Nintendo Announces Larger DS Handheld

Nintendo will launch a larger version of its DS handheld console, which it will call the Nintendo DS LL. The DS LL will cost 20,000 yen when it goes on sale in Japan on Nov. 21.

Nintendo has not indicated when or if the DS LL will be brought to the United States, but history suggests that it will.

The DS LL uses a pair of 4.2-inch screens, as opposed to the 3.25-inch screens used by the new Nintendo DSi. While it will weigh 100 grams more, Nintendo still reportedly rates its battery life as about three hours, the same as the DSi. It too lacks a console slot, however.

Although the Wii was once (and perhaps still is) the darling of the video-game community, some might feel that the Nintendo DS platform is getting a bit long in the tooth. On Thursday, Nintendo saw its global profits fall by 54 percent, and one analyst cited by Reuters called Nintendo's efforts "old hat".

:story: Full story: PC Magazine