AfterDawn: News

No DSi in North America until at least April 2009

Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime has noted that American fans hoping to get their hands on the newly released Nintendo DSi will have to wait until at least April 2009.

Fils-Aime also said he expect consumers to continue buying up DS Lite handhelds and hopes that they will choose to upgrade later.



"All through the Americas we continue to have great momentum on DS Lite and so for us we have a huge opportunity, much more consumers who want the original DS Lite, and so it will be for us a fantastic opportunity in our next fiscal," noted Fils-Aime.

"The critical decision for those consumers is how long do you wait? We haven't announced a launch date, and really for us it's going to be in our next fiscal, so certainly, after April – that's a long time to wait for a consumer who will be bypassing new titles like Chrono Trigger.

"We think most consumers are going to opt to jump into DS Lite now, enjoy all of the great games and then at some future point upgrade to the DSi."

The president also added that DS Lite hardware sales had slowed in Japan and that the new launch should help boost lagging sales.

"It's critically important in our Japanese home market that we announce and launch the new DSi.

"That's because they're reached such a huge level of penetration that this is a great way to keep driving momentum in their market."

There was no word on a European release.



Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 3 Oct 2008 18:47

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• 9 comments

• locobrown

  Forget that, If we all know that a new DS model now exists, there is no reason to continue purchasing the current outdated DS. Everyone in the U.S. should stop nor even think of buying it. Don't waste your money, let everybody know a new model exists. I want the DSi now here in the states!

  3.10.2008 21:37 #1

• 21Q

  The ds isn't region coded right? So what's to stop us from getting it? And will and will carts still work with the DSI?

  3.10.2008 21:49 #2

• L-Burna

  Chrono Trigger isn't new its been out since super nintendo,but the fact of the matter is why would anyone in North America buy hardware that will be outdated extremely quick as locobrown mentioned.I really don't see how Nintendo is doing so well to be honest.First of all they are revising the Wii to incorporate a harddrive and some other adjustments which won't be released until 2011? Then they are screwing over people in North America by selling outdated handhelds while everyone else is getting an improved handheld.Sorry, but I don't see how Nintendo can be leading in consoles when their role model is to sell outdated crap.You have to remember this is the same company that sold the gameboy for how many years I can't even count it by using both hands.Truth of the matter is they are still doing good though,and even if they do sell outdated crap people will always buy it.I used to like Nintendo when they came out with the Nintendo and Super Nintendo,but every console they made after that has been a let down for me in my opinion.

  3.10.2008 23:07 #3

• miltex

  Bummer !
  

  When the chips are down, you can count on miltex !

  3.10.2008 23:14 #4

• emjayhill

  Friend code irrelevance removed

  4.10.2008 09:47 #5

• blueroad

  i havent posted a comment for a long time and i shouldve said what im about to say now when i read about nintendo waiting till 2011 to sell a real wii console...nintendo SUCKS! and dont even think of calling me a fanboy of some other company cause i havent bought my next gen console yet and i was seriously leaning towards Wii this year when i read about how Wii might be getting a hard drive i figured it wud b sometime this year and best to wait..but 2011? and better yet now this? when i read the reasons nintendo gave i was so pissed i shattered a glass..they hold off making adjusments for the Wii..why? cause its going well for them so hell their saying: theyre buying our box like crazy now why think of them? lets screw them over for 3 more years then have sumthing out to make them pay more for no reason and we make double profit..but the NDS is just outrageus
  "Fils-Aime also said he expect consumers to continue buying up DS Lite handhelds and hopes that they will choose to upgrade later.
  
  "All through the Americas we continue to have great momentum on DS Lite and so for us we have a huge opportunity, much more consumers who want the original DS Lite, and so it will be for us a fantastic opportunity in our next fiscal"
  now reading between the lines : "we thought of a great idea listen,this is how we intend to screw u wher da sun dun shine: we make you pay now for the same old modeled hardware after weve made a new one you which both are 95% the same except the 5% is some great things we added but dont want u 2 hav yet and then after youve thrown the lite in the garbage we make u pay the same price if not more for that 5% improvements weve made..cool eh? hush now u do wat we say we want money u pay"
  
  and the best part i think was "were gunna let americas enjoy the DS lite hardware a little longer " omfg its the same godamn device u havent done anything groundbreaking! wat works on DS lite will only work better on DSi..i think we seriously need to boycott the DS..id say boycott the Wii but people are too damn stupid and fall easily to (really,wen u compare it to the other consoles) rather lame excuse for a "next gen console" ...again..havent bought and probably wont buy a PS3 or Xbox360..pretty dissapointed of this gen's consoles
  
  BL out

  4.10.2008 09:59 #6

• bomber991

  "We think most consumers are going to opt to jump into DS Lite now, enjoy all of the great games and then at some future point upgrade to the DSi."
  
  Translation: You're going to play with your DS lite so much, that by the time it starts falling apart. You know, when the stylus wont stay inside the DS, when half the touch screen wont work, and when the DS wont stay closed or open, there's gonna be a DSi waiting for you.

  4.10.2008 15:43 #7

• DXR88

  Ive bought on DS and thats the fat one, ive bought one PSP and thats the fat one. when i went to a 2 year tech school i had to bring in my own keyboard.i have big hands and big fingers, for me smaller is not better. its sad when you cant even use a standard keyboard.

  4.10.2008 18:22 #8

• jpc1284

  screw that, ill import the thing as soon as i can. There's no region block on it and Reggie just further proves he only cares about dollars and not the consumer.

  5.10.2008 17:47 #9