Nintendo Announces Large-screen Nintendo DSi LL
The Nintendo DSi has been around for some time now, having been released to Japan about a year ago. And Joystiq is reporting that Nintendo has announced a new large screen variant of its DSi handheld console, called the Nintendo DSi LL. The existence of the new console was apparently speculated just recently by Japan’s Nikkei newspaper.
According to the official website, the Nintendo DSi LL will sport larger 4.2 inch screens, and it will have a much larger and fatter stylus, as can be seen, in addition to a regular stylus. The Nintendo DSi LL will apparently come in three vibrant colours, Wine Red, Dark Brown and Natural White. The new larger DSi LL will weigh in at about 314 grams, outweighing the Nintendo DSi by about a hundred grams.
The comparison gives an idea of the size difference between the DSi and the DSi LL. It seems that the device will come bundled with three DSiWare titles including two brain training games and one easy dictionary-type application. The Nintendo DSi LL is expected to hit Japan on November 21, 2009 and will cost 20,000 Japanese Yen (approx. Rs. 10,225).
I’m not sure how Nintendo will be able to justify this bigger screen size to customers, especially so soon after the release of the original DSi
Upon hearing this announcement I immediately thought that Nintendo may have targeted a neglected niche – children whose parents may purchase a DS instead of a full console. It seemed that the expanded gaming experience of a larger screen would be appealing if I were a “tween” desiring to enjoy some more robust gaming.
It appears though that Nintendo is targeting an adult demographic here with earth tones and a large stylus. While I’m not aware of any data to base this assumption on, in the U.S. I would imagine that adults would be disinterested in larger devices given their access to full – television projected – consoles, PC’s and the markets propencity to move to smaller multi function devices.