Special versions of the Nintendo DS

This article is about the many special versions or promotional packages of the Nintendo DS handheld video game system, besides the normal Silver and Electric Blue colors.

Retail bundles

*The red Nintendo DS model, released in Japan on August 8, 2005, is part of a promotional offer that includes the game "Jump Superstars".

*There is also a red Nintendo DS model released in North America, that came bundled with an M&M's Break 'Em catridge, and a red M&M stuffed toy along with a red colored DS. Fact|date=September 2008

*In October 2005, Nintendo released two new colors to North America: Teal and Pearl Pink (not the same Candy Pink as was released in Europe and Japan, but a tint identical to that of the Mystic Pink model released in Australia). These systems are bundled with the game "Nintendogs Best Friends Version", as well as a bone-shaped screen cleaner. These bundles were released in Europe on October 7, 2005. In Europe, the pink DS included the Dachshund version of "Nintendogs", and the teal DS included the Labrador version of "Nintendogs". These were priced at the same price as a lone Nintendo DS (£99). On that same day, the Nintendo DS received a price cut to £89.

*The Electric Blue was released in North America, initially bundled with "Super Mario 64 DS", for the same price as a lone DS ($149.99) on June 30, 2005. One million copies were sold, making it the best-selling game during that time. As of February 27, 2006 "Animal Crossing: Wild World" is included with the Electric Blue system.

*The "Mario Kart DS" Pack was released in Europe on November 25, 2005, which contained a silver-colored DS and a copy of "Mario Kart DS". The same Pack was available in New Zealand and Australia

*The Red Hot Bundle was released in North America on November 29, 2005, including a red and silver Nintendo DS system ("Hot Rod Red"), optional racing decals, a normal Nintendo DS wrist strap/thumb pad, a bonus checkerboard wrist strap (strangely, with no thumb pad), a Mario Kart metal charm, and a copy of "Mario Kart DS". It also came with racecar decal stickers that could be placed on your DS.

*The Titanium Nintendo DS was released with a demo of the game "Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt", on November 21, 2004 in North America and on March 11 2005 in Europe. The bundle is no longer available in the vast majority of American and European stores.

*On August 9, 2007, a special edition DS Lite bundle with SD Gundam G Generation Cross Drive was released. The customized, crystal-white handheld will feature the same red branding seen on Amuro Ray's Rx-93 ? Gundam in the animated film, Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack.

*On August 21, 2007, a Crimson/Onyx DS Lite [cite web |url=http://www.nintendo.com/newsarticle?articleid=-CnDUo2gIf-euc-KjYdB_BjOLcikhpwC |title=Nintendo Goes Fashion Forward with New Crimson/Onyx Nintendo DS |publisher=Nintendo |accessdate=2007-11-21 |date=2007-10-02] was released. It is bundled with "". [cite web |url=http://www.nintendo.com/newsarticle?articleid=p6YV_H74y2x8JQibfas6FxvBRZAW42VD |title=New Nintendo DS Color Comes Bundled with Brain Age 2 |publisher=Nintendo |accessdate=2007-08-09 |date=2007-08-08] Nintendo confirmed this bundle after it was listed by Canadian retail outlet Future Shop. The listing was picked up and featured on many major online gaming websites such as IGN. [cite web |url=http://gear.ign.com/articles/807/807141p1.html |title=Canadians To Get Crimson-Black DS Lite? With Brain Age 2 Combo Pack. |publisher=IGN |accessdate=2007-08-08 |date=2007-07-20]

*On June 22, 2008, a special edition Guitar Hero DS was released on online retailers to help launch the new game game that featured the Guitar Hero logo on the bottom right. It is available to anyone for a limited time for aprx. US $179.99. This also includes the game.

Loyalty, one-of-a-kind, charity and promotional units

*Five variants of existing Nintendo DS colors were produced for the Japanese online Super Mario Club. Each color has a wireframe of a character's face imprinted on the front cover of the system. The designs include
**Titanium/Mario
**Graphite Black/Bowser
**Gray/Wario
**Candy Pink/Princess Peach
**Turquoise Blue/Yoshi.

*Nintendo auctioned off three custom Nintendo DS systems for charity at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. The systems went to Jay Mohr for $10,000, Poppy Montgomery for $2,500, and Alan Cumming for $1,500. Nintendo added money to the final bids, and a portion of the funds went towards victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.

*Rapper 50 Cent ordered a custom-made Nintendo DS from Nintendo, featuring a khaki camouflage design, and the G-Unit insignia on the front cover. [cite news | url=http://ds.advancedmn.com/article.php?artid=1649 | title=Rapper Has A Custom Nintendo DS Made | author=Chris Playo |date=March 4, 2005 | work=NintendoDS Advanced | publisher=Advanced Media]

*As a special gift, 55 people who attended the May 9, 2006 VIP party at the Nintendo World Store were able to get a commemorative E3 engraving put on the cover of their Nintendo DS.

*The winner of the Pokémon Journey Across America, Minh Ba Le, won a diamond-encrusted DS.

*Shortly before the system's official launch in Europe, a bundle was available on the Nintendo VIP 24:7 scheme consisting of a European silver DS system, a demo of Wario Ware Touched, a copy of Super Mario 64 DS, and a t-shirt, in exchange for 1000 Stars and £129.99. [cite news|url=http://n-europe.com/news.php?nid=7389|title=Nintendo DS VIP Package|date=January 28, 2005|accessdate=2007-01-29|work=N-Europe|format=PHP]

*An extremely limited edition was created and given to select members of the press for the release of . It had a camouflage design, and was presented in a metal ammunition box with a copy of the game and a mug.

Publicly-available limited editions

*Special dark blue Nintendo DS systems were released at Poképark in Japan and Wal-Mart in the US. The systems have the Poképark logo on the front cover, and a Pikachu silhouette superimposed over the right speaker grill.

*A light blue Nintendo DS, with a limited run of 1,000 units, was released in Japan as part of a joint promotional offer with Pepsi.

*Nintendo released a gold-colored DS that is exclusive to Japanese Toys "R" Us stores.

*A Nintendo DS with Mew has been released in Japan. It is tinted purple with the Pokémon lightly printed on the front and adjacent to the top screen.

*50 white Nintendo DS units featuring artwork of characters from the popular anime "Bleach" were given away by Sega to commemorate the release of "".

*As of 2006, Sega is holding a contest whose prize is a white Nintendo DS with a skin of Doraemon on the front.

*A limited edition DS Lite was released with the game Winning Eleven DS. The Jet Black DS Lite is engraved with a soccer pitch with drawn plays (like on a chalkboard.)

*The remake of Final Fantasy III for the Nintendo DS had a limited edition, too. In this edition (Polar White), the 4 main characters of Final Fantasy III are engraved beside the Dual Screen logo (2 on each side). In the same style and colour, and also had Limited Edition DS packs.

*A limited edition Pokémon Diamond and Pearl came out with the game in Japan. This DS Lite (Metallic Black) features the legendary Pokémon Dialga and Palkia engraved in gold and silver on the cover. A copy of this was also available in a contest in Nintendo Power. A special limited edition bundle was released in the United States on August 18, 2008. It includes a carrying case featuring the same design as the DS; gold Palkia and silver Dialga. It will also include an animated dvd based on the newest Pokemon games, Explorers of Time and Darkness.

*A limited edition yellow DS Lite with Pikachu on the cover was available through a postcard lottery in Japanese Pokémon Centers.
*Two more limited edition Nintendo DS Lites were announced by Nintendo on Black Friday 2007 in the U.S.. One of these was gold-colored with a triforce on the front (see image), and came bundled with . The other was a metallic pink Nintendogs-themed system with a paw print on the front which included a special edition of Nintendogs.

References