Nintendo releases another batch of DS Lites @ Japan; record lines.. another flop

[Trauma-san]

O.K., for those counting so far... when the Nintendo D.S. came out, some idiot on the board here said the thing would flop and that it was a stupid idea.  Since then, the D.S. has went on to have phenomenal sales all around the world, far outselling the Sony PSP.  On top of that, Nintendo has continued to sell the Gameboy Advance well, and make games for both systems.

Anyways, something peculiar happened a couple weeks ago.  Nintendo re-released the D.S. in a smaller, redesigned format... and there were lines all over japan waiting to scoop the thing up and sell out stores in less than an hour. 

Well, today, this morning, Nintendo released the same systems, the D.S. Lite, with two new colors.  Here's the report from Japan of the incredible 'flop' that ensued.

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http://www.gamespot.com/news/6145786.html

Second coming of the DS Lite
Nintendo releases Ice Blue and Enamel Navy versions of the new DS Lite in Japan; new colors draw larger crowds.
 
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Following last week's launch of the Crystal While DS Lite, Nintendo Co, Ltd. shipped its Ice Blue and Enamel Navy models today in Japan. Considering that the handheld has already made one debut, the industry wasn't expecting the same high turnout for these new models.

But contrary to conventional wisdom, the machine's second launch drew even more demand than the first.

At 6:15AM in Tokyo, when GameSpot arrived in Akihabara, there was already a line forming outside the train station. It extended fully to Asobit City, one of the well-known stores located in the heart of this popular electronics district.

Over 100 people were already waiting for the store to open, but it was nothing compared to what we were about to see next.

A few blocks away at Yodobashi Camera, the crowds were considerably larger. The store was said to have had the longest line in the city last week for the first launch, with approximately 400 people waiting by opening hours.

Today's turnout easily topped last week's, as the throng had reportedly hit 500 late last night, and there were over 1,000 people waiting by 6:30 this morning. The line nearly circled the entire block. Even after a store employee walked halfway down the line and announced that customers behind that point likely would go away without a DS Lite, a number of hearty souls stayed to take their chances.

Moving on to Shinjuku, Bic Camera sported a turnout around 7AM that was about equal to the previous week's launch. About 300 customers were split into two different sections, with each snaking into three rows. Employees were once again holding "Sold Out" signs at the end of the lines before the store had even opened.

At the Shinjuku Yodobashi Camera (scene of the official launch for the PSP), today's line still wasn't as long as the one for Day 1 sales of the Sony handheld back in 2004, but it definitely had more people than last week's launch of the Crystal White DS Lite. With two new models released today, more than twice the number of people waited in line.

All in all, today's lines were longer than those from last week in many locations, and with good reason. First and foremost, the DS Lite was released on a Thursday last week, whereas today's launch was on a Saturday--so more consumers with weekday jobs could line up to purchase the handheld. Would-be customers who walked away empty-handed last week also might have learned a valuable lesson: no lining up early, no machine.

To that end, people in the front rows were prepared for a long wait--very prepared. They came armed with portable chairs, instant noodles, and even sleeping bags to catch the occasional nap.

The fashion factor should also be kept into consideration. Some consumers are more interested in the two new color models compared to the earlier-released Crystal White model. In fact, Mainichi Interactive reports that the first person on the line at Akihabara's Yodobashi Camera didn't line up last week at all, but decided to do so this time since there was a color he just had to have.

Gamers interested in picking up the DS Lite when it launches in America can get an idea of what to expect by taking a look through GameSpot's on-site photos of this morning's Japanese launch, linked above.

By Hirohiko Niizumi -- GameSpot





The most telling thing about the pictures?  Look @ the people in the line.  Lots of women, lots of older people, not as many teenagers.  Nintendo's plan of making games for the neglected female and older population is a success.  The result?  Lines all the way around the block for a system that's already been released twice. 

[eKardz]

i love nintendo.

best games.

im just fucking buggin about whether or not zelda twilight princess is gonna come out for gamecube ever
and i cant fucking wat for revolution

[Shallow]

As of right now I think the Gamecube still has higher sales than the DS and I don't consider the Gamecube a success. Call me an idiot all you want, but let's say PS3 only sells 40 million unites this time around, which means it sells half of what PS2 sold, you'd be the first one on this board to jump on it, and I also expect every bad press article on the PS3 to show up on this board, courtesy of you. The DS hasn;t even come close to half the GBA sales and until it breaks half and goes on to at least 65% I won't call it a success. If it does, then I'll be glad to admit I was wrong.

I only had 2 major problems with the DS; I think it came out too soon after the SP. Releasing about now would have been better I think, and I thought they would try and get too creative with the 2 screens, but it turns out they just made, for the most part, single screen games with a menu screen displayed on the other screen. That was a good idea. I was worried they'd try and get too Virtual Boy.

[I Am The Anton]

When is the new Super Mario game supposed to be released for the DS,Trauma?

[Black_Smoke]

When is the new Super Mario game supposed to be released for the DS,Trauma?

May 7th, also its rumored that thats gonna be the day the DSlite comes out in North America too,that woud be dope

['DsR']

wow.

[Macaframa]

holy crap!

[I Am The Anton]

When is the new Super Mario game supposed to be released for the DS,Trauma?

May 7th, also its rumored that thats gonna be the day the DSlite comes out in North America too,that woud be dope

Nice,the game looks great so far.