The three new Nintendo DSi colors launched in Japan today. We’d love to tell you that there was a big rush and long lines for the new systems in Pink, Lime Green, and Metallic Blue, but there really wasn’t. Sure, there were a few pre-opening lines at gaming stores in Akihabara, but they looked small and totally unnecessary. I think Japanese people wait in line for fun. I was able to have a cup of coffee and a scone and then mosey on over a few hours later and pick one up, no problem.
The ease in availability may have something to do with me choosing the ugliest color, as you can see in the video below the jump. Lime Green, Nintendo calls it. The video gives the full rundown, complete with closeups on the fine detail and a side-by-side comparison with the good ol’ DS Lite. And for good measure, there’s a demonstration of the plug-and-go cart detection at the end.
Other impressions:
Even if you didn’t care about the cameras, music functions, SD card and DSiware functionality they’ve added, the new bigger screens and better buttons are enough of a draw to win me over. Games are bigger and brighter now. And the new system is really loud!
As you may have heard, devices like the R4 do not work. Hell, the roms that game companies have sent me to evaluate/review do not boot in the DSi. Only retail games will work, and any region is fine. Naturally, you’ll want to wait a few more weeks for the U.S. versions of the DSi to launch, as an import model is Japanese language only and the DSiWare titles are…well, in Japanese.
