AfterDawn: News

Nintendo to launch DSi with larger screen

The Japanese Nikkei is reporting that Nintendo is planning to release a new version of the popular DSi handheld in Japan, one that will include a larger screen.

Nintendo says DS/DSi demand has fallen significantly over the past few months and the gaming company is looking for a boost.



The current handheld has a 3.25-inch screen and the updated version will get a 4-inch screen, about the same size as rival Sony's PSP

KBC Securities analyst Hiroshi Kamide says of the move: "A bigger screen alone does not count for much...Nintendo is under pressure from iPhone and iTouch." Kamide adds that Nintendo needs to add a more powerful processor and better graphics as well.

The new DSi will sell for 18,900 yen (about $205 USD).

The Nikkei also added that Nintendo will be offering a DSi with "more robust anti-piracy features" in China and South Korea by March of next year to help contain the rampant piracy in those markets.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 27 Oct 2009 14:55

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• 10 comments

• dragnandy

  i doubt they will increase the resolution of the screens, so making it bigger will just make the screen look more pixelated and blocky.

  27.10.2009 19:27 #1

• Hyasuma

  It pisses me off when they just came out with DS, then DSI and now DIS with bigger screen? Come on! is just like Apple Iphone, Iphone 3g and Iphone 3gs within 2 years.

  27.10.2009 19:56 #2

• CJ007

  Originally posted by Hyasuma: It pisses me off when they just came out with DS, then DSI and now DIS with bigger screen? Come on! is just like Apple Iphone, Iphone 3g and Iphone 3gs within 2 years.LOL, Hyasuma, why so surprise? Nintendo has always rush out their unfinished products, Look at Gameboy Advance(no backlit light)follow by all the SP edition upgrade. DS fat>DSLITE>DSI. Wiimote>Wiimote plus.WiiFit>WiiFit Plus. Now I wouldn't be surprise they will release something Like Wii HD with Wiimote++ or WiiFit++ next year. Kids wanted it, sucker mom will buy it.

  27.10.2009 22:33 #3

• dragnandy

  Originally posted by Hyasuma: It pisses me off when they just came out with DS, then DSI and now DIS with bigger screen? Come on! is just like Apple Iphone, Iphone 3g and Iphone 3gs within 2 years.well, i do sympathize with you, but at the same time im also glad they come out with these updates. i mean, if they come out with some updated hardware, wouldn't you want them to start selling them instead of holding it out from people? i mean yea, i would prefer companies to just sell a completely finished product, but eventually they will find some small hardware tweaks that people will want.

  28.10.2009 02:39 #4

• Josipher

  **** nintendo..a guy cant buy a new console cause a new one come out few months later..the new Dsi will be called Dsi's B**** followed by a newer version 5 months later called DSi-BS

  28.10.2009 15:57 #5

• IguanaC64

  No bluetooth...no Skype...no thank you.
  
  My daughter's DS does everything she wants it to. DSi and this new one don't really offer anything new except a higher price tag.

  29.10.2009 19:37 #6

• pspbarry

  Evolve or die! makes me laught to read some of these posts here, should we have kept the old B/W tv`s? lol let them make new products and updates if not, time will stand still for us all......

  29.10.2009 19:49 #7

• KSib

  Your post is too extreme compared to the rest of these posts actually. Making a DSi with a larger screen leaves people who just bought a DSi in the dust. Furthermore, most people don't need these little additions that Nintendo keeps adding to their new products. MotionPlus is pretty weaksauce so far and CJ007 basically has posted my feelings on the issue. Updates are fine, but coming out with more models with trivial upgrades can be annoying for consumers. Like Iguana implies, if they add some legitimate features then it's no problem, but these "upgrades" have either been things that should have been in the first model (gameboy advance backlight) or stuff that isn't really doing anything (bigger screen). Have you found yourself looking at the DSi and thinking, "man, I really wish this had a bigger screen." Probably not.

  18.11.2009 19:12 #8

• pspbarry

  Your post is too extreme compared to the rest of these posts actually. Making a DSi with a larger screen leaves people who just bought a DSi in the dust. Furthermore, most people don't need these little additions that Nintendo keeps adding to their new products. MotionPlus is pretty weaksauce so far and CJ007 basically has posted my feelings on the issue. Updates are fine, but coming out with more models with trivial upgrades can be annoying for consumers. Like Iguana implies, if they add some legitimate features then it's no problem, but these "upgrades" have either been things that should have been in the first model (gameboy advance backlight) or stuff that isn't really doing anything (bigger screen). Have you found yourself looking at the DSi and thinking, "man, I really wish this had a bigger screen." Probably not.
  
  sounds like your saying i dont want the upgrade soooooooooooo no one else should want it, how selfish is that! larger screen to compete with psp maybe (go live in a cave with running waterfall)

  19.11.2009 04:18 #9

• KSib

  No, my point is more along the lines of if a bunch of people bought the DSi and you're one of those people then they come out with the new one in a few months, isn't that a little annoying? I'm not saying no one should buy it, but here you go thinking you have the newest model you just dropped $150+ on then not that much later a new model comes out. Iono, it seems to work for them so whatever. Clearly it's not a problem on their end if they keep on doing it and people keep on buying it, right?
  
  Larger screen to compete with PSP? Nah, Nintendo says they stick to gaming, their large screen wouldn't be good for all that much really unless their browser is just that good or some game takes advantage of a larger screen that the previous model couldn't? Maybe these are for older people who can't see as well? *shrug* I think the screen size increase rationale was covered on this site now that I think about it.

  19.11.2009 05:50 #10