Characters Nene Anegasaki, Rinko Kobayakawa and Manaka Takane are all getting their own figurines.

DO NOT BE SURPRISED.

The figures are not final production models, but unpainted prototypes.

あきばらいふ

When the DSi XL launched in Japan late last year as the DSi LL, Nintendo rolled out an ad campaign featuring an elderly lady playing the DSi XL with her family. Japan, where the portable was designed, has a rapidly growing senior citizen population.

“It’s absolutely not [just for old people]. DSi XL appeals to as many people, if not more, than its predecessors,” Nintendo senior product manager for DS James Honeywell told website CVG. That’s right, the DSi XL appeals to young people who must help old people to use it. Oh, people with poor eyesight as well. Kidding!

“With bigger screens and a larger pen-like stylus it’s likely that older users may find the DSi XL easier and more comfortable to use but there are many more people it can and will appeal to,” Honeywell added. He also pointed out that it is easier to find the larger stylus between sofa cushions.

The DSi XL features a 4.2 inch screen, and at 314 grams, the XL is also the heaviest portable of this generation.

When Kotaku had several Japanese consumers who were under the age of 35 have a go at the DSi XL, it was pointed out that the screen is so large that it doesn’t give the gamer any privacy in public. Another complaint was that compared to the standard DSi, the DSi XL was too heavy, too bulky and too XL for a portable. Both points might make the sofa cushion remark more relevant.

When the larger DSi portable went on sale in Japan, it was noted however that there was a fair mix of customers, including larger number of individuals in their 20s and 30s as well as children.

The DSi XL will be out in Europe this March.

News: DSi XL ‘not just for old people’ – Nintendo [CVG]

It will be available on March 5, on both the continent and in the UK, in red and dark brown.

The Nintendo DSi XL is essentially a Nintendo DSi, only with much larger screens and a bigger, more comfortable stylus. It was released in Japan in November 2009, and will be out in the US sometime this quarter.

Nintendo DSi XL to launch on March 5th [MCV]

There are more fun facts from this talk (translated from Japanese; the English transcript is not up yet.) Evidently Nintendo had been working on a DS Lite with 3.8-inch screens (the LL’s are 4.2 inches, the Lite’s are three inches, DSi is 3.2 inches). It backed off because of manufacturing cost and the success of the regular flavour DS Lite. It sounds like they also wanted to do a simultaneous release of the DSi and DSi LL but it never came together.

Andriasang has more (in English) about the discussion.

The Other DSi LL Names [Andriasang via VG247]

Released in Japan in late November, the DSi XL features 4.2 inch screens that are 93 percent larger than the DS Lite’s screens. It is also bundled with an extra (and larger) 5 inch touch pen. The redesign comes at the request of customers who said they wanted a larger screen — however, the pixel count is the same. Nintendo claims that the bigger screens make it easier to watch others play.

The DSi XL is available in three colors: Dark Brown, Wine Red and Natural White. While the handheld has been announced for The West, the colours have not yet been announced. The Japanese version is also packed with three DSiWare titles pre-installed: Two brain training games (one for humanities, the other for sciences) and DS Easy Dictionary.

Loved
The Big Screens: Even though Nintendo is touting the DS XL’s screen as making it easier to watch others play, the most refreshing about the new, bigger screens is how they breathe life into old titles. While the graphics are the same, old favourites like Mario Kart look wonderful (and not blown out) running on the XL’s screens. The extra size both adds to the experience and creates an entirely new experience. The screen size is also well-suited to younger players who often stare over each other’s shoulders when watching a friend play.

Brain Age also feels surprisingly fresh on the XL — a larger touch screen means a larger space to write. That, certainly, is a welcomed addition.

The Big Pen: The XL’s new Touch Pen feels like, well, a pen. The DS Stylus, traditionally, has been on the small size — not so great for game that require writing. To overcome this issue, players have, in the past, had to find third party solutions. For those looking for a larger pen that’s easier to grip, the XL has that. But if you are happy with the traditional DS Stylus, the portable is bundled with that as well.

The Buttons: As with the regular DSi, the buttons are clicky — in a good way. They’re responsive and certainly don’t feel mushy.

The Finish: The top of part of the DSi XL’s clamshell has a glossy, smart finish. Looks great. However, the rest of the portable has a matte finish, making it practical. It’s easy to hold and isn’t a fingerprint magnet. The contrast works well, too.

Hated
Not So Portable: Yes, yes. The DSi XL is big. That’s the point! And while it works great playing it at your kitchen table or sitting on the sofa, it’s heavy and less great to lug it around outside of the house.

Nintendo, it often seems, makes reiteration after reiteration of its products. The DSi XL might simply be that — the latest iteration until the next one comes along. As customers, it’s hard not to feel that we are directly involved in Nintendo R&D process (more so than with other companies), that the company sometimes releases products just to see if they catch on with consumers (ditto). In Japan, the DSi XL does seem to be catching on as the product posted strong initial sales. The extra large DSi could very well be here to stay — which means that this must be one of the first examples in which a Japanese company has released a bigger version of its products to commercial success.

The larger screens are great. If only Nintendo could shave a bit off the DSi XL’s thickness, making a slightly slimmer and lighter DSi XL, if only. DSi XL Slim anyone?

The DSi XL was released in Japan on November 22 for ¥20,000 (US$222). It is scheduled to be released abroad in early 2010. A unit was purchased by Kotaku for review.

Confused by our reviews? Read our review FAQ.

“Nintendo DSi XL realises beautiful game screens even for those who look at them from an angle,” Iwata said earlier. “You do not have to peek closely into the monitor of another player’s video game to get a good view anymore. Nintendo DSi XL is going to offer a new play style, where those who are surrounding the game player can also join in one way or the other to the gameplay. When you look at the home console video games, you can understand that the fun of great games can be conveyed to and shared by those who are watching the player play.”

Over the weekend, I tested this out by having a few people try the the DSi XL: Three adults between the ages of 25 and 35, two of whom had never played with a Nintendo DS, let alone a DSi XL. The third has owned several DS consoles and is quite familiar with the platform. Besides the adults, a pre-schooler checked out the DSi XL for the first time as well as my older son and wife.

Impressions? The obvious, and the not-so obvious.

The screen, they noted, is big — that, of course is the point. The two who have never played with a DS (not everyone in Japan likes video games!) said that it was easy to see when they or others played with the DSi XL. They didn’t think the DSi XL was too big or heavy and when they were shown a DS Lite, their reaction that the screen was “too small.” Keep in mind, their first first-hand exposure to the DS platform was via the DSi XL.

The third tester pointed out something I hadn’t even thought of. She said that because the DSi XL screen is so large and lacks privacy, she would not feel comfortable playing the XL on the train. The people sitting next to her would be able to see what she is playing easier than if she was playing a DSi or DS Lite.

(In Japan, people are so worried about privacy on the train that book stores automatically wrap any purchased book in a book cover so others cannot see the title. One company even makes “Mail Block” privacy screens for cell phones.)

The third tester also pointed out that the DSi XL seemed heavier and bulkier, making it less portable than the other DS handhelds. The other testers did not seem to mind, one saying that if he had to hold the DSi XL for several hours, then it might feel heavy. This, if anything, shows just how strong first impressions are. Their concept of the DS starts with the XL — that is the DS as they see it.

And how did the “multiplayer” go? Nobody really go into watching others play the DSi XL — not because something is wrong with the DSi XL, not that at all. Instead, they’d start talking to each other, start watching TV, etc. If Nintendo created dedicated software that somehow focused non-playing players to watch the screen, then Nintendo could do something revolutionary with handheld gaming. The kids, however, had no problem watching others play — that is, while waiting their turn.

This is not a scientific comparison! And, of course, a baseball is round. The DSi LL is not round, making it hard to compare — but not impossible.

The portable moved 103,524 units in Japan.

In comparison, the DSi sold approximately 170,000 units in its first two days on sale in Japan. In its first day on sale in The Land of the Rising Sun, the PSPgo sold approximately 28,000 units.

ニンテンドーＤＳｉ　ＬＬ：２日間で１０万４０００台　ＤＳｉには及ばず　エンターブレイン調べ(まんたんウェブ) – 毎日ｊｐ(毎日新聞) [Mainichi]