"New 3DS" and "New 3DS XL" - Why (or Why Not) Will You Get One?

[Nz17]

More info in this article: Is the New 3DS More Game Boy Color or Game Boy Micro? - Editorial - Nintendo World Report (http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/editorial/38385/is-the-new-3ds-more-game-boy-color-or-game-boy-micro)

Basically the "New 3DS" and "New 3DS XL" will have two more shoulder buttons, a secondary analog "Circle Pad" nub for dual-stick software, screens with improved 3D viewing angles, camera-based head-tracking to keep the 3D screen parallel to your face as it moves to keep the 3D in focus, a microSD port instead of SD, an improved CPU, a better GPU, improved Web browsing, and a greater amount of RAM. Plus the regular-sized "New 3DS" will allow for the use of $10 face plates for the outside front and outside back of the console. The New 3DS's should retail for about $150 and $180 when they launch in North America.

Will you get one? Which one? Why or why not?

[Greg2600]

They're still pushing the "3D" I thought they'd given up on that aspect? Having games only work on a newer version is unwise.

[Tupin]

Will likely pick one up, addresses issues that I had with the XL. Only real downer to me is that it still has a resistive touch screen. That was fine in 2004, but the target audience of the system (and even the 2DS) grew up with a touchscreen that doesn't need a stylus. Could have been a problem that they fixed.

Again, I hope Xenoblade being a killer app causes other devs to use the power of the system. Maybe dual compatibility modes for both original and new systems? Hope it has more than just ports; rumor has it the long hoped for Majora's Mask remake as well as a port of Super Mario Sunshine are New 3DS exclusives.

[Tanooki]

Greg: They kind of did give up on it, but I think they really didn't want to. As the original systems have shown if you angle it more than like 10 degrees off center view, it goes blurry double vision and that'll get your wrecked playing a game. Most people ended up just turning it off, as most people aren't robots who can hold a system rigidly like a demo kiosk while playing. The 'NEW' 3DS uses the camera on the front for some head tracking thing and a newer screen I guess communicates with it so now it doesn't blur anymore unless you view it at a pretty sharp angle which no one would do playing. Probably someone from the side watching over your shoulder or next to you in a car may see blur, but it'll finally get stable for players in front of thing which is huge.

Also having games that only work on it is genius from a marketing angle, and it's NOTHING new either. For all the pomp and puff about it, the Gameboy itself was also the Gameboy Pocket, Gameboy Light, and Gameboy COLOR. GB Color has 4x the memory to use and 2X the CPU speed. The New 3DS appears to be the same thing going into it. What Nintendo does to cut costs, when they make a system they find a set of parts you can get cheaper by limiting their capabilities, kind of like intel and their crappy Celeron chips with 1/4 of the cache and less speed for a budget box. The 3DS itself locked the ARM11 CPU in there at 50% of its actual speed, and the memory they limited too, it can work with a lot more (just like GB was 4mhz, and the GBC was the same z80 at 8mhz.) It's just Nintendo up to its old games again like in the 90s with GBC and the DS/Lite to DSi in the 00s (which also 4x the ram and 2x the cpu it used to the max.) GBC was far from a failure with a lot of both hybrid (black cart) and GBC only (see through) carts. The New 3DS is going to do the same, hybrid and N3DS only games.


As for my choice, if it's not obvious with what I wrote. I'm buying it. I have a 3DSXL right now, but I find it restrictive. I love the 3D, it doesn't give me a headache or whatever, but I never can keep it from losing focus so that thing is huge. I also was big on the GBC and its exclusives, so to see the N3Ds doing this again I'm all in, and with the Wii being a pos I never got Xenoblade so I will buy that so that pleases me too. It's great they finally added a second stick, and all hands on stuff with it so far from random show goers and media says it's small but very effective for camera/aiming intents. I love they added a full modern console set of buttons with the added L and R up top too, and with the meat of the system being where it is, this thing could easily get handed some spectacular new games but also solid ports of existing stuff from the last generation or two (PS2 and lower tier PS3 era stuff) scaled to fit the thing if developers choose to. Odds are likely they will, it's not a Wii, and Nintendo handhelds have always been good profit for the console game makers so I can't wait to see what pops up. The only thing I'm not sure on, standard or XL. I dont' care really about faceplates, almost not a fan considering how easy they are to scratch and break on the GB micro I have and dust gets inside around them badly too which blows. Yet the standard unit has a larger screen than the 3DS does so the size isn't that huge of a gap with the N3DSXL so I'm not sure if I want to pay the extra for like 1 inch instead of 2.

[Leo_A]

Unless someone regularly utilizes 3D and feels like this enhancement would be a worthwhile justification or just can't go without a portable Xenoblade Chronicles, I think it makes more sense to wait.

With only Xenoblade Chronicles announced (Which doesn't interest me), no Circle Pad Pro games that interest me (And requiring patching they may or may not get to recognize the New 3DS hardware even if they did), a lazy eye that keeps me limited to 2D, and Super Smash Brothers (If I were even interested) and likely some other otherwise regular 3DS games using it for non-essential things like simultaneous Miiverse functionality, I can live without it.

Things like lighter weight and longer battery life are nice, but it's going to need a major game I can't do without or numerous lesser projects that interest me, if I'm going to ever upgrade to it.

And that's something it might never get since this appears to be more like a short-term life-extension (And a cheap way to get folks to buy yet another revision) rather than something more serious like the Game Boy Color was to the Game Boy that will stick around for 3 or 4 years.

With this announced game, it's already better than the DSi line of exclusive software was. But I bet it doesn't amount to more than 4 or 5 releases of significance. Unless there's an exclusive Zelda, Metroid, or Mario platformer in there or something like a classic arcade compilation that has a great lineup, I'll go without.

Plus, there's always the chance the real next gen successor, whatever form it may take, might be backwards compatible (A bit cloudy what, if anything, will be BC with all the hybrid console/handheld talk). If I'm patient, I might just get New 3DS functionality without paying extra to get it.

Worked out last time with the DSi (And the time before that, with the GBC).

[Tanooki]

Oh I can understand the waiting. The same argument was made on the GBC and the DSi, wish I hadn't got the second, but to do without the first would have been a super shame. I think it will come down to enjoyment of the 3D finally working as advertised (like how the Wii didn't until motion plus), Xenoblade, and the other promised stuff which little is known so far. Circle Pad Pro games WON'T work with it. It doesn't detect the same from what I think I saw so far in a response on some site I read. The GBC exactly was what this is, a life extender. The GBC came out in 1998, was undone 3 years later in 2001. I see the same on this thing unless due to tablet heat they let it run longer to milk it.

[Leo_A]

I didn't do without, I enjoyed what I could on my Super Game Boy (The black cartridges like Link's Awakening DX) and when the time came, bought the remainder that were dedicated GBC releases that interested me when the Game Boy Player and finally a handheld Game Boy with a nice screen (The backlit SP) hit the marketplace. And through my 3DS XL, I've enjoyed a limited section of DSi offerings.

It wouldn't shock me if the same could happen this time around with a bit of patience when the true 3DS successor releases, if there's even any New 3DS content that interests me in the end.


Circle Pad Pro games WON'T work with it. It doesn't detect the same from what I think I saw so far in a response on some site I read.

Which is just one reason I'm so skeptical of this thing when such a bizarre situation is happening that casts doubt that Nintendo has much in the way of a solid plan in place. And in reverse, Super Smash Brothers won't even recognize the Circle Pad Pro attachment despite utilizing those features on a New 3DS, which is even more strange.

At least one Circle Pad Pro release is getting a patch to utilize the equivalent controls on a New 3DS, so hopefully several others will follow suit.

Makes me glad that there's not much of interest to me where Circle Pad Pro enabled releases are concerned.


I see the same on this thing unless due to tablet heat they let it run longer to milk it.

I don't, too many regular 3DS systems out there and if it was really a full fledged reboot of the 3DS like the GBC was for the GB, they certainly couldn't get away with launching a new system without any software for it (And without even a confirmed release date for Xenoblade Chronicles).

This will obviously be far more limited and fall somewhere much closer to the DSi in its level of significance. I think it primarily exists to sell a system revision and as a secondary goal, will help them slightly extend this diminishing system until Fall 2016 when both it and the console will be replaced with hybrid hardware.

Thanks to that and the 3rd party situation, I'd be surprised if it ever surpasses a half dozen releases of any significance that are tailored around its extra horsepower and can't run on existing 3DS hardware.

I'd love to end up wanting one though. Something like an exclusive Metroid adventure and I'd be there.

[BetaWolf47]

This is crazy. They have 5 different versions of the 3DS now. No, not different colors, not minor technical revisions, not slight variations, but 5 full blown out versions of the system. It's a good upgrade, but holy crap.

[Leo_A]

Yeah, but chances are the 3DS and the 3DS XL will disappear after Christmas. So while there will be an overlap period, we should again return to three choices on store shelves in short order.

[Jorpho]

The 3DS itself locked the ARM11 CPU in there at 50% of its actual speedDidn't the PSP do something similar with its CPU? I thought it was a power consumption thing. (They did unlock it in a later firmware revision, though.)

[Tanooki]

Jorpho, not quiet. The PSP was open ended out of the box, it didn't get capped exactly. You could run it from a range of speeds up to the max, and obviously the faster it went the faster the battery went too. I think most games ran around the middle, but a few used it a lot and would run it dry quicker.


Leo I'm sure you didn't. But going into it pretty quickly it started to get stuff I knew I'd put a good many hours into and news was out there for it in advance so I dove in. Id hate to think I missed out on Mario Golf, Warlocked, Metal Gear, Dragon's Lair, 1942, Street Figher Alpha and others I once I had. I think Nintendo has a solid plan in place, and i think they've had it there for awhile. I think they also planned the DSi enough in advance too which is why both systems had processors scaled back to abuse later to drag out more time. They knew it worked on GBC so they did it again. It fits well not supporting the circle pad as planned, it drives more people to buy the N3DS because snapping up a 20 dollar strap on stick/buttons is not being given as a choice so it forces the buyers hand. I had one for a time, got it for $10 so I wasn't too upset when I ended up having 2 games that genuinely used it, then I sold it.

The thing is they're not releasing it with a single release, they're just not spacing it out. You get the unit or the XL model up front, instead of waiting a year and pissing people off again who have griped about those tactics even NOA has mentioned in their chit chat with the media types online. Sure there are too many 3DS's out there, but like with the DS and Gameboy there were a ton of DS/DSLite and GB/GBP units before them. They did it anyway twice before. I think it'll stick around probably 3 years maybe 4 into the life of a real replacement and in that time you'll get a mix of hybrid and unique games. I for one hope you're right about the hybrid hardware, I've said it before on here enough and elsewhere that they can't compete on consoles but stubbornly won't let it go. They need a non-compete all in one box, structured like the Neo Geo X was where you can dock and go at it with the TV and undock and have a screen good enough to still keep the quality there for the user. Given technology and what people in general expect from a portable it could be done in the $300 range I bet which would be consumer acceptable.

[importaku]

The upgraded 3D is enough reason for me alone, i use 3D all the time but i find it hard to keep it in focus.

Already got mine coming on oct 11th, can't wait.

[Greg2600]

Yeah, but chances are the 3DS and the 3DS XL will disappear after Christmas. So while there will be an overlap period, we should again return to three choices on store shelves in short order.


This is crazy. They have 5 different versions of the 3DS now. No, not different colors, not minor technical revisions, not slight variations, but 5 full blown out versions of the system. It's a good upgrade, but holy crap.

Well, as long as Nintendo pulls the older ones from retailers when debuting the new ones, consumers shouldn't be overly confused. 95% of 3DS users probably won't care at all to "upgrade" unless they've beat their current one to hell. Sony did this with the PSP, so many different iterations, but I think with hand helds people are okay with it. Look at how frequently they upgrade smartphones, often costing more $ than a new 3DS.

What complicates is that now, similar to GBA, you'll have to start asking for serial numbers from ebay sellers if you want a specific version!

[Leo_A]

They're not going to pull perfectly good hardware off the shelves. They're going to do what's always done during a new model introduction, just not replenish the old model.

With the right timing with their final replenishment of older hardware and something like a March launch, they could easily even have the 3DS and 3DS XL almost extinct from retail by the time these new models are introduced if they wanted to avoid an overlap period.

We've seen it before like the older PS2 model drying up and disappearing as a prelude to the slim PS2 launch.

[Gunstar Hero]

This puts me in a difficult situation.

On one hand, the new capabilities seem awesome.
The two issues I've had with my 3DS XL seem to have been addressed: hard to focus 3D and CPU lag.
-The 3D can become out of focus and extremely frustrating in car rides or anytime I wouldn't be completely still.
-The CPU lag is not noticeable at all on most games, however in Pokemon Y it lags a ridiculous amount during battles (especially if the 3D is turned on)
If this truly does address these concerns, I may just have to pick one up.

On the other hand, however, I would have to sell my current 3DS XL to pay for the New 3DS XL. The reason I don't want to part with my system is because it is a limited edition Legend Of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds gold colored system that looks incredible. Here's a pic of it http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2013/10/nintendo_confirms_the_legend_of_zelda_a_link_betwe en_worlds_3ds_xl_bundle_for_north_america/attachment/0/630x.jpg

When the time comes, I will most likely spring for the new system. For now, I'll keep on enjoying my Golden 3DS XL :D

[j_factor]

I got a 3DS (XL) pretty recently, and I literally ordered myself a Circle Pad Pro (XL) the day before the announcement. Fortunately I don't care for Smash Bros., but I will be very irritated if other games join suit with not supporting the CPP while supporting the same functionality on the New 3DS (and still being original 3DS compatible, which I suspect will very rarely not be the case). It does the same damn thing.

I have terrible timing. I also got a DSi XL right before the 3DS launched. I'm not aware of any advantage of using a DSi XL for DS games over a 3DS XL, so that feels like a total waste. In this case, I might end up preferring the form of the Circle Pad Pro over the New 3DS nub. I'll have to wait and see on that.

If it ends up that nothing I care about is New 3DS exclusive or substantially improved by it, then I will never need to bother with a New model. I can live with slower eshop response times. Otherwise I will get one but certainly not for quite some time.

[Tanooki]

Personally I thought they canceled the circle pad pro as unless I missed something Kid Icarus was the last to support it, and it was just a lazy extra stick for lefties only.

[Leo_A]

That's not accurate. Pretty flimsy list of supported titles (The only one that interests me didn't offer this feature in its North American form), but there's at least one 2014 release in there.

http://nintendo3ds.wikia.com/wiki/Circle_Pad_Pro

I don't believe that Circle Pad Pro compatibility and New 3DS extra stick/shoulder button compatibility being separate is being done to drive New 3DS sales. I think it's just a consequence of not thoroughly thinking this thing through since this odd divide and mixed compatibility is just going to confuse and anger their customers.

New 3DS will be sold on the merits of its enhancements, exclusive content, etc. It didn't need to not support Circle Pad Pro enabled releases out of the box (An extremely strange decision for what's being portrayed as the ultimate evolution of the 3DS line) or for new releases to eschew CPP support, in order to sell this thing.

A well thought out design would've meant that right analog and extra shoulder button support would've been one and the same, like every single person probably took for granted was going to be the case the day that this was revealed. That it's not is just a hallmark of sloppy design.

[Leo_A]

Looks like some European customers will be getting an early crack at this 3DS revision soon.

http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/01/nintendo_europe_shipping_ambassador_edition_new_ni ntendo_3ds_to_select_club_nintendo_members_right_n ow

Maybe if they're lucky, something will appear in the next half year that actually utilizes these extra features. The early adapters in Japan and Australia are still waiting for the first New 3DS release, despite a few acting as if this was somehow the next generation of Nintendo handheld gaming rather than a mere system revision.

If it is, it's the first system anywhere to appear without any games for it...



This is crazy. They have 5 different versions of the 3DS now. No, not different colors, not minor technical revisions, not slight variations, but 5 full blown out versions of the system. It's a good upgrade, but holy crap.
Yeah, but chances are the 3DS and the 3DS XL will disappear after Christmas. So while there will be an overlap period, we should again return to three choices on store shelves in short order.

I see that the regular 3DS already is becoming scarce and seems to have ceased being restocked. I suspect the regular 3DSXL will be following over the next few months.

There was no way that they were ever going to keep 5 different versions of the 3DS line in production simultaneously.

[Tanooki]

They won't it's dead. Nintendo does overlap but not for long with handhelds as they know they need to shove people along or out.

I had no idea they did not still have out any New3DS specific games. What happened to Xenoblade? That seems tacky to have their GB to GBC style ugpraded system and nothing to show for it. And again in true NOA dickery fashion again the US is being hung out to dry looking at that link you had there. New3DS ambassadors meeting certain criteria. It would not surprise me if it was the original 3DS ambassadors perhaps them who also hit platinum too maybe, giving them the option to buy in. That would definitely limit the amount that could potentially go out as you'd have to be an original 3DS buyer at that inflated price that backfired.

I still want the thing but they better not dare release that thing in the US with nothing to play on it or they can piss off. I have total faith in them as a handheld maker still but after their utter failure to market or get games outside of what they control for the WiiU causing me to sell my first Nintendo 'active' system ever my overall trust in the company is shot where jumping in blind they've lost my trust.

[Leo_A]

What happened to Xenoblade?

It was always planned for release in 2015 in Japan.

I don't even think it has been confirmed for Australia, although with the surprising success of the Wii version despite a reluctant Nintendo in some regions, I don't think there's much reason for concern.


That seems tacky to have their GB to GBC style ugpraded system and nothing to show for it.

That's probably because this is viewed as much more of a minor upgrade, similar to the DSi (A system that people frequently forget had its own line of exclusive software thanks to having four times the memory of the standard DS line and a processor that had twice the clock speed, among other improvements).

Those that have mistakenly viewed this as Nintendo's next generation of handheld hardware really need look no further than the software situation to see that Nintendo obviously views this differently.


And again in true NOA dickery fashion again the US is being hung out to dry looking at that link you had there.

Maybe they're waiting for a game to actually be ready that showcases the improvements that you're paying for when you upgrade?

As much as this is simply a system revision in the 3DS line rather than a successor, it still seems foolish to launch it without a title that actually takes advantage of it.

[Tanooki]

Well I was thinking more dickery on a grand scale of forcing out hardware before its time with nothing to back it up, but NOA gets my ire since they've been sticking it to their handheld consumers in relation to the PAL market since the GBA era and I'm kind of just tired of it. I really could care less if it even came to market if they don't release anything worth buying it over as the DSi was a big waste of money as far as I'm concerned as I hated I had nothing to show for it and the GBA slot was removed cutting out that usefulness as well. Like DSi this one well boosts the clock speed of the CPU and the RAM size as well, it's the GB-GBC DS-DSi jump again, but my concern is how they'll support it as I said a time ago. Will they give it a fair run like GBC, or shovel out like 4 games and some download only turds and call it a day.

[kupomogli]

I'm waiting for a lot more games to be released before picking it up. I'm interested, but like you said, if it's supported like the DSi was, then I'll stick with my 3DS XL. The GBC got a decent amount of support, in Japan it got way more.

[Damien_Da]

I'm actually wanting a 3DS very badly. Now I feel like I need to wait for the new model. :( No announced date though.

[Leo_A]

It could come out anytime though.

Witness the lack of fanfare with what seems to be an ongoing European launch (In addition to what Club Nintendo has made available, pictures of the system box at retailers are appearing, with a street day presumably anytime now).

Another reason why it's pretty much nonsense to view this as anything but a revision, rather than Nintendo's next generation hardware. Not only would they not release something that only has last gen software available for it to play via backwards compatibility, but they wouldn't be releasing it in such a quiet and unspectacular manner if it was the successor to the 3DS line.

[Jorpho]

I assume they have so much leftover stock (i.e. in terms of parts) that they are eager to avoid unnecessarily putting anyone off buying a 3DS for as long as possible. It might explain why there seem to be so many "limited editions" coming out. (I can't remember the DS or the GBA coming out in this many flavors.)

[Tanooki]

Exactly which is why I'll fight as best as I can my desire to go out and snap it up right off. The thing is the price of entry for just a revision that could go the route of the DSi as far as unique game support goes is a fear for me as it'll be a waste. At the same time though I really did love the 3D and tolerated it for a couple of years but I gave up because anytime I moved my head it would go double vision and get my ass killed. This new one uses the interior camera to on the fly reposition the 3D so it doesn't do that and also widens the field of 3D vision too as it was very narrow on what we have now. That just isn't worth like $150 for me. I'd love to finally play Xenoblade but it's not worth the price of a system alone either. Ultimately I do wonder if it's just a DSi stop gap because they fear losing their own audience in Japan where so few console game anymore compared to handheld play due to their society and transit system as they're so on the go. They may have a real system due in 2016 or 2017 and this is just a clamp thrown on a bleeder so they don't bleed out and die.

My old thing of saying they merged both the console and handheld groups could play into their failures in making good hardware anymore the industry and gamers on the majority want could be behind this. Around 2016-17 is when they'd ideally like to retire the WiiU and pull an Old Yeller on that mess. The New 3DS could be a plug to keep the 3DS line strong against those continued losses and then they'll just do ONE system that can both be a portable and also a console into the TV too.

Given that news of looking into scaleable chips that'll work on a lower end for a portable and upper end for a console where the same game/game code will work on both but just display at less than ideal quality could be their way out. Make one (or technically two) systems kind of like a budget cpu (intel i3) PC with a medium video card, and then a bitching gaming PC (intel i7) with a fast CPU and a faster more capable version of the same GPU and they'd be good to go cutting costs and risks. It's like my new laptop I went with the top tier GPU (980) but could have got a less 8XX line chip, and with the CPU I got the lowest i7 possible but could have got one that was twice as fast but otherwise the same for nearly $900 more. They maybe doing this. Cheaper but same CPU/GPU on the portable, same but maxed CPU/GPU on the console so the code/output is the same but how it's perceived is better with the nicer specs on your TV versus the handheld.

[Leo_A]

Going off on a slight tangent, the only issue that bothers me when I consider the possibilities of a merger, is physical media.

I really hope that they don't abandon optical discs and go an all digital route just because Blu-Ray is unsuitable for handheld gaming. Sadly, there's not a viable replacement for Blu-Ray that offers similar capacity, at anything approaching a similar price.

So something will have to give somewhere if this scenario comes to pass.

[Nz17]

We have news, and later today when the Nintendo Direct airs, we will have even more news. The New 3DS, New 3DS XL, Majora's Mask 3D, and Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate will all be going on sale in February when the New 3DS launches in North America. Be sure to tune in to today's Nintendo Direct at 9 A.M. Eastern Time/6 A.M. Pacific Time when Nintendo announces these things and much more. Hopefully someone will be able to update this thread with the new information as it happens or a little bit afterwards.

[Tanooki]

Hey hey that's a GOOD change. Word had it out of Japan the c-stick only worked with NEW games, but it works with old games that used the circlepad pro! That'll make Resident Evil a far better experience, Metal Gear 3 too.

Damn them, still no games other than Xenoblade, but I really do love the 3D on the thing but never use it as my hands move and the blur was death causing. :\ Maybe I could sell the XL I have after the fact to recoup the loss.

[Gameguy]

I should sell off the 3DS XL I have before the new system comes out, I've just been forgetting to do it.

[Nz17]

More details: Only the New 3DS XL has been announced for North America, and conspicuously not the regular New 3DS. My guess is that this is being done to get the most cash from early purchasers at the beginning and once the furor dies down, the regular New 3DS will be introduced at a lower price point. However, the release date for The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, some more games, and the new hardware is February 13th. The price for the New 3DS XL is $199.99. There are four styles available: red, black, and two special editions - one featuring Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, and one featuring The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask.

Please, take a look.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6zgkp1YBRw

Thank you for direct-ly taking a look at this video. These new softwares will be available soon. Please understand.

Tanooki: Only some of the existing standard 3DS games shall support the C-stick. Some are programmed in such a way that they shall work without an update. Others shall require an update to add the functionality. And still others shall never have it added of course even if they did support the Circle Pad Pro (XL).

[Clownzilla]

The Japanese and European version doesn't come with an AC adapter and is sold separately. Seriously, how can they sell a system without the required part to run the system? Thankfully, Nintendo announced that it will be included with the US model.

[Tanooki]

Hmmm well I have Ace Combat, had and would re-buy Resident Evil, and I do have Kid Icarus and those I know would work with that thing. No clue about MGS, that one may not work as you said. It will be interesting to see how things shake out. I'll take the black or red one, really not picky with those 2 colors, but it won't be until like March or April with Xenoblade as I really don't want to cash out my paypal over that. I want to see how it performs using other fanboy zero day buyers as guinea pigs.

[Moosmann]

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b14/moosmann/allgemein/new3ds-solar.jpg

Solar Panel Cover Plates TBA :-)

[Bojay1997]

The Japanese and European version doesn't come with an AC adapter and is sold separately. Seriously, how can they sell a system without the required part to run the system? Thankfully, Nintendo announced that it will be included with the US model.

Not sure where you're getting your information, but it's been confirmed that the US version doesn't come with the AC adapter either.

http://www.polygon.com/2015/1/14/7547465/new-nintendo-3ds-xl-charger-ac-adapter-warranty

[The Adventurer]

Wow. Now I'm super glad I found a spare charger at the Goodwill last year.

[Bojay1997]

Wow. Now I'm super glad I found a spare charger at the Goodwill last year.

In fairness, it's the same AC adapter that Nintendo has been using on the DS series since the DSi, so unless this is your very first 3DS product, you probably already have one that will work. Still, it would be nice to have one included, considering every other consumer electronic device I can think of, including $10 burner cell phones, comes with one.

[Tanooki]

Sure I have, ONE, and it'll go back in the box to be sold with the red XL I have when the time comes in a couple of months or so. :\ It's just the principle of the matter is all. Perhaps next console generation they can sell their next console along with Sony and MS with no power cords and no usb cables to charge the systems or controllers. They can just bundle them in little blister packs for $20-30 at the counter as a required accessory.

[Dr. BaconStein]

Lol, no AC adapter. Nintendo seems to think the "batteries not included" rule applies to all parts.

[FieryReign]

No AC adapter? That is just being fucking cheap. Will probably be sold seperately for another 20 bucks. Good way to milk the pockets of blind fanboys. Parents buying this for their children will be highly upset to open the box and find no plug. A bigger deal should be made of this retarded move.

[Jimmy Yakapucci]

Maybe they want them to be investments like the adapter to use the GCN controller on the WiiU.

[Tanooki]

It's a $10 retail adapter, or $5 refurb from Nintendo but if you figure another 3 shipping on it, why bother?

It's cheap and they need to be called out on it heavily.

[WCP]

Man....

I do want the better 3D. I actually like the 3D. I have an XL right now, but don't play it very much. Still, there are some absolutely amazing games on the 3DS, and I would like to have that better screen. I'll wait till it's price is $179.99 (instead of $199.99), and then I'll try to buy it when there is some special deal or something.

[Tanooki]

The 3DS has the library diversity I wish their last 2 consoles could have had because if they did I'd still own them. :\

The thing is even without the library I'm so floundering on how long to wait on the N3DSXL straight up just for the hardware improvements if nothing else. I really enjoy the 3D and I think it adds some quality depth in many games where it was done well and not just tacked on for cheap effect but I move enough that it blurs and gets me killed so I've sadly just had to default it to the OFF position 90% of the time or more. I don't think the price is much of a problem, lack of AC sucks and is one, but not the price. They seem comfy selling a system at $200 don't they? Maybe we can see them in a few years do that whole PC-like design of a system where both a handheld and a console can use the same parts, just cheaper ones on a handheld so that you can code a game to work on both devices and then have an up to $300 handheld or $400 console to pick which suits your lifestyle better. That would bring my interest back into their systems.

[Nz17]

Parents buying this for their children will be highly upset to open the box and find no plug.

Are you joking? Perhaps at "big box" stores and places like Wal*Mart that will happen. But every Best Buy and GameStop employee out there will be told to explain this to customers while selling them on the store's brand of AC adapter, to tell purchasers there isn't one in the box, to patiently listen and agree that is it a cheap move by the company, and then confirm they want to purchase the AC adapter, or if buyers don't, warn them to make sure they have a compatible one at home already. At that point, the parent usually will buy one from the store either way, just to make sure that they have one, and assure their kid or the worker that even if they already have one, this new one can be their backup charger.

On another subject, I hope the automatically adjusting brightness is an optional setting so that you are still allowed to manually set the brightness like on Android. It would be inconvenient or "blinding" at times to always have automatic brightness adjustments. For example, in an area where you are frequently going from bright-to-dark and back again like when in a car while driving under the foliage of trees, auto-adjust gets very annoying very quickly.

[kupomogli]

It's a super douchey move from Nintendo no matter how people want to spin it. I'll be selling my 3DS XL and buying a New 3DS XL and if I don't include the power cord I'll lose a lot of money on selling the product. If I do include the power cord I have to waste time and money purchasing another one. It's astounding Nintendo's fans are still blind to how cheap and greedy the pos company is. Nintendo has been throwing it in their faces for decades now.

[Gentlegamer]

I heard the N3DS Adapter will be part of the Wave 5 Amiibos.

[RPG_Fanatic]

Guess NOA doesn't want my money. I'll stick with my old 3ds XL, I wanted the new smaller one.

[Tupin]

Japanese consumers haven't been getting AC adapters packed in for anything but the first versions of new systems since like, the DSi IIRC.

[ZeroCool]

i really wanted that Majora's Mask 3DS. Sold out in a flash. WTF? Their already on Ebay what a pile of bullshit.

[Gentlegamer]

Scalpers ruin everything.

[Tupin]

Nintendo should bundle every single game that they release from now on with a cheap plastic figurine. Guaranteed sell out, every time. Not that I really care, I want a black one.

[Dashopepper]

I am pumped for this system. I was getting tired of my plain Red XL and have close to 900 hours on it. Great timing for me to get my hands on a nice new shiny Majora's Mask Edition. Plus Majora's Mask and Monster Hunter 4 on the same day, doesn't get any better then that.

[kai123]

Scalpers ruin everything.

You are not kidding. I just don't even look at any "special edition" from Nintendo anymore. They should call them "Scalper's edition". That is what happened with the 20th anniversary PS4. It isn't for collector's it is for scalpers. There are so many on ebay now for an excessive amount of money.

[Tanooki]

Tupin, it just shows how dumb they are mixed with the fact they have a less interested culture with the resale market as compared to here so I guess it worked. I'm not sure if i"m more pissed the normal New3DS was left out in the cold or the AC adapter. The price difference between the 2 models is more than the $10 the stupid plug will cost to replace to power either of them. With the XL having the same screen size as the old 3DSXL but the New3DS having larger screens bringing it closer to it in size without the jumbo frame that's what really sucks.


kupo you got that right, but this was a new threshold of disgusting behavior. Also to be fair, they did rebound off the cheapness a smidgeon lately with the pack-in physical games or digital games on the SD cards in the systems as they stopped doing pack-ins with the GB/SNES era more or less.

[Dashopepper]

I wasn't shocked when I heard that the system wouldn't ship with an A/C adapter because I remember hearing that in Japan none of the Handhelds ship with them. But it definitely is sort of a rip off for consumers..er sort of. If they were going to have to charge more for the system then there standard $199 just to make the margins they need then I guess im ok. I wont be needing to buy another charger because i'm just giving my old system to my wife so I guess I'm good on that end.

Also people who want the small 3DS are in the vast minority and it makes sense to me that they wouldn't bring it over. There is not a single person I know that hasn't up graded to the XL, and when I think about how many regular 3DS I have seen compared to XL it doesn't surprise me. Nintendo probably looked at there sales and it didn't make financial sense to bring the small one over.

[Tanooki]

You're probably right about the XL vs normal sales difference, but as to the other, yeah in Japan they didn't get it, but neither did the 2DS, 3DS, 3DSXL and the DSI too. They have stiffed them for years, it's new here to pull it which is what bites and most probably aren't aware of that fact either once you get away from messageboards and fansites.

[ProjectCamaro]

I'm not going to buy a new 3DS but if I was I would purposely buy a third party AC adapter just so Nintendo wouldn't get the extra money based on their move.

[Leo_A]

lol

This must be done to remove or insert your SD card.

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--jWZRxF24--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/qt3ya3zp8m0jtgnnwrvj.png

Everything about the New 3DS screams stopgap.

[buzz_n64]

lol

This must be done to remove or insert your SD card.

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--jWZRxF24--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/qt3ya3zp8m0jtgnnwrvj.png

Everything about the New 3DS screams stopgap.

Oh no! This reminds me of the first model Nokia N-Gage where you had to open up the back of the system and remove the battery in order to change the game out. This is even worse because you have to unscrew the port every time. This is ridiculous. They need to change this now!

[Leo_A]

Not as bad as it looks on the surface, since the system allows wireless transfers between the system and a PC.

"You can transfer your photos, music, and other files between a PC and your system's microSDHC*** card via a wireless network. No need to remove the microSDHC card."

[The Adventurer]

I wasn't shocked when I heard that the system wouldn't ship with an A/C adapter because I remember hearing that in Japan none of the Handhelds ship with them. But it definitely is sort of a rip off for consumers..er sort of. If they were going to have to charge more for the system then there standard $199 just to make the margins they need then I guess im ok. I wont be needing to buy another charger because i'm just giving my old system to my wife so I guess I'm good on that end.

And that's the rub. If they bundled the Charger they would charge $220 ANYWAY. This way the consumer has a little more flexibility.

Though, yes, the clueless parent buying a 3DS but not knowing is probably a bit of a problem. Hopefully retailers do their job.

[Leo_A]

The charger is only $10, I believe. And how much of that is pure profit even at that price?

They're doing it because they know they can get away with it.

[Gentlegamer]

Please understand

[Nz17]

Nintendo of Europe president Satoru Shibata revealed, during yesterday's Nintendo Direct, the European launch details of the New Nintendo 3DS.

European costumers will be able to pick up the new system on February 13. Unlike North America, players have not only the option of the New Nintendo 3DS XL, which will come in black or blue, but they can also opt for the smaller New Nintendo 3DS and enjoy a variety of cover plates at launch. This includes brand new cover plates from the upcoming Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate.

Speaking of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, that game and The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D will get special New Nintendo 3DS XL units. They sport original art on the back of system and includes a digital copy of the game pre-installed.

Source: http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/39441/n

[Gameguy]

I'm not going to buy a new 3DS but if I was I would purposely buy a third party AC adapter just so Nintendo wouldn't get the extra money based on their move.
I've actually found proper Nintendo adapters at thrift stores for under $5 so it's not that hard to replace them. It's the same adapter as the DSi, people drop and break the systems so the spare adapters float around. If anything I would prefer they go back to AA or AAA batteries and just design them to be more efficient, rather than use a rechargeable battery that will die out within a decade or so. I can still use my Gameboy Pocket just fine if I wanted to. A 15 year old cell phone I have around has a battery life of under 30 seconds once unplugged from the wall outlet. I've seen some GBA SPs with bulging batteries so they're going to be dying out within a few years.


lol

This must be done to remove or insert your SD card.

Everything about the New 3DS screams stopgap.

Oh no! This reminds me of the first model Nokia N-Gage where you had to open up the back of the system and remove the battery in order to change the game out. This is even worse because you have to unscrew the port every time. This is ridiculous. They need to change this now!

Not as bad as it looks on the surface, since the system allows wireless transfers between the system and a PC.

"You can transfer your photos, music, and other files between a PC and your system's microSDHC*** card via a wireless network. No need to remove the microSDHC card."
It's a bit funny but that mention of the N-gage seems a bit accurate as this console appears to be designed similarly to a smart phone, except you can't make phone calls with it yet. You can install microSD cards in plenty of cell phones too, and lately they're difficult to insert and remove so normally they won't be removed anymore. You have to take off the back case of the phone, and if you have another case for the phone on top of it it's just too big of a pain to bother.

Just like that automatically adjusting brightness feature mentioned earlier in the thread, it's just like a cell phone now. I have a modern cell phone so I don't really care about all these features, I just want to know if it has good games and plays them well.

[Jorpho]

Is swapping out the SD card something people regularly do with their 3DS? I've only ever done so to copy data to my PC, and there's no need for that if there are wireless transfers.

[Gentlegamer]

Yeah, it would be great if Nintendo made their handheld run on AA batteries so you could use eneloops.

Same goes for Sony and the dualshock 3 and 4.

[Leo_A]

Is swapping out the SD card something people regularly do with their 3DS? I've only ever done so to copy data to my PC, and there's no need for that if there are wireless transfers.

I imagine only if they utilize something like the digital camera or the limited media functionality.

Definitely not as bad as it first sounded, in light of the wireless transfer functionality.

[Tanooki]

Throw another vote in for using a couple AA batteries. I think it's asinine they are supposedly cheap skate cost cutters yet provide an OEM battery of their own creation. I've been considering for years now buying up an immaculate original GBA system primarily because it uses AA batteries and I have a stock of long life rechargeables to use. If I did this though I'd also replace the front plastic scratch prone trash with a scratch resistant piece of glass and also get a 101 screen shoved in it so it's bright and not eye pain to use unless under direct light.

I've gone through a few busted micros and salvaged parts over this issue so I have like 2 or 3 spare Nintendo made batteries for the little thing, a few spare plates, some screws, spare set of buttons and a screen tucked away.

[Nz17]

What would make me happy to know is if you can do two-way transfers. i.e. Can you not only transfer from 3DS to PC, but from PC to 3DS? If so, it would make the 3DS /much/ more useful. I've always wanted to use mine as a podcast + music player - but as Nintendo has intentionally disabled downloading from its Web browser for everything except 3D photos (for fears of people getting used to free content downloads instead of paying from the eShop and of course, piracy concerns) - it is such a pain having to remove and return the SD card whenever I want to load new files that I don't really try. Which is a shame, as the 3DS has some really nice audio player software with cool visualizations. The software isn't feature-rich, but it is really nice to use and all of the game-based, synchronized visualizations are really rad.

Then again, Nintendo will probably require people to use some funky Windows-only software to perform the New 3DS file transfers so users of Mac, Linux, et al. will be left out in the cold (or more likely than not, they will be trying some solution such as praying and using WINE). It would be so easy for Nintendo to have a platform-neutral approach to this, such as: have the 3DS show up as a networked drive advertising itself on your LAN using a network service like Bonjour, or use QR codes to initiate file transfers to and from smartphones and tablets, or use a Nintendo Web site as a convenient middle-man for moving files around (no need to memorize or look up IP addresses this way), or use a small HTTP server daemon running on the 3DS to present a Web-browser interface that allows you to transfer files individually or as file sets compressed as a .zip files. Yet you know none of that will probably happen.

However, as far as backing up data, you can be sure that I will, on occasion with the New 3DS, be removing that cover and physically moving the memory card to a PC to transfer all of the files. Surely though Big N will let people transfer /some/ files wirelessly, I doubt it will let you transfer /all/ files wirelessly. So to make complete backups, removing the memory card to perform the procedure will probably be required.

[Jimmy Yakapucci]

I won't be one of those running out to get a new system. I am currently using the gold LOZ model, and the only reason that I bought that one was that it was on sale for the same price as the regular one. All things considered, I kind of wish that I had gotten the Mario & Luigi silver model instead.

[FFStudios]

I have one of the NES themed 3DS XL systems that got discounted shortly before the announcement. Even after the New 3DS announcement, I don't have any need to upgrade it. I bought a 3DS after a 7 year period of not owning any Nintendo ANYTHING and only got it so that I could play a lot of the classic games I never played as a Sony kid. Starfox, Pokemon, TLoZ, there is absolutely nothing that entices me to buy the new console. No interest in Monster Hunter 4, and there's no way Majora's Mask is a New 3DS-only release. The necessity to rush out and buy something that prides itself on a second stick, which in reality is some shady little nub thing that barely has the wherewithal to describe itself as an analog stick, is non-existent on this end.

[Jimmy Yakapucci]

I guess another reason that I won't be getting one is that I don't use the 3D at all. I tried it once and immediately turned it off. I would probably have bought a 2DSXL if such a thing existed, but it would probably look almost like a tablet due to the screen size.