New DSi With Larger Screen Reportedly Releasing in Japan This Year

[Valigarmander]

New DSi With Larger Screen Reportedly Releasing in Japan This Year

Another year, another new DS model to stuff in someone's stocking? According to the Japanese Nikkei news service (via Kotaku), Nintendo plans to announce a new DSi model with a slightly larger screen, and release it in Japan before the end of the year.

According to the details from the Nikkei report, this new DSi model will have a 4-inch screen (adding an extra 3/4 of an inch to the current DSi's 3.25-inch screen), and will still cost the same 18900 yen that the current DSi runs. Humorously, Nikkei evidently explains the larger screen will be an attempt to market the DSi toward an older demographic, the same way an older person with failing eyesight might, say, buy a watch with bigger numbers on it.

Other than the bigger screen, though, the functionality and horsepower of this new DSi will reportedly remain unchanged.

It seems there's no specifics on when Nintendo will formally announce this new model (or a specific release date in Japan), and it's still under discussion when this new model will be released in other regions. When we know more, we'll pass it along.

[Luigiman7]

Brain Age 3 announced shortly after.

[Cosmonautical]

Should've been in the first DSi. I would've bought one already.

[Chaos Deviot]

^ If a large screen is all they can muster, then it's a complete waste of money to even make it. Unless they simultaneusly announce GB/GBC and maybe GBC emulator on it(ala VC), then I'm not going to bother. Large Screens aren't worth it to me. More than half of my games look horrible on a HDTV(though shows and most 360 games look f'ing awesome).

[I REALLY HATE POKEMON!]

The whole bigger screen thing isn't enough. I know I'd be pissed right now if I'd gotten a DSi before this new one.

If they intend on making this work, they need to bring something new to the table and fix the price.

[PK FIRE!]

If they return the GB/GBA compatibility I might buy it, though really I've always had trouble reading the text on handheld systems and I really doubt that a four inch screen would solve that problem for me.

- You stupid dog.

[Metal Mario]

Here's an article that says this sucks ass.

[X-3]

Agreed with everyone here.

On a side-note related to a picture shown by the link given by Metal Mario, my M+L3 game looked fine on my DSi.

[Cosmonautical]

Originally Posted by Metal Mario

Here's an article that says this sucks ass.

I'm quite aware that the resolution won't be increased. I don't really give a crap about that, I like having a big screen. Also, I'm apparently the only person in the world that thinks widescreens are retarded.

[I REALLY HATE POKEMON!]

^ Bigger screens are definitely a plus in my mind, especially wide-screens (since I prefer games with cutscenes anyway).

[Valigarmander]

Nintendo Reveals New DSi -- UPDATED

After not responding to our story earlier this week about a rumored new DS with a larger screen, early this morning Nintendo quietly updated their official Japanese site with new information on the upcoming DSi, dubbed Nintendo DSi LL.

The system is set to release in Japan on November 21 for 20,000 yen ($220 and appproximately 2,000 yen more the current Japanese DSi price). With the larger, 4.2 inch screen, you'll also get a bump in battery life; according to Nintendo's site, under the system's lowest energy settings, you'll get 13 to 17 hours of power, compared to the DSi, which only lasts nine to 14 hours.

Not just the screen on the DSi LL has gotten bigger though: the system weighs in at 314 grams (100 more than the DSi) and measures 161mm x 91.4mm x 21.2mm. The LL also includes a full-size pen (though it doesn't look like there's a spot to store it within the system itself. And the entire package will come in one of three new colors: Natural White, Dark Brown, and Wine Red. But other than those differences, the LL seems identical to the DSi.

We'll provide more details on the inevitable State-side release as soon as Nintendo releases more information.

UPDATE Nintendo of Europe confirmed early this morning with European Gaming site Videogamer that the larger DSi will arrive "in the first quarter of 2010" with a new name: DSi XL. Like Japan, the update will also come with an unspecified price hike over the DSi.

So, look out for this next year.

[Robotazy]

Can you say "Money Pit"?

[I REALLY HATE POKEMON!]

"DSi Lil' Larger"

I guess that a longer battery life is always a good thing.

[Robotazy]

Wait a minute.

...

LONGER BATTERY LIFE!

WOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[Luigiman7]

Ooh. I like that color.

[Valigarmander]

Iwata Says DSi LL Meant to Be a Spectator Handheld

Usually new iterations of popular portable devices get smaller (anyone remember the Game Boy Micro?), but Nintendo is bucking tradition with the DSi LL -- a new version of their gaming handheld that adds an extra 1/4 of an inch to the screens. But that's not all it adds: According to Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, the viewing angle for the DSi LL has been improved as well with the intention of making it a spectator system (via Joystiq).

"Nintendo DSi LL features not only bigger monitor screens," Iwata said in a financial results briefing, "but an improved view angle on the screens to make it the first portable system that can be enjoyed with people surrounding the gamer."

The idea is to allow people next to the person playing to get a better view of what's happening on the screens, creating a "new play style where those who are surrounding the game player can also join in one way or the other to the game play." While the intention is probably for new games to be designed specifically to be played this way on the DSi LL, Iwata also mentioned the Japan-only Tomodachi Collection as a currently released game that can already benefit from surrounding viewers.

"Because communications and interactions with other family members and your friends are one of the key elements of the game, the fun aspect is intensified when other people can watch how you play in comparison with when you are playing by yourself," said Iwata.

We know the impulse is usually to balk at this kind of screwy idea, but considering how developers have consistently come up with surprisingly creative ways to use otherwise mundane-seeming features on the DS and DSi, we're going to skip the standard phase of incredulity and proceed directly to cautious optimism for this new age of Handheld Spectatorship.

[Metal Mario]

Usually new iterations of popular portable devices get smaller (anyone remember the Game Boy Micro?)

And the Game Boy Pocket.
And the GBA SP.
And the DS Lite.

[Cosmonautical]

And the 360. Oh, wait, almost forgot that the original X-box was so massive scientists declared it a new class of star.

Protip: products that do not include yourself in the target audience are not in fact a direct slur against your good name. You might consider this before transforming into the hulk and igniting a rampage that ends in a show-down against the national guard. Additionally, a little extra weight isn't going to kill me. I'll take the horrible risk.

[Loot]

Actually, that spectator view seems like a decent idea. If only people could watch me kick ass in Half Minute Hero on my PSP.

[Metal Man]

Useless to me. Keep on whiffin', Nintendo.

*Plays Xbox 360 while he waits for an actual new DS worth buying*