Nintendo DS: Wal-Mart Pre-orders, Japanese Plans

Leading U.S. chain store Wal-Mart has placed a pre-order page for the Nintendo DS console on its website. The company has listed a price of $199.82 and a release date of 30th November. Although Nintendo has made no official announcements, the price is within the range of most generally accepted estimates and the release date is also credible – despite some rumors that the portable would only be released in Japan this year. As mentioned briefly on Friday, Nintendo has scheduled a press conference for the 17th October, when it is expected to announce the Japanese launch date and price, and demonstrate some of the format’s launch titles. TV adverts have already started airing in the country, featuring Hikaru Utada – one of Japan’s top pop starlets. Nintendo is clearly keen to show that plans for rollout of the console are continuing according to plan, when compared to the rumored delays and problems of the PlayStation Portable (PSP). Additionally, by the time of the press conference in October Sony will likely have announced the pricing and other details of the PSP – which are expected to be revealed at a press conference this month – allowing Nintendo to fine tune its own plans beforehand.