Nintendo Unveils the 3DS

[Danimal]

I was on board with getting one of these but $249 I don't know.

I don't think I use my hand held enough to warrant this purchase.

[vader29]

Wonder if this will be popular like the Wii was when it was released and if you don't get one at release you won't find it anywhere for months except for ebay?

[dbdynsty25]

Wonder if this will be popular like the Wii was when it was released and if you don't get one at release you won't find it anywhere for months except for ebay?

I'm sure that's what they want you to believe. The hardware looks cool, but the games coming out in their stupid "release window" look horrendous. No thanks. I'll take my chances.

[Rodster]

I was all over this then I read about the battery life and also realized that they'll probably release the 3DS Lite in about a year. I'm now more interested in the PSP2.

[Naples39]

Wonder if this will be popular like the Wii was when it was released and if you don't get one at release you won't find it anywhere for months except for ebay?

My money says no as well. Maybe the first shipment will sell out quickly, but after that I don't see a shortage.

[wco81]

I was all over this then I read about the battery life and also realized that they'll probably release the 3DS Lite in about a year. I'm now more interested in the PSP2.

You think that will have any better battery life?

Suppose to be unveiled later this month. Could still end up having it's own 3D display.

Some weird touch control behind the screen.

[Rodster]

I was all over this then I read about the battery life and also realized that they'll probably release the 3DS Lite in about a year. I'm now more interested in the PSP2.

You think that will have any better battery life?

Suppose to be unveiled later this month. Could still end up having it's own 3D display.

Some weird touch control behind the screen.

Probably not and I don't really care. The graphics should be off the charts on that thing AND the rumor is it will have a similar shape to the PSP 3000.

[wco81]

Graphics may be off the charts but it's a 4-inch screen.

Even if it really did have PS3 graphics, why wouldn't you view PS3 graphics on an HDTV instead?

Sure you can play on the train or at Starbucks or whatever. But a lot of gamers are carrying a smart phone instead and playing simple games away from home, and then play serious games at home. They've spent the money and it's going to be tough to get them to carry another device, just for gaming.

I would be surprised if it sold as well as the PSP at launch.

But no doubt they will announce it with versions of GT, LBP, GOW, Uncharted, maybe KZ, etc.

I'd be annoyed if those teams were diverted from new versions for the console to work on the portable versions, delaying the next installments of those games for the PS3 or the PS4.

[Rodster]

Graphics may be off the charts but it's a 4-inch screen.

Even if it really did have PS3 graphics, why wouldn't you view PS3 graphics on an HDTV instead?

Sure you can play on the train or at Starbucks or whatever. But a lot of gamers are carrying a smart phone instead and playing simple games away from home, and then play serious games at home. They've spent the money and it's going to be tough to get them to carry another device, just for gaming.

Because I already have a 360 and PS3 to play on a HDTV. I want a handheld device with awesome graphics and I have zero interest in a smart phone. I like the idea of a dual analog device with touch screen capabilities to play games on.

[toonarmy]

The whole point of wanting a handheld device with HD graphics even though a person already has a console with such graphics is that you cannot take a 50" TV and PS3 into the bathroom when you take a s***, or to bed when you want to play in all manner of positions while laying down, or to work when you want to game when there is free time, or on trips when you want to pass some time. Plus, when someone is wanting to watch TV on the TV where consoles are hooked up it's nice to have a portable device to get in some quality gaming. I have a nice smartphone and the games on it are not even close to the quality and depth of the better psp games.

I was planning on being a launch purchaser of the 3DS but am going to have to be utterly blown away by the games to get one right off the bat now. The battery life is not impressive, the price of games is rumored to be high, and the PSP2 may kick its ass in terms of better tech. Also, as someone mentioned, there will probably be a new and improved 3DS within a year of the original, at a lower cost to boot. I still may get one at launch, but I need to be sold on it more than before. 250 dollars plus another couple hundred for 4 games is a hefty initial investment for a portable when the portables I have are still a lot of fun with great games.

[Naples39]

Even if it really did have PS3 graphics, why wouldn't you view PS3 graphics on an HDTV instead?

Because people prefer bad graphics on their handhelds? Puzzling comment.

In an IndustryGamers interview published yesterday, Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter said he believes Nintendo is "going to regret" pricing the 3DS so low.
"It's going to sell out and they're leaving money on the table," Pachter told IndustryGamers. "It's not shareholder friendly, but consumers are going to love the $249 price point."
Pachter added that "most consumers" would expect the device, which allows users to play 3D video games without wearing glasses, to be priced at "$300 or more." The 3DS will look like a "bargain," he said. As a result, consumers will scoop them all up.
In fact, Pachter asserts that consumers will "never see one in stores in 2011" and that the lucky few who get the device will put it "on eBay for $500 immediately."

Hmm. Not sure I see it. It's a "core" gaming device. Wii went so crazy because so many non-gamers and families were buying. I just don't see that type of appeal with the 3DS.

[toonarmy]

The 3DS not shareholder friendly? LMAO! The average casual gamer out there will spend a lot of money on a console, but I highly doubt wants to spend more than a console on a handheld device that is not considered a primary gaming device. Nintendo will make ridiculous amounts of money on the 3DS at the $249 price point based on the price of games alone. More buzz will be created by making the device a hot commodity that is within the price range of the masses, as opposed to pricing it so high that the masses will say "blah, too much money." I present the Wii and DS phenomenon as evidence that Nintendo knows what it is doing when it comes to pricing and making money.

[fanatic]

The 3DS not shareholder friendly? LMAO! The average casual gamer out there will spend a lot of money on a console, but I highly doubt wants to spend more than a console on a handheld device that is not considered a primary gaming device. Nintendo will make ridiculous amounts of money on the 3DS at the $249 price point based on the price of games alone. More buzz will be created by making the device a hot commodity that is within the price range of the masses, as opposed to pricing it so high that the masses will say "blah, too much money." I present the Wii and DS phenomenon as evidence that Nintendo knows what it is doing when it comes to pricing and making money.

Agreed....I was fully expecting to read about he thought the price was too high.

[ScoopBrady]

Wasn't it initially rumored that the 3DS would come out at $350? I could swear I read that somewhere when the 3DS first started getting talked about.

The 3DS definitely intrigues me but if I'm being honest I haven't really followed it much and I am disappointed that there are no dual analog sticks. Why can't we get a handheld with dual analog sticks? Will the PSP2 have them?

[fanatic]

Wasn't it initially rumored that the 3DS would come out at $350? I could swear I read that somewhere when the 3DS first started getting talked about.

The 3DS definitely intrigues me but if I'm being honest I haven't really followed it much and I am disappointed that there are no dual analog sticks. Why can't we get a handheld with dual analog sticks? Will the PSP2 have them?

Looks like the PSP2 may have dual sticks. Not sure if this is a concept version?

[toonarmy]

Wasn't it initially rumored that the 3DS would come out at $350? I could swear I read that somewhere when the 3DS first started getting talked about.

The 3DS definitely intrigues me but if I'm being honest I haven't really followed it much and I am disappointed that there are no dual analog sticks. Why can't we get a handheld with dual analog sticks? Will the PSP2 have them?

Looks like the PSP2 may have dual sticks. Not sure if this is a concept version?

It will indeed have dual sticks, however the design is supposed to be more like the 3000 than the Go.

[Rodster]

The rumored PSP2 will not have a flip up screen like the Go.

[wco81]

Even if it really did have PS3 graphics, why wouldn't you view PS3 graphics on an HDTV instead?

Because people prefer bad graphics on their handhelds? Puzzling comment.

History of the DS and PSP show that people don't value superior graphics over games. Before that, Gameboy and the Sega and Atari handhelds.

They're not going to do 720p games justice on a 4-inch screen.

Instead, Sony is going to divert resources from their first and second-party development teams to make games for the thing instead of the PS3. No matter how good games look on a 4-inch screen, they'd look a lot better on a 40 or 50 inch screen as PS3 versions.

Looks like they're going to use the same GPU family as the iPhone (but obviously a much higher-end variant) so maybe they can benefit from the competitive market for mobile SOCs and actually make money on the hardware. Then again, the unsubsidized price of smart phones using these chips is over $600.

So make money on games? I don't know, I'd rather pay $60 to play the next PS3 version of Uncharted on a big screen than $50 for the PSP2 version on a portable device. Maybe if you're flying regularly from the east coast to the west coast (assuming the battery will outlast a 6-hour flight, and 3-4 hours ground time to get to and from the airports, wait at the terminals, get in and out of the city, etc) or have 1 hour commuter train rides, it would be worth the cost and the hassle of carrying this though around.

If they have to subsidize the hardware, they need to sell more copies of the PSP2 versions of games and that's not too likely. Especially if they have to launch it at more than the $300 price of the PS3 and X360.

A lot of people may buy it because it's going to be a beautiful gadget but maybe not buy many games. So Sony will probably try to sell them movie and music downloads, maybe cheap games for $5 and less.

[Naples39]

Well it's kind of weird question, because there's no way the psp2 will have a "HD" display. By that I mean 720 pixels on the short dimension, like a 720 HDTV. The much ballyhooed iphone retina display doesn't even manage that. My money says the psp2 screen has a max of 480 pixels on the short dimension.

Either way, HD graphics is more of a buzz word than technical one. For the PSP2 people want the best graphics possible in their next gen device, I can't see why it's any more complicated than that. It makes no sense to cap graphics quality under the premise graphics that good should only enjoyed on a tv.

That's where the DS and PSP went in different directions a long time ago. The DS had cheaper, unique titles designed for the handheld, while the PSP went in a 'home-console lite' direction. More of a fan of nintendo's approach myself, but both handhelds moved a lot of units. Those design paradigms will continue into the 3DS and PSP2 generation I think.

[GTHobbes]

I stopped buying The Show for PSP because they seemed to hit their max with regard to graphics after the first or second version (they never did put in umpires, if my memory serves). If I could get a PSP2 version of the Show that looked very close if not identical to the PS3 version (and at least has umpires), then I'd probably be in -- especially if I could transfer my season data between PS3 and PSP2.

I never understood how Nintendo sold so many copies of the DS -- I'd much rather play a handheld with "next gen" graphics than take a step (or two) back with DS-type or even PS2/Wii caliber graphics.

[fanatic]

I never understood how Nintendo sold so many copies of the DS -- I'd much rather play a handheld with "next gen" graphics than take a step (or two) back with DS-type or even PS2/Wii caliber graphics.

I like the balance of playing mostly PS3 games at home and Nintendo DS games on the go. Nintendo's games give me that nice dose of retro/platforming/puzzle gaming and it's successful franchises like Mario, Zelda, etc..will always appeal to me for their tremendous quality and charm. I certainly understand though that a lot people like yourself are drawn more to the more powerful technology. Imagine playing Mario Bros. with Little Big Planet graphics? Now that I would pay for.

[wco81]

Sony positioned PSP as PS2 on a portable.

We'll see if they do the same with the PSP2, though some early whispers were that PSP2 would deliver early PS3 graphics. Well when they introduced the PS3, they touted "full HD" or 1080p. Few PS3 games do 1080p or do it particularly well.

Since PS3 is established as one of the HD consoles, any comparisons to it will raise expectations about PSP2 performance.

Back when PSP launched, it was a unique piece of gear, with the screen it had and the performance. I think people were drawn to it just for the hardware, without the promise of actual good games.

That may happen to a certain extent with PSP2 but now, there are flashy smart phones and even tablets in the price range that PSP2 will come out at. PSP games sales weren't strong, even before the system was hacked. PSP2 won't be hacked initially but $40-50 games for it is going to compete with cheap apps and games for smart phones on the one end and console games on the high end. Console games prices, as this generation ends, are going to trend lower -- release at $60 or even lower and then go on sale in a couple of weeks. Not to mention the 3DS -- hardware can disappoint, though the uniqueness of the screen and big Nintendo titles will let it carve out a niche.

[GTHobbes]

IGN's got 3DS from Japan and has some impressions, videos, etc. Can't say I'm too impressed at this point.

http://ds.ign.com/articles/115/1152699p1.html

[fanatic]

IGN's got 3DS from Japan and has some impressions, videos, etc. Can't say I'm too impressed at this point.

http://ds.ign.com/articles/115/1152699p1.html

I have a feeling it may follow the path of the DS - a little underwhelming at first, but should have a nice healthy lifespan.

Although I'm not a huge fan of 3D, I think the experience of having mini Nintendo characters jump off the screen will be pretty fun. Is it my recipe for the ideal next-gen handheld? Probably not. But there's no denying that Nintendo's experience as a toy company has served them well in creating products that make me feel like a kid. I'm probably not going to play 3D games till the sun comes up, but it will be a fun thing to have around.

The launch lineup is the other obvious issue. At this point, I would probably lean towards Pilotwings and Pro Evolution as launch purchases, but my excitement is reserved for Ocarina, Paper Mario, etc...

[ScoopBrady]

I am definitely intrigued, especially after seeing that Resident Evil game. I know the graphics aren't the best but they are significantly better than I thought they were going to be.