DS Lites available ahead of U.S. release date

If you've been waiting anxiously for the U.S. release of Nintendo's new DS Lite handheld video game console, you might want to head toward Denver.

That's because, Joystiq reports, a Target there, as well as some other retailers across the country, have been selling the devices in advance of the official June 11 launch.

Apparently, the stores have decided to thumb their noses at Nintendo's stated launch date and have taken it upon themselves to put the machines on store shelves.

So is this big news? Maybe and maybe not. But let's hope it's the start of a new trend. Because I'll be as happy as anyone if retailers decide to start selling Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii in advance of those devices' launch dates this fall.

OK, that likely won't happen. But you can dream, right?