Nintendo Announces 3DS XL

[MagGnome]

I think that it's a failure on Nintendo's part for not doing more to distinguish the 3DS from the DS. This isn't the first time I've come across someone who wasn't aware that it's a new platform.

Heck, when it was first announced I wasn't even sure that it was a totally new system and not just another iteration of the DS. It doesn't help that the hardware looks so similar and graphically it's not exactly a huge jump forward, at least from what I've seen.

Before everyone dog piles on me, I'm sure it's the greatest gaming system since the SNES. Please keep your flame throwers for the next poor guy.

[Blue]

Originally Posted by MagGnome

I think that it's a failure on Nintendo's part for not doing more to distinguish the 3DS from the DS. This isn't the first time I've come across someone who wasn't aware that it's a new platform.

Heck, when it was first announced I wasn't even sure that it was a totally new system and not just another iteration of the DS. It doesn't help that the hardware looks so similar and graphically it's not exactly a huge jump forward, at least from what I've seen.

Before everyone dog piles on me, I'm sure it's the greatest gaming system since the SNES. Please keep your flame throwers for the next poor guy.

I don't disagree that the name makes it a little more ambiguous as to whether or not you're looking at a new system. I never had trouble with it but that's someone who follows gaming and I'd likely bet there are plenty out there who don't that would have thought it another upgrade. Though, to me, the name makes perfect sense given what it does and is a bit of a no-brainer for what to title the system, ambiguity aside.

And while I think you're somewhat right in the graphics department as some of the launch titles look on par with newer DS games, you can see a noticeable difference I think if you look. Mario 3D and Mario Kart 7 both look stellar as does SF4, Kid Icarus, Resident Evil especially, and even Tales of the Abyss (though, honestly, as a PS2 game, that's not going to be a leap). Heck, even the remake of Devil Survivor looks polished and does a good job if you side-by-side the DS and 3DS versions of comparing looks.

But yeah, while I do think the name is logical, there isn't the separation there needed for some people to help really set it apart when shopping.

[Widgetcraft]

Did people have this hard of a time with the transition from Gameboy to Gameboy Color, or Gameboy Color to Gameboy Advance?

[Wilkz07]

Originally Posted by Gorvi

This just doesn't make any sense without the second analog nub. Really, why would they not include that? I'll continue to wait for the redesign that has that.

i picked up the circle pad pro for the 2nd stick, haven't used it since RE Revelations and to be honest, not even sure where it is. so 19.99 well spent.

[Blue]

Originally Posted by Widgetcraft

Did people have this hard of a time with the transition from Gameboy to Gameboy Color, or Gameboy Color to Gameboy Advance?

No idea. I'd wager some did like some likely have difficulty with this. Again, I think you have to key in to the audience. For us it's easy but if I asked my mom I'd bet anything she'd think it was the same thing. Gameboy to Gameboy Color is a good comparison to this I think as Gameboy Color to Gameboy Advance, at least with that last word, suggests a shift. If someone were buying a Color sight unseen, I could easily see them thinking it was the exact same thing but in color with no other differences.

[Gorvi]

Originally Posted by Wilkz07

i picked up the circle pad pro for the 2nd stick, haven't used it since RE Revelations and to be honest, not even sure where it is. so 19.99 well spent.

That's part of the point. If it were used more, then more people would want to get it, and so on. Same for if it was built into a new model. One thing everyone was clamoring for throughout the entire life of the PSP was a second stick. Nintendo made the mistake of not listening to that with the 3DS, but it looked like they were trying to amend that with the CPP. The lack of inclusion on the XL, to me, means they've given up on it, and that's really unfortunate.

[Ondo]

Originally Posted by Narradisall

I was actually unaware. Still, it's more the frequency they seem to make new systems that surprises me. I mean there was 8 years between the NES and SNES.

Actually it was less than 8 years - about 7 1/3. And that was only in Japan - in the US it was less than 6 years.

[Rock Bandit]

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=480104

Some sites got some hands on time with the 3DS and Neo-Gaf did a pretty good round up of the important bits. Biggest reveal seems to be sharper picture/3D effect and suprisingly light.

[Savok]

Originally Posted by Narradisall

I was actually unaware. Still, it's more the frequency they seem to make new systems that surprises me. I mean there was 8 years between the NES and SNES.

They've had 6 versions of these handhelds in less time.

I have something to tell you about the Game Boy Advance...

[Widgetcraft]

Looks like it has a matte finish? Might be reason enough to upgrade, I hate these fingerprint magnets that are made expressly to be held in our hands.

[Narradisall]

Originally Posted by Savok

I have something to tell you about the Game Boy Advance...

That there was 11 years between it and the gameboy?

Although there appears to have been numerous tweaks since then.

I didn't even realise nintendo threw out that many of the game boys.

I still stand by my point though, it doesn't seem exactly clear that that 3DS was a new gen, nor does the time between each gen seem significantly long or to add a great deal.

[Savok]

I just don't know how someone who has 13k posts on a videogame forum didn't know. You know the Vita is next gen too?

[Suave Peanut]

While I will concede that it's feasible to be unaware that it's a new generation (I've met other people who had the same misconception) and that is in large part to Nintendo loving to push redesigns, I still think that plenty enough time passed between generations.

It was nearly twice as long between DS and 3DS (6 years, 4 months) as between GBA and DS (3 years, 5 months).

[Narradisall]

Originally Posted by Savok

I just don't know how someone who has 13k posts on a videogame forum didn't know. You know the Vita is next gen too?

As I said before, I don't generally follow handheld gaming, so I was surprised when I saw another "DS" thread and commented asking what iteration this one was.

And really, people, stop with the silly comparisons. The PSP came out in 2006? the Vita in 2011. How do I have to keep reiterating a simple point only to have people throw up silly comparisons. A product with 2 very difference names, 6 years apart is a bit clearer than 6 products with very similar names 1 year a part each.

My point simply was, the DS line seems to have more frequent versions, and there isn't exactly a clearly defined line between them. DS, DSlite, 3DS, 3DSsoemthing something that I commented about it.

Judging from actually having to look into Nintendo's handheld history based off this throwaway comment, it seems they do produce a frequent line of amended, updated handhels etc, and while some are clearer in definition that they are improvements the fact that unless you follow it like many here do you have to look it up just to see what the difference is.

Lets just go back to the scheduled discussion of the handheld now....

.. So, bigger, eh?

[Narradisall]

Originally Posted by Suave Peanut

While I will concede that it's feasible to be unaware that it's a new generation (I've met other people who had the same misconception) and that is in large part to Nintendo loving to push redesigns, I still think that plenty enough time passed between generations.

It was nearly twice as long between DS and 3DS (6 years, 4 months) as between GBA and DS (3 years, 5 months).

While I agree, 6 years between gens seems about the average, I think the main reason I didn't pick up on it was because they really didn't seem to make much of an effort to differentiate between them. But I think i've digressed enough.

[Savok]

Um..... also the PSP Go, with ingenious lack of UMD drive.

[Narradisall]

Yeah, but that totally doesn't count since I'd never even remembered it till now.

1000, 2000, 3000? God, it must just be handheld madness. No wonder I don't follow these stupid things!

[Savok]

Why we called them Fat, Slim and Brite respectively instead. The Go we just laughed at.

[Gorvi]

The Go was a cool little machine, it's just too bad the digital game prices weren't where they should have been until this year. They really fucked up in that regard.

[Chris_D]

I would have bought a Go if I'd ever seen one heavily slashed in price. I like the form factor and all my games are digital now anyway. But they pretty much all just disappeared off the shelves. In landfill somewhere?

The stupidest PSP is the recent Europe-only one with no wifi.