You know what they say about big hands and big eyes? That Mom and Dad have been playing their kid's Nintendo DS when he's not around. On March 28, Nintendo will launch a bigger version of its portable game system called the Nintendo DSi XL, delivering a significantly larger screen, more intuitive touch controls, a bigger stylus, and better-placed speakers. While kids will delight in the larger graphics, Nintendo is certainly hoping that when parents and grandparents curiously pick up the new DSi XL, they will notice the two Brain Age titles included with it. From there, they may just see how comfortable it is for larger hands, failing eyes, and weaker hearing.

To be clear, Nintendo isn't targeting an older audience with the XL version; merely making room for them. The new Nintendo DSi XL will join, not replace the current Nintendo handheld systems, the DS Lite and DSi. The larger screen and better speakers make it easier for two kids to play co-operatively and share experiences; and will appeal to the older set who have grown up from being GameBoys to GameParents, or are familiar with the Nintendo Wii.

"We are selling them to everybody," says Nintendo of Canada's Matt Ryan, referring to the complete DS line, "no matter what age or ability you are. It tends to be the gamer population, the tech population that picks up on our products first. But we are talking to families, women, we're talking to teenage girls, we're talking to seniors." Ryan says his company was recently surprised to see market research come in showing an exact 50/50 split in sales between male and female users.

Previewing one myself, I can share that the Nintendo DSi XL is indeed, significantly larger and heavier. But because it offers no new features, technologies, or even games, it's easy to dismiss as merely a cheap cash grab. Big is better, it's the American Way. If you want to sell something twice, simply make an Extra Large version of it. But there's more to it than that. Those same features carried over from the current Nintendo DSi include a Web browser and WiFi connection, two built-in cameras, a microphone, and dual screens that easily emulate the pages of a book when turned sideways. With each upgrade Nintendo has added over the years, the company has taken more and more steps away from video games towards building the portable system as a more universal device. With a larger display at 4.2" diagonal versus the DSi's 3.25" screen and DS Lite's 3" display, it's now easier to read the text on Web pages, edit photographs, and take advantage of trends emerging with tablet computers and eBook readers.

"We are moving into books," Ryan confirms. June will bring the release of a software package for the Nintendo DS series called "One Hundred Classic Books" that will include Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, Treasure Island, Moby Dick, Little Women and other literary works that can be read by holding the Nintendo DS sideways and using the touch screen to flip pages. "These are books that we've probably all read at one point," he adds, "but if not, one hundred of them will be there on one game cartridge."

Nintendo has dabbled with digital publications in the past, offering interactive fiction and a digital cookbook. Should the larger DSi XL model help establish a side market of non-gaming titles, Nintendo already has an online store in place whereby software can be downloaded directly to the device and content stored onto SD memory cards.

For now, the main focus of the portables will remain on innovative games, and Nintendo showed off two upcoming titles that, like all of its portable games, will work on all three Nintendo DS models.

WarioWare D.I.Y. is a program that will guide kids to design and create their own mini-games, from using drawing tools to create graphics, digital instruments to compose music, and a script to program game elements. The games are the same kind of silly tests the WarioWare series is known for: challenges where you must pick a nose or smash eggs on a frying pan. Despite the goofy content, it offers a surprising amount of depth and sophistication, delivering more educational value than expected.

Photo Dojo allows players to photograph themselves in a selection of poses and use the pictures to create street fighting characters. Two friends can enter the game this way together and fight each other in over-the-top martial arts battles.

The Nintendo DSi XL isn't poised to become the must-have game system on the market. If you already own one of the previous models, there's no rush. It is, however, a perfect match for those who might be buying their first system. Priced at $199.95 and available in two colours (burgandy and bronze), the Nintendo DSi XL offers a mature exterior. At a glance, in fact, it doesn't even look like a video game system. But inside is one very big kid.

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