Hands-On: Is Nintendo 3DS Really a "Game Changer?"

[BehattedWanderer]

I have to get it just because I know how inevitably awesome the third-party support is going to be.

That's my secondary reason for wanting to get one. Phenomenal third party support was where the PS2 got it's titanic lead in the market, and I'm looking to see Nintendo make some new friends with other developers, get back to the relationship it had N64 and GC eras.

 

[Blood Countess]

ask me, 3d is a fad and I think in time people will get sick of it so I see it as a waste of money but then I have seen all nintendo products a waste since after N64 so maybe I am not the best judge here

 

[standokan]

I really hope it fails, flops and dies, because I got a DSlite and I'm not intending on buying another DS.

 

[NoCure]

If we use the term "Game Changer" then no, its' not. It's another portable system, and as such it will never replace a Console or PC. Is it the best Portable on the market at the time of it's launch, yes. But the a "Game Changer" ... Hardly

 

[cthulhumythos]

i barely care about the 3d effect.


the thing i care about is that it's basically a handheld gamecube with upgraded graphics. i find it difficult to get into handheld games that aren't pokemon, and i think the graphical update, bigger cartridge space, and analog stick will really immerse me as much a stationary console.

plus, freakin' ocarina of time and kid icarus.

if they put on majora's mask i'd buy two 3ds' (as long as that was the only way to get it, other wise i'd stick to one)

well if all you care about is better mechanics, than wait for the PSP2... oh god, PS3 in the palm of my hand.

if that floats your boat.

i'm more of a Nintendo/Xbox fan, and therefore am more inclined to tilt their direction. plus 3ds has an analog stick. plus remakes with better graphics that tug at the nostalgia factor. plus it's 3d. plus it seems to be doing Nintendo games the old way (nostalgia factor again).

I recently bought an Xbox 360, excited for the many exclusives it brings... then I realized that there is hardly such thing as an "Xbox 360 exclusive"... it's more of a Microsoft exclusive. Almost everything for the 360 I can get for my new gaming laptop. I just find the 360 to be the poor man's way into owning something that will give him the ability to play computer games on something other than a computer.

But that's just me.

I really have not been impressed with the system at all. It's sad really.

But I agree with you that Nintendo is awesome! I may have to get this 3DS.

true, it has many flaws, but my computer can't run any thing bigger than a barely graphically upgraded morrowind (2011 killed my computer) also i'm a halo fan (and not a raving lunatic like near everyone believes).
but i digress, as this thread has nothing to do with Microsoft.

honestly i think every action nintendo makes is a game changer, not in the sense that they are fantastic leaps forward, but in the sense that microsoft and sometimes sony copies them.

* cough gamecube-> xbox.

* cough Nintendo revolution(now known as the wii) -> xbox 360

surprisingly nothing for the ds that i know of.

*cough motion controls on wii-> motion controls for everyone else. i'm not even convinced sony didn't just add a ball and paint the wiimote black.

 

[PROcrastinator]

Eh. It feels like im being forced to by it with all the games coming out for it. but i'll wait. If experience has taught me anything, it is to never by a console (handheld or not) the first time it comes out. I might wait a few months before i consider getting it, and save up money x.x

 

[timeadept]

Hands-On: Is Nintendo 3DS Really a "Game Changer?"
Nintendo is promoting the 3DS as a revolutionary system. Does it live up to the hype yet?

Before the Nintendo DS came out, people wondered: "Why a touchscreen?" Before the Wii came out, people asked: "Will motion control catch on?" Now that the 3DS is on its way [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/107068-Nintendo-Reveals-US-3DS-Pricing-and-Release-Date], those same exact people are questioning the ability of glasses-free 3D.

Nintendo calls the 3DS a "game changer,"

Honestly, i never use the touchscreen on my DS if i can avoid it, it rarely brings anything to the games i play on it and tends to be cumbersome. I still think that motion controls are cool and you really can't argue with the success of the wii but i'm still waiting for them to reach a level where they start to feel right. I don't expect 3D to ever be more than a gimmick and frankly, i'm worried about what will happen if nintendo bases an entire system on the idea of 3D. Once we all get it out of our system the 3DS will just be an expensive DS with an analog stick, but that stick might be helpful.

 

[Rednog]

i barely care about the 3d effect.


the thing i care about is that it's basically a handheld gamecube with upgraded graphics. i find it difficult to get into handheld games that aren't pokemon, and i think the graphical update, bigger cartridge space, and analog stick will really immerse me as much a stationary console.

plus, freakin' ocarina of time and kid icarus.

if they put on majora's mask i'd buy two 3ds' (as long as that was the only way to get it, other wise i'd stick to one)

well if all you care about is better mechanics, than wait for the PSP2... oh god, PS3 in the palm of my hand.

if that floats your boat.

i'm more of a Nintendo/Xbox fan, and therefore am more inclined to tilt their direction. plus 3ds has an analog stick. plus remakes with better graphics that tug at the nostalgia factor. plus it's 3d. plus it seems to be doing Nintendo games the old way (nostalgia factor again).

I recently bought an Xbox 360, excited for the many exclusives it brings... then I realized that there is hardly such thing as an "Xbox 360 exclusive"... it's more of a Microsoft exclusive. Almost everything for the 360 I can get for my new gaming laptop. I just find the 360 to be the poor man's way into owning something that will give him the ability to play computer games on something other than a computer.

But that's just me.

I really have not been impressed with the system at all. It's sad really.

But I agree with you that Nintendo is awesome! I may have to get this 3DS.

true, it has many flaws, but my computer can't run any thing bigger than a barely graphically upgraded morrowind (2011 killed my computer) also i'm a halo fan (and not a raving lunatic like near everyone believes).
but i digress, as this thread has nothing to do with Microsoft.

honestly i think every action nintendo makes is a game changer, not in the sense that they are fantastic leaps forward, but in the sense that microsoft and sometimes sony copies them.

* cough gamecube-> xbox.

* cough Nintendo revolution(now known as the wii) -> xbox 360

surprisingly nothing for the ds that i know of.

*cough motion controls on wii-> motion controls for everyone else. i'm not even convinced sony didn't just add a ball and paint the wiimote black.

Back that train up.
How is Microsoft Copying Nintendo?
The gamecube lead to the xbox?
How so? The Xbox took a completely different route than the gamecube, it offered more a huge array of 3rd party games and it solidified its place in the gaming world by taking up the banner that people want to play multiplayer with people all over the world and thus made Xbox live, the core of the Xbox brand. While Nintendo raised the banner of "No body wants to play online" and thus stuck with its tier of 1st party titles and alienating itself with 3rd party developers that still plagues them today.

And yes Microsoft is copying teh Wii by making the Xbox 360...except for the fact that the Xbox360 came out a full year before the Wii.... and even then its the same strategy for both parties as the last gen.

So you might want to check out that cough before you just go spouting your Nintendo love.

 

[cthulhumythos]

i barely care about the 3d effect.


the thing i care about is that it's basically a handheld gamecube with upgraded graphics. i find it difficult to get into handheld games that aren't pokemon, and i think the graphical update, bigger cartridge space, and analog stick will really immerse me as much a stationary console.

plus, freakin' ocarina of time and kid icarus.

if they put on majora's mask i'd buy two 3ds' (as long as that was the only way to get it, other wise i'd stick to one)

well if all you care about is better mechanics, than wait for the PSP2... oh god, PS3 in the palm of my hand.

if that floats your boat.

i'm more of a Nintendo/Xbox fan, and therefore am more inclined to tilt their direction. plus 3ds has an analog stick. plus remakes with better graphics that tug at the nostalgia factor. plus it's 3d. plus it seems to be doing Nintendo games the old way (nostalgia factor again).

I recently bought an Xbox 360, excited for the many exclusives it brings... then I realized that there is hardly such thing as an "Xbox 360 exclusive"... it's more of a Microsoft exclusive. Almost everything for the 360 I can get for my new gaming laptop. I just find the 360 to be the poor man's way into owning something that will give him the ability to play computer games on something other than a computer.

But that's just me.

I really have not been impressed with the system at all. It's sad really.

But I agree with you that Nintendo is awesome! I may have to get this 3DS.

true, it has many flaws, but my computer can't run any thing bigger than a barely graphically upgraded morrowind (2011 killed my computer) also i'm a halo fan (and not a raving lunatic like near everyone believes).
but i digress, as this thread has nothing to do with Microsoft.

honestly i think every action nintendo makes is a game changer, not in the sense that they are fantastic leaps forward, but in the sense that microsoft and sometimes sony copies them.

* cough gamecube-> xbox.

* cough Nintendo revolution(now known as the wii) -> xbox 360

surprisingly nothing for the ds that i know of.

*cough motion controls on wii-> motion controls for everyone else. i'm not even convinced sony didn't just add a ball and paint the wiimote black.

Back that train up.
How is Microsoft Copying Nintendo?
The gamecube lead to the xbox?
How so? The Xbox took a completely different route than the gamecube, it offered more a huge array of 3rd party games and it solidified its place in the gaming world by taking up the banner that people want to play multiplayer with people all over the world and thus made Xbox live, the core of the Xbox brand. While Nintendo raised the banner of "No body wants to play online" and thus stuck with its tier of 1st party titles and alienating itself with 3rd party developers that still plagues them today.

And yes Microsoft is copying teh Wii by making the Xbox 360...except for the fact that the Xbox360 came out a full year before the Wii.... and even then its the same strategy for both parties as the last gen.

So you might want to check out that cough before you just go spouting your Nintendo love.

uhg.

i realise now that i should've been more specific. i was referring to the names.

game-cube. x-box. you might as well call it virtual-reality rectangular prism.

the revolution was the first title of the wii. you know when they changed it? when the xbox 360 was announced. i figure you understand the similarity, but if not: revolution=360 degrees.

i am not a nintendo fanboy. the xbox is completely different aesthetically and software-wise. i was commenting on the name. in fact the only actual software thing i mentioned was motion control. (i'm not even a fan of it, it just seems to be the way major game corporations think the future is).

i'm sorry you did not understand the intention of that segment of my post (which was to point out that it seems where nintendo goes the other two seem to follow, be it in name or device.)

 

[FinalHeart95]

Other titles like Dead or Alive: Dimensions [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/107115-Hands-On-Dead-or-Alive-Dimensions], where characters are constantly moving through their environments, seem highly suited for the effect.

Mhm, "characters".

I believe you mean boobs Goldman. 3D Boobies.

 

[neoontime]

AH, I want this waaaaayyyyyyy toooo much already.

 

[jebbo]

I think the 3DS will see an initial slow entry followed by a MASSIVE word of mouth pick up just like the original DS.

Cast your minds back to when the DS was a new device with demo units in GAME stores. No-one (apart from those "in the know") really cared for it for quite a while even with seriously decent 1st and 3rd party support.

But eventually with free demos available in store and enough people walking past it, the DS suddenly exploded - plus factor in Nintendo's seemingly un-ending availability of casual shovelware on top of the few actual quality gems of games will see this sell in the millions after a few months imo

As for the 3D... I'm not fussed BUT!! it's Nintendo! - they wont have done something rubbish now will they, we all know it's going to have a WOW factor the first time (and remember that's supposed to be the hook - this is an 'experience' that supposedly can't be described until you play) and as the article says, with good developers taking the challenge on board we should see some very interesting graphical shifts and new mechanics unavailable on any other console

 

[ultimasupersaiyan]

I've got to import one from the US since it's region locked. I don't give a crap about it's 3D to be honest. Knowing the friend code system is easier is great new since I hated the old system.

 

[macfluffers]

The 3D idea is really cool. It might end up just being a gimmick for non-Nintendo games, but at least it would be a non-intrusive gimmick.

I think I'll get a hold of one eventually, but I'll wait a while. The only game for it I'm really interested in at the moment is KH3D. Of course, more games that catch my interest will be made, and I'll wait until those few others exist.

Then again, I tend to buy things on a much longer lag than most people. I still have original PlayStation games I need to finish.

 

[SovietSecrets]

Again better to wait with this one. Battery life ain't that great, high price tag, and the entire if your hands shake or you mash on it will fuck up the image. Rather wait a bit.

 

[SilverUchiha]

Well the online capabilities sounds nice and the analog stick is something that hasn't been mentioned enough, so I'm glad to hear how it is an improvement.

But I'll probably still wait. Tight budget right now and the launch titles seem rather bland (at this point). If I'm lucky, I'll have spare cash sometime afterwards that won't be going to more important purchases. (Portal 2 and Pokemon B/W get priority first).

 

[McLemminz]

That's not a game changer.
Now this, THIS is a game changer!

 

[demoman_chaos]

Nintendo tried glasses free 3D before, the Virtual Boy failure was among the worst in gaming.

 

[Grey_Focks]

Yea, it looks pretty and all, but that battery life is a joke. Why should I get a 3DS when I have a laptop with a higher level of graphics, roughly same battery life (but will most likely be plugged in at all times, also just like the 3DS), and I can do a helluva lot more than play games on it?

The remakes are nice and everything, but this whole thing just reeks of a cash-in.