Discuss: The new 3DS and the emergent "split userbase"... is this a good trend?

Hell I think the Xenoblade port looks terrible.

When DSi was announced I don't recall having much of a stir. It will probably be the same.

Pie and Beans said:
Its terrible and infuriated me all over again.

I bought an original GBA and the original DS, only for history to teach me a lesson there. Now I waited for a goodwhile on grabbing the 3DSXL, and still here I am. What am I supposed to walk away with here but the lesson "never buy Nintendo hardware until its at end of life"?

My PSP played all games, and I presume my PSVita will too. Both region free of course as well.

Worse still, with no Nintendo account system, anyone that does want to sell now for a good price and put towards the new version will be sacrificing their digital content or wait around for the value to depreciate to do the system transfer with two of these goddam albatrosses side by side.

All for not even that much of a bump because Nintendo doesnt have a clear roadmap to the 4DS or whatever.
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lol this post, first sentence was fine then suddenly jumps off the slippery slope and even puts in console warrior stupidity.
 
Amir0x said:
But that's not how it would work in this scenario. In this scenario, it'd be:

1 Console; but hardware 'slot' upgrade every 5 or 6 years. The 'slot' upgrade would cost, say, $200 or $250, because it wouldn't require all the other bells and whistles an entirely new console would.

So you'd get 'one' console that would last, say, 12-14 years, that would cost you a total of $600, and you'd get access to 2000 games instead of 1000, since once you buy that simple upgrade (the same as buying a new console, only you'd have the core hardware unit already in your house) you'd have a system that was future proofed for a little while longer and access to more games that utilize the upgrade... and you'd save.
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What you're basically saying is:

1 Console | 6-7 years | 1000 games | $400
vs
2 Consoles | 12-14 years | 2000 games | $600

The difference here tho, is that the 2 consoles with slots are not planned to last 12-14 years. They'll still only last 6-7 years, and will only end up with 1000 games. If Nintendo made a 3DS update after end of 3DS life, and planned for another 6 years for Super 3DS, then it might be okay.
 
I hate this. If you're going to release new hardware this far into the handheld gen, start the next, instead of trying to extend the one that's already in progress.

Roboleon said:
plenty of new apps/games on apple-store aren't compatible with my iphone 4, yet I don't freak out about it. such is the life of a hardware owner people
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There's a huge difference between a smart phone and a handheld.
 
Poor EatChildren :(

This kinda sucks, especially since the increase of power is likely to lead to more New 3DS exclusive games. Should have gone with a new device, 4DS or something.

Glad I held out on buying a 3DS so far in any case. Looking forward to grabbing one device for the whole 3DS library of games eventually.
 
Ratrat said:
Imagine this scenario owning a 5 or you own a 5s that would be obsolete as soon as the 6 drops this year.
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That's like all cell phones...please don't compare it to that. 3-6months and whatever you just bought is obsolete. Thankfully apps are fluid enough to be used across versions better but at first, planned obsolescence was the norm. This is nothing on that level. Anyone reasonable should know that its buyer beware on all electronic purchases. There will always be a person to buy a VCR the day before DVD players are released. There will always be a person to buy a 720p television the day before 1080i drops. It happens. They'll feel slighted. The world doesn't wait in you. Upgrade if you want it don't. Simple.
 
Nintendo really makes dumb decisions sometimes.

Try to explain to a mom or dad now that:

- DS is previous gen and can not play 3DS games
- 3DS is current gen
- 3DS XL is 3DS with a bigger screen
- 2DS is current gen, same as 3DS but without 3D.
- new 3DS/XL is a revision of 3DS/XL, but with a better CPU,... and can play soms exclusive games

............!!!
 
Amir0x said:
What about turning the idea of console hardware upgrades on its head? Instead of having to buy new consoles every time, Microsoft and Sony and Nintendo would perhaps releasing systems with slots that allow them to release specific unified hardware upgrades after a set amount of years. Buying this upgrade will be far cheaper than simply buying all new hardware, and you'll be able to access a whole range of new games.

Why is this type of upgrade 'bad', but if a whole 400 dollar console named PS5 came out it'd be 'good?'
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I'm pretty sure the reason most look at this negatively is because it looks more like a stop-gap. It doesn't have a new name, just an adjective placed in front of the original. Doing that just makes it seem like a way to extend a dying consoles life more than saying here is something new that will be around for years.

Nobody is expecting PS5 to come out in the next couple of years, but the 3DS has already been around for 4 years and people want a new handheld. The improvements don't give the impression that they will extend the systems life 5 years, just a couple more. And after that we will probably get a new system.

I like hardware improvements like this. I can play all of my 3DS games on this, will probably see some games that are a bit bigger than the 3DS could handle and hopefully the 'C' stick will work on existing games that have Circle Pad Pro support. The other improvements seem to be like DS Lite upgrades.
 
I'm ok with this, it's already a trend in the larger tech industry and, as mentioned, Nintendo's dabbled with this stuff before. The hardware looks better, the games will run better - it's very much an Apple move and revitalizes interest in an aging platform. I imagine most new games will run on both models with developers aiming for performance and control differences over outright exclusivity, much like in the PC space. Maybe being familiar with both of those platforms makes me more accepting of this method but my first reaction is definitely positive over troubled.

It's up to consumers to decide if hardware refreshes are substantial enough to warrant a purchase if we see this again in the console space, but at first glance this one appears to be fairly substantial. I've also always had various hang ups with the 3DS/3DS XL hardware so Nintendo taking another shot at it is welcome. No issue with the 3DS moniker staying the same either, they could give have gone with a version number or letter but for all intents and purposes this does seem to be the new 3DS, so it's appropriate.
 
megalowho said:
I'm ok with this, it's already a trend in the larger tech industry and, as mentioned, Nintendo's dabbled with this stuff before. The hardware looks better, the games will run better - it's very much an Apple move and revitalizes interest in an aging platform. I imagine most new games will run on both models with developers aiming for performance and control differences over outright exclusivity, much like in the PC space. Maybe being familiar with both of those platforms makes me more accepting of this method but my first reaction is definitely positive over troubled.

It's up to consumers to decide if hardware refreshes are substantial enough to warrant a purchase if we see this again in the console space, but at first glance this one appears to be fairly substantial. I've also always had various hang ups with the 3DS/3DS XL hardware so Nintendo taking another shot at it is welcome. No issue with the 3DS moniker staying the same either, they could give have gone with a version number or letter but for all intents and purposes this does seem to be the new 3DS, so it's appropriate.
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I agree with you on this part except that they are splitting the userbase and that after WiiU and 3DS, they still make the same stupid decision of brand confusion
 
Notor!ousG said:
Nintendo really makes dumb decisions sometimes.

Try to explain to a mom or dad now that:

- DS is previous gen and can not play 3DS games
- 3DS is current gen
- 3DS XL is 3DS with a bigger screen
- 2DS is current gen, same as 3DS but without 3D.
- new 3DS/XL is a revision of 3DS/XL, but with a better CPU,... and can play soms exclusive games

............!!!
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Pretty much.

However, I don't foresee a lot of exclusives for this Super 3DS, so it won't be an issue in that sense. Just unnecessary confusion.
 
Purchased my 3DS XL last year. The fact that this will have exclusive games is kind of a dick move. Should have just all out announced a new system. Not just an incremental revision that seperates the user base.
 
LiquidMetal14 said:
You understand the climate is a little different with handhelds vs the times of GB and even DS. It's not something to rage over so let's be clear.

It is something that even affects me as I recently re-purchased a 3DS. In today's economy, I can't just throw money around.
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I understand that. And maybe I'm lucky to have disposable income at the moment. I bought a DSlite a month before the DSi dropped. Never had any regrets and never upgraded or felt compelled to do so.
But the 3ds is close to 4 years old, the Xl is more than two years old. A revision/upgrade is not unreasonable to do so. We do not even have a date for Europe or the US at this point and I would not worry too much about it at the moment and enjoy the 3ds for all the great things it can do and all the terrrific games it does play.
 
This would be acceptable if the new hardware was a significant improvement in terms of specs but going by the Xenoblade port, it's not.
 
Justice_dp said:
I understand that. And maybe I'm lucky to have disposable income at the moment. I bought a DSlite a month before the DSi dropped. Never had any regrets and never upgraded or felt compelled to do so.
But the 3ds is close to 4 years old, the Xl is more than two years old. A revision/upgrade is not unreasonable to do so. We do not even have a date for Europe or the US at this point and I would not worry too much about it at the moment and enjoy the 3ds for all the great things it can do and all the terrrific games it does play.
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Wasn't DSi released around the end of the DS's lifespan?

Femmeworth said:
This would be acceptable if the new hardware was a significant improvement in terms of specs but going by the Xenoblade port, it's not.
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Yeah, as much as Xenoblade being portable is a yay, the port looks terrible.
 
duckroll said:
People who say that this is like the DSi don't seem to understand the difference. With the DSi, Nintendo encouraged software to be compatible with the entire hardware family, and DSi exclusive features were generally optional. With the New 3DS, Nintendo themselves are promoting this as a major feature and encouraging New 3DS exclusive software by leading from the front. That is a very interesting difference.

Comparisons with the GBC are much closer.
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I guess the main sticking point when you look at GBC is that the time between GB -> GBC was what, 8 years? 3 year life cycle for the OG 3DS might be an issue going forward.

Depends on how Nintendo handle it, as you said!
 
Just bought my fucking 3DS last year for Pokemon...
tumblr_inline_mv7hieEOpO1rima5v.gif
 
jres80 said:
I feel like this is discussion for discussion's sake, needlessly spinning wheels and ignoring historical facts in favor of "provocative" forecasting based on a flimsy and fearmongering yearly smartphone iteration correlation. This is not different than the constant remodels and reiterations of Playstations, Xboxes, Wiis, Wii Us, PSPs, Vitas, or DSs. Nintendo is not doing anything new and pretending like they are is silly.
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Actually it is different than the constant iterations of Playstations, Xboxes, Wiis, and Wii Us because none of those iterations had their own seperate exclusive games.

It's only following the path of past Nintendo handhelds, which I think some people are trying to play down by saying it'll only be for a couple of games, no big deal. I mean, 3DS XL released only two years ago, and already here's a new upgraded version that will play games your old system can't. Kinda sucks.
 
I think it's a pretty terrible decision. It's a device with minor upgrades that now has games that don't work on the almost identical device. It just doesn't make any sense to me.
 
chip123 said:
I don't see how it's any different to the Gameboy -> Gameboy Color transition. It was more powerful, had a better screen and exclusive games even if the majority still worked on the original system.
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The difference was Nintendo released it like 10 or more years after, which was totally okay. Releasing this 3 1/2 years after the original 3DS does not exactly have me happy. to increase RAM/CPU for better performance, but no game being exclusive to the other is fine, but to release games only for the "new 3DS" sort of angers me. It sort of makes me upgrade and finding a taker for my older 3DS will not be easy.
 
A spec bump, a better battery, a few new features - it's the new iPhone 3DS

Games will continue to support both old and new, because that gives them the best audience, but like Xenoblade, there will be a few exclusives and over time these will grow until everything supports the new 3DS, at which point Nintendo might release another edition.
 
I find it a bit early on the 3DS life-cycle to announce new hardware but mobile hardware has been advancing rather quickly and 3DS games due look kind of dated. While I'm not completely in favor, I don't think it's a terrible thing. Even if 3DS support stops entirely, I think it had a sufficient library to satisfy most people, certainly satisfied me.
 
I'd make a bigger deal about it, but I recall being quite jealous of a friend's new Gameboy Color compared to my rustic grey brick; it wasn't new hardware performance, per say, but there were definite graphical colour hallmarks regarding Pokemon Blue/Red & the fact that it only had to take 2 x AA batteries rather than 4...

Anyone creating a circus out of this announcement, despite the overall mood of "c'mon Nintendo hurry up and announce a new 3DS model and I'll buy it" on GAF over the past 2 years, is a bit silly.

We knew it was coming but the issue was when.

thewhitehawk said:
I find it a bit early on the 3DS life-cycle to announce new hardware but mobile hardware has been advancing rather quickly and 3DS games due look kind of dated. While I'm not completely in favor, I don't think it's a terrible thing. Even if 3DS support stops entirely, I think it had a sufficient library to satisfy most people, certainly satisfied me.
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I would agree if we were in the same timeline as the Gameboy, but the GBA and DS were completely different. If anything the 3DS has gone along the same trail as the Gameboy but deviated earlier than expected.
 
Their mind is full of fuck
 
Exentryk said:
Consoles/handheld specs should not change for the entirety of their life.

That is the whole point of getting a system, that you can play the whole library of games. Splitting games is a bad deal for both consumers and devs.
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Then Nintendo needs to move away from releasing weak hardware at launch. If your console needs a spec bump to handheld new features and functionality 3 years later, then their is a fundamental flaw in how Nintendo designs their hardware.
 
Scandal level. Nintendo doesn't care for its fan base the slightest. They want to ride the 3DS success wave and double dip with this. It's a huge disrespect for people that actually supported the 3DS (in all its variations), who now can't play new exclusive games... Huge disappointment.
 
The only thing dumb about it is the new name. Nintendo really hasn't learned a thing. Splitting the base is questionable, but splitting the base with a device that looks the same and has the world new in front of it is worse. There is no comparison to the iPad here because it is very expected that a new model comes out every year and they market the hell out of it. I thought the new Ipad thing was dumb as well.

What market confusion? Most probably the "old" 3ds will not be produced anymore and only the new 3ds models will be sold soon.
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If the NN3DS gets more than Xenoblade it will be a clusterfuck trying to explain it to consumers.
 
DragonSworne said:
Then Nintendo needs to move away from releasing weak hardware at launch. If your console needs a spec bump to handheld new features and functionality 3 years later, then their is a fundamental flaw in how Nintendo designs their hardware.
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Someone should inform Apple, too.

metalslimer said:
The only thing dumb about it is the new name. Nintendo really hasn't learned a thing. Splitting the base is questionable, but splitting the base with a device that looks the same and has the world new in front of it is worse. There is no comparison to the iPad here because it is very expected that a new model comes out every year and they market the hell out of it. I thought the new Ipad thing was dumb as well.
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Why is it expected,and why is it not theoretically viable for Nintendo to develop their userbase in the same way?

I put it to you: It is expected largely because Apple started putting a new model out on a regular basis.
 
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