DS Lite Street Date Broken

The_Toad08 writes "Apparently June 11th didn't mean a thing to the Big Box retailers, as the Nintendo DS Lite has been spotted for sale in several of these stores." From Ars Technica's coverage: "After some digging through all the blogs running the story, I discovered it originated from Cheap Ass Gamer, where one of their mods was able to grab a system from Target. There's even a picture of the system next to its US packaging, so this looks legit. Until finding them gets a little bit more widespread though, I wouldn't get your hopes up. Even though I'm lovingly cradling my Enamel Blue DS Liite that I imported, I'm going to hit the streets in a few hours to see if I can't track one down and confirm this, so look for an update to this story." Anybody lucky enough to pick one up yet?

Comments

Thought so

[Jurisenpai]

I went to Target last night in Charlottesville, VA and saw 6 DS Lites in the bottom of the DS display case. No promo stickers, no fanfare.

I showed great restraint and left without one (I'm holding out for one that isn't white), but I'm happy to see they're here and so, so pretty.

Re:Thought so

[jgreath]

The Target in Chesterfield, MO had about 8 of them when I went during my lunch break today, though it looked like there had been more earlier in the day. That said, there are only about 7 now :)

Kinda dont get it

[falcon5768]

Like what was the point (other than the shortage of lites they had in Japan) of not releasing them all over? The DS isnt region encoded so you could always import one over to the US, so why wait to ship it?

Re:Kinda dont get it

[faloi]

It may not be the case for the DS, but generally the best reason is to get your name out there around the same time some of your competitors are planning something. Steal some of their thunder.

Maybe they wanted to release something around mid-year so that Nintendo will still be on peoples minds when the Wii ships. Then they go from being a company that hasn't released a new product (in the US) for a while, to being those guys that are always inovating. And hey, look at that cool controller! Or something.

Re:Kinda dont get it

[meh13579]

That sounds remarkably like Apple's strategy.

Re:Kinda dont get it

[poot_rootbeer]

Like what was the point (other than the shortage of lites they had in Japan) of not releasing them all over? The DS isnt region encoded so you could always import one over to the US, so why wait to ship it?

The point IS the shortage, methinks.

If Nintendo can't produce enough units to meet Japanese demand, what hope do they have of producing enough units to meet WORLDWIDE demand?

By staggering the release dates in different markets, they're able to level off the demand curve a bit.

Re:Kinda dont get it

[mowph]

Like what was the point (other than the shortage of lites they had in Japan) of not releasing them all over?

As someone who lives in Japan, what puzzles me is how they have managed to release them around the world, despite the fact that there is STILL a shortage in Japan. The DS Lite has only occasionally managed to remain on store shelves overnight ever since its release here. If you can somehow locate one, it will still cost you about 20,000 yen, which is considerably more than their MSRP (16,800 yen) -- in many cases for a used system.

For those of you who say that Nintendo only cares about Japan, here's some evidence to the contrary. Well, it also makes cruel business sense. They are going to sell the units in Japan no matter what, but it's more critical to get a few out in other countries to cause people to consider upgrading their normal DSes. Seeing is believing and all.

Isn't this a breach of contract?

[paladinwannabe2]

I don't work for Nintendo or Target, but my understanding is that they would have a contract that states that a condition of Target getting to sell the DS is that they don't sell them before a specific date. If Target breaks the contract, they will suffer some sort of penalty- it might be fines or it might just be Nintendo refusing to sell Target their systems before the release date in the future. Probably the manager who is letting his Target store sell them early will get fired (unless he generates more money from selling early than the fines would be, in which case he might get promoted).

Re:Isn't this a breach of contract?

[falcon5768]

from whats being said, it seems they where allowed to release them early. Just about ever Walmart and Targets put them out.

Re:Isn't this a breach of contract?

[Jace of Fuse!]

This same thing happened in several places back with the Nintendo 64 release. Many stores were letting them out a few days early, to include Toys'R'Us and Babbages.

As I recall there were some asses chewed up over it, but I don't know anyone who lost their job, at least not at the retail outlet level anyway. Higher up, perhaps.

Re:Isn't this a breach of contract?

[Tebriel]

If it's anything like movie street dates, if one place in your area breaks it, and you can prove they did it first, then you can break it as well with no penalty, since they're getting a competetive advantage by doing so. They, however, are liable to any conditions in the contract about breaking street date.

Re:Isn't this a breach of contract?

[uvsc_wolverine]

That's the retailer's problem...after I saw this story I ran straight over to Wal-Mart and bought mine. I can't believe how small this thing is!

Re:Isn't this a breach of contract?

[Zed2K]

None at my local target and walmart in Austin, TX. Target was completely out of old and new ds (which makes me think they had some earlier and sold out), walmart didn't have any lite but a ton of original ds.

Re:Isn't this a breach of contract?

[Drakino]

What stores in Austin did you check? Only one I visited was the Target on 183, and they had several old DSs, but nothing new.

Re:Isn't this a breach of contract?

[Zed2K]

I went up to the super target across from lakeline mall in cedar park. Their shelves were bare. There is another target at parmer and 35 but its a trek to get over there for me.

Street date? Meh.

[Rob T Firefly]

I'm still waiting patiently for the Canal Street date, when some DS lites "fall off the back of a truck" and I can haggle the distinguished proprietor down to $50.

Re:Street date? Meh.

[poot_rootbeer]

I'm still waiting patiently for the Canal Street date, when some DS lites "fall off the back of a truck" and I can haggle the distinguished proprietor down to $50.

You DO know that Canal Street merchandise is typically cheap knockoffs of the real thing, right?

You'll feel like a sucker once you realize you just paid fifty bucks for a "Neo Double Lite".

DN:F

[Anonymous Coward]

I think Duke Nukem Forever broke their street date too...

deal to beat stampedes

[192939495969798999]

They may have had a special deal at Target/WalMart to sell them early specifically with no fanfare, to try to get some of the super fans a chance to get one before the main stampede. That way, they don't get that backlash like the whole "systems all sold out in 2 seconds and i didn't get a chance to get one! sux0rz!" of yore.

Re:Street date? Meh.

[gEvil (beta)]

I dunno about you, but I'm very pleased with my Neo Double. I'm even thinking about picking up a POPstation.

Not in Portland, Maine... yet...

[httpamphibio.us]

I just happened to be at both Walmart and Target last night and didn't see them. Not that I was specifically looking for them, but I need to get one before an oversees flight that leaves on the day they are supposed to be released.

I'm certainly going to look again today though. Can't wait.

Re:Not in Portland, Maine... yet...

[httpamphibio.us]

I went to a ton of stores in Scarborough/South Portland today and had no luck... Walmart, Target, Gamestop, Toys R Us, Best Buy, and Circuit City. Shucks. I used to live in Redmond... oh well. ;)

Display Models

[Anonymous Coward]

I was at Best Buy this weekend in Bellevue, WA and saw a couple Lites out as display models, but the for-sale boxed ones were all original chunker models.

I'd assume if they received the Lites for display, they received the shipment of retail boxes. Actually, they're probably all the same shipment and they just unbox a few. Two Lites didn't have any games running, one was running the new Mario Brothers game.

Re:Street date? Meh.

[austad]

Brings me back to the days of the Sego DreamCost. What a sweet system.

why don't people respect these dates...

[joe 155]

... maybe because no one would want them to be fully respected, it's not in anyones interest. Nintendo and the retailer want this to happen. People will see one and think "oooh, pre-release, I better get it now" and it builds up even more hype and gets more stories - also it's reminded me that I want one. Cheers all round.

No go in Orlando

[Frambooz]

Called a few Walmarts & Targets in the Orlando, FL area, but no go. Except for the one in http://sites.target.com/site/en/spot/map.jsp?link= mqDetailMapPage&screen=mqDetailMapPage&POI1name=We st+Colonial+SuperTarget&POI1streetaddress=7501+W+C olonial+Dr+&POI1city=Orlando&POI1state=FL&POI1zip= 32818-6665&orig_iconid=556&POI1country=US+&POI1var 2=%3Cb%3EPhone%3A+%3C%2Fb%3E(407)+290-6728%3Cbr%3E %3Cb%3EHours%3A+%3C%2Fb%3EMon-Sat+8am+to+10pm+Sun+ 8am+to+9pm%3Cbr%3E%3Cb%3EPharmacy+Phone%3A+%3C%2Fb %3E(407)+822-5215%3Cbr%3E%3Cb%3EPharmacy+Hours%3A+ %3C%2Fb%3EMon-Fri+9am+to+9pm+Sat+9am+to+6pm+Sun+9a m+to+6pm%3Cbr%3E&POI1var3=%3Cb%3EOptical+Store+Pho ne%3A+%3C%2Fb%3E(407)+290-5124+%3Cbr%3E%3Cb%3EOpti cal+Store+Hours%3A+%3C%2Fb%3EMon-Fri+10am+to+8pm+S at+9am+to+6pm+Sun+Noon+to+4pm%3Cbr%3E&level=9&widt h=450&height=337&POI1iconid=92271&POI1lat=285539&P OI1lng=-814857&SUBMIT1=Detailed+Map!Ocoee, where the pesky operator told me: "We have them in stock but we're not allowed to sell them until June 11." "Is there any way I can talk you out of that?" "No." "Is there any way Hamiltion can talk you out of that?" "No." (Allright, so that last part didn't really happen. But still. No DS Lite for me yet x_x )

Available at Crystal, MN Target

[AragornSonOfArathorn]

I picked one up over my lunch break at the Target in Crystal, MN. Someone who posted at Joystiq aparently called all the Targets and Walmarts in the Twin Cities area and none had them, except the Crystal Target. Saved me a bunch of work. Thanks, Pancakeshouse, whoever you are! There were about 10 left in the case at 1200 CST.

The screen is _sweet_. I never got a first-gen DS, so I'm not sure how it compares, but my GBA SP looks like crap in comparison. Picked up Mario Kart and Zoo Keeper. They didn't have Brain Age, so maybe I'll try another store on the way home.

Frappr DS Lite Availablity map

[Dracoirs]

http://www.frappr.com/dsliteavailability This Frappr map helps find out if it the Lite is available in your area, Add a place if it is available in your area!

Pittsburgh Story

[Anonymous Coward]

Just got back from the Walmart in Bridgville (A suburb of pittsburg's south hills) An inquiry with the employee in the electronics got me a "Why yes, we have DS Lites".

I was very happy, I must have overlooked them. (I had checked the shelves with no luck) The clerk led me over and started to remove a regular DS from the locked display case.

:(

Warranties are region coded

[tepples]

The DS isnt region encoded so you could always import one over to the US

Warranties (for dead pixels and the like) are always region coded.

Australia

[atomicstrawberry]

They're available now in Australia too.

Of course, that's because today is our release date. I'm absolutely mystified as to why we're getting them over a week early.