Nintendo to Release Large-Screen DSi LL in November

Nintendo had to cut prices on its popular Wii videogame consoles last month, so they will be looking to boost the demand for the DSi.

The new DSi LL device features better battery life, larger screen and in-built games. Battery life will run somewhere around 4 to 5 hours on maximum brightness and 13 to 17 hours on lowest brightness.

Some other known features and specs include (via GameSpot)

- Width 161.0mm
- Length 91.4mm
- Thickness 21.2 mm
- Stylus length: 96.0mm
- Large stylus length: 129.3mm
- 4.2 inch dual screens, TFT color liquid crystal (260,000 colors)
- DS card slot
- Weight: 314g
- AC adapter
- SD memory card slot
- Stereo headphone/Microphone connected terminal
- Charging time: 3 hours when fully depleted

The handheld will also sport both a regular and easier-to-hold stylus shaped like a pen, as shown on Nintendo Japan’s official Web site.

DSi LL's availability and price
The new version DSi LL initially will go on sale in Japan on Nov. 21 for a cost of 20,000 yen (approximately $ 220.50). Nintendo expects the device to be available in North America and Europe in early 2010 where it will be launched with different name tag—the DSi XL.

There’s no word on when it will be launched in the U.S. and Canada, but the company released the following statement:

"A new iteration of the Nintendo DSi system will be introduced in Japan on November 21, 2009. To be known as Nintendo DSi LL in Japan, and as Nintendo DSi XL in North America and Europe, it will offer a screen 93% larger than the current Nintendo DS Lite with a better view angle, an additional longer touch screen stylus, and pre-installed Nintendo DSiWare software. The new version will arrive in North America and Europe in the first quarter of calendar year 2010."

The DSi LL will be available in three colors: dark brown, natural white and wine red.

What the analysts are predicting
According to the analysts, bigger screen by itself will not be enough to fuel demand in the market. Many analysts are also of the view that Nintendo might be feeling insecure due to the devices like iPhone and iTouch in the market.

The screen resolution has still not been increased, so the games will “appear larger but not sharper”, according to the PC World review.

“A bigger screen alone does not count for much,” said KBC Securities analyst Hiroshi Kamide, adding that it needs to improve graphics quality and needs more powerful chip to run multimedia type games.

As to the kind of response it will generate among game enthusiasts, that can be observed once it hits the market.