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The form factor of the 3DS is horrendous

Machina said:
Even the addition of the Dream Gear grip doesn't really help matters.
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Should have got the Cyber Grip.

61iPlN4sUuL._SL1000_.jpg




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Its so bad that it ruins games enjoyment value. If the same exact game was on vita for example same exact graphics etc it would be so much more enjoyable. This is with a grip, without the grip its nearly unplayable. My hand gets messed up within a few minutes aand that just doesnt happen with anything else. So bad that i just want to up and sell the thing because even if i find a game im interested in i cant play it because its so uncomfortable.
 
I bought a shell for the OG 3DS that made it incredibly comfortable. I've been fine with my New 3DS XL. I don't play it for periods of time that would cause hand cramps. I think that's the point of handhelds anyway, and why they aren't designed more ergonomically.
 
My only real complaint about the XL is that it's heavy. I tend to just play it in bed laying on my stomach, so like that, it's fine... but playing normally sitting up does get tiring after a while. Still, the pros outweigh the cons by a significant margin.
 
it really is. I have big hands and I've found that the smaller models feel better to play for extended periods of time but even still it's not ideal. the 3DS XL is truly atrocious though. if a game used the shoulder buttons at all I could pretty much only play for like 20-30 minutes at a time before it became too much to deal with. I do think the regular sized version of the New 3DS was an improvement over the OG models but yeah I hope the Switch feels better. I know people complain about the gamepad but I actually think it's pretty comfy so I'm hopeful that the Switch will be as well.
 
I kinda feel ya, but it has been this way since DS Lite. The last really comfortable handheld for me was the original grey brick DS that everyone seems to dislike.

It's not that much of an issue though, since I mostly play slowpaced games on handheld where I don't have to have a steady grip on the thing. Something like Mario Kart is hard to play for longer sessions though. Ow well
 
3dsxl is not that bad. It's that it's heavy.

But having owned the ds lite twice, I can say that ine was more painful. Mario Kart ds was deadly after a while of playing.

The edges oncthe Lite were also more painful.
 
Yep, even the new 3DS. The placement of the dpad and the shoulder buttons give me serious hand pain.

I actually get less pain with games like kid Icarus, where I don't use the horribly placed dpad at all. I literally can't play Monster Hunter because of pain.
 
As I've got older, my hands have tolerated boxy plastics less and less. The 3DS has never been comfortable for me. The n3DS is even worse with its terrible Z buttons.

It's one reason I'm excited about the Switch. I can play all that shit with a controller that doesn't hurt my hands.
 
Y2Kev said:
It's a very uncomfortable design. I think it is sort of limited in how comfortable it can be given the clamshell nature. Maybe. Maybe that's irrelevant. Not sure. But I think their new Switch design looks better.
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It is directly caused by the clamshell setup. Too much weight above where you're holding it. The 3DS "wants to" rotate forwards, requiring constant force to compensate.

This is also the reason why people love the 2DS. Buttons high up, so your natural point of support is much more in line with the device's center of mass.
 
I'll second the suggestion for the cyber grip. If you decide to purchase one make sure you pay attention to the fact that there are two versions available with significantly different ergonomics. On the older version, the "finger rest" on the back is much higher (just under the triggers), while on the most recent version it's lowered to be closer to the middle of the device. Depending on how you like to hold the device and how large your hands are you could find one to be much more comfortable/uncomfortable than the other.

Here's the back of the newer version for a comparison to the older version images pasted above:
51xVSVVmgKL._SL1000_.jpg
 
I play all games with the Circle Pad Pro just for the grip. Nearly doubles the weight but it won't make me feel like I'm developing carpal tunnel.
 
I sold my 3DS after a month because it was far too uncomfortable. As good as MK7 was there's no way I could go back to that. The Vita is much much better for ergonomics.
 
the new 3ds is godlike. i dont know why some people are complaining, i find the vita with the small weird sticking out buttons more uncomfortable.

but we are far away from the psp, where you had to use the monkey-paw-grab to play monster hunter.

thats what i call horrendous.
 
Never played a handheld that felt comfortable for long gaming sessions without my hands going numb.

Vita, 3DS xl, phones, tablets, none of it is comfortable.

Those add-on grips probably work but I haven't tried them since the PSP days.
 
None of the DS or 3DS handhelds were comfortable to hold for me. Thankfully Hori made good grips for the 3DS, ones that also extend the shoulder buttons.

v3JokB3.jpg
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And while I don't intend to play Switch games much in handheld mode, going with a Vita style layout is nice to see.
 
I haven't been able to play my non-XL 3DS since I got my iPhone 6s Plus. Screen is way too small. Would love to play Animal crossing or finish Ocarina.
 
The New 3DS XL is possibly has the worst ergonomic in any handheld systems I've ever owned. Even a Gameboy SP is more pleasant to use. At one point I felt like a muscle on my palm at the base of the thumb was swollen to the point that I couldn't drive my car and I never had a problem like that during my 30 yrs gaming experience. Just wth was Nintendo thinking when they designed this thing?
 
renzolama said:
I'll second the suggestion for the cyber grip. If you decide to purchase one make sure you pay attention to the fact that there are two versions available with significantly different ergonomics. On the older version, the "finger rest" on the back is much higher (just under the triggers), while on the most recent version it's lowered to be closer to the middle of the device. Depending on how you like to hold the device and how large your hands are you could find one to be much more comfortable/uncomfortable than the other.

Here's the back of the newer version for a comparison to the older version images pasted above:
51xVSVVmgKL._SL1000_.jpg
Click to expand...

I got one of these recently and it's a godsend. A bit awkward at first, but I quickly got used to it and can't imagine playing the 3ds without it now. While I imagine it'd be best for more actiony games like monster hunter or smash, even for RPGs I'm playing like fantasy life and Pokemon it's great for long sessions.
 
purseowner said:
I find the New 3DS XL far less comfortable than the OG XL. But both pale compared to the ultra-comfortable smaller New 3DS. Build quality is far better on that too - the thing feels highly sturdy and solid.
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Is the normal New 3DS actually more comfortable? I may have to grab one of those 99$ ones instead of the XL I was planning on getting if so.
 
It's gotten so bad I plan my 3DS sessions around when my next hit of ibuprofen will be (I have back pain that flairs up during stress or towards the end of a work week, but I don't take it everyday because of how terrible that is for you). If I'm not careful (like, if I play a couple hours multiple days in a row) it'll make the joints in my fingers hurt for days. It's a fucking torture device for someone with bigger hands and longer fingers.

I'm on a regular XL
 
Damn this thread has me worried now. My Vita gives me cramps sometimes too.

Should I look for an XL because I have big hands? or do grips really help with that?
 
MattyG said:
Is the normal New 3DS actually more comfortable? I may have to grab one of those 99$ ones instead of the XL I was planning on getting if so.
Click to expand...

the regular sized New 3DS is the most comfortable of the bunch but it's still not great

FantasticMrFoxdie said:
Damn this thread has me worried now. My Vita gives me cramps sometimes too.

Should I look for an XL because I have big hands? or do grips really help with that?
Click to expand...

I have big hands and still find the XL models to be the worst. the OG 3DS and regular sized New 3DS > XL for me.
 
I once played Aria of Sorrow for 8 hours on a GBA Micro and had a blistering headache and cramps in my hands the entire day after. That was a harsh lesson to take ergonomics more seriously.

Tomato Convenience Store said:
1e3e18b05c.jpg


I get a level of comfort close to the Xbox One pad with this £4 grip from Amazon.
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I consider my XL unusable when the grip is off. My hands start hurting within 10 minutes.

I have the Cyber Grip which is thick and rubbery. Couldn't play Monster Hunter without it - not having my hands rest on these horns and instead just awkwardly pressing a rectangular piece of plastic feels terrible.

However, the triggers are still uncomfortable, and the circle pad especially has this relatively strong resistance to it that feels worse on my thumb than the 360 sticks.

I'm very happy that I will have so many options with the Switch - because as I'm approaching my mid-30s, repetitive strain injury is a very real threat and I already had to stop playing games for a week a couple of times in the last few years, always from playing handhelds too much. Never had this problem with modern console controllers.

Not to mention that having to hold up the device instead of just watching straight ahead with my pad in my lap adds to the strain handhelds put on my body.

I can't wait for Monster Hunter to be consolized with the Switch. I love the game but it's trapped on such an unsuitable device, especially with that awful and hilariously outdated resolution.

I still love it for Picross 3D and Rhythm Heaven.
 
The 3DS XL isn't too bad for me to hold, but the D-Pad placement is horrendous. Even for 2D games I use the Circle Pad because using the D-Pad is too uncomfortable.
 
The N3DS XL is a huge improvement over the original 3DS imo. The original 3DS was genuinely uncomfortable to hold due to the tiny bumps on the corners which would slowly drill into your palms over time. A tiny element of abrasiveness which became an itch, which became a sore, which became actual torture after a couple of hours. I even thought about filing them off but I didn't want to disfigure my collector's edition OoT unit.
 
It's a miracle I was able to play through Mario 3D Land with that thing, thankfully I can use a standard controller for Switch.
 
100% agree with OP.

I was playing almost Vita daily for 18 months, no issue. After about 3 weeks of N3DSXL usage my right wrist was cramping up and giving me real issues.

Ended up buying the Hori grips and haven't had an issue since. Yes its expensive but my wrist health long term easily justified the cost.

I am pretty sure I'll have to buy grips for the Switch as well (but hopeful Nintendo will supply their own)
 
Big Handed User here for the N3DS XL, and have no real problems except where the placement of the power button now is. Every once and a while I will graze it, and it will shut down the game I am playing. Lost my first 2 hours of Pokemon Sun to that yesterday.
 
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