Support NeoGAF

[qko]

Miyamoto craps all over the "casual/mobile" gamer


Nintendo follows mobile trend of minor hardware updates that split userbase.


Just kidding, not at all the same, but it does suck that four years ago Apple began selling the iphone 4... In 2014 there are a lot of apps and games that the iphone 4 cannot open because its outdated.

It's sad that the 3ds follows that trend, my question that I have not easily found (because I've been at work and not been able to properly scour the internet), is the new 3DS going to be backward compatible with DS games?

 

[Cosmozone]

Some people are really desperate to see this as a negative. The device can safely be skipped if the new features don't warrant a new purchase. Or do you worry about the 3DS successor not being backwards compatible. I wouldn't worry about that.

 

[eddfromtheriver]

I see this as Nintendo trying to extend the shelf life of the 3DS hardware by using more or less the same cheap components with incremental improvements aimed primarily at allowing for easier porting of GameCube and Wii generation titles that will be used to flood the 2015 and beyond market. They're trying to hold off committing to a true successor by fluffing up the 3DS with a revision. As the system somewhat flounders in the West I do not think this revision will make a significant dent in the market: the changes are welcome but long overdue, and do little to nothing to alleviate majority of the concerns/observations as to why dedicated portable gaming hardware has stumbled in modern times due to the advent of mobile gaming. I feel the appeal of the 3DS LL is maybe too heavily reliant on what the 3DS XL and 2DS already had: a combination of those aware of yet hesitant to buy finally doing so, and early adopters looking to upgrade. Neither of these markets are particularly big and so, again, these seems like an effort to desperately extend the core 3DS shelf life instead of really hit the market hard with something new and appealing.

My concerns are as followed:
- Reliance on ports over new, exclusive software. I maintain the hardware upgrade will lead to a ton of GCN/Wii ports, and while that interests me somewhat I would like to see new stuff.
- Long term software support. Nintendo is historically fucking atrocious at committing long term to any device or peripheral that fragments their market. It's nice to talk shit about a better CPU and exclusive software, but proof is in the quantity. I would not be in the least bit surprised to see this release, get a bunch of ports, then die shortly after.
- Shitful marketing. 3DS LL sold alongside 2DS and 3DS XL and 3DS? Recipe for disaster.

I'm going to hock off my XL (which is one week old, fuck) soon and intend to get one of these whenever they hit Australia. But yeah. Not a move I'm confident in at all.

This is a very good post.

 

[Fdkn]

The thing is this is not a new generation handheld and this is not trying to attract new customers like the 2ds tried either (albeit it sort of failed)

The target for this is their current clients of 3ds hardware, in a "desperate" attempt to keep gaining time without the sales plumetting more than they already have until they decide to advance to their real next gen.

It's comprehensible some people got upset imho.

 

[LegendofLex]

Dunno how thats relevant. What I'm thinking is they are trying to get to similar architectures to share assets and tools better. the WiiU successor is going to need to throw out more than the 3ds. Unless you think the next 3ds wont be ARM?

They've specifically said their new architecture will "absorb the Wii U architecture adequately," right after talking about how hard it was to port software between 3DS and Wii U. Not a peep about 3DS being leveraged in their new hardware - we're seeing the opposite with 3DS already, where 3DS has to adapt to absorb (limited) stuff they're doing on Wii U like NNIDs, amiibo, etc.

 

[sörine]

A successor is, and rightfully so, treated differently than a revision. I doubt as many people would be complaining if Nintendo had just announced the 3DS2.

Are you kidding? There would be orders of magnitude more bitching. And probably also orders of magnitude more excitement on the counterbalance.

 

[Sami+]

Pretty sure that thing didn't cost $200.

 

[LegendofLex]

Are you kidding? There would be orders of magnitude more bitching. And probably also orders of magnitude more excitement on the counterbalance.

That's a pretty good way to sum up this announcement.

 

[Monster Zero]

I just don't understand the issue, from a consumer standpoint, don't you want to play in the best possible system? Why limit advancement with 4 year old hardware. Were going to be seeing better looking games now, and new announcements. This should be treated with excitement. Also, a split userbase shouldn't really concern folks personally.....unless they don't plan to upgrade. Then that's just sour grapes in my opinion. Old hardware gets left behind all the time.

 

[jeffers]

They've specifically said their new architecture will "absorb the Wii U architecture adequately," right after talking about how hard it was to port software between 3DS and Wii U. Not a peep about 3DS being leveraged in their new hardware - we're seeing the opposite with 3DS already, where 3DS has to adapt to absorb (limited) stuff they're doing on Wii U like NNIDs, amiibo, etc.

basically I'm saying using PPC has to end sometime.

 

[Spieler Eins]

Pretty sure that thing didn't cost $200.

pretty sure people will be smart enough to sell the one 3ds they won't need anymore.

 

[njean777]

pretty sure people will be smart enough to sell the one 3ds they won't need anymore.

If you bought digital games on it, you really cannot sell it until you buy the new one and transfer the data. I wouldn't mind trading up to the new one, but I am not going to buy a new one for 200$ and then have to go out of my way to sell the old one.

 

[mrklaw]

I think Nintendo has an almost unique affect on neogaf. Any time a tiny revision or new special edition 3DS is announced, you get huge threads with people clamouring for it. So even if this doesn't have lots of exclusive games made for it (I.e it just becomes a DSi) then lots of people on here will still buy it just because it is new, and also for other benefits like the replicable covers, or faster miiverse/web browser

 

[rokkerkory]

Do past games don't work with it or something? Why would it be slitting the user base?

 

[elohel]

this somehow all makes sense given the statement they just made about hardcore

They know we will buy the new hardware I'm actually surprised no one was excited for the hardware or at least I know I am and I also know that more "real" games are coming out

the quotes are not meant to belittle casual games but to point out how Nintendo is taking this separation route

I'm all for it in a weird way

 

[trixx]

Like i've said in previous threads I don't see the big deal and quite frankly for me I won't be upgrading. I don't see any exclusive games that would entice me in spending $160+ for a new 3ds console that isn't significantly powerful from the predecessor. Also many major games will quite likely still be available ofr the og 3ds+3dsxl.

Snes and Gba VC would be pretty cool but, i own a wii u. It's redundant imo. Even if i didn't own a wii u, why would i pick this up when i can spend a few extra $ and get a wii u since i already have a 3ds. Xenoblade excluive to new 3ds, sucks but ill jut pick up the sequel.

I'd only buy this if i didn't own a 3ds or if it could be use as a second gamepad of some sort than maybe.

Do past games don't work with it or something? Why would it be slitting the user base?

Past games will work on new 3ds however there will be games excluive for the new 3ds handheld. The question is how many new games will we see for it and will they be worthwhile.

 

[Cuburt]

I think it's a best case scenario for how to do an upgrade without splitting the userbase too much since if this was put out when the 3DSXL was it was pretty early in the 3DS lifespan but at this point since the userbase for the 3DS is pretty established and there exists backwards compatibility for the CPP and amiibo with peripherals, besides any exclusive games, half the new features are just upgrades rather than features that make the 3DS obsolete.

 

[Refreshment.01]

How many 3DS revisions has NIntendo made up until today?

 

[Korigama]

The dedicated portable market is already weaker than it's ever been, so they decide to divide the userbase of the already small, yet only truly feasible platform between the two competing dedicated portables with a model that has improved specs. At a point when better specs already didn't help its competitor, and in this case, would only result in developers who are already committed to the system having to choose between reaching everyone among the millions of 3DS owners able to play their games, or gambling on the handful of consumers who actually have the shinier tech.

Yeah...wonderful plan.

How many 3DS revisions has NIntendo made up until today?

This is the third, yet none of them actually split the market before now (3DS, 3DS XL, and 2DS can all still play the same games).

 

[Refreshment.01]

The dedicated portable market is already weaker than it's ever been, so they decide to divide the userbase of the already small, yet only truly feasible platform between the two competing dedicated portables with a model that has improved specs. At a point when better specs already didn't help its competitor, and in this case, would only result in developers who are already committed to the system having to choose between reaching everyone among the millions of 3DS owners able to play their games, or gambling on the handful of consumers who actually have the shinier tech.

Yeah...wonderful plan.

This is the third, yet none of them actually split the market before now (3DS, 3DS XL, and 2DS can all still play the same games).

Except, the above is not the case or at the least there's no present or historical evidence for you to suggest that.

Can you answer this question:

How many 3DS revisions has reached the market so far?

 

[Steel]

Depends on how long it takes for them to put out a new handheld altogether. If they use this as an excuse not to launch a new handheld till 2018-2020, this 3ds will functionally be a successor to the og 3ds like the gameboy color was to the gameboy.

Also if this new 3ds is $200+ then I doubt most will buy into it. It'd be more/as expensive as a vita, which still has better hardware.

 

[Trago]

I strongly doubt that there will be widespread adoption of N3DS exclusive software if there are millions of current owners right now.

This thing will be a Wii port machine for a year and a half.

If anything, I think that the N3DS will enhance future 3DS releases like it's doing now with Smash and MH4G.


There is no way in hell Nintendo abandons millions of 3DS owners for a new exclusive Mario or Zelda game on this new thing. It makes no sense.

 

[Korigama]

Except, the above is not the case or at the least there's no present or historical evidence for you to suggest that.

Can you answer this question:

How many 3DS revisions has reached the market so far?

I'm not seeing what isn't the case. The Vita had superior specs to the 3DS from the very beginning, yet it's been a commercial failure worldwide, and is relegated to niche support at best in Japan. The 3DS hasn't sold anywhere near what the DS has in the same amount of time, yet unlike the 3DS, the original DS never had to compete with smartphones or tablets, which a significant portion of Japanese developers have shifted focus to as of late (that much more problematic when considering the vast majority of developer support for dedicated portables comes from Japanese developers).

Historically, enhancements to pre-existing hardware designed to play games that were not previously possible at the cost of splitting the market have never made a dent (i.e., Sega CD, 32X, N64 Expansion Pak). One would have to assume that half or more of consumers who already own the system would care enough to upgrade to the New 3DS/3DS LL, be it through purchasing at full-price or trading in their old hardware, when only the most hardcore of consumers have ever cared about half-measures like these.

And I already answered your question about how many such revisions have reached the market so far. I can add, however, that the XL has consistently sold the best among the models of the current 3DS.

 

[Heyt]

I don't think third party publishers will really get behind splitting the existing 3DS user base.

Xenoblade on 3DS might just be a special case to show of it's new cpu's power but I don't think we'll see to much of this.

Wait until we see devs wanting to make games that requier 2 sets of triggers and/or dual sticks or a bit more of horsepower. Nintendo already said they have more exclusive titles in the works. And wen the open up with Xenoblade I don't think they will be small digital exclusives like the DSi had.

It's a new system, it's the succesot of the 3DS. The shift it's just going to be more gradual, just like phones. They don't want to shoot themselves on the foot, 3DS software is still selling pretty good and they can be used on N3DS. They wil introduce advantages for 3DS games played N3DS from now on an gradually introduce excluvives to the new system to convince you want one as soon as your old 3DS starts to wear off without feeling you are being forced to buy one.

 

[Magwik]

We really need to get going on those "modular devices"

Between yearly updates to phones (which somehow people don't seem to mind that much) and now almost yearly revisions for some consoles, it is TIME !

That's is a nightmare factory for optimization

 

[JoJoSono]

The 3DS is the first Nintendo handheld I've owned and while I guess it should have been obvious there was bound to be another version, I just didn't think it would be like this. I mean I expected another revision, but not one that would keep me from buying games I'd want to. I guess this is a new system, I really can't tell. Is it a completely new system or a simply a revised 3ds? Should I buy it because there will be more games coming for it? Or should I buy it because I just want xenoblade, but there won't be any real other "New 3ds only games"? Am I going to miss games by not having it? Features? Are some games going to run worse because they actually developed it for the new 3ds and then just decided it should also come to the regular 3ds? Lots of questions.

I don't really like buying more then one system. I never bought a PS2 Slim, I use the fat one till this day. I've only had one PSP and will hopefully only have one Vita. I got all that I could out of my 360 and PS3 before having to upgrade. So basically this rubs me the wrong way and I don't like it.

 

[Refreshment.01]

I'm not seeing what isn't the case. The Vita had superior specs to the 3DS from the very beginning, yet it's been a commercial failure worldwide, and is relegated to niche support at best in Japan. The 3DS hasn't sold anywhere near what the DS has in the same amount of time, yet unlike the 3DS, the original DS never had to compete with smartphones or tablets, which a significant portion of Japanese developers have shifted focus to as of late (that much more problematic when considering the vast majority of developer support for dedicated portables comes from Japanese developers).

Historically, enhancements to pre-existing hardware designed to play games that were not previously possible at the cost of splitting the market have never made a dent (i.e., Sega CD, 32X, N64 Expansion Pak).

And I already answered your question about how many such revisions have reached the market so far. I can add, however, that the XL has consistently sold the best among the models of the current 3DS.

The 3DS up until today has a total of ZERO revisions so far.

And that's the problem with many of us disscussing this topic right now, most of us are talking withouth a firm grip of the facts. This is not a new road that Nintendo is taking it's pretty much their standard MO.

GB July 1989
GBP 1996
GBC november 1998
GBA march 2001
GBA SP march 2003
NDS november 2004
NDS Lite june 2006
NDSi november 2008
3DS february 2011
N3DS october 2014

Notes: Makes sense that revisions during GB era took longer due to many factors like market and the state of evolution in the tech sector for mobile devices. After that discrepancy look how consisten the schedule is. In the case of the 3DS it has been the 2nd longest time for a portable revision after the GB era.

Later i will disect other posts to shed some light behind the reasons for this update and how the threat for a potential market split is not much different than in past occassions.

 

[Regiruler]

The 3DS up until today has a total of ZERO revisions so far.

And that's the problem with many of us disscussing this topic right now, most of us are talking withouth a firm grip of the facts. This is not a new road that Nintendo is taking it's pretty much their standard MO.

GB July 1989
GBP 1996
GBC november 1998
GBA march 2001
GBA SP march 2003
NDS november 2004
NDS Lite june 2006
NDSi november 2008
3DS february 2011
N3DS october 2014

Notes: Makes sense that revisions during GB era took longer due to many factors like market and the state of evolution in the tech sector for mobile devices. After that discrepancy look how consisten the schedule is. In the case of the 3DS it has been the 2nd longest time for a portable revision after the GB era.

Later i will disect other posts to shed some light behind the reasons for this update and how the threat for a potential market split is not much different than in past occassions.

There have been two prior revisions. The 3DS XL and 2DS may be branches, but they are revisions to hardware all the same.

In some regard, the XL is comparable to the Lite, the 2DS to the GB Micro (which I personally count as a revision even if it took away features rather than granting new ones).

 

[Glass Rebel]

I'm sure this has been brought up but what I'm almost 100% the situation we have now with the Legacy 3DS models and the New 3DS is a preview of what we're going to see with their next platform line. Two or more models with different power-levels and functionality but basically the same underlying architecture.

 

[Korigama]

The 3DS up until today has a total of ZERO revisions so far.

And that's the problem with many of us disscussing this topic right now, most of us are talking withouth a firm grip of the facts. This is not a new road that Nintendo is taking it's pretty much their standard MO.

GB July 1989
GBP 1996
GBC november 1998
GBA march 2001
GBA SP march 2003
NDS november 2004
NDS Lite june 2006
NDSi november 2008
3DS february 2011
N3DS october 2014

Notes: Makes sense that revisions during GB era took longer due to many factors like market and the state of evolution in the tech sector for mobile devices. After that discrepancy look how consisten the schedule is. In the case of the 3DS it has been the 2nd longest time for a portable revision after the GB era.

Later i will disect other posts to shed some light behind the reasons for this update and how the threat for a potential market split is not much different than in past occassions.

What? I'm really curious as to how you concluded that the XL and 2DS don't count as revisions (especially when things like GBA --> GBA SP and NDS --> NDS Lite still do).

 

[Ultimodragon64]

I feel bad for all the moms and grandmas trying to figure out which gameboy their kids have, and which games work on it.

 

[Giolon]

I have no problem with this really, since it will still play all my old 3DS games and I can transfer all my purchases to the new one, then sell the old one to recoup some of the costs.

What I find baffling is that Nintendo is deciding to fracture their install base over such minor upgrades. So we got 2 new buttons, a c-stick, an NFC reader, and a slight horsepower bump (and improved battery life and better 3D window).

I'd think that they would've made some more drastic improvements in order to really sell the hardware.

 

[evilromero]

It's not a trend. It's something that has been happening for a while with mobile hardware and has a history with Nintendo of course.

I think it's great. It stimulates the handheld market and gets gamers excited for updated experiences. Already, after just three years, the 3DS was getting stale. This pumps new life into the brand and with some compelling software will drive many to upgrade.

 

[qko]

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.



If the NN3DS gets more than Xenoblade it will be a clusterfuck trying to explain it to consumers.

If Nintendo comes out the gates swinging with tons of "New 3DS" content, they are going to have to discontinue sales of the regular 3ds, much like how Apple stops support of old iphones. It's sadly the only effective way to not confuse people to decide which version of the 3DS to get since its the only one on the market. If the consumer decides to go to a Gamestop and buy a used 3DS, 2DS or 3DSXL, it'll have to be the consumer and seller's responsibility much like when you buy a used ipod at Gamestop.

Is it the most Pro consumer practice? I'd say no, but I would say it is the only effective way to making people know there is only one new 3ds on the market that does XYZ.

 

[sörine]

I wonder if we'll see a New Nintendo 2DS in another year?

I have no problem with this really, since it will still play all my old 3DS games and I can transfer all my purchases to the new one, then sell the old one to recoup some of the costs.

What I find baffling is that Nintendo is deciding to fracture their install base over such minor upgrades. So we got 2 new buttons, a c-stick, an NFC reader, and a slight horsepower bump (and improved battery life and better 3D window).

I'd think that they would've made some more drastic improvements in order to really sell the hardware.

I sort of agree. 3DS can already access extra controls and (someday) nfc through add ons too so all we're really left with are the spec bump, eye-tracking improved 3D viewing and slightly improved battery life.

I feel like GBC and DSi both brought more functionally immediate improvements to the table for their time. I'm still buying one though.

 

[Maintenance]

The 3DS up until today has a total of ZERO revisions so far.

And that's the problem with many of us disscussing this topic right now, most of us are talking withouth a firm grip of the facts. This is not a new road that Nintendo is taking it's pretty much their standard MO.

GB July 1989
GBP 1996
GBC november 1998
GBA march 2001
GBA SP march 2003
NDS november 2004
NDS Lite june 2006
NDSi november 2008
3DS february 2011
N3DS october 2014

Notes: Makes sense that revisions during GB era took longer due to many factors like market and the state of evolution in the tech sector for mobile devices. After that discrepancy look how consisten the schedule is. In the case of the 3DS it has been the 2nd longest time for a portable revision after the GB era.

Later i will disect other posts to shed some light behind the reasons for this update and how the threat for a potential market split is not much different than in past occassions.

If you add the DS Lite and not put the 2DS or the 3DS XL, you're just trying to make your point better than it actually is.

 

[Refreshment.01]

What? I'm really curious as to how you concluded that the XL and 2DS don't count as revisions (especially when things like GBA --> GBA SP and NDS --> NDS Lite still do).

If you add the DS Lite and not put the 2DS or the 3DS XL, you're just trying to make your point better than it actually is.

2DS and XL are models of the same product line to satisy different needs and budgets.

"Revisions" are subsequent models that make amends to the original hardware, which go on to substitute them.

2DS and XL didn't replace the O3DS, they are sold and coexist in the same market. GBC phased out the GB, GBA SP phased out GBA, DS Lite phased out DS. Now the N3DS and N3DSLL will phase out the 3DS and XL. Do you see the difference?

And for those over reacting or thinking this is some sort of new trend or (hilariously) Nintendo putting out an Apple, please pay attention to my previous post and check out the time line.

He's wrong but he's missing some older revisions too. GB Light, GB micro and DSi XL off the top of my head. There's also GBASP 2.0 (backlit rather than frontlit) but that skirts the line.

Well if im wrong answer the above.

About the missing portables, im aware about them, but it didn't add anything or substract from my point by say not listing the backlit GBA SP or the GBA Micro. The point was to stablish how this is not a new practice and from what i remember reading from you in this thread you sort of agree.

 

[sörine]

If you add the DS Lite and not put the 2DS or the 3DS XL, you're just trying to make your point better than it actually is.

He's wrong but he's missing some older revisions too. GB Light, GB micro and DSi XL off the top of my head. There's also GBASP 2.0 (backlit rather than frontlit) but that skirts the line.

exit- Actually his explanation makes sense. It's about core product line versus models that are supplementary. Although I feel like there's an argument to made for DS Lite and DSi also co-existing so it can get muddier.

 

[Buddha Beam]

The way I see it, it'll be more like the DSi: stop-gap to next gen, will have a few exclusive titles (nothing substantial/groundbreaking), and continue to release software that shares compatibility with both the 'new' and 'old' 3DSes. Maybe the 'new' 3DS will get extra game modes or features a la pokemon black/white.

This. I'm not bothered by this news at all. I eventually bought a DSi because I wanted to play some of the downloadable titles, but otherwise it was just a new DS. I'll stick to my 3DS XL until they give me a compelling reason to upgrade otherwise.
I don't expect much beyond a few exclusive features on cart-based games and exclusive titles in the eShop.

 

[boiled goose]

People also forget the expansion pack. Split userbase lol is nothing new. Anytime a peripheral is made, it also splits the userbase. Deal with it.

 

[BLCKATK]

When I was discussing this with a friend I brought up the Gameboy / Gameboy Color comparison as a good way to think about it just cause of the sheer amount of Gameboy color only games, and as far as I could tell it didn't split the userbase too hard, though I could be mistaken on this.

The counter argument to this was that the Gameboy Color was released much later into the Gameboy's life, it made sense to revisit the hardware, but this move right now is obviously screwing the early fans over and punishing people for being early buyers.

Anyone have anything to add? Honestly I'm just thinking of this as how hardware is developed and released at this point. Apple does it, Microsoft does it, it isn't strange at all to me that Nintendo would jump on this and try to revisit the software and create another surge of profit before the holiday. It doesn't seem strange to me, nor more of a screw you then anything else in the technology industry.

 

[Refreshment.01]

When I was discussing this with a friend I brought up the Gameboy / Gameboy Color comparison as a good way to think about it just cause of the sheer amount of Gameboy color only games, and as far as I could tell it didn't split the userbase too hard, though I could be mistaken on this.

The counter argument to this was that the Gameboy Color was released much later into the Gameboy's life, it made sense to revisit the hardware, but this move right now is obviously screwing the early fans over and punishing people for being early buyers.

Anyone have anything to add? Honestly I'm just thinking of this as how hardware is developed and released at this point. Apple does it, Microsoft does it, it isn't strange at all to me that Nintendo would jump on this and try to revisit the software and create another surge of profit before the holiday. It doesn't seem strange to me, nor more of a screw you then anything else in the technology industry.

Are people reading or just talking aimlessly? Is not complex at all XD

If you like you can leave out the older systems aside there's a 1:1 precedent with Nintendo, is called the DSi. The DSi had:

-New input methods in the form of 2 cameras.
-Faster CPUs.
-More RAM
-An SD slot with was potentially hughe in terms of software distributions methods.
-Bigger screens? (going by memory here)
-Check the time line for the DSi release, specially before the 3DS launch.

Did people with the orginal DS or DS Lite were reduced to irrelevancy? Or were they stripped from the ability to enjoy the high profile releases?

 

[Off-Kilter]

My only question is, if you're going to split the userbase, why not just go all the way and make this a true 3DS successor, and appropriately name it as such? I assume in about a year Nintendo will phase out development for the *old* 3DS and focus entirely on games exclusive to the *new* 3DS. In a way, the system is already a "next gen" successor, but stuck with a current gen name.

I will never understand this company's recent naming conventions. I thought it couldn't get worse than Wii U, but I think New 3DS might just top it.

 

[Rurunaki]

Tempting but skipping 3dsi. Will be interesting how long they'll take to release a new hand held.

 

[DangerMouse]

Yeah Off-Kilter, now I wonder when the real successor is coming and I mean perhaps at least call this the Super 3DS or something like someone else suggested, then you can put something clear on any retail box. I guess I can already see parents picking up a game with "New 3DS" on the box thinking an old 3DS would run it. They won't know better that the 3DS is old and they won't know that the "new 3ds" on the box cover isn't just like say, something that was put on the boxes when the 3ds first came out.

The worst part of this all will be the hundreds of thousands of 3DS and 2DS systems that will be purchased in North America this holiday/Christmas, and then the "New" 3DS systems will show up likely in February/March.

Awful. This should have been worldwide before the end of this year, along with Smash and Amiibos.

Yeah, I don't know if I'd say it's a good or bad idea but I think that part might be potentially the biggest confusion or potential buyer burner beyond anyone who just bought one a short time ago before this was announced.

If they were going to do this, they really shouldn't be missing the huge holiday season here in the US where they will sell a ton of the old models to still unsuspecting consumers that then already potentially won't be able to play certain large exclusive games within a year of those people buying the old 3DS, like Xenoblade, provided they make more games that take advantage of the moderately improved hardware of the new 3DS.

This is more of an issue I think because if it were a full successor system there would be plenty of hype and advertising and TONS of media coverage informing consumers that a next-gen Nintendo handheld was coming right after the holidays, warning potential buyers, and then if you still wanted to purchase the current gen system you'd know what you were getting yourself into.

That said, I'm glad I know now because I was probably going to buy one with holiday sales this year.

 

[Father_Brain]

It's needed. Software sales outside of japan is basically nonexistent, unless you're a handful or less of 1st party titles. This might allow them to revitalize some of that without losing revenue on their current 3ds projects/userbase. It's a needed stopgap, because they need the money and can't afford to dedicate resources to launching a full successor right now when they have to focus time and money and manpower on wii u

So, would it be fair to say that the stronger-than-expected E3 Wii U showing, and the weaker-than-expected 3DS one, are the result of diverting resources away from 3DS in order to "save" Wii U? If so, jesus fuckin' christ.

 

[Hyperactivity]

There were/are a total of 5 DSi exclusive titles. I wouldn't worry.
New buttons are just replacing optional Frankenstick.

4 of them were Pokemon iirc

And it happened quite a bit with GB and GBC i think

 

[digoutyoursoul]

I just hope it doesn't start a trend with home consoles

 

[Maintenance]

I just hope it doesn't start a trend with home consoles

Haha, I would love to see that.

But it's not going to happen, I guess that consoles have more expensive R&D.

 

[AcademicSaucer]

if the new 3ds has gba vc and they announce circle of the moon, wario land 4 and tactis ogre, im afraid tha i will have to buy that thing