Nintendo 3DS Release Date and Price Revealed!

[Tyeforce]

Looks good, but I probably won't get it unless it gets rave reviews, that's a lot of money for a portable console.

Critics are already going crazy about it, calling it like magic. And the price really isn't unreasonable at all when you think about it. Yes, traditionally handheld systems have been cheaper than home consoles, but lately handhelds have been becoming more expensive. Why is that? Well, for one, handheld systems are more than just systems that play games. They're also their own display. When you buy a home console, it's not like they come with a TV to play them on, do they? Of course not. But the display is part of handheld systems, which is a big factor to the cost of the device. Throw in all the other features of the 3DS, and $250 isn't that bad at all.

that there is a screen in it can be said about literally every handheld to date.
what.

I'm not one to complain about the price, mind you, but that logic is.. what.
that it's a 3-d capable one, sure, but that there's a screen in the system.. that's just bs.

I'm saying that the fact that handheld systems have generally been cheaper than home consoles up until now is hard to believe, because of all the additional costs in a handheld. You're getting more for less. But now we're at a time where handhelds are reaching console-level power in addition to other features and hardware that consoles lack, so it's only natural that the price is going to exceed consoles.

 

[[Nook]]

Oh man, this means I can download PKMN Yellow and SML again.

Suh-wheat.

 

[Tyeforce]

And, yes, the DS and DS Lite's GBA slot was convenient and practical...at the time. Now it's not so practical, because, honestly, how many people still play GBA games on a regular basis? Not very many.

but what was it removed for? what was so important and so innovative that the GBA slot had to go entirely?

For the space? With as powerful as the 3DS is, I'm sure every inch of it is crammed with stuff. Sure, they could have made it bigger and added the GBA slot, but which direction is more practical? Making it more compact, something that is better for everyone, or sacrificing size for GBA compatibility, which only a small fraction of people are going to make use of?

well okay I wasn't talking about the 3DS, more the DSi.

i also have to bring into question your argument that "small is better for everyone" when you've defended the DSi XL on several occasions.

i really don't mind the loss of the GBA slot. as you've said, i can just play on my SP or micro or whatever.

I'll agree with you that the removal of the GBA slot in the DSi and DSi XL was unnecessary, but if I had to give it a reason, I'd say Nintendo was preparing us for the future. Like I said, we can't expect them to continue providing physical GBA compatibility generations from now. Better remove the GBA slot with the DSi and DSi XL and get the criticism out of the way than to wait and remove it with the 3DS and take all the criticism with the new console.

 

[Psychonaut]

You're missing the point. I don't understand why people like you make such a big deal about the removal of the GBA slot. You don't see people freaking out because Nintendo didn't put a N64 slot on the Wii, do you? Of course not. Same thing when the original DS came out and it didn't support Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. I don't know why it's such a big deal to people all of a sudden, but you can't expect Nintendo, or any company, to continue to support physical backwards compatibility forever. Do you expect there to be a GBA slot in Nintendo's handheld three generations from now? There has to be a cut off point sometime. And, yes, it will be hard for some people, but you'll get over it.

And about repurchasing games on Virtual Console, I've done it plenty of times. It's nice to have both a physical and digital copy of a game. And as for the price being unreasonable, that's ridiculous. People will complain about Game Boy games costing $5 to download on Virtual Console, but if you try to buy the physical game nowadays, you'll be spending ten times that on eBay hunting down those old gems. And even if you don't want to or can't repurchase your GBA games, you can still play them on your existing systems. Do you honestly play your GBA games often enough to warrant carrying around a GBA/GBASP/GBm/DS/DSL all the time?

Sure, I like to play GBA games now and then, but in those cases I'll either just grab one of my DS Lites or my Game Boy micro if I'm at home, or if I'm on the go I'll just bring my Game Boy micro with me in my pocket. I have plenty of room in my pockets, even with everything I carry. I can fit my iPhone and Game Boy micro in one pocket, my DSi XL in the other, and my wallet is always in my back pocket. And if I am planning on taking my Game Boy micro with me to play a GBA game, I'm probably not going to be playing any DS games, so I might as well leave my DSi XL at home.

and i don't understand why people like you do the things you do. ex: rebuying games you own, because they're available, now. though i guess i might, since i just re-purchased psychonauts on steam, and own it on ps2. so much better. but i'm straying.

consoles do no have the luxury of backwards compatibility, save for a select few xbox games, and the sony systems. nintendo has not had a history of backwards compatibility for it's HOME consoles, it's HANDHELD consoles however, do. a huge selling point for the DS was that it could play gba games. yes, there was a library of game boy games that didn't make the transition, but it was still there.

we did get over this, and i guess we have to at some point, but its that it was there to begin with that draws attention to the gba slot being gone. it's nice to know the ds games are still compatible, but the dsi has no excuse, in my opinion.

I do honestly play gba games enough to warrant my use of the game boy micro. it's only castlevania and a few RPG's, but those are enough to curb my gaming urge for quite a while. I don't use the gba slot on the ds lite, but it is always nice to know it's there if/when i want to use it.

whether or not you are able to fit everything in your pockets doesn't mean everyone will or will not. your iPhone more or less doubles as an mp3 player, and isn't a luxury everyone has (along with having handheld gaming, of course), and some people really love their music, or other things which they keep in their pockets. I'm a really anal/ocd person when it comes to pockets as well, so personally, i don't like to fit two things in one pocket, due to scratches on the phone/gbm, etc.

that they're being offered on the virtual console is nice, but that they're being offered on the virtual console and not available through other means isn't so much. isn't that big of a deal, but it's still a big deal to some, such as myself, who want a system that can do everything they want it to.

I really wish i could hack a psp. would solve all my problems. Q.Q

@ BB, umad cuz dere ain't no winnin. XD
also, of course it's childish. but it's still a valid point, if you feel the same as I do about gba games, etc.

@ tye's post about handhelds, if the parts themselves are more expensive than past handheld's parts are (mainly focusing on the touch screen and 3d monitor/screen here) then I'll agree on the power matching the price.

however, if it's just a more powerful engine/processor for the games/graphics, then i won't agree with you. the reason i wouldn't, is because technology is/has advanced at at least the same rate as it has been before, and will be in the (at least immediate) future. a raise in the price now may reflect the economy or inflation, whatever is up with that, but it doesn't reflect that it's a newer, more powerful, cutting edge system. because really, the DS was a pretty cutting edge system at the time, as well. same with the snes, n64, even the gamecube, somewhat. but those are consoles. so let's just go with the gba, and the gba sp. a backlit screen, and one (the original) having a vibrant, bigger display, not to mention the shoulder buttons.

granted a screen doesn't seem like that much, but it's more than a lot of handhelds had at the time, thus, it was powerful/worth the money.

oh god rambling is starting.

edit: at the last one, i guess that makes SOME sense, on nintendo's half.. but it still isn't a real reason why, just a cop-out. i dunno.

 

[williamd]

@ Bacon Boy im not getting the 3ds when it comes out -.-

 

[David]

Came in here to see what people are talking about, sure enough its just the fanboy raging on as usual.

 

[Callie]

I will get it at launch date because I know I am going to hate seeing my friends with it and me not having it. However, I have no idea if I'm actually going to be able to afford it...

 

[Psychonaut]

Came in here to see what people are talking about, sure enough its just the fanboy raging on as usual.

o, u.

XD

 

[Marcus]

Looks good, but I probably won't get it unless it gets rave reviews, that's a lot of money for a portable console.

Critics are already going crazy about it, calling it like magic. And the price really isn't unreasonable at all when you think about it. Yes, traditionally handheld systems have been cheaper than home consoles, but lately handhelds have been becoming more expensive. Why is that? Well, for one, handheld systems are more than just systems that play games. They're also their own display. When you buy a home console, it's not like they come with a TV to play them on, do they? Of course not. But the display is part of handheld systems, which is a big factor to the cost of the device. Throw in all the other features of the 3DS, and $250 isn't that bad at all.

Woah Tye Nintendo should pay you to go around doing road shows raving about their products lol.

 

[Cottonball]

Uhm, anyone know the Canada release date? :3

 

[Tyeforce]

Uhm, anyone know the Canada release date? :3

Canada is North America.