Andrew Wirtanen is a usability specialist in Cary, NC More »

Nintendo DS Lite: in the U.S. in May?

I have never purchased or really got excited about a portable gaming console since the original Nintendo Gameboy. But, I am really excited about the new Nintendo DS Lite. The DS Lite is smaller than the DS (yet has the same size dual LCD screens), and has much brighter LCD screens. According to MobileMag, the new DS Lite will be heading for North America sometime next month. All speculation points to May 14th: the same day the new Super Mario Bros. DS title is being released. I’m expecting a $199 price tag for the bundle. Joystiq is also speculating that the Opera web browser will be released on a DS cartridge in June for $32. This is a lot of money for just a free open-source web browser, but I think that people will buy it (including me).

I’m also excited about a new DS game called Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day! which is set for release on the DS April 17th (a day after Easter/my birthday). Brain Age provides quick mental activities to sharpen ones brain everyday. When the game is first loaded, it calculates one’s “DS Brain Age”. Over time, one’s DS Brain Age will lower. One of the most popular games on Brain Age will be Sudoko puzzles, which are currently spreading like wildfire.

Hey, congrats on the CHI blogging thing. Hope you’re having fun.

Brain Age is great fun, in a goofy and oh-so-Japanese way. And I’m a Sudoku lover, so it was worth it just for that.

And, btw, my birthday is April 16.