Video of DS Lite's eyeball-melting display
by Christopher Grant 
{ Mar 7th 2006 at 2:45PM }
Cabel, co-founder of "shockingly good" Mac software group Panic--who also (pointedly) make those awesome Namco-licensed We Love Katamari shirts--recently got his very lucky hands on an imported DS Lite. He was so wowed by the screen's brightness, he made a video and shared it with us.
After praising the screen's color and impressive viewing angle, Cabel narrates, "The real kicker here is that this thing is not even at its brightest level. You can take it to a higher level, at which point it demolishes the old system. And you can even take it to a higher level at which point using the DS Lite might kill you [emphasis his]! The screen is undoubtedly amazing..."
Alright Cabel, we get it: you're literally swimming in Katamari t-shirts and you have a DS Lite that is so bright, you can damage your eyes just thinking about it. Some guys have all the fun.
See also:
DS Lite pr0n gallery
More DS, DS lite, & GBA SP comparison pics
[Thanks, Cabel]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
lordroba @ Mar 7th 2006 3:11PM
Being a proud owner of a PSP, I am becomming a bit envious of the DS's bright screens, especially when I'm outside on a sunny day trying to see what the hell is on my screen....:P
john @ Mar 7th 2006 3:11PM
um, its a ds? big shit. im sick of overhype for ds crap and all negative comments about the psp and ps3.
joystiq needs to find new people to write and find articles because this belongs on ds fanboy and not on joystiq
Colin @ Mar 7th 2006 3:22PM
I feel that this is exactly the kind of thing that joystiq should be doing. It is nice to have a all in one video game site that can keep ypu informed and allows you to make good choices on what game products to buy.
And I too would kill to get that backlight in my psp.
Jago @ Mar 7th 2006 3:25PM
If you don't like the stories then get lost John...besides Joystiq is a "general" gaming blog which means they show stuff from various topics.
Jago @ Mar 7th 2006 3:27PM
Oh and I hope something magically happens and Lik-Sang gets enough DS Lite's b/c otherwise I'll have to take my DS back fro my g/f.
C. Grant @ Mar 7th 2006 3:31PM
But I suspect john wouldn't mind a similar post relating to the PSP... funny.
As soon as Sony starts talking PS3, we'll start posting about it. If you want more PS3 posts immediately, you aren't going to like what you hear. Same with the PSP, more games means more people will buy it, which means more accessories will come out, and we'll have plenty more to post about. When these things happen (and they will) you'll see more posts, until then we'll write about what is out there and what we find interesting. That's why we made pspfanboy. If that's all you want to read about, then we encourage it. Check em out @ pspfanboy.com
bradtwitty @ Mar 7th 2006 3:52PM
John, you are so right, I'm sick of all these blogs posting about this amazingly redesigned system, they need to stop showing all of this gaming prOn, when the new PSP2 and PS3 is realeased in Japan I know that I won't want to see it and I bet you won't either, John, gah!
Eric B @ Mar 7th 2006 3:56PM
Wow, that was a really cool video. I don't know how many previews and articles I have read singing the praises of the new screen and it's brightness, but I wasn't really prepared for what I saw. I am in awe for sure.
That is my biggest complaint with the current DS. Any ambient light makes it very difficult to see the screen, not to mention the issues of angling the DS just right for optimum view of BOTH screens, upper and lower.
I believe these new screens and their brightness will take care of the ambient light and dual screen issues.
Another gripe of mine with the original DS was how large it is, and especially how much hand fatigue you get with games like Mario Kart DS. Now I can't say for sure since I don't have one yet, but I would assume that the slimmer design and smaller form factor are going to improve the hand fatigue issue that you get with the original DS.
Cannot wait to get mine. If Lik-Sang can ever get their hands on some units, I will be getting my grubby little hands on one as well.
Good article.
john @ Mar 7th 2006 4:07PM
i think some misunderstood what i meant with joystiq.
they are a good info site, but they do way too many negative blogs about the ps3 and how its gonna not live up to the hype, as for they have not said as nearly as much negative comments towards the rev, which nintendo hasnt said anything either.
all the bashing on the ps3 controller because the ps3 controller looks a bit like a banana, as the rev controller which apparently looks to be a new controller and has alot of speculation has gotten nothing negative towards it.
i have no problem with info like this, but its not right for joystiq to only give good news on the nintendo fanboys part and avoid the negative rev rumors.
im both a nintendo and sony fanboy and i am just sickened by the negativity towards joystiq and the ps3.
and the only reason i dont like the ds lite is because nintendo shouldnt have sold the first version if they wanted it to appeal more in the first place
aparrish @ Mar 7th 2006 4:25PM
This certainly opens up the market for third-party DS-themed sunglasses.
saboola @ Mar 7th 2006 4:29PM
First of all John, joystiq has posted articles of different developers and people in the industry criticizing the revolution and it's controller, you are outright wrong. Second, about how Nintendo should have made it this way in the first place, they are not the only company to do this. Since you seem to like Sony so much, where is the criticism for their redesign of the PS2 in 2003/2004? Any negativity towards the PS3 or PSP was brought on by sony due to lack of information (PS3) and lack of entertainment (PSP).
Anthony Escuadro @ Mar 7th 2006 4:29PM
John- Are you saying that companies should only sell things that can never be improved. That can't be what you are saying, right?
Who's to say there would even be a DS lite if gamers had rejected DS Fat? I'm sure Nintendo doesn't just fill their Scrooge McDuck-like money bins with DS profits. Sales of the original DS allow them to invest in R&D so that they can release things like the DS Lite.
Kevin @ Mar 7th 2006 4:30PM
john, with a little j, the fact of the matter is, the only news about the PS3 circulating right now is inadequate to bad news, from delays to unimpressive hardware. If you wanted Joystiq to be lesser "nintendo fanboys" and report what you want to hear, that would entail them to lie.
Lies may be enough for ignorant fans, but I'd rather have a site that reports facts, or at least substanitated rumours that could eventually be facts.
wonderflex @ Mar 7th 2006 4:40PM
John,
You don't seem to complain about the Gizmondo's horrible bashing, between the constant Joystiq and Engadget double teaming.
It's like I've stated in the past when others wrote about the 'bias problem.' with Joystiq; truth be known, it's a wonderful thing.
Having worked in journalism, I know what it's like to have an editor "suggest" that you write something a little more favorably because of the fact that they felt that a harsh blow, or constant criticism would cut back on our funding, do to advertisers not wanting the risk of their own products getting bashed in our print.
While that's understandable, it's also crippling. I was an editorial editor, yet I couldn't' write true editorials. It wasn't just me though. All across America writers are told, by those above them, what is, and isn't, the correct thing to say in the light of PR, and monetary associations.
When Engadget came to Seattle for our meetup they talked about how they have the freedom to write any article, any way that they want, even if it's negative - repeatedly negative. This is an almost unprecedented occurrence in modern journalism, and is a breath of fresh air for those who know what it's like to be behind the pen, instead of in front of the paper.
If you don't like a product, no matter what the reason, you shouldn't have to write about it favorably, or candy coat the bitterness. Similarly, if you are enamored with a product, there is no reason you should have to write negatives about it either.
This is the beauty of blogging. Writing your mind, however you want, with no worries about where the money will come from when you do. It allows honest writing; rather we like it or not.
BTW - on a softer note, I too am a Sony and Nintendo fan; and in the end, and I imagine the PS3 will do well, no matter what setbacks may come. The PSP on the other hand is horribly inferior in the realm of fun-factor and game depth, to the DS. Just an opinion.
Marc @ Mar 7th 2006 4:45PM
Hey I'm just wondering, did anybody out there consider that the people taking pics of the DS vs. the DS Lite turned off the backlight on the original DS?
What they're doing is trying to make the DS look like crap, when it works just as good as the DS Lite. They're trying to cheat you out of your money to get a slightly smaller DS with a brighter screen.
Besides, the DS Lite looks like it could break on the first drop. My original DS has been dropped, thrown, and flug in every direction, and it works just fine because it's built like a tank, not a pansy.
So don't believe every picture you see, you know the DS isn't that dark. When it first came out, you compared it to a GBA SP and have never looked back.
Jeff @ Mar 7th 2006 5:13PM
maybe mark, but 40% is a little more than a little smaller.
mwahaha @ Mar 7th 2006 5:23PM
gee, joystiq, have you thought about setting up a simple giveaway for a DS lite? Nothing too complex (no photoshop stuff, please!) but nothing like "sign up and win!"
I, for one, welcome my joystiq overlords.
Matters @ Mar 7th 2006 5:30PM
I thought it was 20% smaller, not 40%.. Or is that 20% lighter? It sure doesn't look almost half the size to me.
Marc I don't know why sites would turn the DS light off I mean there are pictures on tons of sites and I doubt it's in all of their best interest to make the DS Lite look better by turning the DS light off.. That seems silly to me. Besides you can tell the light is on in that video. If it was turned off you would probably hardly see anything at all.
I'm sure pictures of the DS don't do it's light justice. It seems a lot brigheter in person than it does in pictures. I'm sure the same thing is true for the DS Lite. That just goes to show you how much brighter the DS Lite really is.
Remember when the GB Micro and new GBA came out with the brighter screens? The comparison pictures of those were almost the same. You could hardly tell the GBA light was even on when compared to the brighter Micro and new GBA.
C. Grant @ Mar 7th 2006 7:16PM
mwahaha: We ARE giving one away... there is some Photoshop involved though. Thems the breaks: http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/01/design-the-joystiq-t-shirt-and-win-something/
Matters: It's over 40%. I did the math!
http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/27/doing-the-math-on-ds-lite/
ill trooper @ Mar 7th 2006 8:39PM
That thing looks great! I'm breaking down and getting one when they're available... And I love that company Panic - great little developer for OSX. I only wish they would get Stattoo working on Tiger, I miss that calendar 'upcoming events' thing...
Franky J @ Mar 7th 2006 10:46PM
All I got to say it this. I love the way that the DS is wireles and is free. I mean what does it take to walk to Mickey D's. And John I know you're already out numbered, but seriuosly the psp is dead to everyone!!!
Sean DL @ Mar 7th 2006 11:08PM
What this picture(video) tells me is that the new DS has less reflection then the original DS, which isn't bad most of the time(Outside on a bright sunny day is hard on any LCD) but great if you want to take pics/video of the game and play in the sunniest parks....
mwahaha @ Mar 8th 2006 1:57AM
Ah, thanks for the heads up, C.
I have no artistic talent but I can't blame you for making people work for the goods. I hope the shirts come out well. It's always nice to see some of the things joystiq readers come up with - it's wild how creative some people are.
Ryan "Abs" @ Mar 8th 2006 9:38AM
I think Nintendo is doing some smart development. I have noticed this with all of the Gameboys that get released, then updated--all the new ones have a better screen and overall package. What IF, Nintendo purposefully put in a above-Par screen, knowing that it will sell like hotcakes no matter what it looks like. THEN, put in the Blazing bright screen and apple-esque design in the DS Lite when the market is nearly saturated with the DS. This will force existing DS buyers to buy the new "hottter then hot" DS Lite. Thus Ninento getting MANY people to buy there Product TWICE! Nintendo brainwashes all.....suckers.
Just wait when people buy the white one, then they release a rainbow of colors, and existing DS Liters will be drawn to buy them too! You have just been pwned. Why doesn't Nintendo have chageable faceplates like phones do?
BTW, seeing the DS Lite wants me to buy one, however I really not into mobile gaming. I guess its almost rubbing off on me. Damn you Nintendo and your marketing powers!
Franky J @ Mar 8th 2006 4:05PM
Say abs are you sure we're the ones who are brainwashed or are the people who love the low graphical, slow loading, playstation lovers.It's like this the only reason why DS is winning above all is because it loads fast and the connectivty to battleing across the world is free!!! So again tell me who is the brainwashed ones?
Bignerd @ Mar 8th 2006 11:58PM
@ 25.)
Umm, I would say that anyone who goes out and buys this crap is brainwashed(myself included). This new system is going to play my games the same way my current DS does. My psp plays the same stripped down versions that my ps2 plays.... Sorry to say but we are all brain-washed!
BTW, could people please stop bashing Sony and Nintendo. Its like arguing Intel vs AMD or Ferarri vs Lambo... Who cares, get the one you like or get both. Many people bash the psp becuase their parents wouldn't buy them one or they couldn't afford it. PSP fanboys bash the DS because they tend to make games for a younger audience. WHO CARES!!!? Both systems, hell, all systems have their plus and minuses and are targeted at a different sector.
In the words of Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along?"
K.J. @ Mar 9th 2006 5:24PM
I am going to Japan on March 30 and I am definitely picking up one of these for myself and maybe a bunch more to sell to others. This thing looks amazing.
sirpilf @ Apr 26th 2006 2:20PM
I own a PSP and I am pretty jealous of that screen, then again I havent seen a picture comparing DS lite to PSP. but i plan on getting a DS lite. I never liked the old fat DS, but now that they made a nicer smaller design, I think Ill get one, especially for new super mario bros.
and whoever said PSP is dead to everyone is retarded, and you must be in middle school. I graduated last year, and even in high school there was NOBODY with nintendo DS because everyone thinks its "kiddy". this is the case even more so in college, people only have PSP because of that playstation brand.
but of course DS is kicking PSP's ass in sales because handhelds are still mostly sold to the younger crowd. PSP did a decent job of getting itself to the older audience tho.
Bob799 @ Jun 2nd 2006 9:53PM
Who needs an oven, they work the same as fire and are just a crappy redesign that costs more =P
we go for the latest stuff, cause its better, awsomer, and uhm... better.
Funny thing is no one was like this with original DS