Poll: Did you know there was a new 3DS?

[Spaceman Spiff]

I had no idea. I'm still playing on my DS Lite.

Who the heck gave go-ahead to call it "New 3DS"? That is going to cause mass confusion.

 

[L. Declis]

Wait, it's a different console?

I didn't know it was different. I thought it was like the 2DS, or the 3DS XL, or a 3DS with special cover, or whatever other version of the same thing they're releasing.

If it's a new thing, change the name. Otherwise, I just assume it's like the PS Slim; the same thing in a smaller box. But I do think Nintendo is taking the piss with releasing and re-releasing the same console with no massive difference. I get it, they're getting desperate after the Wii U, but I already have a 3DS, I don't want two.

 

[JonB]

I only know because it is literally my job.

 

[Signa]

Nintendo has evidently released a new version of their 3DS called...New 3DS (must have taken them ages to come up with that name).

The New 3DS has a goofy little nubby (the C Stick; similar to the C stick on the Gamecube if anyone remembers that thing except smaller), Amiibo support, and a more powerful CPU. It will also have games that take advantage of this as well as games that will be exclusive to the New 3DS (so your old 3DS will not be able to play them period like "Xenoblade Chronicles 3D")

What baffles me is that I had zero clue this thing even existed, let alone was out and ready for purchase. I almost bought Xenoblade Chronicles until a random comment [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.873682-So-my-3DS-XL-just-died-on-me#21933677] in a thread clued me into the New 3DS existing and that the game would be no use on my 3DS.

So I'm curious; am I the only one (cue Critical Miss "you're never the only one" image) that didn't know this thing existed and was out? Am I paying that little attention or is there no buzz or information about this thing whatsoever?

Since this is news to you, there's one other perk of the N3DS that you didn't mention: The 3D ACTUALLY WORKS!

I never picked up the original 3DS because my DS and GBA are still kicking ass, but also the main selling point, the 3D, pretty much looked like ass. The N3DS has a face tracking feature that almost completely removes the double-imaging that comes from the 3D.

 

[tippy2k2]

Since this is news to you, there's one other perk of the N3DS that you didn't mention: The 3D ACTUALLY WORKS!

I never picked up the original 3DS because my DS and GBA are still kicking ass, but also the main selling point, the 3D, pretty much looked like ass. The N3DS has a face tracking feature that almost completely removes the double-imaging that comes from the 3D.

Just curious; have you actually used it or are you going by what Nintendo said? Cause I remember hearing them say that about my own 3DS...

 

[kasperbbs]

I read about it on this site when it was announced some time ago..

 

[Hero of Lime]

Since this is news to you, there's one other perk of the N3DS that you didn't mention: The 3D ACTUALLY WORKS!

I never picked up the original 3DS because my DS and GBA are still kicking ass, but also the main selling point, the 3D, pretty much looked like ass. The N3DS has a face tracking feature that almost completely removes the double-imaging that comes from the 3D.

Just curious; have you actually used it or are you going by what Nintendo said? Cause I remember hearing them say that about my own 3DS...

The 3D on the new model is substantially better than the original. However, I could still care less about the 3D on the 3DS, the games themselves are all I care about.

OT: For my answer, I've known about the new 3DS the moment it was announced for Japan back in 2014. I follow Nintendo news closely so that should be no surprise. I'm also looking at mine as I type this.

 

[Signa]

Since this is news to you, there's one other perk of the N3DS that you didn't mention: The 3D ACTUALLY WORKS!

I never picked up the original 3DS because my DS and GBA are still kicking ass, but also the main selling point, the 3D, pretty much looked like ass. The N3DS has a face tracking feature that almost completely removes the double-imaging that comes from the 3D.

Just curious; have you actually used it or are you going by what Nintendo said? Cause I remember hearing them say that about my own 3DS...

Yeah, I finally broke down and bought the N3DS. I showed my co-worker who had a normal 3DS, and he was just blown away at how good it was. He kept asking throughout the day to mess with my DS just to admire how much better it looked.

You basically can leave the 3D slider maxed out the whole time now. On the old system, you had to slide it around a bit to figure out the optimal spot, but it would then diminish the 3D effect, just to be playable.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I read about something called "New New 3DS" but didn't know if it was out already or not.
They should reconsider their naming policies by the way.

 

[busterkeatonrules]

Another one AGAIN?

Well, I had no idea - but this sort of thing is exactly why I don't really bother with Nintendo any more. It's hard to take them seriously when they genuinely seem more focused on churning out new consoles than making games for the damn things.

 

[WeepingAngels]

Another one AGAIN?

Well, I had no idea - but this sort of thing is exactly why I don't really bother with Nintendo any more. It's hard to take them seriously when they genuinely seem more focused on churning out new consoles than making games for the damn things.

This has to be a joke, Nintendo has been on fire with the 3DS and they aren't doing too bad on the Wii U. I guess that you would know that if you bothered with Nintendo.

 

[busterkeatonrules]

Another one AGAIN?

Well, I had no idea - but this sort of thing is exactly why I don't really bother with Nintendo any more. It's hard to take them seriously when they genuinely seem more focused on churning out new consoles than making games for the damn things.

This has to be a joke, Nintendo has been on fire with the 3DS and they aren't doing too bad on the Wii U. I guess that you would know that if you bothered with Nintendo.

Sure they're on fire right NOW - until they make another set of consoles. Then, all the games that are popular now will get highly anticipated sequels that only work on the NEXT lineup of consoles. I bought the two first Professor Layton games for the first DS, then the series continued on the 3DS. And coming up next is a lineup of shiny, new 3DS games that won't work on the plain ol' DS.

Bottom line: Shelling out for a Nintendo console these days is a one-way ticket to Obsolescence Town, and in the end I decided to stick to the Sony train instead. True, the destination is ultimately the same - the PS4 is loudly making its presence known - but the journey has lasted a lot longer, and that is what matters to me!

 

[Phlap]

Bought an N3DSXL day 1 along with Majora's Mask 3D, but only because I had a non-XL original 3DS.

Nintendo's naming scheme has been absolutely terrible these past few years.

 

[WeepingAngels]

Another one AGAIN?

Well, I had no idea - but this sort of thing is exactly why I don't really bother with Nintendo any more. It's hard to take them seriously when they genuinely seem more focused on churning out new consoles than making games for the damn things.

This has to be a joke, Nintendo has been on fire with the 3DS and they aren't doing too bad on the Wii U. I guess that you would know that if you bothered with Nintendo.

Sure they're on fire right NOW - until they make another set of consoles. Then, all the games that are popular now will get highly anticipated sequels that only work on the NEXT lineup of consoles. I bought the two first Professor Layton games for the first DS, then the series continued on the 3DS. And coming up next is a lineup of shiny, new 3DS games that won't work on the plain ol' DS.

Bottom line: Shelling out for a Nintendo console these days is a one-way ticket to Obsolescence Town, and in the end I decided to stick to the Sony train instead. True, the destination is ultimately the same - the PS4 is loudly making its presence known - but the journey has lasted a lot longer, and that is what matters to me!

LOL, not that I don't like Sony but the PS4 doesn't even have backwards compatibility. Atleast I can play my DS games on my 3DS and my Wii games on my Wii U and that's not even taking the Virtual Console into account. Going back further the Wii could play Gamecube games and Nintendo has always had backward compatibility on their handhelds.

I know you don't think this but the way you made it sound was that every Mario should have been released on the NES since that is where the franchise started.

 

[Rebel_Raven]

I knew it was coming out, but I missed the boat on the special editions (I really like the monster hunter one!) and only recently took the plunge and bought one. I got a clear cover for it. Sooner or later I'll insert a paper picture to customize it.

 

[FPLOON]

http://media.giphy.com/media/ZUmbRcfBzThtu/giphy.gif
I could not "stop" hearing about it even if I tried... I mean, so many ads relating to Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate and Majora's Mask 3D (that even had Jesse Cox in one of them, I think) and then deciding between getting that Persona-themed 3DS XL or the MH4U N3DS XL (in which I got the formal because it's freaking PERSONA[footnote]Plus, it was on my wishlist first... Sorry, Monster Hunter...[/footnote]) was just so overwhelming that it baffles me that not everyone knows about this... I thought this was The Escapist where the community knows so much about gaming that we even make fun of that fact time and time again like it's some immortal parody movie that will always stand the test of time and shit... In the mortal words of Arin Hanson: "What is this?! What is this?! What is my life?!"

*ahem* Other than that, I could probably give this same answer to any "new" Nintendo-based product at this point... It's madness, I tells ya! MADNESS!!<color=white>...And I fucking LOVE it!

 

[Yopaz]

I heard about it at the time of announcement and I was eagerly waiting for it to be released. In the year leading up to its release I was in the process of replacing my old 3DS since it was old and battered (R and L buttons rarely work and sometimes after keeping it in sleep mode it doesn't resume) so I have followed the news closely. Now I have the Monster Hunter 4 New 3DS bundle which I pre-ordered as soon as I saw it available.

That said, the name is terrible. If someone has a dying 3DS the question is if they should get a new 3DS or a New 3DS. Oh, how about a used New 3DS? Meh, just get a Vita.

 

[Guffe]

Yeah, I watch the Nintendo Directs so I knew it was coming and what the difference was.
I do agree, as with the WiiU, that if there is a big enough change in a "new" console, change the God damn name -.-

 

[Broderick]

Don't have one. Kind of want one for some of the newer games coming out for it in the future. The 3ds was announced ages ago though, so I don't know why you are just hearing about it now. Apparently it is just a substantially upgraded 3ds. More processing power and the like. According to word of god, The Binding of Isaac:Rebirth is coming out for it, and actually plays quite well on it. One of the original reasons why it didn't work out on the original 3ds is that the 3ds just wasn't up to snuff to actually play the game at a decent frame-rate. The game will be censor free too, in all it's bloody glory.

 

[busterkeatonrules]

Another one AGAIN?

Well, I had no idea - but this sort of thing is exactly why I don't really bother with Nintendo any more. It's hard to take them seriously when they genuinely seem more focused on churning out new consoles than making games for the damn things.

This has to be a joke, Nintendo has been on fire with the 3DS and they aren't doing too bad on the Wii U. I guess that you would know that if you bothered with Nintendo.

Sure they're on fire right NOW - until they make another set of consoles. Then, all the games that are popular now will get highly anticipated sequels that only work on the NEXT lineup of consoles. I bought the two first Professor Layton games for the first DS, then the series continued on the 3DS. And coming up next is a lineup of shiny, new 3DS games that won't work on the plain ol' DS.

Bottom line: Shelling out for a Nintendo console these days is a one-way ticket to Obsolescence Town, and in the end I decided to stick to the Sony train instead. True, the destination is ultimately the same - the PS4 is loudly making its presence known - but the journey has lasted a lot longer, and that is what matters to me!

LOL, not that I don't like Sony but the PS4 doesn't even have backwards compatibility. Atleast I can play my DS games on my 3DS and my Wii games on my Wii U and that's not even taking the Virtual Console into account. Going back further the Wii could play Gamecube games and Nintendo has always had backward compatibility on their handhelds.

I know you don't think this but the way you made it sound was that every Mario should have been released on the NES since that is where the franchise started.

I don't really need backwards compatibility on my Sony consoles because I still have my PS1, my PS2 and my PS3. And the reason I can afford all these consoles is because a new one only comes out once a decade or so. Start buying Nintendo consoles, and you'll never be done!

Yeah, Nintendo's backwards compatibility is great and all, but when I buy a new console I expect a steady stream of new games for it throughout the foreseeable future. As long as there's always a slightly more fancy Nintendo console right around the corner, my best bet as a consumer (who wants the biggest possible selection of games) is to keep waiting for the next one. And the next one.

I'm not bothering with Nintendo because I do not see this as a sustainable business model. (The only way I can buy a Nintendo console and be sure that it will remain top dog for any significant amount of time, is if Nintendo goes out of business immediately after releasing it!)

Now, if they were to make a FORWARDS compatible console (whose games would function on OLDER consoles, possibly with slightly fuzzier graphics etc.), I might well reconsider.