New Nintendo 3DS

[Jeff]

So, for everyone who's been living under a rock today, Nintendo has announced the New Nintendo 3DS!

"Cool" you might say. And you also might be wondering what it's called. Well, I already said the name. It's actually called the "New Nintendo 3DS," like "New Super Mario Bros." I'm not kidding.

Awful name aside, it does have some cool features. The big one being dual analog, in the form of the new tiny C-stick, and yes, C-stick smashes will be in in the new Smash Bros. ZL and ZR buttons have also been added, and the existing face buttons will be color coded in the same scheme as the (Non-North American) SNES controllers. They're also adding face tracking to adjust the 3D effect to work from any angle, NFC support, a faster CPU, support for MicroSD cards, and better battery life. Perhaps the one feature that has me most intrigued as an owner of the original 3DS, is the rubber stoppers on the top half preventing the bottom screen from imprinting itself on the top screen. Not sure if the XL has them, but it's nice to see them here. Speaking of which, the New 3DS also comes in an XL version, but for whatever reason only the labels on its face buttons are color coded rather than the buttons themselves. It's supposed to resemble the GameCube controller, but no matter how hard I squint, I'm not seeing it.

I had been thinking of picking up a new 3DS with my existing 3DS beginning to show its age. I was fully expecting a new model to be unveiled, and this blew my expectations away, and actually came close to what I was hoping for. The only other thing I wanted out of it was a better camera, which I've seen no mention of. Also, they've been hyping up MicroSD, but I haven't seen any mention of it also supporting regular SD. That said, I still want to get one. It's just too bad I'll have to wait until 2015 with the rest of the world outside of Japan.

So, anyone else want to share their thoughts?

[Mikachu Yukitatsu]

I was actually going to post a thread about this, good work Jeff.

I hope the battery will be more durable.

[Roy Karrde]

I was so psyched about this until I saw the tiny C Stick, why couldn't they take a clue from the Vita and add a second normal sized control stick? Now I am worried about how playable that tiny thing is, maybe it is fine but... I dont know.

[Jeff]

That stick confused me at first. I was wondering how it's supposed to move without any space around it. From what I've read now though, apparently it doesn't move like a traditional stick, but instead it rocks in place, so instead of pushing it sideways, you push the edge of it down. It is about the size of a button, so I could definitely see it working.

[Drago]

Nintendo wants my money.

...We all know they will get it.

[Blademaster]

That stick confused me at first. I was wondering how it's supposed to move without any space around it. From what I've read now though, apparently it doesn't move like a traditional stick, but instead it rocks in place, so instead of pushing it sideways, you push the edge of it down. It is about the size of a button, so I could definitely see it working.

Soooo, it's the Nintendo version of the Xbox360 controller's D-pad?

[Mikachu Yukitatsu]

Blade-kun, sounds old to me. Why should Nin Ten Do copy a previous gen Microsoft accessory?

[Jeff]

That's what I was thinking when I first read it, except it's analog, so it can detect how far you're pushing it down. So a cross between the Xbox d-pad and an analog stick.

[Jeff]

And it's now been announced as coming out on November 21st...

in Australia and New Zealand.



Unfortunately, the video is quick to shoot down any hope that they'll be coming out in North America and Europe this year as well by confirming the earlier rumors that they aren't coming out in those regions until next year. So, oddly enough, Aussieland/New Zealand will be the first region outside of Japan to get them.

[Jeff]

A surprising development today at least for those of us in North America. Most of the speculation on a North American release date for the New 3DS has been pointing to March, but with Nintendo seemingly discontinuing the "Old" 3DS here, it could be a sign that the new model is just around the corner. Or, it could just be a sign that an official announcement is just around the corner. Japan and Australia/NZ both got their announcements two months ahead of release, so if we get our announcement this month, that would put the release in, well, March. Either way, I'm keeping my eyes peeled for a Nintendo Direct.

[Drago]

Did anyone ever work out a reason why it hit Australia first? This was historically the land of year-long release waiting times, why the shift? I mean, it's closer in proximity to Japan, but that has never made a difference before.

[Mikachu Yukitatsu]

The Gods of Video Gaming were favourable

[Jeff]

Who knows, but now Europe is getting the Ambassador Edition and still not a word for North America. Considering at one point we were getting systems before Japan even, this is a strange turn of events.

Edit: Actually, I remember them saying that the old 3DS reached market saturation in Japan and Australia, but not NA and Europe, so they were going to let the 3DS have one more Christmas in NA and Europe before releasing the new 3DS. Definitely seems consistent with it coming out sometime in the first quarter as all the rumors have been suggesting.

[ChobiChibi]

Um... I just got selected for the chance to buy the ambassador edition...

... I really shouldn't, but... Omg ><

[ChobiChibi]

[Mikachu Yukitatsu]

JUMANKAUTA!

So this is the Ambassador thingy.

[ChobiChibi]

It's through Club Nintendo. It just came out of the blue. I'm already getting the Smash Bros Soundtrack and codes for Mewtwo through a promotion with them (buying the WiiU and 3DS versions), but now this...

I have until the 12th of January to decide. Or when my partner finishes work and I can call him ><

[Blademaster]

Not going to lie, I'm jealous of those Super Famicom ABXY buttons.

[ChobiChibi]

I ordered it, still waiting for them to ship it. Kinda annoyed, since a friend ordered his after me and got it yesterday

I'll post pics when I get it :3

[DarkestLight]

I was hoping for a SP size reduction...so I could play with one hand again.
should keep tabs on my Nintendo account more

[Jeff]

So this is happening tomorrow: http://www.nintendo.com/nintendo-direct/01-14-2015/

Release date is rumored to be Feb 13th for North America. Looking forward to any other announcements especially the release date for Majora's Mask, and any info on if Xenoblade for n3DS is coming to North America. I never got the Wii version, but it looks pretty good, and a portable version sounds perfect. *sigh*, the fact that there's any question over whether this game is coming here speaks volumes for the current state of NoA.

[PNT510]

I'm glad they're finally gonna announce a release date. My younger brother had his 3DS XL(the zelda one) stolen the week the New 3DS was announced and ever since he's been asking me when it's gonna release.

[Jeff]

Aaaaaaand, it's XL only. The Internet may now proceed to explode. Seriously, this is basically a giant middle finger to every standard size 3DS user in North America, including myself. And it's quickly turning into a PR nightmare for Nintendo. Some people have even already imported faceplates, which have now been rendered useless by NoA's incompetence. I really wanted to upgrade, but without us getting a model that can fit nicely in my pocket, it looks like that's not going to happen.

*grabs old 3DS with it's missing stylus, imprinted top screen, and stripped circle pad and cries*

[ChobiChibi]

Tbf, from what I've seen, the standard New 3DS isn't much smaller than the current XL anyway. When Nintendo actually ship it to me, I'll post some size comparison photos.

It IS annoying though. Why give the lovely select few the chance to buy a 3DS that will be smaller than the ones everyone else will have available? Not much logic in that :/ I think it shoulda been a one size only thing anyway - I feel like my XL was the perfect size (the original's screens are too small for my liking), and maybe I woulda preferred this new XL. We'll see, too late now XD

[Jeff]

Europe is getting both models and North America, which is only getting the XL, never got the ambassador edition, so there's that. I just don't understand why a major market would be left out of one of the models like that.

[Link]

I am definitely going to be buying the new nintendo 3ds. It's revolutionary.

[PNT510]

Europe is getting both models and North America, which is only getting the XL, never got the ambassador edition, so there's that. I just don't understand why a major market would be left out of one of the models like that.

It could be a supply issue and it will come out at a later date. I heard part of the reason why it has already taken so long for the new model to come out is because of supply constraints. Or it could be something else like US market trends show users only really buy 2DS or 3DS XL models so there isn't much reason for the other model.

[Master Rudy]

Or it could be something else like US market trends show users only really buy 2DS or 3DS XL models so there isn't much reason for the other model.

Something tells me that's the primary reason:

Different territories make their own business decisions regarding individual products and timing. We think New Nintendo 3DS XL makes the most sense for our market. Nintendo makes different systems at different price points for a whole range of consumers, and New Nintendo 3DS XL simply expands those choices even further.

http://kotaku.com/nintendo-sorta-exp...-mi-1679500252

[Mikachu Yukitatsu]

I wonder which version Finland will get first first.



Poor Uncle Sam!

[Drago]

I wonder which version Finland will get first first.



Poor Uncle Sam!

Haha, actually lol'd from that one

[ChobiChibi]

So my Ambassador 3DS arrived today :3

The bundle I bought cost £179.99, and this is everything that came with it:


There's the Ambassador faceplate (which I had to put on myself, which felt a bit weird):


And the back...


Most of the essential stuff is actually on the bottom, which I find weird. I'm worried I'm accidentally gonna pop the game out as the cartridge is on the bottom, but we'll see how it goes... The headphone jack is there too, stylus (I still keep going to the side to try and find it) and the power button.


This is the cradle, which coulda been done better in my opinion. It works with the same principle as the WiiU cradle, but the difference being, you have to be very careful to actually get the DS in the right place in order for it to charge. One tiny knock and it'll send it off the contact points, and stop charging. It looks pretty though.


Here's a comparison to the size of the current XL, for those who were wondering. It IS smaller, but doesn't feel too small, and the screens (I think) are bigger than the orignal 3DS. I'll get a photo of that when my friend comes around with hers to confirm... The coloured buttons are sexy, I love that the start and select buttons are where they were on the DSi...


Here they are side by side:


New DS on top of the old one... Not that much difference in overall size:


Depth wise they're about the same too. I cropped it so you don't get to see my laundry


And the final one... I'd just streetpassed myself for the first time >>


So in general, I've been impressed so far. Loading times are so much better (I've yet to try Smash Bros, but that'll be the real test), and the 3D is so much smoother. It tracks where you are in relation to the DS, and adjusts the 3D from that. It's that much better that I'm actually USING it. The whole thing feels sturdier than the XL as well, especially the hinge. The feel of the buttons reminds me of the DSi... And I loved my DSi...

I'll let you know more once I've played a few more games on it, but I'm just glad it's finally here <3

[Drago]

God that thing is gorgeous.

[Link]

God that thing is gorgeous.

Very true.

[Mikachu Yukitatsu]

I love the kanji for 'Nintendo'. I used to interpret Nintendo as

人
天
道

"Man's way to heaven"

but then I learned it's actually

任
天
堂

"Leave luck to heaven".

[ChobiChibi]

So I played Smash Bros on it... Never going back... Insanely quick load time, and the C stick is excellent for smash attacks. With the L, R and Z buttons, you get shield and grab on both sides which is confusing... But all in all, much better experience than on my XL

They did actually say somewhere what the kanji was supposed to represent (it wasn't Nintendo, that's for sure). Hold on...

EDIT: You're right in that it means Nintendo, but this is what they've said it is (sorry that pic is huge, can't change size on my phone):

[Mikachu Yukitatsu]

Hm. Does anyone know if New Nintendo 3DS is region-locked? The original DS wasn't, but 3DS was.

[PNT510]

It is region locked, but supposedly it's not hard to unlock it.

[Dark-San]

Not buying this new one. 2 reasons. My hand is still recovering from a recent surgery and I am not abandoning my Pikachu old 3DS until they have a better design.

[Roy Karrde]

BIG NEWS

The New Nintendo 3DS Gold Zelda edition will be available at Gamestop tomorrow morning 3/25

Each store has 4 and its first come first serve!

[Mikachu Yukitatsu]

Good news for Link fans. The nearest Gamestop is under 120 kilometers from where I live. I might have to hurry if I was one.