Feature
Nintendo 3DS Scorecard
We look at the good and bad of Nintendo's latest portable creation.
March 23, 2011Launch Date: 03/27/2011
Price: $249.99 MSRP
What is it?: Nintendo's latest handheld has all the benefits of the DSi, plus more processing power, 3D display, and a full suite of wireless connectivity options.
Recommended Games: 3DS comes with plenty of software pre-installed (including the addictively fun Face Raiders), but we also recommend Nintendogs and Super Street Fighter IV 3D.
Seven years ago, Nintendo introduced a strange little portable gaming device: the Nintendo DS. At the time, the GameCube market was failing, the Game Boy Advance was about to become painfully obsolete in the face of Sony's extraordinary PlayStation Portable, and the company's quarterly earnings had actually dipped into the red for the first time in ages. Former company president Hiroshi Yamauchi, who had played a significant role in the DS's conception, famously said of the machine that it would make or break the company. Or rather, "If it succeeds, we rise to heaven. If it fails, we sink to hell."
The DS seemed like a long shot -- its dual-screen design was unconventional, its processing power was comparable to the PlayStation while the PSP was closer in potential to the PlayStation 2, and one (but not both!) of its screens was touch-capable. Nintendo even positioned the system as a "third pillar" next to the Game Boy line, presumably to more easily distance itself from the DS if it failed. And yet, all these years later, Nintendo's wild gamble has paid unimaginable dividends; the DS is the second most successful piece of game hardware ever produced and will likely surpass the PlayStation 2 before long. Nintendo hasn't come close to losing money in the better part of a decade, and the secrets of the portable system's success were translated effectively into making the Wii console a comparable hit. But the DS has seen better days: Apple's iPhone is redefining the nature of portable gaming, while rampant piracy has turned the DS market a bloodbath for third parties.
Nintendo's next step in its campaign of portable market domination -- a position it has enjoyed without interruption since the Game Boy's 1989 debut -- is an iterative evolution of the DS. The 3DS, as it's called, recasts the dual-screen design and passive wireless features of its predecessor into a machine of similar physical design but decidedly more robust hardware power. However, the machine's real hook, as indicated by its name, is its ability to render stereoscopic 3D visuals without the need for special glasses -- a feature lacking in both Apple's iOS devices and in Sony's upcoming handheld, code-named NGP. It's an impressive ability, but will it be enough to give the 3DS an edge over the competition?
The Hardware
At a glance, the 3DS is clearly the DS all grown up. The system's design draws direct inspiration from its predecessor, with a similar layout for its screens, including the same proportionate gap between the two. This is not an insignificant point, as it means DS backward-compatibility has been built into the 3DS not only at a silicon level, but at the physical level as well. Similarly, 3DS carts are physically identical to DS cards (with the small addition of a tab to physically prevent insertion into an older machine). Nintendo has wisely positioned the 3DS as a successor to its preposterously successful handheld, giving the machine's more than 100 million owners a clear upgrade path to its new platform.
Despite the similarity of design, the 3DS looks much more sophisticated; it has a sleekness reminiscent of a high-end electronics device. The hardware currently ships in two colors, Cosmo Black and Aqua Blue; while the stunning pantheon of colors demoed at E3 2010 is disappointingly absent, this is hardly a surprise...and the colors Nintendo has settled on do look great. Both black and blue are subtly multi-toned, with a slight translucence to the outer shell of the top half that, combined with the presence of faint metallic flecks and a subtle two-tone gradient, lends the system's exterior an arresting sense of visual depth.
On the negative side, the black interior of the top shell on the Aqua Blue unit surrounding the 3D screen is a slightly jarring contrast to the subtle tones of the rest of the device. Presumably, it was born of necessity: the black serves as a neutral matte for the 3D visuals.
The 3DS doesn't just look great, though; it also feels great. The hardware has a dense, solid heft to it, but it isn't excessively heavy. The plastics Nintendo has used are much less toy-like than you'd expect from a gaming device, and the machine feels even better in the hand than the PSP-1000 (before later revisions became flimsier and cheaper-feeling). The 3DS analog pad is the best portable input device I've ever used, finally topping the Neo Geo Pocket Color's clicky digital stick and utterly shaming the PSP's pitiful nub -- it's both responsive and comfortable, with a concave design and a slightly rubberized texture to prevent slippage. The placement of the analog pad pushes the D-pad far enough down to make using digital input uncomfortable, but the analog pad works as a digital input for DS games, so this is hardly a deal-breaker (though navigating menu-heavy games with the analog pad feels loose and unreliable).
The 3DS's screens are a little strange: the top screen has a wide, non-standard aspect ratio (400x240, counted as 800x240 when the 3D effect is activated), while the bottom has a more customary resolution of 320x240. The mismatched size and proportions break the symmetry of the screens, though this could be an intentional decision to spoil the appeal of developing games in "book" format, since rotating the system will render the 3D visuals ineffective. Also of note is that only the top screen can produce 3D graphics, while only the bottom offers touch input. Again, this is probably deliberate, as touch and 3D wouldn't work well together on one screen (moving an object over a stereoscopic image breaks the illusion), but one could take this segregation of technology as a sign that Nintendo is trying to accomplish too many contrary purposes with 3DS.
In terms of processing power, the system has a respectable amount of horsepower. What we've seen so far suggests a piece of kit on par with Wii (though of course the screen resolution is about half that of Wii) -- definitely no match for the upcoming NGP, but competitive with iPhone. The system's chip is reputed to have a number of high-end visual effects built in at the hardware level, from volumetric fog to HDR lighting support. The launch titles suffer from some stark visual limitations -- the utter lack of animation in Street Fighter IV's backgrounds disappoints -- but we can safely assume that the system will prove to be quite capable in the hands of top-tier developers like Kojima Productions, Square Enix, and Capcom.
Furthermore, the 3D effect goes a long way toward smoothing over any lack of visual oomph. To date, we haven't seen any anti-aliasing on 3DS games... but you don't really notice the jagged edges unless you turn off the 3D. Incidentally, the 3D depth slider is easily one of the smartest features on the system: while incredibly simple in concept -- a physical slider that adjusts the distance between the two screens that produce the 3D effect -- it offers a quick, intuitive, and extremely effective way to adjust the visual presentation to a level that works for each user's eyes. (Including "off" for people like me, whose vision issues make 3D a literal pain rather than a benefit.) Granted, the ability to turn off the 3D calls into question just how essential the effect is for play, it's still an incredibly user-friendly feature. Those concerned about the impact of stereoscopic 3D on children whose vision is still developing can disable the 3D altogether with an optional parental lock.
The 3D depth slider is, essentially, a volume switch for the visual effect. In a subtle but effective bit of industrial design, Nintendo has reverted to a similar analog slider for the audio volume switch, a great change from the digital buttons used on the DSi family.
|
Today in Gaming - 3/25/11: 3DS Scorecard, Reggie on Late Night |
- 61
Comments (76)
-
-
3D is a Gimmick!!!!!!
Posted: Apr 08, 2011 12:00AM PST by THE_GREAT_ONE2050
But every System has them even the big boys......
N64 Introduced 3D character models
PS1 transition to disk format (also used 3D character models)
PS2 Cheapest DVD Player at it's launch
PS3 Cheapest Blu-ray player at it's launch
NGC Nintendo joins disk format and ups graphics
XB1 Introduced HDD & Dedicated servers to console players
360 HD graphics online community integration
Wii Introduced *SUCCESSFUL* Motion controls to gaming
When it comes down to it everybody has a gimmick it's up to you to choose what you want not anyone else.
* I put this in all caps because people like to argue who had motion controls first and I don't have time for that.
-
-
Dsi ware
Posted: Apr 06, 2011 12:00AM PST by peak201
Just wanna throw something into the mix, ok, I have had my dsi since the launch date and there isn't really that much in the way of Good downloadable content, I havent seen anything that I actually wanted to download, I haven't ever Bought any d.s./wii points to spend on the store, there is a lack of free ware, in over a year there is 2 free things that is ... A web browser and a flip note thing which is totally crap ... I'm sorry if I have offended anyone but this is my personal views I would rather wait to see if it lives up to what they claim will happen, I would love to see an online call of duty in 3d on the 3ds that would be great and how about a 3G/4G network gaming. . ? maybe something to make it more attractable hardcore gamers too not young children an old foggies lol-
-
Not Entirely Wrong....
Posted: Apr 15, 2011 12:00AM PST by ShivaDiva
I've had my DS XL since January but I've only bought like 2 things from out of the DSi Shop a Crossword game & a Word Search/Find one. But frankly, the Crossword one was utter shit as it was even properly localized for US market (it was half-assed mini game designed w/ UK English as the only recognized spelling..even the damn clues were blatantly about things only someone native of EU would know). Other than those, I've never been interested in anything (except the browser & Word search).
Add to that its lack of any sort of categorizing proper search functions and it's a complete chore to be bothered w/
-
-
-
After a week and a half....
Posted: Apr 05, 2011 12:00AM PST by RideZeLitenin
.... I can confirm that I for one have experienced NO HEADACHES or any other side effects from the 3D. None whatsoever. Geez people.... once you find the sweetspot on the screen don't focus so hard on the picture.-
-
Lucky you.
Posted: May 16, 2011 12:00AM PST by Facelord
I got a 3DS over a month ago and since then whenever I use the 3D effect I spend the rest of my day with a severe migraine. At first I thought it was for some other reason, but it only happens when I use the 3D effect with my 3DS. The 3D effect looks fine, but I'd honestly prefer to wear 3D glasses over my eyeglasses to see 3D; I don't like the on-off 3D of the 3DS and I don't like that Spy Kids 3D's red/cyan glasses(from the early 2000s) and Tron Legacy in 3D didn't give me any headaches whatsoever, but glasses-free 3D kills me.
3D adds nothing to the game. The extra depth perception doesn't do anything for gameplay, all those driving games that claim the 3D effect helps out give reviewers headaches out the wazoo, fast motion plus glasses-free 3D does not work out well.
I dropped $250 on my 3DS and the only two games I've really played on it are Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and Dragon Quest 9. Both are DS games, both cost me $5, and both are better than anything the 3DS will have to offer for months, if not for the rest of the year. I'm fairly optimistic about the future of the 3DS, but that doesn't stop me from beating myself up over buying it without planning on getting any 3DS games
There's no effing way I'm willing to drop $40 on a new handheld game, Nintendo may think that $1 is a ridiculous price to ask for a handheld game(I'm with them there) but they're on the very other end of the spectrum. I'm a handheld/PC gamer and a cheapskate, I'm also very poor and my gaming budget is very low. I'm willing to drop $40 on Resident Evil: Mercenaries 3D if it looks like it'll give me hundreds of hours of gameplay; like Killing Floor or L4D, online co-op zombie-killing gameplay just doesn't get old for me. Most major action titles for the 3DS are probably only going to give me around 30 hours of gameplay, max. Why the hell would I drop $40 for 30 hours of gameplay when I can just go to a nearby bargain bin and get eight great, overlooked DS titles for $40? Again, I'm poor, sue me.
I was able to get a 3DS by selling tons of MAKEUP online and putting the profit toward it, in the end I only had to pay $50 out of my pocket but I had to sell thousands(yes, thousands) of dollars in makeup. Overkill, yes?
I beat myself up over getting the 3DS almost every day, but I wouldn't if Nintendo had delayed the system's launch and instead released the system with tons of good, non-remake games. I'm sure over time I'll love my 3DS more than my DS or PSP, but we're off to an extremely rocky start. I just hope these publishers will stop expecting me to pay $40 for a handheld game, most 3DS owners have dropped around $300(after tax~) on their new system and they probably don't wanna spend $120(before tax) on three decent games.
Please excuse my lengthy post, I just hope that someone takes something from it.
-
-
-
$250 Bucks!
Posted: Apr 04, 2011 12:00AM PST by Crusader101
Gee, that's a little high for a hand-held and the games will probably be running around $40 to $50 bucks. I won't be getting one till the price falls way down. I'll just hold on to my ds lite and watch the prices fall on those games. The ds games will definitely be cheaper now that the 3DS is out, so that will be a fun game shopping day - buying some cheap ds games - lol.
-
-
Somebody get these guys a box of tissues...
Posted: Apr 04, 2011 12:00AM PST by NeMoDoSeZ
These guys sound like a bunch of cry babies. The sweet spot is hard to focus on! I get a headache after five minutes! The iPhone has better graphics!! waa waa!!!First off I don't even know why Apple and/or iOs are even being compared to the 3DS. Who the hell goes out and buys an iPad or iPhone FOR gaming? You buy it for what it does and the gaming aspect is just a bonus. When you buy a 3DS you are buying it FOR the gaming. Nintendo isn't competing with Apple.I find it funny that the majority of these guys are getting headaches too. The sweet spot is easy to find and a 6 year old can keep it in focus - it's really not that hard to do. I find that the 3D aspect of the games is also amazing. It really brings an entire new feature to gaming. I can't wait to see what the developers come up with once they are familiar with the development side of the 3DS.Have you guys even played Street Fighter IV: 3D? It is definitely a great launch title - yet I feel like you guys didn't really give it enough credit.I just want to point out that I am in no way a Nintendo fanboy. I don't own a Wii and I've been more than happy with my 360. I do agree that it's up to Nintendo to put a lot of effort into the StreetPass feature.With that said I just find that these editors are more annoying than helpful. The also think that the article was on the weak side. p00p!
-
-
Hey Nintendo,
Posted: Mar 28, 2011 12:00AM PST by Funky024
Make an F-Zero game for the 3DS and I will buy your otherwise useless handheld platform.
-
-
-
Terrible Launch Lineup
Posted: Mar 28, 2011 12:00AM PST by king_mob
If the 3DS had launched with Zelda, Kid Icarus or Starfox 64 it would have been an adequate launch. It's kind of pathetic that Nintendo couldn't even get two game which are ports ready for launch time. And what are we left with? Pilot Wings Resort is more of a glorified tech demo than a full fledged game. Super Street Fighter IV looks pretty cool but there's nothing about that game that really benefits from 3D. Steel Battalion is supposed to be horrible.
I wanted to own one of these at launch but now I'll put it off another six months.
On a random note, I wish Sega would hire Platinum Games to make a new Space Harrier game.
-
-
My thoughts exactly...
Posted: Mar 28, 2011 12:00AM PST by TeknoLogic
Zelda was originally announced as a launch title, but, as mentioned above, Nintendo seems to think they can define "launch title" however the hell they want to. I'm looking forward to Mario Kart 3DS and Zelda tho, totally worth the wait.
-
-
-
2nd page, last paragraph, first sentence
Posted: Mar 28, 2011 12:00AM PST by holycowrap
That's what she said
-
-
Glasses free 3D ok for portables but will not work with the big boy games
Posted: Mar 28, 2011 12:00AM PST by Souse
Sweet spot says it all, if you want to play in 3D its fine to go glasses free on a tiny screen but once you go to 50" screens it makes it near impossible. If you want to play great games in much better 3D, get the 3D TV and glasses, wearing them isnt a fasion statment but who cares, im playing them in the comfort of my home and they look much much better, Killzone 3, NBA 2k11, MK, GT5 and on and on all look great. And I dont need to be sitting at a certain sweet spot to see it, doesnt matter where I sit in my living room it all looks great. 3D really has made a diffrence in my gaming and has got me excited again in gaming I cant wait for the full MK to come out and play that in 3D, Killzone right now is amazing and so much fun in 3D. And if your worried about price the TVs you can get for less than 800 bucks and usually come with glasses, I got mine for 800 bucks with two pair of glasses and already had a PS3 so I was set, my 3D blurays are great and gaming is amazing! Give it a try people!
-
-
Well...
Posted: Mar 28, 2011 12:00AM PST by TeknoLogic
now that you've asked me I guess I have no choice. Its not 3D I hate, its the price tag. Lets be honest, you got lucky with that price and not everyone even has "just 800 bucks" lying around. Once the midsized 3D 1080p's drop to around 3-400 I'll consider it.
-
-
-
What's with bringing psp in the picture?
Posted: Mar 28, 2011 12:00AM PST by Jimmythehand
People seriously can't be comparing psp which has been in the market for 10 years to 3ds (that's like comparing playstation one to nintendo wii). Sony and Nintendo are Apples and oranges and I happen to like both. I don't own a 3ds, but that's because of the launch lineup, price tag and battery life.
Honestly, I'm waiting for the NGP, but that's because I support systems for the games first. But, when the eventual 3ds lite xl comes out, I may get one. If Advance Wars 3ds shows up, then I'll get it sooner...
-
-
3DS too small
Posted: Mar 28, 2011 12:00AM PST by t3c4z3r0
I am just waiting for a 3DS XL to replace my current DS XL. Man I love that extra screen real estate.
On a side not,..... man I am getting old lol. There was a time when I would wish a handheld would get smaller. Now I am wishing they would make a larger version of the newest one on the market.
-
-
Would have it but...
Posted: Mar 27, 2011 12:00AM PST by SimplySickSickSick
I would have it already except I'm stuck at a college that's on the outskirts of the city (the extent of walking distance stores are a convenice store, and resturant, as well as some clothing outlet stores), also I don't have a car and the bus that runs between here and the mall/ futureshop/ best buy doesn't run on sunday's. Now I have to wait until tomorrow after classes.
-
-
I'm torn....
Posted: Mar 27, 2011 12:00AM PST by MicroGates
Last night I was looking around seeing if there was anything I could trade in to get the 3DS. But this morning I'm kind of okay not owning it. I don't know, I'm a technology whore and I really want Ridge racer and Nintendogs, but even after I we're to trade in my DSi XL, I'd still need another $150 ($230 if you include the two games I mentioned I wanted) and that's not just in the cards right now (Damn mortgage!!!) And as someone stated earlier, you know they're gonna release a special edition/new color soon, so I'll wait till the holiday or later.
-
-
no 3D for me :(
Posted: Mar 27, 2011 12:00AM PST by Twilight_Sea
It's a shame that I won't be able to utilize the 3D effect for the 3DS thanks to my mono vision. D:
-
-
-
Interesting...
Posted: Mar 27, 2011 12:00AM PST by KaelWolfcry
This write-up was super informative, and gave me a whole lot of food for thought. I definitely feel like the DS I have is going quietly to bed, and I am certainly in the market for a fresh, tasty new handheld. I'll be looking for the write-up of the NGP and see how it fares to similar scrutiny.
Mercifully, I've got a few other games to divert my attention from the handheld scene. For now.
-
-
$40
Posted: Mar 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by sepewrath
I don't think the price will be as big of a deal as its being made out to be, if people are willing to shell out 60 bucks for a game and then 30 more for DLC, I don't think 40 will be a huge problem. And I doubt Apps are the threat their being made out to be either, when you want to play a terrible game for 5 minutes of fun, you get an App, when you want to play an actual game, you get a DS, PSP, On Live, whatever. If Apps were such a huge threat, with the $2 games, it would be a threat to all games, that includes consoles. As we see, there are plenty of people with handhelds like the DS and no consoles; people will get their total gaming fix from a handheld device. So either these things are a threat to every platform out there, as I can buy 10 Apps for the price of one DLC for Mass Effect 2, or their just not that much of a threat.
-
-
It wasn't a DS in my pocket. It was my IPad.
Posted: Mar 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by chadwick7
Well, I had *just* about talked myself into buying one at the Gamestop next to my workplace tommorrow, but for better or worse, you changed my mind.
...in a good way.
Nintendo has a LONG history of updating their handhelds, and slashing the prices. It makes sense to wait, no matter how painful for a Nintendo fanboy this is.
I also have alot invested in my Dsi ware, and I definatly want to see how that pans out.
And to you two fighting about PSP/Nintendo superiority. ARE WE REALLY STILL DOING THIS?!
Play what you like, and shutup. No one is "better" just stronger in some points. Its what makes you happy as a gamer that sells a system.
I feel like I am in back in the Sega vs. Nintendo days again. JEEESH!?
Good article. Thankxxxx.
-
-
I agree
Posted: Mar 27, 2011 12:00AM PST by irate1136
I had my pre-order full paid and cancelled it. I remembered how many GBA's i bought because of redesigns and new colors I wanted. And I did the same with the DS. So i will just wait until they release a super awesome "limited" edition redesigned 3ds (probably Mario, Metroid, Zelda or Pokemon themed). Also the launch line up is rather weak to me.
-
-
-
Pass, for now
Posted: Mar 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by Jiggles
There doesn't really seem to be a good reason to buy the 3DS right now. Most of the positives discused in the "scorecard" deal with its future potential. If the 3DS ends up being half as good as the DS, then I'll buy one. But I'll probably wait for the inevitable hardware revision (e.g. DS to DSlite).
However, for now, I'm not interested in medicore ports/remakes and tech demos.
-
-
Is that a 3DS in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?
Posted: Mar 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by Rascal_Sensei
After reading through all this, what really bothers me the most is the backwards compatibility between the 3DS and DS/I.
My rage is still here over them cutting the GBA slot from the DSI/3DS. I'm sure I'm not the only one who invested heavily in all the great SNES ports and upgrades to the GBA. (Final Fantasy IV - VI, Super Mario Bros, Metroid: Zero Mission/Fusion, Zelda: Minish Cap, the list goes on and on.)
I've since clung until my DS lite as a security blanket, even with the DSI XL coming out, minus the GBA slot. (I'm currently addicted to FF Tactics Advance)
With this news that with the different sized screens affect backwards compatibility, it makes me just queesy. Without being able to download Wiiware titles...which seems like a no brainer, the comment in the above article that we'll be sold '3d enhanced' remakes of old games infuriates me!! Why not have an attachment to download older games to the system memory...sort of like how they had an attachment for the PS3 to transfer old PS1/PS2 memory cards over. I'd pay 50 bucks for that ability.
I REFUSE to buy another copy of Super Mario World!!! I've only bought the game four or five times! I FINALLY have a portable copy of my favorite game, Chrono Trigger, and it'll get distorted!?
The real nail in the coffin too, is the price. TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS? Really? When we can go out and buy current-gen, set top box systems for less, with more power, cheaper games, downloadable great titles, be able to stream netflix, facebook, etc....watch blu-ray movies.
This whole street pass sounds great...if you're in a city. I live in Northern Michigan. *laughs* Is that a 3DS in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?
All in all, I have to pass for now. I'm just filled with complete disappointment. I hate it when companies force you to give up on older games. Backwards compatibility was always the perk to the nintendo systems. Having it emulate poorly on a new system reminds me of Microsoft's half assed backwards compatibility with the xbox 360...I have a bunch of xbox games boxed away because I have to get a new xbox deck to play them.
-
-
FFTA
Posted: Mar 27, 2011 12:00AM PST by Metroidvaniac
I've been playing that, too. Even though I did have a GBA, it's only now that I'm starting to acquire more and more GBA games and playing them on my DS Lite (probably because it was mostly my brother's GBA, and I just played it on occasion). There are plenty of great games that are making me avoid trading in my DS for a 3DS. I'll get one eventually, of course, but the backlog of GBA and DS title's I've yet to play (FFTA is just the tip of the iceberg) means I can afford to wait.
-
-
Right on!
Posted: Mar 28, 2011 12:00AM PST by Rascal_Sensei
For sure! After FFTA I think I'll move on to Sword of Mana or maybe finish another of the Castlevania games.
And like I said, I'd pay to be able to transfer over my old games to the 3DS. If I could just have a memory card of all my GBA/DS carts, that'd be wicked. I'd have basically all the Mario Advance Games...Castlevania...Metroid. I'd be set!
With all the redesigns the other systems got, there's no rush!
-
-
GBA
Posted: Mar 28, 2011 12:00AM PST by projectrunaway
Nintendo could release GBA titles on VC, I really don't see why not.
-
-
-
More PSP bashing? Get over yourselves already.
Posted: Mar 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by vicariousexp
To Mr "nintendofan13"
I've said this many MANY times, but the PSP is only a relatively unpopular gaming device in America. It's extremely popular in Asia and in Japan, and was dominating the sales charts for very many months before the 3DS got released.
http://www.4gamer.net/games/117/G011794/20110223030/
Even post-3DS release, I'd like to point out that there's only a grand total of 5 3DS games and 2 DS ones on the current top 20 best seller list while there's 6 PSP games there in total (and none of the 3DS games outsold Dissidia 012):
http://www.4gamer.net/games/117/G011794/20110323028/
The point being that reports of the PSP's death have been greatly exaggerated. I appreciate that America and the West is the entire world to you, but don't inflict your unwashed opinion that the PSP was unsuccessful on the rest of the world.
-
-
Ok...
Posted: Mar 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by hitnrun
So Nntendo only dominates the market comprised of the native countries of everyone reading this. Got it.
Point is, it doesn't matter how successful the PSP is relative to the DS in a shrinking market with games that don't even get translated out of kana. Anglophones and Europeans are perfectly justified in judging Sony on its offerings and success in the market that matters, i.e. them.
-
-
Thank you
Posted: Mar 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by nintendofan13
Thank you soo mmuch for your insight on the psp.You talk mostly about games in your comment,but the real deal is the system. So yea it has sold well outside of the u.s.. I know the west is not the world , but i would like to point out AGAIN, that the ds is THE most popular portable in the world. Yea so psp has some good games, good for them, but they made a system that failed in some of the BIGGEST video games in the industry, so you might not want to go arount thinking that Asia is the only continent in the world either.
Oh yea just went to your page, i now see that you are a psp fanboy! Ohhhh that explains everything! Sorry to give you a little slap of reality,but the psp is gone! Until the ngp comes out, but we will just see how that goes!
-
-
You're obviously a retard.
Posted: Mar 27, 2011 12:00AM PST by vicariousexp
For your information, I own a DS. I just don't have an obsessive interest in updating my 1up page with every single game I do play, but thank you so very much for being insecure enough to go and stalk me, neither do I owe my allegiance to any game console publisher when my interest mainly lies in games.
I like how you derive that I must be rabidly obsessed with the PSP considering the only thing I've talked about related to it has been Tactics Ogre, but people always retreat to ad hominem when faced with unpleasant facts, don't they?
P.S.: Re the above comment that was marginally on-topic, people in Asia actually do speak English, you know. It's also rather a large continent.
If I wanted to use sweeping generalisations based on Western gamer preferences, I'd assume that Americans don't play anything outside of hackneyed sports games, Wii Fit/Sports Club and first-person shooters. That's not quite fair, is it?
I'm not arguing that the PSP has been more successful in terms of overall sales than the DS. But is it the hyperbolic failure you claim it to be? I say it's most certainly not and I can cite evidence to prove my point. If you believe the PSP is a failure of a console system, then the onus of proof is on you to provide evidence that suggests that is so.
-
-
Oh Wow
Posted: Mar 27, 2011 12:00AM PST by nintendofan13
You dont get it do you, i own a psp and have had problems with it, it is not the best built system, but not the worst.It is falling to its demise though! They lowered the price,all this buzz about the ngp will make it fade away.I never said that you are rabidly obsessed with the psp. I just said that you were a fanboy, which you apparently are since you get so defensive about it. I like all systems, i like some more that the rest, thats it. I just LOVE how you think that going to someones BLOG is stalking them. You must live alone. So yea i claim it to be a failing system but that is my OPINION, i dont care if you get some facts to prove it, if you do good for you, if you dont, what ever. You know im not stupid, but I just LOVE how thats what you derive me to be.
-
-
Ahh okay.
Posted: Mar 28, 2011 12:00AM PST by PaulMC
Never owned psp so I can't really make an informed opinion on it's reliability. I'd still wait though. I think the 3ds will be compared more to the NGP whenever that comes out. Honestly, I probably won't get either one for a few years, due to the price and lack of games.
-
-
-
Great!
Posted: Mar 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by joshnickerson
I enjoyed the article, and hit all the key points I wanted to know about the system. My biggest concerns are the battery life and the upcoming eShop, but I suppose only time will tell how those will turn out. I'll be holding off on buying the system for a while, waiting for a price drop or for the game library to fill up, but I can't deny that the system looks and feels pretty damn sweet.
-
-
3DS sound quality example
Posted: Mar 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by ZeroDown
One of the things a lot of reviewers haven't noticed is the amazing improvement in sound quality of the 3DS compared to the regular DS.
If you like playing with headphones on, you'll love the way some of these games sound. Finally Nintendo has a handheld that can match Sony's PSP for sound quality.
Check out this short recording I did of the title screen audio for Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon - Shadow Wars. One of the (in my opinion) wrongfully overlooked launch titles on the 3DS. Amazing game... amazing audio:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaylIPoHccUAnd two more music clips from Ridge Racer 3D:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2CW14-vzcQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQwiVh-RLfQ-
-
well...
Posted: Mar 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by mastertmg
these clips aren't actually of a 3DS playing the music.
Any game can make their music higher quality by increasing the file size. the determining factor in weather or not it sounds good is the speaker quality on the system or your headphones.
DS games like "Castlevania : Order of Ecclesia" and "The World Ends With You" sound AMAZING with headphones, because the devoted larger amounts of memory to sound files.
-
-
-
Man,
Posted: Mar 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by KBABZ
I don't really know what everyone's schtick with 3D is these days, because to me it's the next advancement in viewing technology, alongside the likes of HD and, *gasp*, COLOUR television. They probably considered colour TV a gimmick back then as well. I think all the hate is because everyone is trying to shove it into us too quickly.
Oh, and the next step from 3D is to actually have physical hologromatic images to play with.
-
-
3D = purely aesthetic...so far
Posted: Mar 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by EndlessWinter
At least with HD and color they add much more practical implementations to games than 3D. Color allows for greater differentiation in elements as well as some common game elements like pallete swaps. HD tvs allow a larger viewing space so that we can see much more than before. So far 3D is nothing more than aesthetic addition, until its proven that it actually adds functionallity to gameplay others (like myself) aren't convinced its worth the extra $$.
Granted my examples may not be the best, but hopefully you see what I'm getting at.
-
-
@EndlessWinter
Posted: Mar 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by TROPtastic
i get the examples, but i think that 3D might actually have something to it other than being eye-candy, since apparently it helps to judge depth better in racing games like Gran Turismo 5 and Motorstorm. i haven't played a racing game in 3D, but it might actually help to win races and stuff
-
-
3d...
Posted: Mar 27, 2011 12:00AM PST by PaulMC
Doesn't really add anything to games. So far it isn't affecting core game mechanics, it doesn't add to the atmosphere. It's just a gimmick and gives devs an excuse to throw a bunch of sh*t at the screen. Not to mention that anyone who suffers from motion sickness won't really be able to enjoy playing in 3d.
The biggest thing that 3d has done to the entertainment industry is increase the price for movie tickets.
HD and color television aren't gimmicks. They both increase the quality of movies and video games.
-
-
-
A solid article on the 3DS
Posted: Mar 25, 2011 12:00AM PST by skyknight
Seriously, have any of you saw the "review" of the 3DS on CNN?
I do like the view points from the various editors on the 3DS, though I am sticking to my plans on waiting down the line to see what better games will come out, and what does Sony has in store
-
-
oh god
Posted: Mar 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by chinpokoman
that CNN Money video was such horseshit. Mr. I-Grew-Up-On-Halo had no idea wtf he was talking about.
-
-
-
waste of time!
Posted: Mar 25, 2011 12:00AM PST by JediKnight_711
the 3DS is a waste of time there will be a upgraded version in like a year so i am not wasting money!
-
-
2 years
Posted: Mar 28, 2011 12:00AM PST by projectrunaway
I say at E3 2014 we'll see a 3DS XL with improved battery life for $299 and the 3DS dropping in price to $199.99.
-
-
-
Bit of a discrepancy
Posted: Mar 25, 2011 12:00AM PST by Masta_C
On page one, in the paragraph below the video, it reads:
the utter lack of animation in Street Fighter IV's backgrounds disappoints -- but we can safely assume that the system will prove to be quite capable in the hands of top-tier developers like Kojima Productions, Square Enix, and Capcom.
Uh shouldnt the graphics for SFIV be a bit more um...undisappointing
Otherwise good report
-
-
Meh
Posted: Mar 25, 2011 12:00AM PST by EKGTrooper
3D is cool, but not at the expense of battery life. If I ever do decide to buy one of these, it will most likely be used so I can return it quickly if I decide I don't want it. I just don't see the point in the 3DS. The graphics are barely comparable to the Wii. The screen is super low resolution. The backwards compatability is a joke. Nintendo is going to force you to re-buy games you've already bought digitally if you want to play them in 3D. The battery is garbage. The games are expensive. It is super expensive at $250. I can go on.
I will have to see what the real gaming landscape thinks about it before I drop a dime on it, used of course.
-
-
Exciting times for portables, indeed
Posted: Mar 25, 2011 12:00AM PST by Elkovsky
It's good to see a well-balanced take on the 3DS that seems to account for all of its major strengths and weaknesses. The relatively uninteresting launch line-up doesn't bother me so much; since Nintendo is casting a net that goes beyond the hardcore crowd, the built-in stuff will do well enough, at least at the very start, to carry across what the system is all about in a simple and fun way - much like Wii Sports did for the Wii. Once the "gospel" of 3DS has spread somewhat, more titles will be along, more units will have shipped, and the momentum of the system will continue forward... provided that the dangers it faces from Apple and Sony, as mentioned in the article, don't siphon away interest. That and the whole piracy thing... I know that people will always find a way, but it hacks me off when the selfish and illegal behaviors of others have a tangible effect on the market, especially when it means that excellent Japan-only titles don't get a proper localization and US release...
For me, personally, the world of iPhone gaming holds no interest for me; so many of the genres I'm interested in don't work well on a touchscreen-only setup. That, and I'm fine with my low-end, texting-deliberately-disabled-because-I-don't-need-to-be-in-touch-with-the-world-constantly phone as it is. It'll be interesting to see how the "Playstation Phone" impacts Nintendo's standing with their new system, though...
Anyway, I'm curious to see how things play out. I've always been one to root for Nintendo's portables, so I hope the system succeeds. (Ironic, though, that I'm looking at scooping up a PSP-3000 in the coming days, though, to grab the bargain-bin exclusives I missed out on during the system's proper run...)
-
-
Just Too Costly
Posted: Mar 25, 2011 12:00AM PST by BetardxFoosier
I'm not in the group that wants to spend $250 for a handheld...it's just ridiculously priced. It's more expensive than a Nintendo Wii ever was for heaven's sake...
-
-
$250 price tag yet be justified
Posted: Mar 25, 2011 12:00AM PST by EndlessWinter
Its kinda hard to jump on this thing opening day when it's primarilly running on potential offerings. After reading through this, it doesn't really seem to be worth owning yet (weak battery, weak line-up, last-gen graphics, gimmicky 3D).
And just to clarify a little, the Wii did start at $250.
-
-
-
Not surprisingly...
Posted: Mar 25, 2011 12:00AM PST by octoberfleshed
...this article is informative; I will say that it likely won't change too many people's minds about buying one or not buying one (I'm on the "buying one" spectrum, btw)...
-
-
Matt Leones
Posted: Mar 25, 2011 12:00AM PST by DrDamz
Comments were best effective for me. I didnt think about the obvious fact that you can get games that probably look better for just a couple bucks on the iphone rather than 40.Then again sometimes having an actual d pad and physical buttons work better for playing a lot of games
-
-
Got mine today
Posted: Mar 25, 2011 12:00AM PST by Shanef
Traded my Ds Xl in towards it, only reason i got one on the european launch was for the generous trade in prices,
I have been enjoying some Rayman and Street Fighter and have had zero problem with the 3D 'sweet-spot', I have to ay that i was surprised by just how effective the inclusion of 3d can add to tech demos like Face Raiders or the AR minigame, even if you look like a tit walking around a table to fire balls at a dragon that has burst out of the table down the pub :D
I look forward to sauntering through town and seeing how many people are picked up by Streetpass... a feature i wasn't aware of until I opened up my 3DS and found a notification from it.
I look forward to see what happens with all these cool little features in the future and i hope that 3DSware is better than wiware or dsware..
-
-
Good Article, Generous Score
Posted: Mar 25, 2011 12:00AM PST by Pacario
All my concerns are addressed here--poor battery life, expensive hardware and software, questionable transferability of software--so the generous B+ score has me scratching my head a bit.
I tried one of these at a nearby Gamespot and I do think the 3-D and AR stuff are neat, but I also see them more as novelties than anything. I'm also disappointed that the system hews so closely to previous DS designs. (I personally would love to see the second screen get ditched for one large nice one).
But, on a positive note, I like the circle pad and the Street Pass feature should be a cool thing to check out on a regular basis. Once the price drops, I'll probably break down and get one.
-
-
Eh...
Posted: Mar 25, 2011 12:00AM PST by GenesisDoes
I think I would give it about a C+. Then again, it's been about a Decade since I've seen a decent console/portable launch.
-
-
On the 3DS....
Posted: Mar 25, 2011 12:00AM PST by San_Andreas
I saw the 3DS in action at Target yesterday. The 3D looks nice enough, although it's a bit hard to focus. But everything said, I'll probably make more use of 3D than I did with a touch screen. It looks like Nintendo is trying harder to position this device as a device that plays more conventional games in addition to casual handheld fare.
-
-
I love portable gaming.
Posted: Mar 25, 2011 12:00AM PST by Bast
I'm an odd cat when it comes to portable gaming. I usually play my DS or PSP at home more rather than on the go. I've owned a lot of portables from the Atari Lynx to Neo Geo portable. They've all been a great experience. I've always been a sucker for these new portables. 3DS is no different, I'll be getting mine this Sunday. I dunno why I can't wait. The only thing that has me excited is Zelda OoT and Kid Icaris, which are nowhere in sight. The 3D aspect just seems like a gimmick and the system itself is expensive. In comparion the NPG makes the 3DS look old and outdated. So why am I so excited about the 3DS? :]
-
-
NIntendo Doesn't Care About Graphics...
Posted: Mar 25, 2011 12:00AM PST by Mr.LametoWatch
That's why their hardware is always overpowered by Sony. They do care about 3D graphics though. Umm.... Why?
-
-
Yea,
Posted: Mar 25, 2011 12:00AM PST by nintendofan13
but has sony made one of the most popular portabale gaming systems in the world? No, they havent and never will, they are speeding down the drain after this comes out! Just you wait.
-
-
Because it innovates
Posted: Mar 25, 2011 12:00AM PST by Masta_C
Sure anyone can make better graphics than the machines that came out 4 or 5 years ago, but how many bring out something revolutionary. 3D will push the whole industry forward. Granted Nintendo has tried 3-D with Virtual boy and failed, but they also tried motion controls with the powerglove and failed. Now look at what they did with the Wii. And look what that did to the Xbox and PS3. I hate to sound like a Nintendo Fanboy, and currently dont own any of their latest systems (I'll always have my NES, SNES though), but if there is one company I can trust will always have the future of gaming in mind it is Nintendo.
-
-
I hope you're wrong
Posted: Mar 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by PaulMC
3d gives me a headache after about 30 minutes. In all honesty it feels mostly like a bad gimmick. If a game is mediocre or terrible, than it will be just as mediocre or terrible in 3d. If the 3ds does well it will be because of the games, not the 3d. I would rather get a better video card and faster processor.
-
-
-
3D or Not 3D...
Posted: Mar 25, 2011 12:00AM PST by Mr.LametoWatch
Well, I certainly don't recommend 3D on a boat or a plane or train or an automobile or spitting on John Candy's grave, but even wtihout 3D, I recommend the 3DS for:
1. Better looking handheld Nintendo games
2. A GB and GBC library to take with you
3. Virtual Boy games made better
4. Game Gear games with a rechargable battery
5. TurboGrafx games with better battery life
6. Camera based games
7. Videos
8. Hopefully, better internet with both Flash and Java support.
And as far as 3D movies go, I saw Avatar in 2D and it was geat, but I'm sure 3D looked better. The only 3D film I dared to go to was Tron: Legacy as it was only shown in 3D where I live. It was so good and used 3D perfectly so yes, 3D films can be better than 2D if done tastefully. Unfortuantely, every film trailer before it used 3D in over the top scenes (like a bottle cap in Green Hornet; a 3D botle cap? Really? Really? And that bird in that new CG film was always 3D. ALWAYS. Do you really need all the characters to be 3D the ENTIRE movie? NO!) I wouldn't want to waste money on a 3D set, but having portable movies with something unique about them. Now that's what I call AWESOME!!! (And if you're wondering, No, I do not like the Miz.)
-
-
3D Good and Bad
Posted: Mar 25, 2011 12:00AM PST by FakeBoxer
To the extent the 3D is a nice but minor add-on (you could say gimmick), I think it has been a success. I personally view the 3D as a toy and it succeeds in that realm. Toys are something to be played with for a few minutes here or there -- the AR cards are perfect examples and I think they could do many other things that appealed on that level.
The problem is how much is this new toy really costing us and what other features did they have to pull out to fit 3D in the system, in terms of cost. A related issue is how much programming and marketing will need to be used to support this feature and how many games will be degraded by developers trying to make 3D worthwhile, unsuccessfully.
To the first point, I believe the emphasis on 3D has impeded other important features, most importantly screen size. The lower screen is smaller than the DSi and the upper screen isn't a whole lot bigger although both have better resolution. I would have liked the bottom screen to remain 3.25in and the top screen to have pushed the boundaries of the physical format to the greatest extent possible. The screens' resolution should have also been planned around assuring near perfect backwards compatibility. I think the screens are relatively smaller than I would expect due to cost for the top screen, and Nintendo's desire to de-emphasize primary play on the bottom screen in that case, although cost may have been an issue on the bottom screen too.
To the second point, I really fear that the first year or more will be spent by developers playing with 3D to the detriment of gaming experience at Nintendo's urging. Eventually the market will either reward or punish this behavior and developers will adjust, but I hope by that time it isn't too late. The NGP is looking like a fierce competitor, especially if they swallow their pride and copy the 3DS analog controller's slide versus tilt physics. My only fear with the NGP is that it turns out to be too big. It will still fit an important niche brilliantly which is at-home gaming that isn't tethered to a TV, but the portable experience will suffer and with a smaller market game development will either lag, or be tied exclusively to console ports. As a fan of the types of games that often get made exclusively for handhelds, this would be disappointing.
-
-
lol, you accidentally called it Kinect....
Posted: Mar 25, 2011 12:00AM PST by Gold_Ultima
look in the little side panel thing....>_>
Edit: ah you fixed it....
-
-
Pretty good score
Posted: Mar 25, 2011 12:00AM PST by ngamer-90
The article showed the strenghts and weaknesses of it, which is nice and the score was pretty good as well. I'm pretty excited for the launch day, just a few more days. I'm pretty sure the later games will be awesome, and the AR Cards look cool, and I think pokemon could really benefit from the AR tech, like the downloadable events or something, it could be sweet. And the social features look and sound exciting, hopefully some games later on take advantage of this and use the social features well.
Great article btw.
Popular on 1UP
No recent updates for this section.Around the Network
-
-
-
-
The Most Ambitious Pokemon Ever? Early Thoughts on Pokemon X/Y
-
Metal Gear Rising Revengeance Connects the Series' Past With a Radical New Future
-
About 1UP
- Contact Us
- 1UP Staff
- Ad Gallery
- Contests
- Help
- Site Map
Popular Games
- Resident Evil 6
- Diablo III
- BioShock Infinite
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
- StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm
- Grand Theft Auto V
- Assassin's Creed 3
- Tomb Raider
- Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
- Halo 4
Popular Guides
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Deus Ex: Human Revolution Walkthrough
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
- The Witcher 2 Walkthrough
- Dark Souls Walkthrough
- Portal 2 Walkthrough
- Deus Ex: Human Revolution Walkthrough
- The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword
Popular Content
- Best Free Games
- Mapping Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
- Why Japanese Games are Breaking Up With the West
- The Nine Worst Video Game Themes
- I Played Skyrim Wrong, but It Felt So Right
- The Dark Souls Survival Guide
- The Top 10 Worst Consoles
- Why Quake Changed Games Forever
Big Events
- Tokyo Game Show
- PAX
- E3
- Comic-Con
- GamesCom
© 2010 | Advertise | Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Site Usage | Site Map | Browse Games:
#
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z