Lighter, Brighter Hardware Follows Latest Version of Top Franchise
REDMOND, Wash., May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Millions of people around the
world already enjoy playing Nintendo DS(TM), and the system's future looks
even brighter. On June 11, Nintendo DS(TM) Lite joins Nintendo's video game
family when it launches in the Americas. The lighter, brighter version of
the hot-selling Nintendo DS is expected to be priced as low as $129.99 at
retailers throughout the United States. The inaugural color is an elegant
Polar White with a raised DS logo on the cover.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060504/LATH087-a
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060504/LATH087-b
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050516/NINTENDODSLOGO)
Nintendo DS Lite arrives just in time for players to pop in the latest
version of one of the most storied franchises in video game history. New
Super Mario Bros.(R), launching May 15, updates classic Mushroom Kingdom
action with new features and fun.
"DS Lite and New Super Mario Bros. represent a double shot of gaming
excellence," says Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America's executive vice
president of sales & marketing. "We've got something for both lovers of
beautiful, new gadgets and fans of old-school gaming."
Nintendo DS Lite comes with a variety of distinctive changes that set
it apart from the original -- and from all other hand-held video game
systems:
* It's less than two-thirds the size of the original Nintendo DS and more
than 20 percent lighter.
* Its two bright screens can be adjusted to four levels to adapt to
different lighting conditions and to extend battery power.
* The microphone sits in the center of the unit, and the LED lights are
clearly visible whether the unit is open or closed.
* The stylus is 1 centimeter longer and 1 millimeter thicker than the
stylus of the original, and slides into a side storage slot.
* The Start and Select buttons were repositioned for easier access.
* A removable cover keeps the Game Boy(R) Advance cartridge slot clear
from dust and debris when it's not in use.
New Super Mario Bros. is just one of the many Nintendo DS games that
look great on Nintendo DS Lite. Players set off on a side-scrolling
platform adventure bursting with the style and superb game play that got
many people hooked on video games in the first place. The Mushroom Kingdom
is populated with friends and foes, both new and old, and tons of
power-ups, including mushrooms that make Mario mega- and micro-sized. The
Super Mario franchise has sold more than 184 million games worldwide, which
makes it one of the top-selling video game franchises of all time.
Ever since its November 2004 launch, the original Nintendo DS has
helped to redefine perceptions of what constitutes a video game. Many
systems have been sold to people who are discovering video games for the
first time. Nintendo(R) Wi-Fi Connection, Nintendo's wireless gaming
service, has seen more than 1 million connections worldwide. Thousands of
people every day log on to battle one another in Metroid(R) Prime Hunters
or see who has all their Tetriminos (falling blocks) in a row in Tetris(R)
DS.
Nintendo DS continues to broaden the market for video games. Nintendo
DS has software that appeals to older gamers, hard-core gamers and even
lapsed gamers. Brain Age(TM): Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day went on
sale in the United States on April 17 after encountering massive success in
Japan. Nintendo will continue that momentum by introducing two upcoming
titles that require more brain power than firepower. On June 5, Big Brain
Academy(TM) arrives to challenge users with a variety of mental tests
designed to evaluate various skills. Then on June 26, Sudoku Gridmaster
will keep number crunchers busy with more than 400 sudoku puzzles, each one
sanctioned by the original creators of sudoku.
The worldwide innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment,
Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and
software for its Wii(TM), Nintendo DS(TM), Game Boy(R) Advance and Nintendo
GameCube(TM) systems. Since 1983, Nintendo has sold more than 2 billion
video games and more than 360 million hardware units globally, and has
created industry icons like Mario(TM), Donkey Kong(R), Metroid(R),
Zelda(TM) and Pokemon(R). A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America
Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's
operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo,
visit the company's Web site at http://www.nintendo.com.
| |
SOURCE Nintendo
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.nintendo.com/
Photo Notes:
NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060504/LATH087-a
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060504/LATH087-b
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050516/NINTENDODSLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org AP PhotoExpress
Network: PRN1, PRN2 PRN Photo Desk,
photodesk@prnewswire.com
CONTACT:
Eileen Tanner, +1-509-628-1993,
etanner@golinharris.com, or Chris Olmstead, +1-213-623-4200, ext.
780, colmstead@golinharris.com, both of GOLIN HARRIS, for
Nintendo
| |
|
