What's the use of the DSi XL?

[Nesbroslash]

I don't exactly understand why anyone would want this, aside from senior citizens (bigger fonts), or people with big hands, and maybe animators (there's a looooooot of screen room to draw FlipNotes with.). So, why do people want this so much when a cheap alternative is readily available?

[Emehr]

I'm not quite a senior citizen (got a few decades to go) but I'd take one. Tiny screens and tiny portables are overrated. I hardly ever take my portables out of the house or stick them in my pocket. Miniaturize the guts, not the controls and screen and all will be well.

 

I just wish they would have made the D-pad and buttons bigger (like SNES-size) and made the unit thicker (so my fingers don't go numb while playing). Today's portables are horribly unergonomic. A Lynx 2-style housing case with DS guts would be fantastic.

[+remowilliams]

Well I can tell you it's got big beautiful screens and is nicer on the adult size hands

[R.Cade]

You answered your own question!

[Atariboy]

Isn't it rather obvious? More comfortable controls and larger screens.

 

Why wouldn't you want a larger screen?

[Reaperman]

to me it seems that there are two distinct camps for handheld fans. most handheld gamers want as large of a screen as possible, while the remaining lot want as small of a system as possible.

 

I'm firmly in the second group, and I see *all* of the ds line as too large for pocket use. Since it's then just another nightstand or carry-on luggage game system, one might as well go for the big unit.

 

Good thing I stocked up on micros, because it looks like there'll be at least another half decade more of this nintendo ds garbage.

Edited July 15, 2010 by Reaperman

[stalepie]

Why wouldn't you want a larger screen?

 

Because the games are still presented in the same resolution, so they looked more pixellated now.

[Vic George 2K3]

I like the bigger screens, but I'm now disappointed that the XL is coming out with a blue casing. Darn!

[lisalover1]

Well, the bigger screen certainly would help with games like Ouendan. That's the best use I can think of.

[Video]

Some of us old fogies don't have as good of eyes as we used to. So it's great for us.

 

Honestly though I never liked tiny screens. I'd much rather have a big screen, than a small handheld. I think that all handhelds should come in at least two flavors, the tiny system many people want, and the huge screened system the rest people want. As much as these damn things cost, and as often as they get incremental upgrades, NOT having two different systems simply doesn't make sense.

[Atariboy]

Why wouldn't you want a larger screen?

 

Because the games are still presented in the same resolution, so they looked more pixellated now.

 

I had some concerns about that, but it hasn't been noticeable. The gaming press seems to agree.

 

My handhelds are just handhelds. Their portability in my case is unimportant since they never leave the house. So larger screens have been only beneficial to me.

[+remowilliams]

Because the games are still presented in the same resolution, so they looked more pixellated now.

 

I had some concerns about that, but it hasn't been noticeable. The gaming press seems to agree.

 

Agree, I really like the new screens and don't have an issue there either.

[OldSchoolRetroGamer]

I have an original PHAT DS, never bothered with DSi will probably wait for 3DS. IF I were interested in a DSi though you can bet it would be the XL version. I still have (knock on wood) perfect eyesight, I have many handhelds but I have always hated small screens. Some people say "but that decreases the whole point of portability" I don't agree. If you a some little girly man weakling then fine (relax I'm just having fun) but I prefer larger screens. I am not likely to whip out any DS in public it's just not me, but I like the XL because everything is bigger, my laptop is a 17' and I love it, I put up with the extra weight gladly. I am 6ft 4' with huge hands and I hate having to dink around with teeny tiny handhelds! I liked the original XBOX and Dreamcasts controllers to!

[NE146]

I can't really stand playing the DS Phat anymore once I got a lite. How can you even see anything on that screen.

 

And once I got the DSi, although the difference is slight, once you play a DSi it's hard to go back to the lite. Seriously.. the screen is just so much sharper. You only realize it with some time on the DSi though.

 

However, once I got the XL, I have no problems playing the regular DSi again. The XL is more for at home gaming sessions, whereas I take the DSi if I'm going anywhere.

[in the dark]

If I had the cash, I would have one now. Love the idea of the large screens. I want one bad.

[OldSchoolRetroGamer]

I can't really stand playing the DS Phat anymore once I got a lite. How can you even see anything on that screen.

 

 

Seems clear to me, I tend to sit pretty close to it!

[NightSprinter]

I like the larger screen of the DSi XL, but having visited a friend who owns one hand held it.. it felt far too uncomfortable to my small hands. No way of holding it could provide comfort.

[BydoEmpire]

If I wanted to buy a DS, I'd definitely get the larger XL screens. Tiny screens are hard on my eyes, and it makes some games hard to play because any little finger movement causes a relatively large move to the screen itself. Portability really isn't a concern for me, but then again, I don't play handhelds very often.