Since its release into the wild in 2006, the DS Lite has retained its launch price point in all regions. On the face of it, there's been little reason for Nintendo to tweak the cost of owning the world's greatest handheld. Sales have been consistently sky-high, with demand outstripping supply to an almost embarrassing degree in the early days. But with the holiday season already on the horizon, and the Lite now widely available in stores, should Nintendo consider slashing the price of its handheld phenomenon before the end of this year?
Click onwards to see two bloggers slug it out over this issue, possibly until one meets a bloody, horrible demise, and then cast your vote!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-05-2008 @ 1:35PM
KaBob799 said...
I hope so cause then I mgiht finally upgrade to lite =p
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9-05-2008 @ 2:09PM
rikki said...
The current price is okay.
But from the consumer end, price drops are ALWAYS better. I can't think of anyone who'd say "Stupid Nintendo, I wanted to pay the old price! Screw buying a DS." if Nintendo dropped the USA's MSRP to $99.99...
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9-05-2008 @ 2:34PM
Suichimo said...
Its a psychological thing. If you price something to low people believe it to be "cheap" and won't buy it. Psychology is also the reason people believe a .99 item is a better deal than a $1 item. Although in the end it is only a grand total savings of a penny people still think that way.
Personally, the DS is good where it is. The only reason the PSP saw a surge in sales recently is thanks to Monster Hunter Portable 2G and that is dying down now.
9-05-2008 @ 2:43PM
CrestName said...
Here in Austria, DS Lite still cost an expensive 150€, which translates to 220 United States Dollars.
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9-05-2008 @ 3:35PM
to-kun said...
Well, here in Norway it's still a whopping $350 :P if that makes you feel better :P
9-05-2008 @ 6:27PM
QuestName said...
Actually, it does, you just made my day :)
9-05-2008 @ 2:52PM
religiousjedi said...
If it fell to $99.99...I'd seriously consider buying it again. The one I got off ebay after my original Lite broke doesn't play Hunters that well...
Then again...I could send it in for Nintendo to fix (hinge completely broke off). However, I've done that a few times already. And I still need to get my Wii fixed.
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9-05-2008 @ 3:40PM
CamranChaos said...
I think they should drop the price...just not right now. They need to get the redesign (that we all know is coming) good and announced before they drop the Lite's digits. I'm thinking $90 after the new DS launches to rid us of the Lite while we get ready to pay *wait for it* $129.99 for the new DS. You know that's what'll happen.
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9-06-2008 @ 3:04PM
iofthestorm said...
I don't think any new DS will be a simple evolution but rather a new handheld, so I'd expect it to come out at $150 like the DS originally did. But I do agree that that would be the perfect time to have a price cut.
9-05-2008 @ 4:35PM
Jenny Lee said...
I think yes, the price needs to drop. The XBOX 360 just dropped down to $199 CAN here in the land of maple leafs. I just PAID $180 CAN for a Dialga/Palkia box set aand Pokemon Diamond I bought as a gift. I think the price needs to drop soon to match current pricing from consoles. A handheld that is the same price as the console needs to match its abilities, graphics and storage capacity.
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9-05-2008 @ 6:02PM
BlackDS said...
DS games are much cheaper than XBox 360 games, so the DS is still a bargain.
Plus, you can't take your XBox 360 to the beach. :)
Peace.
9-05-2008 @ 4:37PM
Jacksons said...
I'd be happier if the best games went down in price after a year or so. You know, like greatest/platinum hits that both the other console companies do. Another 2 months and Mario Kart will still be full price after 3 years.
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9-05-2008 @ 5:42PM
Ihar `Philips` Filipau said...
And you complain comes from US???
In Germany DS costs 150€ (~ $170; excluding taxes and rounding down after conversion).
So STFU. You are not the ones to complain that loud.
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9-05-2008 @ 5:46PM
Ihar `Philips` Filipau said...
BTW, PSP Lite in bundle at 198€ looks very very competitive. Unfortunately I know the sad state of PSP game library.... Otherwise, as a n00b buyer, it's very very easy to buy PSP. At least all the values of PSP are much much more obvious than that compared of DS.
And hey, PSP has wide screen and can play video well! For only 198€ with game included!!
I think whoever came up with the DS price for Eurozone has to be shot dead on spot.
9-05-2008 @ 5:46PM
MidnightScott said...
The price is fine. My original DS was $150 so these people whining about $130 have nothing to complain about.
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9-05-2008 @ 6:10PM
BlackDS said...
The dollar is a weak currency, and it has fallen against every other currency since the DS was launched in 2004. Although, the dollar hasn't fallen drastically against the yen since 2004 (the dollar HAS fallen against the yen), there is no guarantee that the dollar will NOT fall hard against the yen in the future. The dollar continues to plummet against all currencies due to record budget deficits in the U.S., the result of funding 100+ billion dollars a year War in Iraq.
If I was Nintendo, I would keep the DS Lite priced at $129, that way, if the dollars falls against the yen, I don't have to worry about selling the DS Lite at a loss. Especially, since a drop in the dollar also decreases Nintendo's profits on games sold.
Peace.
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9-05-2008 @ 7:04PM
aj said...
Dude, I don't think you're allowed to make intelligent comments on the internet.
That being said, I doubt Japanese currency factors into it. The unit itself is made in China, and then shipped to the US to be sold. The only real factor currency would play into the price point would be if the Yuan were to suddenly go up in value (but it won't, artificial currency valuation FTW).
I could be completely wrong, and Nintendo does all it's business in Yen, and the DS ships to the market through Japan or in some other complicated way that makes no sense.
9-06-2008 @ 12:58AM
aj said...
Oh, there will be a price drop. There always is. That's why only suckers buy a console in the first two years that it's out. Why pay 300$ when you can pay 100$ if you wait a bit?
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9-06-2008 @ 4:06AM
Metayoshi said...
I dunno... I guess it makes me a sucker for wanting to play Super Mario Galaxy and Super Smash Bros. Brawl at launch then.
9-06-2008 @ 4:03AM
Metayoshi said...
Man... If Nintendo decided to cut the price of a DS lite, I'd be just a little angry at myself for *finally* turning in my DS lite to Nintendo to get it fixed (I turned that wheel HARD in Elite Beat Agents so I've been using a bad touch screen for a while now). It cost me $90, and if they cut the price to $99.99, I could probably save money by selling in my DS lite and buying a new one.
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