[IrrelevantNotch]

Basically, just a flip-screen pocket-sized console with maybe some gyrometers here or there.

edit - and no touchscreen

[Littlegator]

You're assuming people want a console experience on a handheld.

Apparently only 1.8 million want to dance that dance.

[kewlmyc]

Looks like the Playstation phone

[SalsaShark]

so a clamshell psp go

[Fantastical]

so a clamshell psp go

I would actually love a clamshell Vita if that could work. I love clamshell handhelds.

[IrrelevantNotch]

I would actually love a clamshell Vita if that could work. I love clamshell handhelds.

brofist

[KillGore]

You're assuming people want a console experience on a handheld. Apparently only 1.8 million want to dance that dance.

Just because it has two analog sticks (I'm assuming those are analog sticks) it automatically means it's a console experience?

[SalsaShark]

I was alright with clamshells until i realized that they are all bound to break eventually

both my DS lite and a friend's one began having issues on the top screen. After opening and closing it so much that cable in the middle must have recieved some damage.

[Kokonoe]

Sounds good to me.

I was alright with clamshells until i realized that they are all bound to break eventually both my DS lite and a friend's one began having issues on the top screen. After opening and closing it so much that cable in the middle must have recieved some damage.

That's a DSlite issue. the DSi and 3DS have sturdy hinges.

[Littlegator]

Just because it has two analog sticks (I'm assuming those are analog sticks) it automatically means it's a console experience?

no it was the part where he said pocket-sized console

[KillGore]

no it was the part where he said pocket-sized console

Well handhelds are consoles, so I didn't think he actually meant console experience on a handheld.

[Gez]

Apparently only 1.8 million want to dance that dance.

Thats not why the VITA is basically dead.

[SalsaShark]

That's a DSlite issue. the DSi and 3DS have sturdy hinges.

i figured, but that constant movement cant be good for the hinge no matter the handheld

i love that they protect the screen (except that early 3DS thing) but im not a fan of anything else about their design

[IrrelevantNotch]

You're assuming people want a console experience on a handheld. Apparently only 1.8 million want to dance that dance.

Well, it would have to be under 200 dollars definitely :p

[Ninja Scooter]

get rid of the entire bottom half. Make the top part capacitive touch.

[DTKT]

At this point, it probably needs to be a phone too.

[KillGore]

That's a DSlite issue. the DSi and 3DS have sturdy hinges.

I'm sure Nintendo fixed this issue by now but launch 3DS didn't have very good hinges. I had to return two 3DS' at launch week because of this issue and the third one wasn't any better so I just kept it. They were pretty loose, and more noticeable since the top screen is heavier than the DS models.

[EekTheKat]

To me the current Vita design is more touchscreen friendly than a clamshell design. With the d-pad and buttons on the side of the screen my thumb can just stretch a little to tap something on screen without having to move my hand off the controls.

Edit if there's no touchscreen, then it would work better.

[Alex]

I dont want anything that flips, ideally. The hinges always bug me, although its cool and more intuitive for sleep mode. I like the slide up method the Go does, though.

My ideal 3DS would be two analog pads, slides up, longer battery life and for them to remove and stop supporting 3D on a wobbly handheld with a 1CM viewing angle :x

That's a DSlite issue. the DSi and 3DS have sturdy hinges.

I guess it depends how you look at it, they're all fairly rickety and wobbly. I know thats by design to prevent the snapping issue (or so I read) and thats great but it doesn't make it feel as secure and sturdy as I'd like.

[Box of Bunnies]

You're assuming people want a console experience on a handheld. Apparently only 1.8 million want to dance that dance.

Plenty of Game Boy games were lofi versions of NES formulas, and 118 million people were on the dancefloor for that one. The "handhelds and consoles offer different experiences" thing only came about in the last decade or so with the Gameboy Advance.

[Delightful Oonsk]

So a GBA SP with thumbsticks? Sure, I'm down.

[IrrelevantNotch]

So a GBA SP with thumbsticks? Sure, I'm down.

Yes. Two customers so far.

[Poyunch]

Clamshell's greatest feature is its design serves as a screen protector. Unless you're a 3DS :3

[Zoramon089]

No touch screen sounds like about the worst idea you could think of for a handheld device

[Radec]

edit - and no touchscreen

meh..

[perfectchaos007]

At this point, it probably needs to be a phone too.

I don't know about that. Then it would be competing in a market where the median cost of a game is $0.99. How will they sell the $40 and $50 games in that environment?

[blamite]

GBA SP was awesome. Now that we've got the DS, though, this would be a big step back. My ideal next-gen (after this one) handheld is just a superpowerful dual-analog 3DS.

[Alex]

Clamshell's greatest feature is its design serves as a screen protector. Unless you're a 3DS :3

Aren't most modern handheld devices pretty anti-scratch by default? Although I've never taken my 3DS more than about... 10 feet from it's charger so I've never had a chance to actually hurt it. All I know is that my iOS stuff and my PSP Go seem rather invincible. I stopped using screen protectors ages ago, cannot *stand* putting those things on.

No touch screen sounds like about the worst idea you could think of for a handheld device

Id want it for backwards compatibility but just for the 3DS itself, I could easily live without the stylus control on the small bottom screen. If you have a powerful mobile device with a lot of functions and a large capactivie screen I wouldnt want it removed, but I wouldnt miss it too much in terms of simple menu controls and game stuff.

[KillGore]

GBA SP was awesome. Now that we've got the DS, though, this would be a big step back. My ideal next-gen (after this one) handheld is just a superpowerful dual-analog 3DS.

Do we really need dual screens? to be honest, the DS/3DS screen has been mostly useless on games, mainly for options and menu. The 3DS goes one step further and makes it even more unusable, at least some DS games used both screens to show gameplay (like Sonic) but the 3DS has one side with 3D screen and the other without, and this would make it a bit awkward to be honest. I know I'll get a lot of hate for this comment but I do think dual-screens has been mostly a gimmick that we can all live without, it hasn't changed anything in gaming.

[SalsaShark]

i dont get why handhelds still dont use gorilla glass

[perfectchaos007]

Do we really need dual screens? to be honest, the DS/3DS screen has been mostly useless on games, mainly for options and menu. The 3DS goes one step further and makes it even more unusable, at least some DS games used both screens to show gameplay (like Sonic) but the 3DS has one side with 3D screen and the other without, and this would make it a bit awkward to be honest. I know I'll get a lot of hate for this comment but I do think dual-screens has been mostly a gimmick that we can all live without, it hasn't changed anything in gaming.

AND the screens are different sizes this go around which makes it even tougher still

[KillGore]

i dont get why handhelds still dont use gorilla glass

Sony and Nintendo are trying to cut cost on every corner they can, I think gorilla glass would make it too expensive to make.

AND the screens are different sizes this go around which makes it even tougher still

Yup, I noticed that dual screen gameplay wasn't going to be easy on the 3DS after I saw Nintendogs, where you would basically take care of your pet's silhouette in the bottom screen and see the pet's reaction on top.

[blamite]

Do we really need dual screens? to be honest, the DS/3DS screen has been mostly useless on games, mainly for options and menu. The 3DS goes one step further and makes it even more unusable, at least some DS games used both screens to show gameplay (like Sonic) but the 3DS has one side with 3D screen and the other without, and this would make it a bit awkward to be honest. I know I'll get a lot of hate for this comment but I do think dual-screens has been mostly a gimmick that we can all live without, it hasn't changed anything in gaming.

It may not always be useful, or even used well, but the fact that it does open up some cool options is reason enough to keep it, I think. Using 3D, or even the extra width isn't really a requirement either, so everything that was possible on the original DS is still possible. Nothing is less usable than before. There are only extra options for developers to take advantage of if they so choose.

[KillGore]

It may not always be useful, or even used well, but the fact that it does open up some cool options is reason enough to keep it, I think. Using 3D, or even the extra width isn't really a requirement either, so everything that was possible on the original DS is still possible. Nothing is less usable than before. There are only extra options for developers to take advantage of if they so choose.

Options like what? 90%+ of the games just have the menu or options there. Not even first party titles utilize the bottom screen for something "cool", for example Super Mario 3D Land on the 3DS or Pokemon on the DS. What can't you do on a single screen that's innovative, that you can on a dual screen? The only possible use would be for aiming on shooters (which would render the face buttons and R button useless), but other than that, what else?

[Scuba Steve]

Dat aspect ratio, ergh

[kevinski]

I like the inclusion of two d-pads. I kinda wish that system designers would deviate from the norm more as far as controller designs go.

[chickdigger802]

that looks cool in theory... but I believe 'adult sized hands' need 'rounded ends' aka psp/vita/gba in order to not get the cramps after long play sessions.

Or it's probably just me.

Maybe something like the psp go.

[Night_Trekker]

I love clamshell designs, but... yeah, they do seem more likely to break. My DS Lite broke at one hinge eventually. I bought a replacement shell and spent hours changing it over. It looks great and everything went well... until I tried to charge it. No longer charges for whatever reason. Maybe I pinched a cable or something. Sigh...

Which reminds me, I need to get it professionally fixed before it becomes way too expensive.

[blamite]

Options like what? 90%+ of the games just have the menu or options there. Not even first party titles utilize the bottom screen for something "cool", for example Super Mario 3D Land on the 3DS or Pokemon on the DS. What can't you do on a single screen that's innovative, that you can on a dual screen?

Whether or not the features are used, or used well, is the responsibility of the developers, not of the system. Using two screens is more important on some games than it is in others, and even in cases where it isn't a huge game-changer,there are still plenty of little touches that can be used to simplify gameplay, or show extra information, or make menus easier to access.

Some examples of games that are better with the touch screen than without? Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story uses each screen to show a separate environment, one for Mario and Luigi inside Bowser, the other for Bowser himself in another environment. By showing each on a separate screen, it's easier to see what's going on in each environment and the screen doesn't need to constantly switch between two scenes to show what's happening in each. Kid Icarus uses the tough screen to let you aim more accurately than you could with dual-analogs at the same speed. Any game with a lower screen map can show more detail than they could otherwise, because they don;t have to worry about cutting into the screen real-estate of the gameplay itself. The World Ends With You could not have existed in the way it does with only one screen.

Again, not every game has to use it, not every game does, and those that do don't always do it well. But the fact is that the DS with only one screen would have been a significantly less interesting system than it was with the benefit of two screens.

[les papillons sexuels]

so you want a pandora?

http://openpandora.org/

[IrrelevantNotch]

so you want a pandora? http://openpandora.org/

Oh, god no

[KillGore]

Whether or not the features are used, or used well, is the responsibility of the developers, not of the system. Using two screens is more important on some games than it is in others, and even in cases where it isn't a huge game-changer,there are still plenty of little touches that can be used to simplify gameplay, or show extra information, or make menus easier to access. Some examples of games that are better with the touch screen than without? Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story uses each screen to show a separate environment, one for Mario and Luigi inside Bowser, the other for Bowser himself in another environment. By showing each on a separate screen, it's easier to see what's going on in each environment and the screen doesn't need to constantly switch between two scenes to show what's happening in each. Kid Icarus uses the tough screen to let you aim more accurately than you could with dual-analogs at the same speed. Any game with a lower screen map can show more detail than they could otherwise, because they don;t have to worry about cutting into the screen real-estate of the gameplay itself. The World Ends With You could not have existed in the way it does with only one screen. Again, not every game has to use it, not every game does, and those that do don't always do it well. But the fact is that the DS with only one screen would have been a significantly less interesting system than it was with the benefit of two screens.

You're right but wouldn't that apply to basically everything related to gaming "gimmicks"? For example, if a great game is released for the Vita that utilizes its back touch pad in a very cool way, then it means it was needed? Maybe, but personally I don't think it should be given such importance just because of two or three games. If the majority of games don't know how to use it, then it's pretty much a gimmick (IMO). That's my opinion though, I like the DS and the 3DS is shaping up to be a nice handheld but I don't think dual screens is that important in gaming, hopefully Wii U developers will better utilize the second screen. I think a lot of the examples you gave can be worked around, especially the map problem, but you are right, the games technically wouldn't be the same, but neither would some games on consoles that have exclusive features (touchpad on Vita, motion controls on Wii, dual screen on DS/3DS, Kinect on 360, etc), doesn't mean it' has revolutionized gaming. To each their own of course! :)

Edit: Also, does that concept have no face buttons and two d-pads? that's so strange, not sure if that would work well.

[TheCongressman1]

edit - and no touchscreen

You had me until this.

Not too long ago, I thought about this kind of design, and how I wish the 3DS was designed like this. One screen 3D screen with touch.

Yes, the 3D can get interfeared with when touching the screen, but only when the effect is 'popping out'. When the player needs to draw something, or use the input for something, just don't design the screen with any pop effects. Simple.

Anyway, the past is the past...

[Apeopleman]

If its thin, durable, and got 2 analogs, its cool in my book

[ThatCrazyGuy]

Maybe, I do love clam shell designs. But no touch screen? idk.

I was thinking about this the other week if Sony did a redesign of the Vita, and somehow made it a slider like the PSP Go and how that would work, so it would look sleek like a mini tablet (or Note) when you are just browsing the internet, watching media or running apps, then slide done the controls when needed.

Then I thought how would you use the buttons and use the touch screen comfortably. The way it is now, you still can slide your thumb over to the screen kinda easily if need be.

idk what I am saying now, haha. I really like the PSP Go though.

They should make a smaller Vita Go at like 4.2 in or something, and make normal Vita like 5.5 or 6 in or something, haha.

[Vilam]

No touchscreen? Sign me up.

[Acosta]

You're assuming people want a console experience on a handheld. Apparently only 1.8 million want to dance that dance.

So Vita is not going to sell any unit more? What a disaster!

BTW, GBA SP was fantastic and one of my favourite handheld, I would like an evolved version of it. I can live without touch screens (like iOS gaming, but I'm not a fan of putting my fingers on a console screen).

[MRORANGE]

???



Pandora console btw

[Sleeplessnights]

You're assuming people want a console experience on a handheld. Apparently only 1.8 million want to dance that dance.

So far.

[georaldc]

The design does remind me of that Pandora thing.

I'm not exactly a fan of clamshell designs or sliding ones like the Go because of my fear of damaged screen cables or loose hinges (my DS Lite's top screen just flips around with 0 resistance now, and the colors are all funky. Not good). I think the Vita is pretty much close to perfect for me.