Reggie: buy a DSi XL, youll never go back

Nintendo of Americas big boss is in love with the wider viewing angle, of all things

With the DSi XL out next month and the 3DS already on the horizon, should you really bother picking up the XL? Reggie Fils-Aime thinks so, but even though its his job to support Nintendos products, he doesnt feel the need to sensationalise the handheld.

"The DSi XL is a form factor addition to our line up," he says. "We are not representing it as a revolution. Having said that, once you use the DSi XL you wont go back. I havent gone back. For me to give up those big beautiful screens is not going to happen."

Fils-Aime adds that its not just the big-arse screens that are worth your back pocket. "In our mind, the big advance with the DSi XL, besides the obvious – the larger screens, is actually the wider view angle," he said. "We think making portable gaming more social is a big opportunity and I say this from experience. When you are working on a Zelda puzzle and your spouse, your significant other, son, daughter, want to see whats going, thats awfully tough, versus now with this wider viewing angle sitting literally side-by-side on a couch, it is a great experience."

When you think about it, there arent really any DS games that encourage shared viewing on the one device. "The game that will tap into that will be Photo Dojo," reassures Fils-Aime. Photo Dojo, released just last week on DSiWare, uses the DSi cameras and microphone to create your own fighters, sound effects and moves and then battle one another on the device.

And when it comes to playing regular DS games on the DSi XL, the console only enhances the experience, according to Fils-Aime. Take 100 Classic Book Collection for instance. The bigger screens certainly make for more comfortable reading.

"Absolutely consumers are going to upgrade," Fils-Aime concludes. "I think predominantly if there are still consumers with the DS fat that will upgrade to this, consumers with the DS Lite will upgrade into this. Brand new consumers will opt for this whether they are new youth consumers, whether they are older consumers.

"We see the potential consumer as being a very wide very diverse audience opting into the DSi XL."

The DSi XL is out on April 15, in Burgundy and Bronze colours. So will you be picking one up or holding out for the 3DS?

Source: Kotaku