Nintendo DSi XL is Big and Ugly

DSi XL in Japan

Anoop Gantayat from Andriasang snapped some photos of Nintendo’s upcoming DSi XL (DSi LL in Japan). He was not impressed with the system’s looks and size. While he admitted that playing games on it could be an entirely different experience, he stated:

DSi LL is a massive system. It reminds me of a really old portable. Unfortunately, Tsutaya didn’t have old DS phat systems in its display case so I couldn’t compare it with that monstrosity of hardware design.

The system also isn’t particularly attractive, especially compared to the slick DSi. The glossy cover unit and matte base unit don’t mix well. It almost looks like the system has a protector shell around its cover.

This is kind of a bummer. Anoop has been in this game for a long time, so I respect his opinion. From its PR photos and specs, I was looking forward to the DSi XL and happy with my decision to skip on the DSi. After seeing some real-world photos and hearing comments about it, my excitement has been downgraded to interest.

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Sony Updates PSP and PS3 Firmware — Prepare For Comics!!!

Sony has updated the firmware for its PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable products. First up is firmware version 3.10 for PS3. The big deal here is Facebook integration, which I know most of you don’t care about, so I won’t talk about it further. Besides, PSP firmware 6.20 is much more interesting. In addition to adding some new photo and video functionality, it also adds a digital comic book reader!

The PSP is about to get invaded by the heroes and villains from the Marvel Universe. Set to launch in December, some of Marvel’s best stories will be brought to a life on the PSP with a little motion and a lot of voice. From The Astonishing X-Men to Civil War, there are all sorts of great books that will be available for download.

Marvel Civil War

I’m psyched and nervous for these digital comics. On one hand, it’s a new way to experience some great stories. On the other hand, I know it will totally weird me out when characters sound way different from how they do in my head.

What’s your take on digital comics for PSP? Are you anxious to turn your PSP into a cosmic cube? Or will you not have your precious handheld gaming system dirtied up by Skrulls?

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Nintendo to Go on a Holiday Shopping Mall Tour

Tiffany

Taking a page from Tiffany’s book, Nintendo is set to embark on a nationwide tour of shopping malls across America. Its Nintendo Holiday Mall Experience hopes to entice shoppers with the latest DS and Wii goods from November 23 to December 20. The official press release stated:

The Nintendo Holiday Mall Experience will touch down in 35 shopping malls from coast to coast, offering free hands-on demos of some of Nintendo’s hottest games. Whether they’re seeking gifts for friends and family members or simply taking a break from the season’s hustle and bustle, attendees can enjoy an interactive glimpse into the rich variety of entertainment offered by Nintendo.

Yeah…because Nintendo needs help selling more hardware. Ha! I’m going to try to check out the one in Culver City, but if the tour is hitting a mall near you, I’d love to see your pictures. You can see the entire list of malls and cities below the fold.

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Nokia N900 Available Now!

Nokia has announced that the Nokia N900 is available through its flagship stores and will soon be available through retailers. It’s an important product for Nokia and the Maemo operating system. While Nokia is still the global leader in mobile phones, its Symbian S60 OS seems primitive compared to Apple’s iPhone OS, Google’s Android, and Palm’s WebOS. The company has been losing market share in the high-end smartphone market for years. Rumors indicate that Nokia will drop Symbian S60 for Maemo in all its high-end phones by 2012.

The N900 is an exciting product, but it’s definitely for tech enthusiasts and not for mainstream users. Maemo is extremely powerful and versatile, but it’s not (yet) as smooth as competing operating systems. I’m awfully tempted to pick this phone up. The web browsing experience, through the N900’s Mozilla browser, is purported to be the best one out there. The keyboard and screen are supposed to be excellent. Nokia has always had some of the best camera phones out there. There’s a lot I’m loving about this power-user phone.

Nokia N900

The N900 costs $649 through Nokia, but Amazon currently has it for $559. Here are the bullet points from the Amazon listing:

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Final Fantasy XIII Prologue Getting the Novelization Treatment

FFXIII Zero PromiseFinal Fantasy XIII fever is set to run wild on Japan next month( Hulk Hogan says things run wild “on” and not “in”). Along with the game, its special edition soundtrack, and limited edition Suntory beverage, FFXIII will have a book based on its prologue. Andriasang has reported:

Final Fantasy XIII Episode Zero Promise serves as a prologue to the events of the main FFXIII game. For the past month, Square Enix has been gradually releasing chapters from the novel at the FFXIII official site. The official site is currently up to the fourth chapter of the third volume. Just three more chapters remain.

The print version of the book is hardcover and sells for ¥1,470 at Amazon. Pre-orders are now being accepted at the retailer.

I’m often jealous of all the excellent goodies available to Japanese gamers. This is another instance of my jealousy.

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Spike TV 2009 Video Game Awards Nominees Revealed!

Spike TV VGA

Spike TV has revealed the nominees for its 2009 Video Game Awards (VGAs). The list is pretty solid, but there are some notable omissions. MLB 09: The Show and Dragon Age: Origins got the shaft. I don’t see how you can leave Final Fantasy XIII off of the “most anticipated” games list.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the list! Are there any games that you think were overlooked by Spike TV? Anything overrated? What do you think of the VGAs having 25 categories? Too much?

And the nominees are…

Game of the Year
Assassin’s Creed 2
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Left 4 Dead 2
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Studio of the Year
Infinity Ward
Naughty Dog
Rocksteady Studios
Valve

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Coffee Talk #28: What Would You Do in a 24-Hour Blackout?

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Brock Lesnar’s strange and severe sickness, preparing for the impending (awful) Twilight madness, or the DC Universe’s Blackest Night, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Blackouts scare me. The thought of not being able to play on my consoles or use my PC for an extended and unknown period of time is just…chilling. Sure, it’s more than a bit ridiculous, but I totally admit it. Technology — powered by electricity, of course — is a huge part of how I keep myself entertained. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself during an extended power outage.

Blue LanternFortunately, that’s not really a problem, since I live in a major city in a first-world country. That said, I started thinking about what I would do if such a catastrophe struck (yes, I’m exaggerating). Would I bust out a board game? Would I enjoy an extended round of bedroom activities? Or would I geek it up in another way?

If a blackout struck today, I think I’d read some nerd books. I haven’t really started R.A. Salvatore’s The Ghost King and I’ve totally been digging the various lead-ups to Blackest Night. Candlelight geek reading FTW!!!

How about you? What would you do if you couldn’t touch your consoles, play on the Internet, or “chat” with your fellow RPadholics for 24 hours? How would you spend your time if you didn’t have electricity for 24 hours? (And for the sake of the game, please don’t list playing on your fully charged PSP, Nintendo DS, or iPhone. Ha!)

Google News: Chrome OS Details and Google Phone Coming!

Google Chrome

There’s a ton of Google buzz floating around the Internet this week. First off, the company is holding an event on Thursday to reveal details on its upcoming Chrome OS. This lightweight operating system will be used in netbooks, MIDs, and other low cost computing devices.

I’m super excited for Chrome OS. While there are other Linux-based operating systems for netbooks available, I expect Google to add a level of polish that’s a cut above what’s out there. Chrome OS netbooks will be cheaper than those running Windows XP or Windows 7. Furthermore, I’m tied to so many Google products that a Chrome OS netbook would work brilliantly for me. Most of my work on RPad.tv is done on Gmail, the Chrome browser, Google Docs, Paint.net, and Skype. A Chrome OS device can handle all of that in a simple and integrated fashion.

But wait! There’s more!!! TechCrunch has learned that Google will be releasing its own Android phone shortly…and it sounds hot! The Google phone will allegedly be armed with:

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PSA: Buy a Nintendo DSi and Get a Game or Headset Free

Nintendo DSi

Today’s Amazon “Countdown to Black Friday” deal isn’t as interesting as yesterday’s, but some of you might dig it. It’s a Nintendo DSi promotion. If you buy a white DSi, Amazon will throw in a game or headset for free. The headsets are pretty cheap and most of the games are crap, but the one title that might make it worth your while is Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, developed by BioWare.

The deal expires at 11:59PM PST tonight (Wednesday).