.lik-sang.com/news.php?artc=3794

[rdkenshin]

Well, for improvements its lighter and smaller. And looks better.

Also, this:

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/5337/7editeurs200602151901190big0pp.jpg

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/3470/ny60kp2fx.jpg

Not as big of an improvement as GBA no light to GBA SP front light, but the difference between the screens is easily discernable. I will personally be getting one(because my current DS has 1 stuck pixel and a few scratches and its out of warranty).

And check out this video, complete with hilarious subtitles:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GUG21OyNNk

[GATX207_Blitz]

I didn't know where to post this but I thought everyone might want to know some 3 day old news about the ds.

There will be an internet browser written by opera and a digital tv tuner available. to ensure you this is legitimate I have posted some sources.

http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/news-11178-Internet+browser+and+digital+TV+tuner+for+the+Nint endo+DS.html
http://www.digitmag.co.uk/news/index.cfm?NewsID=5533
http://www.lik-sang.com/news.php?artc=3800

[mantidor]

The TV tuner interest me, but it would be better if the browser was offered for free. To be honest though, I doubt Id use it anyway, but a TV turner can be convenient to watch the news in the lunch hour.

[techiet]

Using Opera <3 Best browser for the job. Since they already work on portables (phones mostly), they have the tools to get the job done~

There's a RAM expansion slot because there's not enough for the browser and there's two versions of the Browser, with diffrent sized ram cartridges:
one made for the regular DS (GBA cartridge) and one for the DS Lite (Modified GBA slot so it doesn't stick out)

Also, (from what I've read so far), two ways of browsing the web:
Fit-to-screen: Shrinks everything down to fit the screen. If you're using the deskop version of Opera, hit Shift+F11 and it'll shrink the website your looking at to the same ratio Opera Mini/Mobile uses.

Magnify: Bottom screen shows the website in it's original size, except zoomed out. You use the stylus to move the magnification square to the portion you want magnified. The magnified version is produced on the top screen for easy reading.

I can't wait for this to come out D:

[Kupo!]

March 2nd - SO FAR AWAY!

[Anime+]

I think the DS is pretty good and if I had to buy a new DS I would go for it. However, if you already have one, don't waste your money.

[BriteDarkness]

Bah... I'm just waiting for the DS Lite to come out so I can get a normal DS cheaper.

[hamiko_san]

10 things more, you never know.

[SlugZilla]

Way too small...
You say it as if it were a bad thing?

[hamiko_san]

10 things more, you never know.

[SlugZilla]

It is, unless you have girly hands.
The actual button size hasn't in fact changed at all. All the controls will remain basically the same, except it got rid of the excess "fat" that the original DS had. Even then the system itself is more less the same size as the GBA.

[Angelic Cross]

It is, unless you have girly hands.

I have long fingers. My buddy has huge hands. We've both played the demo at the local Book Off and we found the DS Lite's button placement to be comfortable. So unless you've held and played it for yourself, don't make assumptions and say it as if it were fact.

[hamiko_san]

10 things more, you never know.

[Knight Hawk]

Well DS lite just got released and it's already sold out (go figure!!) Ψ(｀∇´)Ψ

Credit goes to Nick64 from Hongfire for the following. (moved pictures to imageshack instead of leeching from geocities x.x)

Pictures and article of the launch here:
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3148546

DS Lite comparison shots (in Sunlight):
http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/8426/p10007900os.jpg
http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/3408/p10007919yt.jpg

Metroid Pinball shot (Left = DSL, Right = DS):
http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/563/ou8g7q5qd.jpg (Left = DSL, Right = DS)

Comparisons with other portable devices:
http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/4401/11v0ip.jpg
http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/8412/12v7wz.jpg
http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/6991/13v2jj.jpg

Comparison with GBM and GBASP in the dark:
http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/3937/04v6jp.jpg

[Potatochobit]

is this released just in JP or here in the US too? i still dont have a DS need to get one.