Alright I've had time to think about this and read other posts after embracing the 'knee-jerk' reaction a few hours prior. Surprisingly, my opinion does not differ much:
The Pros:
• Incredibly smart marketing move to release a cheap alternative with Pokémon X/Y. Kids will be all over it because it's new; parents will be all over it because it's cheap. Most here don't disagree with this.
• There are no hinges to break and parents don't have to dig through system settings and remember passwords to have 3D disabled. Convenient.
• I prefer the color balance they have on this. We see more of the Black or White and the secondary color is now a subtler accent. The Black and Red one even resembles a PokéDex in some shots (though the IRL version will be much darker and less vibrant).
• It's a better value than the OG ever was (or will be). You're only losing speaker quality and ergonomics (though compared to the OG that isn't saying much). The 2DS is bundled with a 4GB SD card, better buttons, bigger stylus, more battery life, a reinforced headphone port, and (I asume) a matte finish. OS seems improved as well.
The Cons:
• It doesn't appear to be very well designed. The buttons are more spaced out and have moved further away from the touchscreen. Younger kids with smaller hands may have difficultly playing certain games.
• Removing hinges doesn't get rid of 'screen scratching'. It just dodges a problem Nintendo created for themselves. Now consumers will have to worry about spills, steps, drops, and scratching the screen themselves - things the clam-shell design minimized. I personally buy screen protectors for all my tech anyway.
• Obviously this will create brand confusion, and that isn't something a large sticker on the box alone is going to solve. Nintendo will need to step up their marketing campaign if this thing is to be a success. Consumers need to know that this is a 'slim' version of their 3DS that plays the same games minus the 3D, and not a brand new system on its own (something that'll be difficult to do without the clam-shell similarity).
• Most of us don't wear cargo shorts all the time...
The Verdict:
Releasing the system itself is a good idea. It seems like people here feel 'cheated' that the latest redesign isn't as good as it ought to be, but I don't think that's the core issue. What we really need to focus on is whether this will actually help Nintendo, or just create additional problems for them. Will this increase their install base and return some of the money they lost on the Wii U, or will it further confuse consumers?
Also, the Pokémon X/Y games are introducing 3D to the franchise, and there are special edition 3DS XL's to go along with the game. Will they be bundling special edition 2DS' with the game as well? It'd be interesting to see how Nintendo displays the bundles - one with 3D and one without. It'd also be interesting to see where Nintendo takes 3D gaming in the future, or if they just scrap it entirely with their next brand new handheld.
As for the rest of us - owners of 3DS's or not - we shouldn't over analyze this. We wont experience the problems that kids owning the 2DS might, so this may actually be a more attractive buy for
adults who just aren't interested in the 3D. I also don't think it's "ugly" necessarily, and I'll probably buy one of the special editions sometime in the future for keepsake. However, it certainly wouldn't replace my 3DS XL as my main handheld (especially after all the work I did to customize mine), and I wouldn't consider taking this outside with me. If anything, it'll be something I own to let little kids play with when they visit instead of letting them use my XL.
The 'mobs' really ought to tone it down - pro 2DS and anti 2DS alike. Part of online forums is discussion and feedback, and at a certain point a "joke" (nicer version) stops being a joke and these 'consensus' threads just take turns for the worst.
A friend gave me the idea. Could not resist:
Not that Nintendo memes aren't amusing.