Nintendo 3DS business/general talk *spin-off feat. 3DS as a P.I. in New Orleans

I never need to focus when using the 3DS. I just need to have the proper angle (completely frontal). I think people just need to experiment with the depth slider more while actually holding the unit in front of them.

 

I usually keep the depth at around the middle.

 

Yep. Saw it in the store again today, and this time they had better kiosks, that anyone could pick up and play. One of the playable games was Zelda. 3D seems completely superfluous for that game though, and I have to say so far for any of the 3DS games in general that I've tried (very few admittedly).

To my surprise my 3yo picked it up (he could barely reach) and started playing Zelda, running around with the analog stick and even at some point telling me that he managed to select a sword using the touch interface on the bottom half. Most kids though that I saw palying simply seemed to switch off the 3D, including my son (but that means little, he has a tendency to shift everything that can be shifted to off or full).

 

Any of you guys think Nintendo will drop the 3D in 3DS and have a new name and hardware to replace 3DS by early next year ?

I was going to wait for 3DS XL but I think I might have to get one before they're gone. It's so cheap now, it's cheaper than DSi XL when shops throw in a game or two for free. It's almost like shops are clearing their inventory.

 

It seems crazy, but the rumor is a complete rebranding with an added analog stick and a de-emphasis on 3D. There's even crazy talk about a $10 add-on to give existing 3DS systems dual analog control.

While these measures sound drastic, they begin to address fundamental issues with the 3DS that went way beyond the price. Ideally any redesign would offer better battery life and possibly a capacitive touch screen.

They're in a tough place, though, with existing owners who not only got boned on price, but will have the shitty version of the hardware. Not sure it's worth dicking around with clamp on analog sticks. At a certain point it feels like the right thing would be to exchange any old 3DS sent to them for the rebooted version.

 

Is the rumour de-emphasis 3D, meaning complete removal of the 3D screen ? That 3D screen eats battery life as well as processing power, and I don't think it's cheap either since I am pretty sure they're taking a loss for each unit at this price.

Word that I'm hearing from my friend at retail is that parents are actually scared off from buying 3DS because of the Nintendo warning to cover their own arse of the danger of 3D screen for children. The 3D screen is a hindrance for them to sell 3DS, not a selling point, that’s sad and funny at the same time.

Second analog stick is interesting rumour, there's no way they can keep the DS form factor with second analog nub. That d-pad is really uncomfortable where it is located there is no way buttons or the analog nub going at the bottom right corner. They need to bring back GBA like form factor for second analog nub.

 

I'm thinking that "de-emphasize 3D" means that developers will be able to make 2D games for it, and actually work with the extra power and bigger screen, as opposed to continuing to develop for the DS. It should generate sales for the people that are just looking for the next DS instead of a 3D handheld, and it will let them drop the DS itself.

 

Nintendo 3DS Conference To Be Live Streamed:
http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2011/09/01/3ds_conference_live_stream/

 

They'll be announcing a new version called the 3DSi...lol.

 

Well I bought the 3DS and had it for a week or so, with OOT. Got the black one. The unit is well built, similar size to DS Lite. My impression of it hasn't really change that much.

The control is good as long as games rely on just the nub and the four face buttons. The shoulder button are hard to access for me, I can play Zelda just fine, but I don't think I can play games like Devil May Cry 3 where you need constant access of the shoulder buttons. d-pad, well it might as well not be there.

Touch screen feels awkward after DSi XL. The stylus and smaller screen is just inferior. The higher res is a welcome though.

The 3D screen, I didn't like at first, but I think my eyes have adjusted to it. Either that or I managed to find the right distance and angle for the best result.

Anyway the 3D now just work for me. Had the slider all the way up, played in pitch black room with screen brightness set to 5. Didn't get eye strain nor headache. In a matter of fact the 3D screen seems to help with my motion sickness, because I get them if I turned off the 3D. I actually managed to play OOT until the 3DS battery died on me from fully charge, completed all the child Link quests without getting motion sick, while I remember having to take a break every 10 minutes with the N64 version long ago. So yeah I am pretty happy with it now. Beside when Link holds up a new item and it pops out of the screen its pretty awesome.

If I were to re-design 3DS, I would make both screens 3D and touch screens as well as larger and the same size. I discover that touch screen will ruin the 3D illussion is total bullcrap. I also don't get why Nintendo choose 16:9 aspect, they could have went with 4:1 aspect, making the difference between DS and 3DS that much more noticeable. Beside offering wider aspect will make the device more unique compare to PS Vita or smartphones.

 

There are rumors that Nintendo will release a dual thumbstick add-on for 3DS. Some people are also hoping that the same accessory can be added to iOS and Android devices. ^_^

 

The second slide pad add-on is pretty much confirmed. Redesign and relaunch is pretty much confirmed too. I hope we get 3DSi XL I really need a bigger screen 3DS I am kinda enjoying the system a bit more than I thought I would.

What I'm afraid is Nintendo will drop the 3D screen since they had such a hard time marketing it. It most likely won't be called 3DS what so ever, it'll be under different/new name altogether. I wonder if they'll update the spec too if they drop the 3D screen, to go toe to toe with Vita.

 

Nintendo obviously doesn't know what the heck to do with their hardware. I'm having no faith them whatsoever and I'm glad I waited on the 3ds.

 

http://www.siliconera.com/2011/09/06/rumour-famitsu-reporting-second-nintendo-3ds-circle-pad-add-on/

EDIT: Engadget has a photo of the add-on:
http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/07/is-this-nintendos-3ds-joystick-add-on/

 

It would make the 3DS and the WuPad pretty much functionally compatible, so it makes a lot of sense ...

 

Yap, even better if someone make it for smart phones and tablets. Logitech has a dual stick accessory for pads, developer support is probably lacking.

 

I crossed DSi and Wii U controller this is what I got.



It's size would be a tad bigger than DSi XL and also wider, as wide as Wii U controller. Probably classified as gaming tablet. Nintendo can use 6 to 8" qHD screens. They can add rear multi touch on one of them but make both screens multi touch capable. 3D autostereoscopic display is probably too expensive at that size and requiring two is probably out of the question, so probably drop 3D altogether.

Upgrade the specs to match or better Vita and they have a functional portable gaming device to compete with iPad 3 and Vita.

I much prefer the DSi XL design compare to 3DS, 3DS is just terrible IMO. And that slide pad add on is just plain silly.

This is what I thought next gen DSi XL would look like. 3DS is sort of a clumsy mutation from DSi.

 

Sounds too big for a handheld, and won't be functional enough for a tablet. Would also cost as much as a tablet (higher BOM) with none of the advantages. And there's a lot of wait on the top screen considering only the bottom screen is held. unlike a tablet that has the user hold it about the centre of gravity. Ergonomics thus seem compromised. Doesn't seem a viable design to me, though your Photoshopping looks good.

 

In tablet mode you would hold it like a book. No button need to be used. Sony S2 tablet is dual screen too, so is not unique, but I reckon dual screen tablet is nicer to carry around. If Nintendo could design the hinge so it can fold all the way back, it could be used like any other tablet.

As for functions, that's really upto Nintendo, but do they have a choice though ? They need to compete, if not Apple will eat up all their share like iPod did to Walkman. Nintendo is defenitely expanding DS functionality since it launched, perhaps it's time for them to go all out instead of baby steps.

As for BOM, it should cost less than the BOM of Wii U. An extra LCD screen really cost next to nothing these days. The bigger battery that need to run the two screens probably will cost more.

As for size it should be smaller than the Wii U controller or iPad, but bigger than DSi XL. It's the size of a typical 7" eReader. That should still be nice to carry around. So if you find DSi XL alright to hold, this shouldn't be that different in feel of the dimensions, it's just wider. My only concern is weight.

It's just 5 minutes photoshop job, using DSi as based. I am hoping Nintendo could do better. But I really don't know what's going on at Nintendo, I really don't like the aesthetic of 3DS and Wii U controller. I reckon its terrible. And that 3DS slide pad add on just sort of piss me off. What the hell happend to the design team ?

 

I was thinking about use in DS mode. Half the weight is on one end of the device. That's not a problem if the weight is very light, but 600g or so of weight not centred in the hands will get tiring, I imagine.

3DS isn't Android, and it's highly implausible Nintendo will embrace Android. They won't do their own competing open platform because they are Nintendo and there's already too much competition so they couldn't really compete. Sony are only attempting something similar via offering PSS as a cross-platform engine, working on Vita and Android. No matter how many apps Nintendo could release for their prorietary ssytem, it won't offer the flexibility of the open platforms.

The BOM compared to iPad will no doubt be more as it's a more complex device with more components.

But that's a different market to Nintendo's handheld audience. A kid can take a DS to school, but a 7" tablet type device doesn't travel in the same way. The Wuu controller isn't expected to travel everywhere with the convenience of a pocket device.

I dare say they designed 3DS to specs, then Nintendo realised it's not offering a suitable product/value and needs better controls for the gamres who may be interested, and now have to shoe-horn better controls on. A revised 3DS would probably do similar to your design but with smaller screens to keep form factor pocket-sized. The moment they make it larger, I'm sure they'd lose out to smaller tablets like the Galaxy, which are pocket sized and multifunctional. The gaming advantages of proper controls won't be as significant in a larger device IMO where the lack of portability becomes an issue.