Japanese gamers wait in line for DS Lite

It's nice to see that Americans aren't the only foolish hardy souls willing to brave the elements in order to get their hands on the latest gaming system as it rolls off the assembly line. Keep reading to see how these DS lovers while away the dreary hours in line...

[PeteC @ Mar 2nd 2006 5:29AM]

Ummm, sitting in line playing your Nintendo DS waiting to get one with a slightly thinner form factor and better brightness control!?! I can just about understand those crazy enough to wait to get thier hands on entirely new technology or even a new game but this is kind of silly isn't it?

[distantbody @ Mar 2nd 2006 5:30AM]

Can't wait to get mine! I hate bothe the xbox360/PSP, so i kidna missed out on the new hardware orgy, but the day is almost mine!! Yaarrgghh!!

[distantbody @ Mar 2nd 2006 5:33AM]

rephrase

Can't wait to get mine! I concluded the xbox360/PSP to be FATALY FLAWED, so i kidna missed out on the new hardware orgy, but the day is almost mine!! Yaarrgghh!!

/rephrase

[PEZ @ Mar 2nd 2006 5:59AM]

This is exactly what happens when the Eagles come to town!

[bignerd972 @ Mar 2nd 2006 6:52AM]

This has to be the gayest thing I've ever seen... Yeah, let's play our DS's while we wait in line to get practically the same DS(YES, I do understand that it is slightly different)...Is it really that serious?... Well, I guess I just answered my own question!

[Comrade Penguin @ Mar 2nd 2006 7:15AM]

When Xbox 360 was released in the UK one of my friends preordered it and then queued up in the wee hours to collect it which I thought was a bit odd. Not as odd as the guy he met there who was 'waiting for PS3' but just wanted to 'soak up the atmosphere'.....

[Sherlock @ Mar 2nd 2006 8:07AM]

soak up the atmosphere.....

lol

[Brandon @ Mar 2nd 2006 8:29AM]

o great :( ...thanks for the link to a japanese site...if only i knew what they were saying

[David @ Mar 2nd 2006 8:36AM]

The japanese are brand whores, thats why they are waiting in line. No other reason. I would say probably close to 80% of the people waiting in line would have DSs.

Nintendo could sell a used tampon with a "N" on the side and it would sell out. Ok, so maybe thats a bit overboard, but not by much. ;)

[Bjorn Keizers @ Mar 2nd 2006 8:41AM]

I've got an 'old' DS - and yeah... I'm going to buy a Lite as well.

The old was, IMO, just too heavy, large and awkward to use on the road for quite a few games. Try playing Rogue Agent, on a moving train, while holding the DS with one hand... I got tired of that pretty damn quick. That's why I take my PSP with me instead of my DS (that, and the better games)

At least the Lite will be a bit more playable and easier to carry. Plus, iPod white really does make it look nice instead of the cheap grey plastic of the old one.

[Karl Viklund @ Mar 2nd 2006 8:47AM]

This is just ridiculous.
Wait in line and sleep on the street just for a DS Lite? It's just ridiculous.

[Princess Zelda @ Mar 2nd 2006 9:02AM]

There's some good comparison pictures at www.4colorrebellion.com of the DS Lite and the old DS screens. Judging from those pictures I think I would trade the old DS for a DS Lite. The brighter screen makes the games look brand new.

[Anton @ Mar 2nd 2006 9:39AM]

I don't understand this. You're not getting anything new here. Unless you have money to spend left and right, then I understand that you want to have the latest. But for pretty much everyone here, what the hell is the point of buying a product that you already have? If it's for the coolness factor, I'm sorry but there's not way in hell you're gonna look playing the DS, doesn't matter what they do with it. IT'S THE SAME DAMN PRODUCT THAT YOU ALREADY SHELLED OUT $130 FOR. This is the reason why most of Americans are in debt.

[Caffeinated Johnny @ Mar 2nd 2006 9:42AM]

Hey what do u await? That guys are japanese, and so they love the big N.

[JM @ Mar 2nd 2006 10:00AM]

"This is the reason why most of Americans are in debt."

Dude, those are Japanese, America's shorter, cuter cousins.

[mike @ Mar 2nd 2006 10:00AM]

If it's for the coolness factor, I'm sorry but there's not way in hell you're gonna look playing the DS, doesn't matter what they do with it. IT'S THE SAME DAMN PRODUCT THAT YOU ALREADY SHELLED OUT $130 FOR. This is the reason why most of Americans are in debt.

---

did it ever occur to you that they could sell their old system and get one that looks nicer and has better battery life (due to variable screen brightness)

it's called eBay smartass. and the DS is sold out everywhere, so you they won't have trouble selling those 'fat' DS's

the reason most americans are poor and swamped in debt is because they watch tons of TV that tells them they can buy happiness with friggin salad shooters and fat trimmers.

[from Japan @ Mar 2nd 2006 10:46AM]

This msseage writes from Japan. I am Japnanese. NintendoDS becomes a smash hit now in Japan. NintendoDS is extreme shortage now in Japan. The most people who is forming a line doesn't have NintendoDS. The person like photograph is in the minority.

[Mat @ Mar 2nd 2006 11:40AM]

Comrade Penguin - luckily we get to 'soak up the atmosphere' of this launch via the web lol :)

[Patiwat @ Mar 2nd 2006 12:32PM]

Screw the DS Lite, how do I get the Yoda pillow?

[Pat @ Mar 2nd 2006 1:25PM]

Yeah I think most of you are for whatever reason making the wrong assumption in thinking the two dudes playing a DS represent the majority there. Probably around 30% or something like that of the people waiting have a DS, it's that even the regular DS is so hard to find, most of them are waiting for their first DS.

And for those that aren't, why the hell are you making fun of them so much? They probably log so many hours of play on the machine, it'd definitely be worth it for them to have a better version.

[Agreeed @ Mar 2nd 2006 1:26PM]

9. The japanese are brand whores, thats why they are waiting in line. No other reason. I would say probably close to 80% of the people waiting in line would have DSs.

Nintendo could sell a used tampon with a "N" on the side and it would sell out. Ok, so maybe thats a bit overboard, but not by much. ;)

So true...same thing with ps3 n xbox360

[chris @ Mar 2nd 2006 3:51PM]

*Gayest Comment of the Day*

5. This has to be the gayest thing I've ever seen... Yeah, let's play our DS's while we wait in line to get practically the same DS(YES, I do understand that it is slightly different)...Is it really that serious?... Well, I guess I just answered my own question!

[slightly different?? lol ]



9. The japanese are brand whores, thats why they are waiting in line. No other reason. I would say probably close to 80% of the people waiting in line would have DSs.

[there was DS shortage since January because of hot selling games. Even old DSs are selling with premiums right now. 80%?? I don't think so. Check out the rest of pics; even grandpas are in line to get a piece of DS Lite]

Nintendo could sell a used tampon with a "N" on the side and it would sell out. Ok, so maybe thats a bit overboard, but not by much. ;)

[Really? is that why GameCube with big "N" was such a hot console in Japan?? Don't make me sound like a N fanboy]

[invaderluj @ Mar 2nd 2006 5:22PM]

this is almost as sad as the people who wait outside the local bestbuy on tuesdays because they want to buy the new dvds before they sellout(how often does that happen?)...
almost, but not quite

[yjs @ Mar 2nd 2006 5:53PM]

If you ignorant fools actually took a look around, then you'll see most of the people lining up are not DS owners. In fact photos that IGN, 1up etc took indicates the lining up demographic to be quite diverse from otaku to old people to office ladies.

[SteveoDBGT @ Mar 2nd 2006 6:52PM]

One word: pointless.

[saxophoneguy @ Mar 2nd 2006 7:37PM]

I do not understand why everybody is so upset over this. Japan is practically a different world compared to us in North America, so obviously some things they do we find strange, and im sure things we do they find strange too. So whats the big deal if they stand outside maybe since the night before? What does it matter to us?

'nuff said

[WannaCub @ Mar 2nd 2006 7:46PM]

When is it MY turn!?

[Patrick @ Mar 2nd 2006 8:07PM]

Um, I seem to remember pictures of people in North America lining up to get the xbox 360. I don't remember so much flaming going on there. The lines for the 360 in Japan were pretty thin. They probably think the same about us when they see all the fools lining up in North America for the 360, in the freezing cold. Anyways, it's 6-10C in Japan right now, not exactly harsh elements.

[Jake @ Mar 3rd 2006 1:00AM]

will it ever come out in Australia?

[rudysaurus @ Mar 3rd 2006 1:07AM]

i would soooo wait in long lines to get me a piece of the DS lite release action!

[Kyung Park @ Mar 3rd 2006 1:54AM]

I dont believe ppl over there are so obsessed over electric goods that will in a very short time be forgotten by their owners and harldy ever used after the excitement wears off..

[bignerd972 @ Mar 3rd 2006 5:37AM]

Regardless, those 2 guys are still gay...lol!

[bignerd972 @ Mar 3rd 2006 5:41AM]

@ 22.

Yes the systems are slightly different. What? A bit smaller, brighter screen, a little longer battery life.. Woopty-freakin-do! I think I'll buy a new one!!

[Joe @ Mar 3rd 2006 8:06AM]

I would seriously do the exact same thing. It looks like that is inside a mall, so it wouldnt be too cold, you can just play ds until the store opens then go buy like 5 new ones, keep one and make your money back on ebay.

I have the original ds but lite would be a really nice upgrade, the brighter screen will be awesome, the design is great and I will actually be able to walk with it in my pocket. So ya, it is worth it.

[yjs @ Mar 3rd 2006 8:17AM]

Hey, you guys are real neat aye? Bad mouthing people who want the DS Lite while you probably upgrade your computers, mobile phones and home theatres on a yearly basis.

Get over it, anyone who reads Engadget is probably an electronics whore and will constantly upgrade whichever field of consumer electronics he/she is interested in; be it game consoles, mobile phones, whatever.

[aac @ Mar 3rd 2006 5:02PM]

The Americans are brand whores, thats why they waited in line for Xbox 360. No other reason. I would say probably close to 80% of the people waiting in line would have Xboxs.

The only differences between Xbox and X360? Better graphics and $300.

[booboo @ May 26th 2006 9:57PM]

You guys are so lucky to have japanese people who are passionate about video games. Without them the video game industry would've been dull and uncreative.

[ds girl @ Jun 9th 2006 3:17PM]

idon't have a ds but i am planning on getting the ds lite and everyone is entitled to wat they think about other systems.for example i think the first ds saucks,its too heaver too big no light and it looks ugly.hey do any of u guys know if the opera browser is gonna work with the first ds?