Our thoughts on the New Nintendo 3DS and 3DS XL models

The New Nintendo 3DS models has split opinions online, it’s great, its good, it’s bad, it’s terrible and everything in between.

A new model no matter how little or much it changes is always going to be divisive. Anything Nintendo does seems to do that anyway.

We got the team together to to answer two questions in regards to the new console. Will you pick up the new model console when it’s released either here in Australia or overseas and how do they think it will affect Nintendo overall.

Our thoughts are below. We’d love to hear yours in the comments as well.

James

Will you pickup a New 3DS upon release?

I’m really not sure at this point. On one hand, it provides a more powerful system. On the other, I know little to nothing about it. I don’t even know how much more powerful it is!

In typical Nintendo fashion, almost all the details I want to know about the new console is shrouded in mystery. I know Xenoblade is coming for it. But is that a launch title? Are there other games coming for the system? There’s just too much uncertainty surrounding it right now for me to even contemplate getting one.

We’re entering a busy period of the console cycle for both Nintendo and Non-Nintendo products so I’ll be pretty busy too. Plus I’d be a raging hypocrite to be excited about a 3DS rendition of a game I’ve already played, when I lament the practice of remaking games rather than crafting new ones.

How will this affect Nintendo?

Once again, I’m not really sure. There’s one thing I do know, however, and that’s the fact that this console will live or die by its marketing. The 3DS family of products is already convoluted enough. You and I, avid readers of a Nintendo site, understand the difference but there’s a wide user base out there that doesn’t.

Nintendo only complicated matters when they introduced the 2DS, and I worry that introducing a “New 3DS” will only make matters worse. You could argue that people shouldn’t be that stupid and should do the research themselves, but the fact of the matter is that the large majority of people don’t like to have to do so much research. And it’s that large majority that can be the driving force behind a lucrative success or a dwindling flop.

My general thoughts are that I’m excited to see how this New 3DS will fare in the market, both hardcore and casual, but there’s so much more that needs to be known before I can even begin to get excited.

Daniel

Will you pickup a New 3DS upon release?

Are you kidding me? I’ve already got one coming from Japan! Alright so maybe that’s for the site but even if I didn’t have the site I probably would get one when it came out here. I’m ready for a New 3DS model, I was ready for a new handheld.

The 3DS is filled with 2005 problems. No account system, friend codes, hacked on Nintendo Network ID abilities and more – a new hardware would fix this. This is a half step at least, Nintendo always does this, releases a half step system with new experiments and features to flesh them out later and that’s fine by me.

How will this affect Nintendo?

Nintendo had to something with the Nintendo 3DS, sales both hardware and software have been lower and this year so far has been really light on new titles and ideas. There’s been nothing I’ve played on the 3DS this year that’s been a real stand out, last year there was a good spread of titles this year it’s been very light for me personally. The end of 2014 outside of Smash Bros. feels like the end of life for the console. Sure there’s Pokemon ORAS but when we’re getting to remasters and remakes it feels closer to the end. Where’s the fresh and new 3DS titles? Exactly.

It’s too soon for Nintendo to release a new platform as well. As we know Nintendo is merging their development so both 3DS and Wii U (or future consoles) so both engines and art can be used across both – that’s still at least a year or more away. This is a terrific stop-gap.

I’m actually happy to see Nintendo double down on doing what tablets and phones can’t and that is play great and interesting games with buttons and with Nintendo on board.

Wayne

Will you pickup a New 3DS upon release?

Like most Nintendo announcements I gave a little squeal of joy when I saw the New 3DS shown off during the latest Nintendo Direct. I’m the kind of guy who likes to have the latest thing as soon as it drops in stores and this will be no exception.

For me it’s go big or go home. There’s no room in my life for the smaller version of the machine. At least that’s what I thought until I saw the interchangeable faceplates. There are some really cool designs that I’m going to miss out on because they are only available for the regular size New 3DS. Not to mention, I love the coloured buttons on the smaller sibling. I like to call it the “big guy syndrome” Can’t just go to a regular store to find awesome clothes and just have to settle with what’s available.

Personalisation options aside, the greater viewing angle of the stereoscopic 3D effect is something that will hopefully benefit me. I have a hard time seeing the effects and my hopes are that this will be a big improvement.

The other feature that I’m looking forward to is the “C-Stick” and it’s really for just one game. In Super Smash Bros. Melee and Brawl, I heavily rely on the C-Stick quick attack, so the addition of this control option in the 3DS game is most welcome. It’s just a shame that it will likely be a few months into playing the 3DS game before I get to use it.

I think the New 3DS is a good move for Nintendo, because hey, everyone loves a new handheld. I can’t help but feel that it’s falling in line with what Shigeru Miyamoto has said recently, with remarks around catering to core gamers.

I imagine many of the core Nintendo fans who already have a 3DS will buy the New 3DS and I’d actually like to see it as the only version of the machine made available too. The current 3DS XL should be retired to make room for the New 3DS and New 3DS XL.

How will this affect Nintendo?

As far as seeing how this will go in affecting Nintendo on a greater scale, I believe that more focus needs to be placed on the Wii U and it’s software situation rather than a third and fourth iteration of an existing handheld. People know the 3DS now and it makes me think that Nintendo are focusing on making a bit of revenue from selling an existing machine with a new lick of paint and a few improvements to the people who are already in their pocket.

Either way, they’ve got me and these pockets are nice and warm.

Josh

Will you pickup a New 3DS upon release?

I probably will, let’s face it. If Xenoblade is anything to go by then the New 3DS is likely to get some great exclusives that I’ll want to play. That doesn’t mean I like the idea though. My 3DS will only be about 4 years old by the time the New 3DS comes out, and there’ll already be games that I can’t play, despite them being 3DS games (except they’re not 3DS games? Huh?) That’s another thing.

It’s really confusing what this thing even is. It’s between a remodel and a new generation of console, which puts it in an awkward position. Its new features (better 3D, second analogue stick) sound like cool additions that’d make me consider an upgrade, but then they go and make it more powerful than a 3DS, meaning that it could replace the old one. It makes me feel like I’ll be forced to upgrade in order to play games, instead of choosing too. I feel really sorry for anyone who’s bought a 3DS recently, only to find out about this news right after, because while 4 years isn’t a long time for a console to last, it sure as hell gives you more value than 1 year.

How will this affect Nintendo?

I don’t think it’ll really have any major affect. It might make some of the dedicated fans lose a bit of faith in Nintendo if the 3DS is totally left behind for a new model after not even 5 years, or give a bit of impression to people outside of that core group that Nintendo’s losing the plot a bit (especially because of their recently horrid naming of products), but I don’t think it’ll have any huge, lasting impact on them.

Troy

It’s hard to form a proper opinion on the New 3DS and New 3DS LL when we don’t entirely know Nintendo’s strategy for them. But looking in at the features we know for sure, I’m excited. Funnily enough, the thing I’m excited most for are the covers. No more wondering what special edition consoles I want when Nintendo are release a bunch of awesome covers I can tell I already want.

The exclusive titles are going to be interesting. Are we going to get new cover art to better distinguish the different compatibility between hardware? I’d hope so, just so Nintendo can ease off the ‘confusing parents’ pedal. But the C stick and built in Amiibo support should be very welcome for Smash Bros. fans especially. And a man can dream of Mario Kart 7 supporting Amiibo…

I’ll be getting the New 3DS when it comes out here, deciding what covers are going to go with which days of the week, maybe even making a wardrobe for them…