New Nintendo DS Lites way for Mario

On June 11, Nintendo DS 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.

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., launching May 15 [ $31 - $35 ], 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 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.