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[wildfire]

Guys, I'm sorry. I wrote last year that Nintendo should iterate their handheld hardware every year, and I've promoted that idea here on GAF in recent threads. Here's what I said in July of last year...

Apparently I didn't realize the influence I had, and now this has happened.

I promise that I'll be more careful with my suggestions in the future.

(In all seriousness, I expected them to build a premium model and push the lower models down. I'm interested to see how real consumers react to the opportunity to buy a 2DS. I'm absolutely horrified at the prospects of how they will market software for this... the stores will have 3DS and 2DS branding? *shudder* Seems like the NDS to 3DS problem all over again, just like the Wii to Wii U...)

I remember that post. Next time you make suggestions ensure you talk about maintaining good form factor. Losing the clamshell hinge bugs me.

 

[RoyalFool]

I wonder if they'll now allow developers to make 2D only titles, the graphics will take a huge leap.

 

[nampad]

Just saw this thing at least comes with a power supply, unlike the 3DS XL. Never could understand that stupid decision.

 

[Elija2]

I just noticed in the pictures that on the HOME menu instead of the brightness/power-saving button there is a little wrench icon. Slightly different firmware confirmed?

 

[Rollo Lawson]

Oh well if its for kids that young, I get it. Not a lot of their toys look that great to begin with.

Also explains why it looks like a Speak & Spell

 

[Jailer of Hope]

It looks crazy but the point of the design apparently is the $129 pricetag, which is a good price to be at this holiday.

 

[PetriP-TNT]

Wait WTF, are the triggers on the TOP instead of in the back like on the 360 controller? What the christ? It's big small. RIP Biggie Smalls

 

[PropheV]

♥♥♥♥♥♥

 

[Kyon]

Uh uh.

Oop.


Why are Nintendo Stans using the defense that this is for kids when in the pic you posted those aren't even kids being advertised?

 

[Twilight Gap]

Am I the only one who feels the circle pad and buttons being on the same level as the top screen is an awful design choice? Looks so damn uncomfortable.

Yup.

The L+R buttons should have been on the back where they have the colored band/stylus, or on the sides like the GBA SP. This way the rest of the face buttons and movement pads can be closer to the touch screen.

It doesn't matter who the target audience is if the system is poorly designed. That - if nothing else - is why people are looking at this in disbelief.

 

[Baby Milo]

this is terrible looking

 

[gutterboy44]

It keeps getting parroted over and over and over. "It's for 7 and under!!!!!" I am being serious, how does this bizarre form factor revision and minor price drop immediately make this so clearly for the 7 and under demographic where that 3DS, 3DSXL, DS an DS Lite are not for the demographic? The only tangible posts I have seen are the health and safety advisories, which is a pretty soft reason. Nothing about the form factor stands out as any more kid friendly than their other handhelds. If anything some aspects seem to make it even harder to hold for small kids.

 

[jts]

Any minute now some dude is going to burst through the door and yell 'IT'S NOT MEANT FOR YOU' before beating them to death with an old Kid Icarus stand.

Probably is really not, though. For the gamer, Neogaf user, the proper, full featured 3DS is meant for him/her. Especially the amazing XL.

This is a mass market price point 3DS targeting casuals, kids, etc. This is for my girlfriend. And for my younger brother (and I believe those 2 are already surefire sales of this device come christmas).

Not much different from the new iPhone 5C. Cheapen up, expand the market. Science.

 

[Pierre Levegh]

Any news on what the 2d image quality is on this new device? It is crisp? If it has a better 2d image than a 3DS, I'll buy it. I've given up using my 3DS in 2d mode as the image is noticeably blurry and soft.

 

[Suikoguy]

Is the 3.5 hours of battery confirmed? cause that's almost more of a travesty then the design.

 

[xenoflux2113]

That is what is getting lost in this.

Nintendo's PR can't say "turns out people don't give a flying fuck about the core feature we built out product around so we removed it in order to hit a cheaper price point." so instead they spin it as "it's for kids!" while ignoring the obvious issues of size, ergonomics, or the actual imagery used in their marketing mix.

The marketing imagery does suck that its targeted for kids but they are showing adults, but looking at that comparison picture its not any bigger then the original 3DS and I know that my kids have no problem with something that size. Hell they are fine playing with a WiiU gamepad.

 

[Cramoss]

The fuck is this?

 

[bidoof01]

I didn't think I would see any worse news than Affleck being Batman for awhile, but nope Nintendo had to do it.

 

[emag]

But the top and bottom screens aren't the same dimensions. It would look weird stretching the bottom screen or shrinking the top screen.

Just show black bars when playing old 3DS games. (Both "screens" have the same DPI on all 3DS/2DS models). Obviously there would be the issue of market fragmentation if there were 2DS-exclusive games, though.

My hope is that Nintendo goes to using an explicitly single screen for the next generation of handheld and simply using virtual bezels for backward compatibility. The SP, DS and 3DS were all design compromises; it's well past time to drop that baggage.

 

[Zombie James]

Uh uh.

Well there we go.

 

[Kamina]

So it's even smaller than original 3DS.

Not really, as the original 3Ds is actually halved since the screen part cant really be counted.
This thing just looks incredibly unergonomic.

 

[BassForever]

Well that's a thing, won't buy it but nice for people who can't see 3d and want a cheaper alternative

 

[bob page]

I audibly laughed upon seeing those product images.


I don't think that's the kind of first impression they should be going for.

 

[I Stalk Alone]

I want a 3DS badly, but only having 1 shitty speaker, normal 3DS sized screens, and costing only what, $30 less than a base model makes me completely uninterested.

you have 3 choices

3ds
3dsxl
2ds

whats your excuse again?

 

[x-Lundz-x]

Is the 3.5 hours of battery confirmed? cause that's almost more of a travesty then the design.

I think that is the battery charge time.

 

[Skellig Gra]

Just saw this thing at least comes with a power supply, unlike the 3DS XL. Never could understand that stupid decision.

US one already had it.

 

[Jay-T]

I was actually excited when I read the thread title, a cheaper 3DS without the 3D gimmick, this however fucking blows

 

[Radec]

 

[Doctor Decimate]

Nintendo, people didn't know the difference between the DS and the 3DS or the Wii and the Wii U. This is supposed to help?

 

[Coldnoodle]

That is what is getting lost in this.

Nintendo's PR can't say "turns out people don't give a flying fuck about the core feature we built out product around so we removed it in order to hit a cheaper price point." so instead they spin it as "it's for kids!" while ignoring the obvious issues of size, ergonomics, or the actual imagery used in their marketing mix.

Well they do have kids playing it.

 

[DXB-KNIGHT]

I bought a 3DS XL for my 8 years old cousin a few months ago and today she told me why haven't I waited for that nicer one after showing her the 2DS. I can see now whom Nintendo is targeting.

 

[jts]

Oop.


Why are Nintendo Stans using the defense that this is for kids when in the pic you posted those aren't even kids being advertised?

No, those are clearly hardcore gamers. Hurr durr.

Kids and casuals. Overlapping market for the most part.

 

[Htown]

what is going ON over there?

 

[Head of Vengarl]

I don't think this is a bad idea at all. Looks more durable than the hinge models, and a ton of young kids play DS/3DS games, if my short employment at GameStop is anything to go by. If I had a kid younger than 10 I'd probably buy it.

 

[MisterHero]

Oop.


Why are Nintendo Stans using the defense that this is for kids when in the pic you posted those aren't even kids being advertised?

Because Nintendo only makes kiddy stuff, amirite?

 

[ChiliManiac]

Is it April Fools early? I thought that already happened?

 

[RoyalFool]

Wait, how on earth is this thing heavier than the original 3DS when it's smaller and has less parts.

 

[KefkaTiMe]

Ill continue to use my 3DS XL in 2D mode TYVM!

 

[Nekofrog]

Nintendo is making it really goddamn difficult to like their hardware these days.

 

[emag]

This thing just looks incredibly unergonomic.

It looks far more ergonomic than any Nintendo handheld since the original GBA/Micro.

 

[zma1013]

I love how GAF assumes the average consumer is a drooling idiot who get confused by different models of devices and rebrands.

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with this sentiment, I'm, you know, just sayin'.

Except that, and I'm speaking for myself here, have encountered several experiences directly with people that are greatly confused by the DS/3DS naming as well as the Wii/Wii U naming. It's almost like I'm talking Chinese when describing the differences between the DS and 3DS. Most assume they can play 3DS games on the DS, it just won't have 3D. Even after explaining things in several different ways, most just nod and agree even though I'm certain they still don't get it.

 

[Grinchy]

This looks like something my grandma would have gotten me for Christmas in 1987 for $5 from a drug store after hearing I liked video games.

 

[EmCeeGramr]

Well they do have kids playing it.

Those children must be 8 feet tall to be holding those!!

 

[I Stalk Alone]

I was actually excited when I read the thread title, a cheaper 3DS without the 3D gimmick, this however fucking blows

are you too physically challenged to turn off the 3d depth slider or just too price sensitive to buy a 3ds at the current price? is it both?

 

[WAR recon zero]

i thought this was a joke then i came to Gaf and ohlol

 

[Kyon]

Well they do have kids playing it.

But why do they have grown ups playing it in another pic if its ONLY for kids like Nintendo fans here are saying?

 

[Twilight Gap]

It looks far more ergonomic than any Nintendo handheld since the original GBA/Micro.

Which is saying a lot about where they've gone since.

But why do they have grown ups playing it in another pic if its ONLY for kids like Nintendo fans here are saying?

^

Is it costing them more to make this and sell it at $130 than it is to drop the price of the existing models?

 

[Toki767]

Man...waking up to this news is hilarious. Is the regular 3DS really not at the point where it can profit at $130 yet?

 

[FZZ]

Oop.


Why are Nintendo Stans using the defense that this is for kids when in the pic you posted those aren't even kids being advertised?

Well idk about Stans, but I admitted that the pic got me, but I still stand by my point that this is aimed at kids, at the very least mostly kids will be the ones getting this.

Also the only Stan is you Kyon, and Em crushed Pop-GAF in one day with Berzerk sales. Sorry.

 

[Kerub]

Nintendo, people didn't know the difference between the DS and the 3DS or the Wii and the Wii U. This is supposed to help?

Next up - 2DSUXLi.