Special lines, tougher security set up in DS re-stock

Just to demonstrate the magnitude of the Nintendo fever in Japan, Wired ran an article on what happens when a store re-stocks on very rare brand-new DS Lites. Special devoted counters are set up and security is kept tight to shoot riots down at the onset.

The Yodobashi Camera, one of the biggest stores in Akihabara saw a fresh shipment of the DS Lite. As expected, a lot of people of all ages showed up really early to make sure that they get their units. Three cashiers were especially devoted for DS sales. Store staff and security personnel were placed in strategic spots to ensure that everyone got in and out safely.

People were strictly prohibited from taking pictures of what was going on. On a side note, the Nintendo Wii game console is still sold out and there’s no assurance of when the next batch will come out. Sony PlayStation 3 units are well in stock.

According to Wired, DS Lites can be found in a lot of second-hand stores in Japan. However, the prices are marked up significantly, making consumers wary of buying them there. Not too shabby for a handheld system that’s been out for more than a year.

Incidentally, we found a deal in a Shibuya store which probably is the worst one you’ll find bar none. Here are its key features:ox

• No instruction manual
• No stylus
• No strap
• No AC adapter
• Scratches on case
• Scratches on screen

And all of these comes at a nice price of 10,000 yen. That’s about a hundred dollars. Did we mention that it’s pretty dirty?

Via Wired

Just to demonstrate the magnitude of the Nintendo fever in Japan, Wired ran an article on what happens when a store re-stocks on very rare brand-new DS Lites. Special devoted counters are set up and security is kept tight to shoot riots down at the onset.

The Yodobashi Camera, one of the biggest stores in Akihabara saw a fresh shipment of the DS Lite. As expected, a lot of people of all ages showed up really early to make sure that they get their units. Three cashiers were especially devoted for DS sales. Store staff and security personnel were placed in strategic spots to ensure that everyone got in and out safely.

People were strictly prohibited from taking pictures of what was going on. On a side note, the Nintendo Wii game console is still sold out and there’s no assurance of when the next batch will come out. Sony PlayStation 3 units are well in stock.

According to Wired, DS Lites can be found in a lot of second-hand stores in Japan. However, the prices are marked up significantly, making consumers wary of buying them there. Not too shabby for a handheld system that’s been out for more than a year.

Incidentally, we found a deal in a Shibuya store which probably is the worst one you’ll find bar none. Here are its key features:ox

• No instruction manual
• No stylus
• No strap
• No AC adapter
• Scratches on case
• Scratches on screen

And all of these comes at a nice price of 10,000 yen. That’s about a hundred dollars. Did we mention that it’s pretty dirty?

Via Wired