DSi Gets US Release Date

DS

Nintendo has just announced that the DSi - the sequel to the smash hit DS Lite - will hit American shores on April 5, 2009 for USD$169.99 (AUD$265). Given that the DS Lite retails at USD$129.99 (AUD$203) overseas, and AUD$199.95 here, it looks like the new DS system will hit our shelves at around $250 in May. The system will come in two colours - the classic black, and a really nice blue.

If you haven't been following the system, it has a couple of brand new features (unlike the DS Lite). There are two cameras - one on the outside, and one inside, along with image-manipulation software. You can also record sounds through the microphone and play music off an SD card (even with the screens closed), and then mess with them using sound-manipulation software. The system features 256MB of internal flash memory - half that of the Wii, incidentally - but finally ditches the GBA slot.

Then there's the Nintendo DSi Shop, featuring DSiWare, which is basically WiiWare on the go. Games and other applications will be available at a range of values, starting at 200 Nintendo DSi Points.

More news  and features of the system will be announced as April 5 draws closer, and we can expect word from Nintendo Australia about the local release soon too. Stay tuned. In the meantime, hit up the website to check out the great design, and tell us what you think about the DS v1.75 (v1.5 being the DS Lite) in the comments below.