NCSX is selling the DSi LL variant now...

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Was browsing the NCSX site today and came across the new Nintendo DSi LL variant handheld that NCSX is selling now:

http://www.shopncsx.com/nintendodsill.aspx

Will Nintendo of America be distributing this new-fangled DSi LL variant next year for it's North Amercian customer base? With a larger 4.2" screen size compared to the smaller DSi's screen size of 3.25", the battery life is bound to be shorter indeed. And it's ten bucks more than a Sony PSP Go handheld...go figure.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Ganelon]

Well, yeah, it's already been officially announced for release in the US as the DSi XL.

[Skykid]

If they're region locked I'm not even remotely interested.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

If they're region locked I'm not even remotely interested.

[Warp_Rattler]

It's just a larger DSi, so I'd be surprised if they undid the region locking that plagued the first version of the console.

I'm holding out to see if DS releases will slowly be phased out in favor of DSi-only games, or if the majority of devs will continue making regular DS titles (which aren't region-locked on the DSi) if the game has no need for the DSi's special hardware.

[CMoon]

The big screens would be cool! With DQ9 coming out in the US at some point (I'm assuming here) and Strange Journey on the way as well, it isn't like I won't be spending another 100 hours or so on the system, but I'm not spending much time with my DS currently and don't know if it is worth upgrading since my current DS runs just fine.

[professor ganson]

Why would it be region locked?

I'm glad you called this to my attention, PCE Fan! I would love one of these once the price drops a bit.

[Warp_Rattler]

Why would it be region locked?

DSi titles are region locked. This obviously comes as a huge slap in the face to consumers, considering every other handheld Nintendo has made has been region-free all the way.

[Elixir]

Why would it be region locked?

I'm glad you called this to my attention, PCE Fan! I would love one of these once the price drops a bit.

Relax, by the time the price drops on this the DSi3XL will be out.

[linko9]

With a larger 4.2" screen size compared to the smaller DSi's screen size of 3.25", the battery life is bound to be shorter indeed.

Actually, according to Nintendo's official specs, the battery life is better on the LL/XL than on the old DSi. Can't seem to find the link, but I think I saw the specs on Kotaku a few weeks back. Anyway, I'm holding out for Nintendo's new Tegra-powered handheld, which is rumored to be backwards compatible with DS software (big surprise).

[professor ganson]

Why would it be region locked?

DSi titles are region locked. This obviously comes as a huge slap in the face to consumers, considering every other handheld Nintendo has made has been region-free all the way.

Wow, that's super lame. Good to know, thanks!

[guigui]

Why would it be region locked?

DSi titles are region locked. This obviously comes as a huge slap in the face to consumers, considering every other handheld Nintendo has made has been region-free all the way.

Wow, that's super lame. Good to know, thanks!

Well well well. It seems lot of misunderstanding are around here. DSi is NOT region locked !

DSi/LL plays physical DS games from all region. If you buy a JAP DSi/LL today, you'll be able to play your Elite Beat Agent cart as well as your Ketsui Death Label cart on it.

As for what Warp_Rattler calls "DSi titles" that are supossedly region locked, I dont even know what those are ! Do you mean a physical game that is exclusive to the DSi ? None of those is out yet, and if they appear in the future, they'll certainly not be numerous.

What is kind of region locked with the DSi, are the DSiWARE games. Like if you buy a JAP DSi, you only have access to the JAP DSiWARE, not the US or PAL ones. I would like to add : who cares for US and PAL DSiware ?
What is also region locked is the langage of the system menu : you cant change it. Buy a JAP DSi, you'll get jap menus. "Will I be able to set time correctly ? " is a good question...

Let's try and sum this up.
If you buy a JAP DSi/LL now, what you CAN do is the following :
-Play all physical DS games from all regions, wether the game is already out, or will come out in 3 years.
-Download DSiWARE titles from the japanese DSiWARE shop.
-Enjoy japanese menus
Now, what you CANT do is the following :
-Download DSiWARE titles from the US or PAL DSiWARE shop.
-Change the system menus langage.

[Elixir]

Actually, I believe some games are region locked to DSi units, like Idolmaster: Dearly Trap.

Basically if you want moe accessories on your imouto you better be willing to pay some fucking cash for it.

[Cthulhu]

Don't know if this is true or not, but I have read that games which have DSi-enabled features (eg: they use the camera) are region locked, and that includes the DS Idolmaster. If a game does not use anything special if played on a DSi, it's region-free as before. I think this corroborates what you said a second ago, but I'm tired and sick so maybe my reading skills are off.

[guigui]

Don't know if this is true or not, but I have read that games which have DSi-enabled features (eg: they use the camera) are region locked, and that includes the DS Idolmaster. If a game does not use anything special if played on a DSi, it's region-free as before. I think this corroborates what you said a second ago, but I'm tired and sick so maybe my reading skills are off.

Well I concede that : DSi specific games (that I first thought did not exist !) are region locked.

Bad news ? Baah, I'll just buy an LL and play Ketsui DL.

[No_not_like_Quake]

Anyway, I'm holding out for Nintendo's new Tegra-powered handheld, which is rumored to be backwards compatible with DS software (big surprise).

I wouldn't put any stock into what is so far just a rumoured machine.

[Ex-Cyber]

Anyway, I'm holding out for Nintendo's new Tegra-powered handheld, which is rumored to be backwards compatible with DS software (big surprise).

The rumor is that it would be a second-gen 40nm Tegra and launch in late 2010, which seems like a stretch to me with TSMC's 40nm problems. Has this next-gen Tegra even taped out yet? Also, from what I've heard Nvidia has pretty well been in bed with Microsoft in terms of Tegra software support, and I doubt that Nintendo wants to use Windows Mobile. I wouldn't say it's impossible, but it definitely smells funny.

[Lordstar]

Actually, I believe some games are region locked to DSi units, like Idolmaster: Dearly Trap.

Did you guys not get the memo. Large is the new small

[Skykid]

Actually, I believe some games are region locked to DSi units, like Idolmaster: Dearly Trap.

Did you guys not get the memo. Large is the new small

Iphone says so.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

Actually, I believe some games are region locked to DSi units, like Idolmaster: Dearly Trap.

Did you guys not get the memo. Large is the new small

Expensive is also the new cheap.

[Jockel]

your mom is your new dad.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

Your dick is the new vagina .

[Jockel]

^^

in other news, personally i wouldn't mind a jap. only DSi, because of this one shooter by Arika only available there...

[t0yrobo]

There's a handful of dsiware shooters that are japan only. I don't know how good they are, but it's more than what's available on us and eu systems.

[Skykid]

your mom is your new dad.

Your dick is the new vagina .

[Specineff]

What are the new tacos, then?

[Warp_Rattler]

Well I concede that : DSi specific games (that I first thought did not exist !) are region locked.

Which is exactly what I said. DSi titles--either DSi-only games (the mediocre-looking System Flaw is the only Western one I can think of off the top of my head right now) or ones with dual DS/DSi functionality--are region-locked on a DSi.

Hence my speculation on whether the trend will shift to dual-mode or DSi specific titles or whether devs will continue to release vanilla DS titles if they don't intend on making use of the DSi features.

[undamned]

What are the new tacos, then?

Tacitos!
-ud

[professor ganson]

Now that all that's cleared up, I'm wondering whether the ridiculous price is more about the current exchange rate, which is truly awful. If this LL (whatever that stands for) is coming to the US, I'm guessing they won't be asking $270. Then again, the PSP Go is $250, a price no one would reasonably pay, so I'm not sure what to think.

[BulletMagnet]

The real reason anyone in Japan bought this.