To commemorate the 25th anniversary Super Mario Bros. game franchise, Nintendo is releasing a special, DSi XL gaming system bundle for the 2010-2011 holiday season. The bundle is headlined by a beautiful special edition version of the DSi XL handheld console in Mario’s favorite color, red.

The exterior of this DSi XL carries a notation of the anniversary and representations of some familiar faces from the Mushroom Kingdom of Super Mario Bros. Bundled along with the DSi XL is the classic multiplayer racing game, Mario Kart DS, which revolutionized play on the DS when it was released in 2005. This bundle is the perfect way to introduce players new to handheld gaming to the DSi XL and is a collectors items longtime gaming fans will cherish.

The DSi XL is the second hardware release in Nintendo’s DSi product line and is a high-powered handheld video game system with an two extra large, 4.2-inch diagonal viewing angle screens that are 93% larger than those of the DS Lite. Not only does it possess all the features of the standard DSi, it is backwards compatible to all game cards designed for the DS, DS Lite and DSi, allows for access to downloadable DSiWare games and applications through the Nintendo DSi Shop and comes bundled with three DSiWare titles.

Additional features include touch screen control via the included full size, easy to hold stylus, the ability to snap, edit and share photos with friends using the two built-in digital cameras, music playback with Nintendo DSi Sound and Internet browsing with the built-in Nintendo DSi browser. From playing games to just playing around, the DSi XL does it all.

Mario Kart DS is widely considered one of the best, if not one of the most fun, multiplayer games ever developed for the Nintendo DS, and for good reason. Drawing on more than 30 courses and battle arenas from every game in the Mario Kart series – not to mention tons of new ones, Mario Kart DS allows you to play as Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Wario, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Toad, Bowser and Shy Guy as you put the pedal to the go-kart metal, grab coins to max out your speed and blast rivals with the ever-popular arsenal of red, green and spiked Koopa shells in a race to finally put to rest the question of who is the true king of the Mushroom Kingdom racing circuit. The ultimate Mario Kart race is on…and online via your DSi XL’s Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection in Mario Kart DS.

One of the most powerful and interactive features of the Nintendo DSi XL system are its two digital cameras – one situated on the external body pointing away from the user, and the second pointing at the user when the device is flipped open. The DSi XL cameras feature 10 different interactive "lenses" that can manipulate your photos, offering an easy way to take and share your photos with family and friends. The cameras also present people with unprecedented ways to interact with their games—for example the ability to import images into select games—and in the process provide developers with a new tool to devise more creative, interactive games and experiences. If the touch screen gave Nintendo DS a sense of feel and the microphone allowed it to hear, the two cameras and larger screens give Nintendo DSi XL the sense of sight.

As with the DSi before it, the DSi XL features the Nintendo DSi Sound application, which serves as both an interactive voice recorder and music player* that allows users to play with their music while they listen to it. Users can access different audio filters or control the pitch and speed of recorded voice or music files to alter voices or change the tempo of a song. The DSi XL microphone is located between the two screens when the device is flipped open, and there is also a stereo headphone output that lets users listen to music saved on an SD cards (sold separately), even with the screen shut.

The DSi XL offers players a wide range of handheld gaming options and applications. To begin with, the DSi XL can play most of the DS and DSi games published to date and going forward, giving players access to a library of literally many hundreds of games. Next there is DSiWare. Featuring the most relevant and fun on-the-go games and applications the Nintendo DSiWare application allows users to populate their DSi XL with software that can be downloaded directly to the portable system using Nintendo DSi Points, just as is done with WiiWare and Nintendo’s Wii console. Developers big and small are invited to create software that makes use of the properties and functions of the hardware. Nintendo DSiWare games and applications are available at a range of values, starting at 200 points, equal to just a few dollars.

In addition to the ever-growing catalog of DSiWare titles available for download through the DSiWare application, the DSi XL ships with three pre-loaded DSiWare titles designed to entertain and challenge users, as well as take advantage of the DSi XL’s unique features right out of the box. These include:

• Brain Age Express: Math – In this math-focused edition of the popular Brain Age series, players enjoy a mix of new and familiar exercises, including Change Maker, Triangle Math, Sum Totaled and Multi Tasker. A new Themes mode includes drawing, photography and voice acting challenges, letting you share your creativity with friends and family. And if you need a break from your routine, the always-enjoyable Virus Buster makes its return.

• Brain Age Express: Arts & Letters – This edition Brain Age features a stimulating a mix of exercises, all with an artistic focus. Test your spelling in Word Attack, enjoy literary classics in Reading Aloud and tune your musical skills in Piano Player. It also includes the drawing, photography and voice acting challenges of Themes mode, as well as Virus Buster, allowing ever more ways to train your brain in minutes a day.

• Photo Clock – Photo Clock allows you to enjoy the photos taken with your Nintendo DSi XL Camera application in a new way. Watch your images appear on the top screen of your Nintendo DSi system according to your chosen display settings (specific photos or all photos; in order or randomly displayed). Select from either an analog or digital clock, using the system’s internal clock or offsetting the time however you like. Program up to three alarms—with snooze functionality for those who need it—and assign them a preset ring or use a sound created in Nintendo DSi Sound. Experience all the enjoyment of a photo album while ensuring you won’t lose track of the time.

The DSi XL is a true wireless powerhouse. With features including IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi with enhanced security (WPA), the built-in DSi browser for connectivity to the Internet and a wireless range is 30 to 100 feet for DS Download play, depending on circumstances, multiple users can play multiplayer games locally or over the Internet* using just one Nintendo DS, or DSi game card (region locked), depending on the software. Users also have the ability to connect to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, Nintendo’s wireless gaming network and to download demo versions of Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi games from DS Download Stations, Nintendo Zone, or via the Nintendo Channel of the Wii console.

Finally, the DSi XL connects players to friends through a unique blend of pictures and words. This is done with the embedded PictoChat software, which allows users to draw pictures and/or write out messages that can be passed between up to 16 users within local range of one another over a Nintendo Wi-Fi connection.

• Wireless broadband access