Gamertell

The DSi has only been available for roughly a year in Japan, and already Nintendo’s prepared the next incarnation. The DSi LL has been confirmed for a November 21, 2009 release in Japan and a Q1 2010 release in Europe. If you import a Japanese one, it’ll cost you ¥20,000/$220. A European price point hasn’t been announced yet. A North American release hasn’t been announced, but seems pretty likely, given the system’s success.

Don’t look to the DSi LL expecting any special, new features. It’s essentially a DSi, only slightly bigger due to the inclusion of two 4.2 inch screens, as opposed to the two 3.25 inch screens built into a normal DSi, it is bigger. It also comes with more styluses than a typical DSi - it comes with the standard stylus that fits into the DSi and a larger stylus that looks exactly like a ball point pen. It’ll also be available in three colors, the standard white and two new ones - brown and burgundy.

It should be hitting you now, this DSi incarnation is designed especially for older gamers. The color schemes, the larger screens that make it easier to see and read what’s happening in the game, the inclusion of the larger stylus - the DSi LL is for mature gamers. Don’t believe me? It comes with the DsiWare games Chotto Brain Training: Science and Literature, Brain Age Express: Math and Arts & Letters to the rest of us. Of course, that doesn’t mean younger gamers won’t enjoy or want one, just that Nintendo had a certain age range in mind when making this system.

If you don’t already own a DSi and are looking to upgrade to that DS release, would you wait for a North American DSi LL release? I’m still happy with the original DS, so I doubt larger screens will be enough to warrant an upgrade for me. Those new colors are very elegant though!

Update: The DSi LL has been confirmed for a Q1 2010 release in North America as well. It’s looking like the DSi LL will be called the DSi XL in North America and Europe now.

(Editor’s Note: This article was update at 3:55pm CST on October 29, 2009.)

Read [Famitsu (Japanese)] Also Read [Siliconera] Also Read [CNET] Also Read [VG247] Also Read [Joystiq]