Meet the Nintendo 2DS.

[cmdrdredd]

Christ, everyone in this thread is completely missing the point.

It's a budget alternative to the 3DS with some features cut out, intended for children 7 and under. If you think it's a joke, or you don't "get it", then it's not for you.

Kids 7 and under scratch he shit out of the screens as it is. This makes that fact worse. There is nothing to get..it is a stupid idea from a company who has made stupid moves for a year.

 

[ViRGE]

So in essence they just put an end to 3D on the handheld and make the 3DS kind of pointless at least from a pricing standpoint. I say that because now, it's just another DS.

Essentially they've just split the customer base in an extreme fashion. While I (think) the 3DS has better specs overall than a DS...the 3D is what had the price so high on it. If they are phasing out 3D, then whats the point of getting a 3DS over this or a DS? They may as well just keep everything working on a DS and make them all compatible. Seems like a very odd move. The only thing that probably will make ppl get a 3DS over this is the design of the 2DS which is....just not good.

You're aware of the specs of the DS and 3DS, right? The DS is an ancient design that's barely 3D graphics capable and possesses less RAM than your current CPU has cache. Even without stereoscopic 3D, the 3DS is still a massive, generational improvement over the DS. So the idea that Nintendo should drop the current generation 3DS platform entirely is borderline absurd (it would be like saying we should ditch current GPUs and go back to GeForce Ti 4200s).

 

[tential]

I thought this was a joke...

MS's CEO just got the axe for failing again and again. Will Nintendo just go for a beheading by Katana?

I'd seriously be extremely unhappy if I was a Nintendo investor/stakeholder and saw this. Are they trying to create bad products now?

I wonder when Nintendo will give up on Hardware and jump on the Sony/Xbox One wagon. It's only a matter of time now. You can only make so many mistakes.

 

[smackababy]

It is much more likely they would switch to just handheld consoles before they went all software. They sell millions of handhelds, regardless of how stupid they look. The DS sold almost as many units as the PS2. The worst selling handheld I can see is the 3ds, and that has sold 32 million units in 3 years. They hardly fail at making handhelds.

 

[mmntech]

The controls have to be higher so that you can use the shoulder buttons.

Correct you are sir. Sometimes I forget the 3DS has shoulder buttons. Don't have many games that use them. Though I suppose it could still work if they used pinball style side triggers.

 

[Black Octagon]

Why is this only for under 7s? I stopped using my DSi years ago because most games now require a 3DS. This therefore looks perfect for me (not sure about the price though) and I'm..quite a bit older than 7, hehe

 

[Dumac]

Guys, you aren't the target audience. Kids/parents of kids is who this redesign is geared towards.

1. Cheap price point at $129. On sale, I can see this hitting $99. Imagine how easy it is to justify a purchase of a handheld for your kid when it is only two digits.

2. No hinge. Kids break hinges WAY too easily. I wouldn't be surprised if it is the most commonly broken part of the DS/3DS. This goes back to the gameboy/gameboy advance days where the device is easy to maintain and not very likely to need to be replaced.

3. No 3D. Some of you are saying that this is Nintendo backtracking on 3D being entertaining/useful, but think about it from a parent's perspective. 3D caused a huge scare as being bad for the developing eyes of children. It was a huge controversy, despite little scientific research to back it up. Nintendo did its best to dissuade fears by adding parentals controls and such, but to the uninformed buyer no 3D = my kid's eyes are safe.

 

[Dumac]

I thought this was a joke...

MS's CEO just got the axe for failing again and again. Will Nintendo just go for a beheading by Katana?

I'd seriously be extremely unhappy if I was a Nintendo investor/stakeholder and saw this. Are they trying to create bad products now?

I wonder when Nintendo will give up on Hardware and jump on the Sony/Xbox One wagon. It's only a matter of time now. You can only make so many mistakes.

How about actually saying something rather than just "this sucks".

The 3DS is selling well, and the Wii U sales are poised to pick up steam over the next year. People yell that hte sky is falling every Nintendo generation.

Kids 7 and under scratch he shit out of the screens as it is. This makes that fact worse. There is nothing to get..it is a stupid idea from a company who has made stupid moves for a year.

The screen is much more durable than the hinge. Scratching it is hard to do. Not to mention, most of the scratching occurs when actually playing the game because kids use their fingers/some sharp object or push to hard on the stylus, so the clamshell design doesn't protect squat.

Not to mention, a 3DS with a broken hinge is useless while a 3DS with a scratched screen is just ugly.

The likelyhood of needing replacement/repair due to a scratched screen is far less than due to a broken hinge.

So in essence they just put an end to 3D on the handheld and make the 3DS kind of pointless at least from a pricing standpoint. I say that because now, it's just another DS.

Essentially they've just split the customer base in an extreme fashion. While I (think) the 3DS has better specs overall than a DS...the 3D is what had the price so high on it. If they are phasing out 3D, then whats the point of getting a 3DS over this or a DS? They may as well just keep everything working on a DS and make them all compatible. Seems like a very odd move. The only thing that probably will make ppl get a 3DS over this is the design of the 2DS which is....just not good.

You do realize the 3DS is a completely different platform, right? Regardless of 3D, the DS couldn't play 3DS games.

You are basically asking "why get a PS2 over a PS1?".

Improved graphics, new library, etc.

 

[Dumac]

Anybody else think the controls are in an odd place? They're usually at the bottom. Maybe it's better balanced that way. I don't know, just seems weird to me.

The large amount of empty space feels weird ot me.

I wonder what this means for 3D gaming. I've noticed Nintendo hasnt been playing it up lately. Hardly at all really. There's not many games that really made good use of of the effect for gameplay.

Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is being developed with the 3D in mind. So was Super Mario 3D Land.

I think Smash Bros will be developed with it in mind too, as far as stages, assist trophies, items, etc.

I think first party games use it the most, which is to be expected. I can't remember what first party games have come out for the 3DS as of late.

 

[ViRGE]

No 3D. Some of you are saying that this is Nintendo backtracking on 3D being entertaining/useful, but think about it from a parent's perspective. 3D caused a huge scare as being bad for the developing eyes of children. It was a huge controversy, despite little scientific research to back it up. Nintendo did its best to dissuade fears by adding parentals controls and such, but to the uninformed buyer no 3D = my kid's eyes are safe.

And that's really what this comes down to. It's first and foremost Nintendo's long term solution to capturing the under-7 market, where stereoscopic 3D is a health concern, and they've said as much. The fact that this is a cost reduced model (and apparently at least a bit ruggedized) helps that, but those are secondary factors.

 

[ImpulsE69]

You do realize the 3DS is a completely different platform, right? Regardless of 3D, the DS couldn't play 3DS games.

You are basically asking "why get a PS2 over a PS1?".

Improved graphics, new library, etc.

You're aware of the specs of the DS and 3DS, right? The DS is an ancient design that's barely 3D graphics capable and possesses less RAM than your current CPU has cache. Even without stereoscopic 3D, the 3DS is still a massive, generational improvement over the DS. So the idea that Nintendo should drop the current generation 3DS platform entirely is borderline absurd (it would be like saying we should ditch current GPUs and go back to GeForce Ti 4200s).

You two need to read a bit closer. Look at what I wrote, then reconsider what you are asking. I KNOW they are different, but they aren't really doing anything more with the 3DS than what the DS is doing. The games are NOT that big of a step up from the DS and almost look identical in overall quality. The 3D is what that system is about. New library is secondary to this because there really wasn't a reason to have a new library w/o the 3D portion. I suppose in terms of "3D worlds" (not 3D vision) obviously it does this much better than the DS, but that is still a small portion of the games.

The 3D in the games so far is just...not necessary so I suppose in the long run it really won't matter, but I think it will push future development to just not even worry about 3D at all.

 

[Dumac]

You two need to read a bit closer. Look at what I wrote, then reconsider what you are asking. I KNOW they are different, but they aren't really doing anything more with the 3DS than what the DS is doing. The games are NOT that big of a step up from the DS and almost look identical in overall quality.

I'd have to disagree.

The 3D is what that system is about.

No, it is what Nintendo advertised most. I play with the 3d off on most games, but still enjoy the improved visuals from the better hardware and gameplay due to a better control interface.

New library is secondary to this because there really wasn't a reason to have a new library w/o the 3D portion.

Says who? You are blind if you can't see the difference between 3DS and DS games.

The 3D in the games so far is just...not necessary so I suppose in the long run it really won't matter, but I think it will push future development to just not even worry about 3D at all.

It isn't necessary, but it is an added feature that works well in some games. Also, there is nothing to really worry about. It is practically cost-free for the developer. Just an option they can use if they want to.

 

[ImpulsE69]

I'd have to disagree.
.

Yea..no. I'll give you SMB...but the rest? Still not much of a step up. My point still stands, but in looking deeper, supposedly Nintendo is not walking away from 3D, so who knows, it may mean absolutely nothing to anyone at the end of the day. My main concern was a division of the customer base, which doesn't appear to be an issue.

 

[waggy]

Nice!

i will have to look into this. my son wants the 3ds but no way am i buying one. also the 3ds hurts my eyes.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I know a kid who threw his DS down on the tile floor, like a baseball. The hinge stayed intact but the screen cracked.

 

[waggy]

I know a kid who threw his DS down on the tile floor, like a baseball. The hinge stayed intact but the screen cracked.

My daughter has a Xl the hinge broke. she treats the thing great and it still broke.

i know a few that have have had it break too.

So i'm not to disgusted with teh new design.

 

[Zodiark1593]

What I want is a high end model made with carbon fiber or brushed aluminum exterior, IPS or OLED 3D displays, stronger hinge, aluminum buttons, larger battery, and a few other odds and ends I can't be bothered to type. Call it the 3DS Ultra or something like that, I'd buy the thing even at $250-$300.

 

[cmdrdredd]

What I want is a high end model made with carbon fiber or brushed aluminum exterior, IPS or OLED 3D displays, stronger hinge, aluminum buttons, larger battery, and a few other odds and ends I can't be bothered to type. Call it the 3DS Ultra or something like that, I'd buy the thing even at $250-$300.

Lol that might be kind of cool actually...

 

[Dumac]

Nice!

i will have to look into this. my son wants the 3ds but no way am i buying one. also the 3ds hurts my eyes.

My daughter has a Xl the hinge broke. she treats the thing great and it still broke.

i know a few that have have had it break too.

So i'm not to disgusted with teh new design.

See! The guy with kids understands it.

 

[cmdrdredd]

See! The guy with kids understands it.

I understand...it's a way to try to get people to run out and buy new systems for the holiday.

 

[Dumac]

I understand...it's a way to try to get people to run out and buy new systems for the holiday.

Obviously. That is what everyone is trying to do it is the goal of the industry.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Obviously. That is what everyone is trying to do it is the goal of the industry.

While they fragment the system and developers. Now they make the 3D even more of a gimmick because developers will stop making games that use 3D in cool ways. Why even make a 3DS if you are gonna go back to 2D anyway?

 

[ImpulsE69]

While they fragment the system and developers. Now they make the 3D even more of a gimmick because developers will stop making games that use 3D in cool ways. Why even make a 3DS if you are gonna go back to 2D anyway?

This was kind of my point. Sure you can have games with 3D that play fine in 2D, but...if they aren't MADE with 3D in mind, then..well...it's not the same thing.

 

[ViRGE]

This was kind of my point. Sure you can have games with 3D that play fine in 2D, but...if they aren't MADE with 3D in mind, then..well...it's not the same thing.

Stereoscopic 3D was always going to be a gimmick though. 15% of the population flat out can't see stereo 3D, and another significant chunk gets headaches from the tech. So you could never create a game that required stereo 3D in the first place; all games have to be playable in 2D as a least common denominator.

The 3DS is a DS with better graphics, an analog input, and a meaningful digital software distribution service. Nintendo may have used the 3D gimmick to promote it, but it's not part of the core platform.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Stereoscopic 3D was always going to be a gimmick though. 15% of the population flat out can't see stereo 3D, and another significant chunk gets headaches from the tech. So you could never create a game that required stereo 3D in the first place; all games have to be playable in 2D as a least common denominator.

The 3DS is a DS with better graphics, an analog input, and a meaningful digital software distribution service. Nintendo may have used the 3D gimmick to promote it, but it's not part of the core platform.

Before it released the hype was for the 3D. So it makes them look silly for marketing it that way now.

They would have been better off dropping the 3D and calling it something else. I bet a lot of uninformed shoppers will equate 2DS as being the low end model and the 3DS being higher end even though they are the same hardware for the games. Then you have people who don't understand that 3DS games work on the 2DS. They are gonna have to change all the box art now or something. I can see people at Walmart thinking "there are no games for the 2DS these are all 3DS games." It is my opinion that Nintendo is going to be hurting themselves the same way they did with the wiiu naming and marketing.