The DSi LL is the subject of the latest Iwata Asks. Some of the hardware development staff was on hand to talk about what it was like creating the LL. They even show off prototypes of the LL and a cancelled large-screened DS lite.

“DSi Comfort,” “DSi Executive,” “DSi Premium” and “DSi Living” were a few of the names bandied about when thinking up names for the LL. Shigeru Miyamoto even threw his hat in the ring with the “DSi Deka” (Deka meaning “large” in Japanese).

The large DS lite pictured above is the prototype of a model Nintendo was planning to release, but held off on producing it due to the success of the DS lite. It had a slightly smaller screen than the LL (3.8″ to the LL’s 4.2″) to lower production costs. Even then, the viewing angle the screens provided didn’t come up to snuff for Nintendo, leaving the idea of a big-screened handheld to sit on the back burner.

This LL prototype (circled) was showcased as well. There are a couple of minor differences from the final LL model like no gloss and whatnot, but this early piece is literally nothing more than a larger DSi.

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