6 ms·

I sincerely thought this was an April Fool's joke. Though, that's just a knee jerk reaction to the name and the appearance of the thing. I'm genuinely curious a

I sincerely thought this was an April Fool's joke. Though, that's just a knee jerk reaction to the name and the appearance of the thing. I'm genuinely curious as to which consumer demand this product is meant to fulfill.

bpicolo 13y ago
It's the price point, entirely. 3ds is pretty expensive.
- loupeabody 13y ago
  Yeah, that is a pretty substantial discount. I guess plenty of parents will take advantage of that for their kids. This quote just seems to revoke the whole idea of making a 3D capable console in the first place: "The new Nintendo 2DS system gives you all the features of the Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL, minus 3D viewing" What a clumsy way to phase 3D games out of their product line.
  - kbenson 13y ago
    My understanding is that the 3D has always been optional, and that a slider on the 3DS allowed you to change the level of "3Dness" with some number of levels between off and on. Then again, I haven't actually used one really, so I'm not sure.
    - InAnEmergency 13y ago
      No, you are correct, which makes it confusing that so many people in these comments are saying the 3D screen was the reason they didn't buy the 3DS...
    - itsybitsycoder 13y ago
      Yup, I keep mine off almost all the time.
      - bpicolo 13y ago
        I keep mine off all of the time. Hurts my eyes almost instantly.
  - Vaskivo 13y ago
    What I forsee is some developers wanting to ignore the 3D capabilities. "I have two sets of consoles, one with 3D and the other without. Ditch the 3D!" I probably won't happen because Nintendo is known to force the developers to use their gimmicks, but most of them are probably thinking about it. I would also like some information about the hardware. Will it have the same processor and/or GPU? The 3d effect spends some resources, so will there be games that run better in the 2DS than on the 3DS?
    - agrona 13y ago
      I want to quash this rumor: Nintendo does not require 3rd parties to use particular features (3D screen, waggle, etc.)
- CrazedGeek 13y ago
  I'd say mostly age group and "health" (with a good chunk of price point). Specifically, for the under-7 crowd. It doesn't have hinges, so fewer parts for small children to break. It doesn't have 3D, so the possible vision damage stops being an issue[1]. It's cheaper, so parents are more likely to purchase it. Oh, and it's coming out on the same date as Pokemon X and Y. [1] http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in/nintendo-3ds-young-eyes-parents-really-concerned-513.html http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in/nintendo-3ds-young-e...
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]
ameswarb 13y ago
I wonder if this is mostly meant to get consumers' attention and gently nudge them towards paying $40 extra for the 3DS. i.e. "$130 for a Gameboy? That's not bad. well if I pay $40 extra I can get a much nicer one..."
jdp 13y ago
I had the same reaction. I'm pretty put off by the form factor, it's shaped like a slice of Wonderbread.
- ekianjo 13y ago
  It looks awful, badly designed, and not practical to carry around. Seriously, Nintendo did this? Even the name makes it sound backward. I already thought the wiiU was awkward but this beats everything. Kids buying this are going to get stoned in school. So, when are Iwata and Reggie going to be fired?
pdenya 13y ago
My 2 cents, I was considering a 3DS but was put off by the 3D not the price. I'll be buying this.
- Pxtl 13y ago
  afaik you can turn off the 3DS 3D effect. Then you'll have the system with the proper clamshell hinge.
  - InclinedPlane 13y ago
    You can, there's a slider that controls the degree of 3D effect, which can go to zero.
- hkmurakami 13y ago
  same here! (and I really want to play shin megami tense I 4!)
- orclev 13y ago
  Just buy the 3DS and never turn on the 3D. I've got a 3DS XL and aside from the initial config where it asks you to calibrate the 3D I've never turned it back on as it gives me a headache (and makes the screen look fuzzy to boot). It's really easy to disable, just adjust a slider on the side to the minimal position (it locks in that position as well) and you no longer need to worry about the gimmicky 3D effect. This thing is a failure, it's just a less portable, and less capable version of the 3DS XL. If you buy this thing I'll guarantee you'll kick yourself down the line for either not buying the 3DS (or 3DS XL) or else not waiting for the next proper DS I'm sure Nintendo will be releasing.
kin 13y ago
3DS is intended for ages 7+ only. Any younger and the "3D" is illegal to market towards. This product is meant to target 5 & 6 year olds legally so that they can market games towards them. As a device it's also cheaper. But you're right I too thought it was a joke. The thing does not look ergonomic and is hideous. I feel like 0 time was spent in the design.
- etler 13y ago
  What is appealing to a 5 or 6 year old is very different to what's appealing to well, anyone else. I'm sure they tested it on them, and I think slab like devices are easier for kids. It's no coincidence that this release coincides with the release of the new pokemon. They want to make sure they get that demographic which probably treats nintendo handhelds as a pokemon machine. Also, a great way to get young gamers on nintendo products.

bpicolo 13y ago

It's the price point, entirely. 3ds is pretty expensive.

loupeabody 13y ago
Yeah, that is a pretty substantial discount. I guess plenty of parents will take advantage of that for their kids. This quote just seems to revoke the whole idea of making a 3D capable console in the first place: "The new Nintendo 2DS system gives you all the features of the Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL, minus 3D viewing" What a clumsy way to phase 3D games out of their product line.
- kbenson 13y ago
  My understanding is that the 3D has always been optional, and that a slider on the 3DS allowed you to change the level of "3Dness" with some number of levels between off and on. Then again, I haven't actually used one really, so I'm not sure.
  - InAnEmergency 13y ago
    No, you are correct, which makes it confusing that so many people in these comments are saying the 3D screen was the reason they didn't buy the 3DS...
  - itsybitsycoder 13y ago
    Yup, I keep mine off almost all the time.
    - bpicolo 13y ago
      I keep mine off all of the time. Hurts my eyes almost instantly.
- Vaskivo 13y ago
  What I forsee is some developers wanting to ignore the 3D capabilities. "I have two sets of consoles, one with 3D and the other without. Ditch the 3D!" I probably won't happen because Nintendo is known to force the developers to use their gimmicks, but most of them are probably thinking about it. I would also like some information about the hardware. Will it have the same processor and/or GPU? The 3d effect spends some resources, so will there be games that run better in the 2DS than on the 3DS?
  - agrona 13y ago
    I want to quash this rumor: Nintendo does not require 3rd parties to use particular features (3D screen, waggle, etc.)
CrazedGeek 13y ago
I'd say mostly age group and "health" (with a good chunk of price point). Specifically, for the under-7 crowd. It doesn't have hinges, so fewer parts for small children to break. It doesn't have 3D, so the possible vision damage stops being an issue[1]. It's cheaper, so parents are more likely to purchase it. Oh, and it's coming out on the same date as Pokemon X and Y. [1] http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in/nintendo-3ds-young-eyes-parents-really-concerned-513.html http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in/nintendo-3ds-young-e...
deleted 13y ago
[deleted]

ameswarb 13y ago

I wonder if this is mostly meant to get consumers' attention and gently nudge them towards paying $40 extra for the 3DS. i.e. "$130 for a Gameboy? That's not bad. well if I pay $40 extra I can get a much nicer one..."

jdp 13y ago

I had the same reaction. I'm pretty put off by the form factor, it's shaped like a slice of Wonderbread.

ekianjo 13y ago
It looks awful, badly designed, and not practical to carry around. Seriously, Nintendo did this? Even the name makes it sound backward. I already thought the wiiU was awkward but this beats everything. Kids buying this are going to get stoned in school. So, when are Iwata and Reggie going to be fired?

pdenya 13y ago

My 2 cents, I was considering a 3DS but was put off by the 3D not the price. I'll be buying this.

Pxtl 13y ago
afaik you can turn off the 3DS 3D effect. Then you'll have the system with the proper clamshell hinge.
- InclinedPlane 13y ago
  You can, there's a slider that controls the degree of 3D effect, which can go to zero.
hkmurakami 13y ago
same here! (and I really want to play shin megami tense I 4!)
orclev 13y ago
Just buy the 3DS and never turn on the 3D. I've got a 3DS XL and aside from the initial config where it asks you to calibrate the 3D I've never turned it back on as it gives me a headache (and makes the screen look fuzzy to boot). It's really easy to disable, just adjust a slider on the side to the minimal position (it locks in that position as well) and you no longer need to worry about the gimmicky 3D effect. This thing is a failure, it's just a less portable, and less capable version of the 3DS XL. If you buy this thing I'll guarantee you'll kick yourself down the line for either not buying the 3DS (or 3DS XL) or else not waiting for the next proper DS I'm sure Nintendo will be releasing.

kin 13y ago

3DS is intended for ages 7+ only. Any younger and the "3D" is illegal to market towards. This product is meant to target 5 & 6 year olds legally so that they can market games towards them. As a device it's also cheaper. But you're right I too thought it was a joke. The thing does not look ergonomic and is hideous. I feel like 0 time was spent in the design.

etler 13y ago
What is appealing to a 5 or 6 year old is very different to what's appealing to well, anyone else. I'm sure they tested it on them, and I think slab like devices are easier for kids. It's no coincidence that this release coincides with the release of the new pokemon. They want to make sure they get that demographic which probably treats nintendo handhelds as a pokemon machine. Also, a great way to get young gamers on nintendo products.