Losing The Phat! (A.K.A. Seeing The Lite!)
So, today I did it. I finally did it. I made the transition from my old bulky Nintendo DS Phat, and picked up a new sleeker, thinner, brighter, and dare I say, sexier Nintendo DS Lite. Now, not being content with the minimal amount of colors that were offered here in the states, I had opted to hold out for a blue version of the Lite. There was a blue version of the Phat released, but somehow it just wasn't the same. My old reliable silver DS Phat had an awesome skin that I had bought for it, so it wasn't as bland as it could have been. But, as is the Nintendo tradition, just when you think you've gotten the latest in portable gaming, they come out 3 months later with something new and improved. Let's take a look at the Nintendo portable family tree, shall we?
The original Nintendo gave way to the Nintendo pocket. A lot sleeker, the only real change was the exterior design. It was thinner than the original, but still played the same monochromatic green screen games. That being said, the follow up Game Boy Color, was slightly bigger than the pocket, but was able to play games in color (hence the name). My first Game Boy was a Pokemon Yellow Game Boy Color. Man, did I have hours of fun on the bus with that one. Shortly thereafter, Nintendo announced the Nintendo Game Boy Advance. Now, this was like re-inventing the wheel here. The new system had a more compact design, and it switched to a horizontal orientation, rather than keep the original vertical. The system was designed to handle more advaced games (hence the title) with better graphics and more color. It was basically the equivalent to the Super Nintendo grapics-wise. The main problem with the Advance was that the screen was just too dark. It was not backlit, and just forget about playing in any sort of sunlight. The solution? A few months later Nintendo announced the Game Boy Advance SP (the SP stands for Special). I was part of the movement that made the switch from Advance to Advance SP (this time around I got my blue console, cobalt blue to be exact!). With the SP, Nintendo returned to the vertical system orientation, with one big difference. The unit was now able to be folded down, clamshell style. Also, there was a backlight added to the screen, which made a world of difference in game play. Still, playing in direct sunlight was a bit difficult, but man, when you played at night in a dark room...forget about it!! I loved that little unit. 
But, again, it was a short lived romance, for along the horizon was the Nintendo DS. Sure, it is not part of the official Game Boy line (the last Game Boy console was the Game Boy Micro), but it was the logical evolutionary step. The DS retained the clamshell design and the backlight display, but it also brought with it 2, count them, 2 screens, as well as touchscreen technology, and the return to vertical orientation. I picked up my DS for my birthday a few years back, and have been completely happy with it. It brought with it a new dimension of gameplay, and many of the games that have been developed for it are very unique and different than any seen before. In fact, I've gotten more games for my DS than I have ever gotten for any of my Game Boy systems combined. Any major qualms that I had with the DS were that the screens weren't as bright as they could be (playing in direct sunlight as still a problem, but one that living in a world which includes the PSP has shown to be overcome), and that they system itself is a little bulky (hence the nickname DS Phat). Of course, as is tradition, Nintendo had to address these issues as well, and lo and behold, along comes the Nintendo DS Lite. Sleeker, brighter, and thinner than the Phat. But, unlike previous units, it only came in one color here in the states: Polar White. (Very Apple-ish of them, don't you think?) Japan got colors such as Navy Blue, Ice Blue, as well as the Polar White.
Now, the Navy Blue unit was the one I was holding out for. I was really trusting Nintendo to do the right thing and bring back the blue, because I really loved my blue SP. But what do they decide to do instead? They decide to bring in Coral Pink and Jet Black. Here I was clutching onto my silver DS Phat, hoping against hope that Navy Blue would be on the horizon. But it was all for naught. As I held on to what was quickly becoming obsolete technology, both my brothers got their DS Lites (Black and White), and even my girlfriend gave in and picked one up for herself (Pink, of course!) If I really wanted a Navy Blue one that badly, I could have paid upwards of $200 to buy one straight from Japan, or perhaps on eBay. But, seeing how the system only costs $130 here in the states, I felt $70 more PLUS any shipping and handling costs would be overkill. So, I decided to stay with my Phat for just a bit longer, as I tried to convice myself that white wouldn't be so bad, and that I could just cover it up with decals like I did my Phat. Just as I was giving up, and almost giving in, to the White DS Lite (Again, there's just something very Apple-y about it!), there were rumblings, nothing more than rumors really, of a mysterious new DS Lite. News was sketchy at first, but all fingers seemed to point to a bundled set. As time progressed, more and more details were being whispered here and there. "It would include a game" they said. "It'll come with some accessories" they told. Ultimately, just a few short weeks ago, the new was officially unveiled, and, what perhaps is one of the better looking handhelds to come out in years, emerged from the smoke and the mirrors.
This new Crimson and Black (Yes, two-tone!) DS Lite is packaged with Brain Age 2 (The sequel to a very entertaining mind-building game), and comes with an exclusive Crimson and Black leather-style carrying case. All in all, it's a very handsome package. Now, I'm not much a red guy, blue is my color in case you couldn't tell already, but this is one good looking piece of hardware. The red on it is actually more metallic than it seems, and the black is matted and more subdued than the Jet Black DS. It's a very harmonious combination. And, if that weren't enough, the price tag was just $150. (That's just $20 more than just the DS Lite on its own, and it includes a game and a carrying case!! How can you beat that?) There have been many other variations on the DS Lite released. Special Editions and such. Most have been in the same colors, just with special video game designs etched on the tops, such as for Final Fantasy or Pokemon. (The most recent was a bright yellow Pikachu Edition of the DS Lite that was only available from the Pokemon Center in Japan, and then only sold to those who were picked by lottery!)
So, in conclusion, I have come to terms with the fact that we here in the states are not regarded the same as our Asian counterparts, or even our European counterparts, when it comes to Nintendo. Sure, we may get the better end of the bargain when it comes to games and consoles and release dates. But we often seem to be shafted when it comes to Game Boys, and now, the DS. This Crimson and Black DS is a very large step in the right direction. It has been the only system so far that ultimately made me loosen my grip on my silver DS Phat (You shall be missed!) I shall enjoy it. I shall show it off. But at the first hint or sign of a Blue and Silver DS Lite (A boy can dream, can't he?), I'm handing the Crimson and Red to my little brother, trading in his Polar White, and that lovely Blue sucker will finally be mine!!
So, today I did it. I finally did it. I made the transition from my old bulky Nintendo DS Phat, and picked up a new sleeker, thinner, brighter, and dare I say, sexier Nintendo DS Lite. Now, not being content with the minimal amount of colors that were offered here in the states, I had opted to hold out for a blue version of the Lite. There was a blue version of the Phat released, but somehow it just wasn't the same. My old reliable silver DS Phat had an awesome skin that I had bought for it, so it wasn't as bland as it could have been. But, as is the Nintendo tradition, just when you think you've gotten the latest in portable gaming, they come out 3 months later with something new and improved. Let's take a look at the Nintendo portable family tree, shall we?
The original Nintendo gave way to the Nintendo pocket. A lot sleeker, the only real change was the exterior design. It was thinner than the original, but still played the same monochromatic green screen games. That being said, the follow up Game Boy Color, was slightly bigger than the pocket, but was able to play games in color (hence the name). My first Game Boy was a Pokemon Yellow Game Boy Color. Man, did I have hours of fun on the bus with that one. Shortly thereafter, Nintendo announced the Nintendo Game Boy Advance. Now, this was like re-inventing the wheel here. The new system had a more compact design, and it switched to a horizontal orientation, rather than keep the original vertical. The system was designed to handle more advaced games (hence the title) with better graphics and more color. It was basically the equivalent to the Super Nintendo grapics-wise. The main problem with the Advance was that the screen was just too dark. It was not backlit, and just forget about playing in any sort of sunlight. The solution? A few months later Nintendo announced the Game Boy Advance SP (the SP stands for Special). I was part of the movement that made the switch from Advance to Advance SP (this time around I got my blue console, cobalt blue to be exact!). With the SP, Nintendo returned to the vertical system orientation, with one big difference. The unit was now able to be folded down, clamshell style. Also, there was a backlight added to the screen, which made a world of difference in game play. Still, playing in direct sunlight was a bit difficult, but man, when you played at night in a dark room...forget about it!! I loved that little unit. 
But, again, it was a short lived romance, for along the horizon was the Nintendo DS. Sure, it is not part of the official Game Boy line (the last Game Boy console was the Game Boy Micro), but it was the logical evolutionary step. The DS retained the clamshell design and the backlight display, but it also brought with it 2, count them, 2 screens, as well as touchscreen technology, and the return to vertical orientation. I picked up my DS for my birthday a few years back, and have been completely happy with it. It brought with it a new dimension of gameplay, and many of the games that have been developed for it are very unique and different than any seen before. In fact, I've gotten more games for my DS than I have ever gotten for any of my Game Boy systems combined. Any major qualms that I had with the DS were that the screens weren't as bright as they could be (playing in direct sunlight as still a problem, but one that living in a world which includes the PSP has shown to be overcome), and that they system itself is a little bulky (hence the nickname DS Phat). Of course, as is tradition, Nintendo had to address these issues as well, and lo and behold, along comes the Nintendo DS Lite. Sleeker, brighter, and thinner than the Phat. But, unlike previous units, it only came in one color here in the states: Polar White. (Very Apple-ish of them, don't you think?) Japan got colors such as Navy Blue, Ice Blue, as well as the Polar White.
Now, the Navy Blue unit was the one I was holding out for. I was really trusting Nintendo to do the right thing and bring back the blue, because I really loved my blue SP. But what do they decide to do instead? They decide to bring in Coral Pink and Jet Black. Here I was clutching onto my silver DS Phat, hoping against hope that Navy Blue would be on the horizon. But it was all for naught. As I held on to what was quickly becoming obsolete technology, both my brothers got their DS Lites (Black and White), and even my girlfriend gave in and picked one up for herself (Pink, of course!) If I really wanted a Navy Blue one that badly, I could have paid upwards of $200 to buy one straight from Japan, or perhaps on eBay. But, seeing how the system only costs $130 here in the states, I felt $70 more PLUS any shipping and handling costs would be overkill. So, I decided to stay with my Phat for just a bit longer, as I tried to convice myself that white wouldn't be so bad, and that I could just cover it up with decals like I did my Phat. Just as I was giving up, and almost giving in, to the White DS Lite (Again, there's just something very Apple-y about it!), there were rumblings, nothing more than rumors really, of a mysterious new DS Lite. News was sketchy at first, but all fingers seemed to point to a bundled set. As time progressed, more and more details were being whispered here and there. "It would include a game" they said. "It'll come with some accessories" they told. Ultimately, just a few short weeks ago, the new was officially unveiled, and, what perhaps is one of the better looking handhelds to come out in years, emerged from the smoke and the mirrors.
This new Crimson and Black (Yes, two-tone!) DS Lite is packaged with Brain Age 2 (The sequel to a very entertaining mind-building game), and comes with an exclusive Crimson and Black leather-style carrying case. All in all, it's a very handsome package. Now, I'm not much a red guy, blue is my color in case you couldn't tell already, but this is one good looking piece of hardware. The red on it is actually more metallic than it seems, and the black is matted and more subdued than the Jet Black DS. It's a very harmonious combination. And, if that weren't enough, the price tag was just $150. (That's just $20 more than just the DS Lite on its own, and it includes a game and a carrying case!! How can you beat that?) There have been many other variations on the DS Lite released. Special Editions and such. Most have been in the same colors, just with special video game designs etched on the tops, such as for Final Fantasy or Pokemon. (The most recent was a bright yellow Pikachu Edition of the DS Lite that was only available from the Pokemon Center in Japan, and then only sold to those who were picked by lottery!)
So, in conclusion, I have come to terms with the fact that we here in the states are not regarded the same as our Asian counterparts, or even our European counterparts, when it comes to Nintendo. Sure, we may get the better end of the bargain when it comes to games and consoles and release dates. But we often seem to be shafted when it comes to Game Boys, and now, the DS. This Crimson and Black DS is a very large step in the right direction. It has been the only system so far that ultimately made me loosen my grip on my silver DS Phat (You shall be missed!) I shall enjoy it. I shall show it off. But at the first hint or sign of a Blue and Silver DS Lite (A boy can dream, can't he?), I'm handing the Crimson and Red to my little brother, trading in his Polar White, and that lovely Blue sucker will finally be mine!!
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