Lite sales

A console that doesn't sell out at launch feels rather quaint these days, so the news about the DS Lite is worth a read. Nintendo's shiny new handheld has sold around 35,000 copies in the UK since last Friday's launch, around half of the units available in the shops. Has it flopped? Sony needn't get too excited - the combination of the World Cup and the fact that the Lite is essentially just a redesign will have put off the punters. And casual gamers - ultimately the DS's core audience - won't be bothered about getting the thing on launch day. But don't bet against it bettering the original DS's 1.3 million UK sales. Interestingly sales of the original DS have held up despite the Lite's launch - conclusive proof that looks aren't everything.