While many industry pioneers share the belief that digital distribution is the future, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata believes this method of selling product will not even come close to overtaking retail until 20 years at least. Here’s an excerpt from the latest Iwata Asks column: more »

The DSi LL is heading to North American and Europe under a slightly more identifiable moniker — the DSi XL. XL, obviously standing for extra large. Official word from Nintendo is that the unit will offer a screen 93% larger than the current DS Lite, coupled with a better view angle, a jumbo-sized stylus, and unspecified preinstalled Nintendo DSiWare software.

It’s slated to hit “first quarter calendar year of 2010.” No word on pricing yet, but expect it to carry a premium like its Japanese counterpart, which will retail for approximately 1100 more yen over that of the standard DSi model.

Nintendo of Japan has lifted the lid on its supersized, eyesight-friendly DSi, first mentioned in a Nikkei report earlier this week. Dubbed DSi LL, the unit is slated for a release in the region on November 21. Sporting the same internal specifications as the original DSi, it sports two considerably larger 4.2 inch screens and will set those interested back 20,000 yen ($220). Aside from the obvious size difference with this unit, cosmetically the only other change is a slight variation in the placement of speaker holes. The included stylus is also jumbo-sized, which we suppose is fitting.

No word on a North American or European release date as of yet. More shots of the unit can be viewed after the break. more »

According to a report from Japanese news outlet Nikkei, Nintendo is releasing a revised DSi unit in Japan later this year. Priced at 18,900 yen, same as the current model, it will feature a screen that is three-quarters of an inch larger and aimed at an older audience, specifically those with less than optimal eyesight. more »

If a listing on the product pages of online retailer GameFly are any indication, it appears that Konami has picked up Alpha Unit’s Monster Finder for a stateside release. Slated for a debut in Japan next month, the Pokemon Snap and Invizimals crossover features a neat concept, enabling players to utilize the DSi cameras to take pictures of real-world objects with which the game transforms into virtual monsters. more »

The NPD numbers for September are in and for the first time ever, PS3 is leading the pack in console hardware sales. This is no doubt thanks to the price cut and introduction of a slim model. While the Nintendo DS took reign as the top selling platform, this is still a significant victory for Sony, having outsold both the Xbox 360 and Wii by a fairly large margin.

See it all after the break. more »

Mistwalker boss and creator of the Final Fantasy series Hironobu Sakaguchi has hinted at a new project on his blog. Judging from the cryptic note he left, all signs point to a project that is finished or at least nearing completion, meaning we should expect concrete details on it soon. more »

As part of a promotion Ubisoft is running with GameStop, those who pre-order COP: The Recruit for DS – either online or at retail locations across North America – will receive an unlock code to access exclusive bonus missions. There’s no word on what the missions will entail, but at no extra cost, that’s a sweet deal.

As the first of its kind on DS, COP: The Recruit is an open-world action game that features full 3D visuals. Players assume the role of Dan Miles, who is working closely with his mentor Dectective Brad Winter in investigating terrorist activities plaguing the streets of New York, leading to a life of fear for citizens. The investigation is hampered when Brad is falsely accused, leaving Dan to uncover the truth behind a menacing conspiracy. more »

In a press release detailing its holiday lineup, Nintendo revealed that DS title The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is on track for a December 7 release in North America.

While story details are still shrouded in mystery, the title features an cel-shaded art style fondly reminiscent of Phantom Hourglass. Apart from the added element of stylus driven controls, gameplay is largely akin to traditional Zelda efforts, this time with an added emphasis on exploration as Link guides a cannon-wielding steam engine.

See Nintendo’s mammoth release schedule from first-party and third-party publishers after the break. more »

While the PSP and DS aren’t exactly direct competitors to the iPod Touch, Apple is touting the fact that games are cheaper on their platform as a selling point for iPod hardware. During its press conference earlier today, which highlighted the arrival of a third-generation iPod Touch, shown on-screen was a slide pinpointing the “expensive” price points of such titles.

Apple also took a casual jab at both platforms for “no multi-touch user interface” and a minuscule library of games. Not exactly a fair comparison, when considering the quality ratio is lacking on the App Store compared to efforts on PSP and DS. At any rate, it’s interesting to see that Apple is acknowledging portable devices other than their own for once. Perhaps the increased focused on digital distribution with the DSi and PSPgo has edged them towards taking precautionary measures.