DSi Japan Launch: Unboxing, Long Queues, Health Warnings

The DSi launched in Japan today, and contrary to earlier predictions has already seen a lot of success.

Nintendo's second reworking of its ever popular dual-screened wonder is more than just a few cosmetic changes and screen improvements - it's removed support for Gameboy Advance games, added a pretty lame but good-enough VGA camera, media player, web browser and support for downloadable software known as DS Ware.

The console hit Japan with more than just a handful of new adopters. One can be picked up by parting ways with 18,900 Yen in either black or white, working out at around $180 or £110, 140 Euro. Whilst a lot of folk over there had expressed mild interest in recent polls, there's been a pretty big onslaught of fans trying to get hold of the machine. A fair few going home empty handed.

DS-X2 report that some retailers had at least 300 people waiting to grab hold of a DSi or two, but many learnt that chances were slim. Popular stores weren't even able to get their stock on shelves due to masses of pre-ordering.

Some photos from Famitsu and Game Watch:





We've also got some snaps of the beast being unboxed and some initial interface snaps, for those with cardboard fetishes or who enjoy seeing fresh hardware:










The DS Lite made headlines at launch with some hilarious dos and don'ts in the Japanese instruction manual, and this time round Nintendo doesn't disappoint. Put your DSi in the microwave? We wouldn't dream of it!

Some of the top ones include:





Nintendo president Satoru Iwata confirmed that the console will be hitting US and European shops next year, most likely in the early summer time.