Iwata: DSi XL is a spectator system
by JC Fletcher 
{ Oct 30th 2009 at 5:58PM } 
The DSi LL (or XL) isn't just for the poorly sighted or hugely handed. In his financial results briefing, Satoru Iwata revealed another purpose for the jumbo system: playing with crowds. "Nintendo DSi LL features not only bigger monitor screens," Iwata said, "but an improved view angle on the screens to make it the first portable system that can be enjoyed with people surrounding the gamer."
He envisions the DSi XL as allowing for 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." Tomodachi Collection, one of the best-selling DS games of the quarter in Japan, is named specifically as a game that already benefits from having friends nearby. "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."
As a bonus, your friends can help you hold the system up.
He envisions the DSi XL as allowing for 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." Tomodachi Collection, one of the best-selling DS games of the quarter in Japan, is named specifically as a game that already benefits from having friends nearby. "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."
As a bonus, your friends can help you hold the system up.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
jekoln @ Oct 30th 2009 6:03PM
what? maybe if there was nothing else in the world to do...
Ridgecity @ Oct 30th 2009 10:02PM
This was created to be the PSP's final nail in the coffin. The only thing the PSP has for it is the bigger screen. Now the guy that wants a bigger screen gets two and a ton of cool games like Scribblenauts.
And Apple says the iphone and ipod touch are gaming machines and they release one every year, so they are teaching an old dog new tricks. Now Iwata is saying how expensive an iphone really with a monthly service. That truly shows Nintendo is getting ready for a fight.
Darth Bradwart, Dark Lord of the Sith @ Oct 30th 2009 6:03PM
Sorry, Ninty. This isn't the first handheld designed to be played with others.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_Nomad
Seeing as how it had a second controller port on it, and could be hooked up to a TV for two player action...
Sega Nomad already did what Nintendoes.
Traceur_Ryuk [Founder of The Anti-EMCB(tm) Brigade] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Oct 30th 2009 6:07PM
But that doesn't count seeing as it's basically a portable Genesis.
Cowboy Curtis @ Oct 30th 2009 6:28PM
Believe it or not! Nintendid, in this case let me present to you.. Ta da! the ( Micro Vs. System). 1984 long, long, before the nomad.. Also the Game and Watch look mysteriously like the DS... Humm.. Insperation.. Thank you mister Gunpei yokoi..
Einhanderkiller @ Oct 30th 2009 6:35PM
I still have the Sega Game Gear. It's in a plastic bag under my bed, but it's broken. :(
For some reason, as a kid, I decided to put water in it.
sam @ Oct 30th 2009 7:21PM
@Cowboy: Not certain, but I think they've said publicly that the dual-screen Game and Watch devices were a big part of the original inspiration for DS.
I used to have the Donkey Kong one, it was great. :) And um, easier to carry than a DSi XL...
Monica Dickey @ Oct 30th 2009 7:49PM
Didn't the original Gameboy have a multiplayer cord to connect with other players? I think this is how I played tetris a few times when I was little.
Darth Bradwart, Dark Lord of the Sith @ Oct 30th 2009 7:56PM
@traceur
Isn't the DS a portable N64?
Einhanderkiller @ Oct 30th 2009 9:33PM
@Monica Dickey
Yep. I knew it as the cord for trading Pokemon.
Metayoshi @ Oct 31st 2009 3:42AM
The problem with your logic is that while the DS is technically capable of N64-like graphics, it is not an N64. It has two screens, a touch screen, a microphone, games that could go online, and, most importantly, a different library of games among other things the N64 didn't have.
The Sega Nomad is literally just a Sega Genesis turned into a handheld. There is no such thing as a "Sega Nomad Game" whereas the DS definitely has a "DS game" exclusively made for the system.
Fernando Rocker @ Oct 30th 2009 6:04PM
First true DSi LL vs DSi and Lite (video of the DSi LL too)...
http://kotaku.com/5393164/first-true-dsi-ll-vs-dsi-vs-ds-lite-comparison-pic
It doesn't look bad... to be honest, I use my portable at home, so I really don't care about portability. I already have a DSi so, I probably won't be buying the LL, but it's a nice option for people who doesn't have a DS system by now.
devilsei @ Oct 30th 2009 6:06PM
Sooooo.... this is the best excuse they can come up with?
Cause I definitely want a bunch of people crowding around and breathing on me when I'm trying to play my DS in peace...
uncle jesse @ Oct 30th 2009 6:08PM
I hate people. They're the worst.
Sturat @ Oct 30th 2009 6:33PM
If they really want multiple people to enjoy their games, they should start by consistently giving you more than one save file. Or maybe being able to watch other people play it is supposed to eliminate the need for more than one.
Seanross @ Oct 30th 2009 6:58PM
Not to sound mean.. but I can see its purpose... I got irritated years ago when I got a PSP and DS the days they came out and when I played at work on my breaks (summer camp/after care) little kids put their faces so close to the damn screen they were blocking my view. I wanted to bop them in the head with it >.
sam @ Oct 30th 2009 7:22PM
@Sturat: Which games don't have more than one savefile? I'm sure there are some, but I honestly can't remember one that I've played. Seems pretty consistent to me.
Anthology @ Oct 30th 2009 7:49PM
Don't kid yourself, man, we all know you don't leave your home.
devilsei @ Oct 31st 2009 1:21AM
Sam, TWEWY (The World Ends With You), every single pokemon game all off the top of my head.
There is several other games that escape me at the moment, but I don't exactly play my DS much so forgive me on that... =P
And uncle jesse, we know ya do, I mean god, you couldn't hide the fact when you were on Full House. I saw the way you eyed the sharp utensils then Bob or the mary-kate and ashley twins.
Social @ Oct 30th 2009 6:09PM
At least said it was for people with bad vision, elderly and people with big hands or fat people although those last 2 don't count cause they didn't make the buttons bigger!
Nah, this is a really bad excuse. It's my DS, not yours so don't stare at my screen plz :p
jUSTCALLMERED @ Oct 30th 2009 6:10PM
Omg... This is probably the dumbest thing I have ever heard...
...Are they taking preorders?
But seriously, its going to sell. Nintendo just has some sort of power over the average consumer.... Still, i think this will sell in America, not because someone wants to watch you play pok-e-mons, but because bigger is often equated as better. Heck, if i was still a kid i'd love for someone to pull out their dsi "mini" only to show them up with my XL that i pulled from my duffle bag i'd need to haul it around.
unknown @ Oct 30th 2009 6:10PM
I highly doubt anyone on the site will buy one of these.
I've always been under the impression this was for casual player... usually older adults.
the colour choices should have been a dead give away.
should nintendo sell it in north america?
I think they should, I can see myself buying this for my father, along with a crossword game.
unknown @ Oct 30th 2009 6:12PM
EDIT- "buy one of these FOR PERSONAL USE"
I am aware i contradicted myself a couple of sentences ago
manaman @ Nov 1st 2009 12:06AM
Actually,
I think I would buy this. I play my DS a lot at home. I have a DS Lite so I would just use that if I'm going somewhere and have this for playing games at home. I'd like to have a larger screen to play on. Plus my wife enjoys watching me play, so it would be nice to make that a little easier for her.
Peace,
manaman
jekoln @ Oct 30th 2009 6:11PM
one of the things that i think that they really had the room to change upon was the buttons size. the things the size of a paperback novel and it still has the same tiny buttons of the other two.
Akronon @ Oct 30th 2009 6:14PM
Thanks for making the image in this article XL, Joystiq. I have a hard time reading the normal sized images when I'm reading Joystiq over my friends' shoulders.
Plus, it will be easier for my Grandma to read.
C.A. @ Oct 30th 2009 6:14PM
I wish this were a joke but April 1st isn't even close...
Lunastra78 (PSN: lunastra78) @ Oct 30th 2009 6:15PM
Siamese twins rejoice!
Preston @ Oct 30th 2009 6:17PM
I guess this means TVs over 19" are for the elderly too amirite? I mean who needs 1080p.
Josh @ Oct 30th 2009 6:34PM
omg... they actually have to combat the "seniors only" thing. Too late, the damage is done to its reputation.
And... These selling points are really grasping for straws here.
Collymilad @ Oct 30th 2009 6:38PM
Yay now the vomit inducing DS adverts are one step closer to reality.
nmorris @ Oct 30th 2009 6:39PM
alright, ima let you finish, but Game Gear had one of the biggest portable footprints of all time.
Silicon Siren @ Oct 30th 2009 6:39PM
Nintendo's first non-handheld handheld or just first handheld to require a backpack/purse to haul? I'll stick with my sexy matte finish DSi thanks, I can actually bring it everywhere with me.
Mr Mobius - the wandering artist @ Oct 30th 2009 7:35PM
Virtual Boy...
Mabui @ Oct 30th 2009 6:52PM
Hopefully it doesn't make everything look pixelly and crazy - cuz I don't own a DSi yet which means I'm totally holding off for this to come out in the Americas.
MarkShark @ Oct 30th 2009 7:02PM
Well, I think this is a pretty cool feature at least.
Greyseal @ Oct 30th 2009 7:05PM
I love the DS... but I don't really understand what Nintendo is thinking here.
If you want a handheld that can be shared with others, you don't give it a bigger screen. You start making good multiplayer games.
I guess Nintendo was jealous of the PSP Go, and decided to add an inscrutable device of their own. At least they made the screen bigger instead of smaller... but unless the larger unit found some space to bring back the GBA slot, no sale.
Wayne Campbell @ Oct 30th 2009 7:09PM
"My pokemonz, let me show them to you!"
tmmoore_nc @ Oct 30th 2009 7:40PM
Has Nintendo considered putting video out on the DS? Clearly, 40 inches is better than 4 inches.
Citizen @ Oct 30th 2009 8:01PM
That's what she said.
Reuben @ Oct 30th 2009 8:07PM
And she regretted it immensely.
Darth Bradwart, Dark Lord of the Sith @ Oct 30th 2009 8:52PM
Because I punished her for making such a stupid comment.
Joe H @ Oct 30th 2009 8:00PM
Is this any bigger than the original DS anyway? Personally I liked the size of that, it fit my hands better.
Rodrigo @ Oct 30th 2009 8:25PM
As a bonus, your friends can help you hold the system up.
GREAT!!!!!
finnith @ Oct 30th 2009 8:29PM
I see this going the way of the Game Boy Micro.
Darth Bradwart, Dark Lord of the Sith @ Oct 30th 2009 8:54PM
You mean there aren't 'image-conscious' gamers out there?
2 slick @ Oct 30th 2009 9:08PM
and people will buy this up like it cures cancer, no matter what the "reason" is behind remodeling it, while I sit around and wait on a deathrow sequel....ho hum.
trip1eX @ Oct 30th 2009 10:22PM
Nintendo chickened out. They should have made the new DS 4x as large. Make it Kindle sized. Tablet sized.
That will get the old people to line up.
And gamers will lineup as well because there has never been a videogame device in that size category in recent memory.
Asmerom (PSN: neon6plz) @ Oct 30th 2009 10:37PM
Playing with other people outside? That's preposterous! Nobody wants to go meet with other people for video games. That would probably only work if it's a usual daily thing. Like Work or School. Like the target demographic the DSi XL is aimed for.
Ex14 @ Oct 30th 2009 11:21PM
The last time i checked, ppl found it annoying when the person next to u on the train takes a peek at ur game....