Lucky reader catches early Dialga/Palkia DS Lite

by JC Fletcher { Aug 13th 2008 at 3:00PM }

The Limited Edition Pokémon Pack, containing an Onyx DS Lite with Dialga and Palkia art, a DVD, a case, and a poster, isn't supposed to be in stores until the 17th. However, according to reader Tom, at least one Fred Meyer put it out early. He found it on a shelf next to the other DS Lite systems during yesterday and grabbed it.

"I went in hoping to find out if they'ed be carrying them," he said. "I got my answer. :)" This could be an isolated incident or it could be a case of one retailer not getting proper notification of "street dates" -- or Tom could be messing with us. Tom, if you're out there, your Pokemans DS: show us it! And if you happen to live in the Pacific Northwest or Alaska, pop into your local Fred Meyer and see if you can find a new DS while you buy overpriced groceries.

[Update: He showed us it!]

Tags: bundle, fred-meyer, limited-edition, pokemon

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Ella09 @ Aug 13th 2008 3:09PM

For those interested, you can now pre-order this for $129.99 over at Amazon.com

Tom @ Aug 13th 2008 4:21PM

The evidence is here (sorry for the lousy cell phone pics):

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f178/dman21689/08132008102smudged.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f178/dman21689/08132008103smudged.jpg

(post them directly on DSFanboy if you like)

I haven't opened the box, nor will I, so please don't bother to ask. I bought this for my 9 year-old. He has a DS Phat that he doesn't want to part with... it has special sentimental value. So this will go into hiding until his Phat gives up the ghost. Or ebay selling prices get too good to be true... ;)

ChunkyB @ Aug 13th 2008 4:27PM

I was hoping you were going to give us unpacking photos, and some photos taking the thing apart. I want to see how that hardware is different from the non-pokemon ds lites.

GumbyX84 @ Aug 13th 2008 4:28PM

: sigh: I wanted to know if it had a matte or polished finish. Oh well, will have to wait until people start buying them this weekend.

Good idea to hold on to it for your kid though. Cool (and good) parent.

Tom @ Aug 13th 2008 5:15PM

Sorry... No gadget p0rn here (i.e. "the unboxing") :)

But as I say in the other thread; based on the picture on the back, the hinge area is silver and the bottom is matte black.

ChunkyB @ Aug 13th 2008 4:27PM

I pre-ordered mine from gamestop.com today. I would have pre-ordered it in store, but no one knew what I was talking about. So, yeah, if you want the t-shirt (which will undoubtedly be way too small for me) then you can get it from them.

I will say, though, that I'm pretty jealous of reader Tom. I saw that post and called a few other local stores to see if they had them in stock yet, and they didn't.

Brendon @ Aug 13th 2008 8:14PM

What? GameStop had no idea about gaming-related merchandise? Run for your lives! It seems the Mayan calendar is right on schedule!!!

eugaet @ Aug 13th 2008 4:44PM

Read the headline and thought it was another fanswag contest...

DinosaurDemon @ Aug 13th 2008 5:30PM

I also got mine early. I live in WA, and I found it at Toys R Us 1000 Cooper Point Rd SW, Olympia.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29518760@N07/

I didn't take pictures of the entire unboxing process, but that is because opening that DS box was a royal pain in the arse.

ChunkyB @ Aug 13th 2008 6:55PM

Update: I just canceled my gamestop order because they had it at my local Toys R Us too. It's pretty awesome.

You can kind of see from the pictures that it's silver on the hinges. It's actually that same silver color (actually darker in real life) on all the matte surfaces. So, the entire inside is that color, which is pretty awesome. I'd upload some pictures but I have to go play it.

GumbyX84 @ Aug 13th 2008 9:06PM

I think I am going to have to get one. Its looks nice and isn't polished on the bottom (from the reports and pics I have seen). : sighs: Just got my blue and black DS about a month ago... Would have waited if I knew this was coming out.

Sadly, EB is running the special that you pay $90 for a NDS Lite when you trade in a DS Phat. Damn lack of trade-in value and of money to spend!! Might not be able to get this after all.

ChunkyB @ Aug 13th 2008 11:35PM

It is actually shiny on the bottom, if you're talking about the back where the battery cover is. It isn't shiny on the inside, but it is shiny everywhere on the "top" up by the hinges.

SephFinale @ Aug 13th 2008 7:30PM

@ChunkyB:

I bet the hardware is different in the sense that nano-Pikachus control the circuitry.

Zeromus @ Aug 13th 2008 7:48PM

I can also confirm the early sale of the Pokemon limited edition set by Fred Meyer. The store in question is located off of west 11th Street and their entire stock was put out there. I guessed at around six units are currently in stock. I'm waiting for an email from my camera phone with the photo. I'll throw up the photo on my blog: www.chison-mn.blogspot.com

MidnightScott @ Aug 13th 2008 11:26PM

So what, I've had mine since May 21st, 2007, it was $330 in a bundle pak, but so totally worth it. Oh yeah, and haha, I had it before all of you did ^_^

MidnightScott @ Aug 13th 2008 11:35PM

Oh yeah, here is the pictures of the bundle pak:

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/MidnightScott/P5210004.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/MidnightScott/P5210003.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c184/MidnightScott/P5210001.jpg

ajwalker @ Aug 14th 2008 3:54AM

I still think this is pretty stupid. Nintendo needs to learn from the movie and comic book industry, they could keep milking this for years.

Movie Industry: Regular DVD, Bonus Feature DVD, Directors Cut DVD, Blu-Ray, Special Edition DVD, ad naseum - AND IT'S THE SAME FRIGGIN' MOVIE!

Comic Book Industry: The original edition, the special re-print edition, another re-print edition and so on.

So why can't Nintendo do the same? The Origianl Special Edition then switch it up a little (different color? different Pokeman?) and issue another "Special Edition" and so on.

The only reason I'm not all over this as a self-confessed Pokeholic (http://www.morninpaper.com/2008/07/confessions-of-a-pokeholic/) is because I'm waiting to see if there will be a Special Edition when they launch Pokeman:Platinum which is why I think they are clearing inventory now.

tk422 @ Aug 14th 2008 8:36PM

I found them at the Best Buy in Toledo, OH off Central Ave. I didn't buy one because my current DS lite works fine.

MewMewtwo45 @ Aug 15th 2008 6:45PM

This could be an isolated incident or it could be a case of one retailer not getting proper notification of "street dates"

Sorry, this is a case of DS Fanboy not getting proper notification of street dates. Mostly because this bundle doesn't have one. I work at a GameStop in Mississippi and we got ours today, as did our Wal-Mart. So it's not really luck.