Tech Blog

In what I'd call the most unexpected announcement from the games industry for ages (well, ignoring the fact it was leaked a few days early...) Nintendo has announced that they're to release a new iteration of their DSi hardware (itself only out for barely a year!) with the DSi XL, a significantly larger (but functionally identical) Nintendo DSi that'll feature 4.2'' screens and has been developed to better suit older gamers who may be uncomfortable with the smaller screen of the DS/DSi.

So, it's intended for old folks who haven't been able to get any joy out of Brain Training because the text has been too small, but the internet is already abuzz with gamers discussing which colour of DSi XL they're planning on getting, with the rather handsome and refined new colours of 'Wine Red' and 'Deep Brown" on offer along with 'Natural White'.

Personally, I think it's all rather odd. I'm lucky enough to have one of the current DSi systems, and I have to say that the system's form factor--smaller than the original DS, even--suits me far better than I think this new oversized DS would. I agree that larger screens are nice, but at just 0.7" difference (and no difference in resolution, remember) I can't say I'll be running out to get the system. After all, the larger size will make the system less portable, one of the things that I cherish about my handheld systems (my Game Boy Micro, the most portable of the systems I own, gets a lot of play for just that reason.)

However, that's not to say that I think there aren't benefits to the new system.The new, more comfortable stylus is a real boon (even if there's nowhere to keep it on the system!), there will be a slightly longer battery life, and the Japanese version--given the moniker of the DSi LL, for some reason--has been announced to include built-in software, of both of the released Brain Training apps and a new dictionary application. Though not especially interesting to me, I think it makes the new DSi XL stand out as that perfect gift for the older gamer in your life--or simply an older relative or friend that you think would benefit from playing some games.

Mind you, this all comes at a premium, with the system going for 20,000 yen in Japan but no price announced for the U.S. and Canada, meaning it's likely to cost more than the DSi does when launched early next year.

Ultimately, I think if you don't own a DSi, there's really little reason to hang on for this one. The current DSi is more portable, and trusting you can read the text on the screen, that's a big enough benefit to make the DSi XL's seem nothing special. And why wait, anyway? There are so many great games on the DS as it is!