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DSi out two days earlier in Europe than US, £149.99

Sooner but pricier

DSi out two days earlier in Europe than US, £149.99
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Just as Tracy Erickson announced the US release date for the Nintendo handheld hardware upgrade the DSi, the European debut has been announced - two days before the American release (shock bloody horror), April 3rd. That said, apparently Australia is getting it the day before us.

Anyway, there’s only a day or two in it, and we’ll have to wait and see how far around the block the queues go at the game shops - in Japan they were long and healthy, though traditionally we’re nothing like the early adopters of our Far Eastern gaming brethren.

The price has been set at £149.99, though current exchange rates make this a whopping 30 quid more than our American cousins will be paying, and around 15 extra wing wangs than our Australian children will have to fork out. Does Nintendo know something about the British economy that we don’t?

Further details on the European launch are still a little thin, other than Nintendo telling MVC that the launch date (presumably adjusted to avoid any confusion over April Fool’s jokes) was set to capitalise on Easter spending sprees, and the device will initially be available in black and white. This is quite welcome news, considering the horrible, matte cyan colour our American buddies will have to suffer (pictured).

For once there’s no talk of stock shortages, either, with Nintendo promising a healthy supply on the launch date. Does this mean it’s not expecting demand to be quite high enough to cause a panic at the suggestion that there won’t be enough DSi’s to go around?

We shall see, but you’d better get saving now if you want a DSi to go with your Easter eggs.

Spanner Spencer
Spanner Spencer
Yes. Spanner's his real name, and he's already heard that joke you just thought of. Although Spanner's not very good, he's quite fast, and that seems to be enough to keep him in a regular supply of free games and away from the depressing world of real work.