The Nintendo 3Ds

[Nova]

Im sure i have read that Nintendo are going to announce a price and launch window of sometime in October (this year) later today.

This says to me that I'll be booking a LOT of overtime at work now then.

 

[Exophase]

Am I the only one who thinks this looks like a half-arsed effort for six years of R&D? The screen? Horrifically low resolution at 400x240, less than the PSP of all things. (you won't see 800x240 due to the parallax barrier) The colours? Disgusting and nonsensical. The shape? Some weird combination of Batman and 1984. The D-pad looks unusable. The upper screen is too low and looks awful from a spacing and layout perspective. The graphics from what I've seen aren't much better than the PSP or Pandora. The hinges are still those tiny ones from the Lite which will break easily owing to a lack of internal support. (the hinges rest on flaps of plastic that go over the shoulders, with no internal structure, and the rachet will tear the right hinge off in a few years at best) The cameras are still a pathetic 0.3mp.

I mean, seriously? My three year old phone based on a five year old design outdoes the camera and screen resolution. It's the resolution that bothers me most. With the 300+dpi iPhone4 as primary competition you think they'd make an effort.

I don't think you're being very fair. This is a device meant for gaming, not browsing the web - having a really high DPI that crams in a bunch of detail for content designed for desktops is not as big of a necessity. Besides that, what exactly were their options? Ignoring the fact that they're likely bound by whatever technology the display manufacturer is willing to provide, they're already probably brushing against the limit. You might not "see" 800x240, but it still has to be physically there. So would you prefer an effective 400x480, which trades up for a completely off aspect ratio (which have never benefited the vertical), or maybe you would expect an effective 800x480, which would mean an outrageous 1600x480 pixels crammed into a tiny area? When already considering it has an entire second screen for additional real estate?

Criticizing the colors is silly when you know Nintendo is going to release this in every color scheme imaginable. The "shape" is the exact same as the hugely popular DS's and I don't even get your references. The graphics are a massive improvement from DS, something Nintendo probably didn't even have to bother with, and we're only seeing launch effort (refer to launch effort on PSP), but the better looking titles (non-first party) look much better than anything we've seen on PSP. As for comparing to Pandora, well I haven't seen very good things on Pandora yet either, but it's also a console that was released a month ago so I don't know what your expectations were from a Nintendo device that'll probably cost < $200. How in the world does the d-pad look unusuable? It's the same basic design Nintendo has used on every other platform they've ever done and has worked great on at least a majority of them; are you criticizing it for not being circular? You can't really tell what they've done or haven't done to reinforce the hinge just by looking at that single picture. It amazes me especially that you can comment on internal support without seeing a teardown.

Quite frankly I'm glad that Nintendo isn't designing this to try to directly compete with iPhone 4, a device I think is still, completely by design, extremely limited in the gaming department. I'd rather leave the high resolution screens and high resolution cameras to the phones, bring on the much improved 3D capabilities, innovative 3D display, and improved controls on top of an already massively successful gaming platform. I'm irritated that iPhone has even been taken this seriously as a gaming platform (including by Nintendo), and if you ask me its lack of controls and emphasis on piles of steaming shovelware going for nothing prices is an enemy of quality gaming and I'm certainly not the only person who feels this way.

 

[God Ginrai]

Am I the only one who thinks this looks like a half-arsed effort for six years of R&D? The screen? Horrifically low resolution at 400x240, less than the PSP of all things. (you won't see 800x240 due to the parallax barrier) The colours? Disgusting and nonsensical. The shape? Some weird combination of Batman and 1984. The D-pad looks unusable. The upper screen is too low and looks awful from a spacing and layout perspective. The graphics from what I've seen aren't much better than the PSP or Pandora. The hinges are still those tiny ones from the Lite which will break easily owing to a lack of internal support. (the hinges rest on flaps of plastic that go over the shoulders, with no internal structure, and the rachet will tear the right hinge off in a few years at best) The cameras are still a pathetic 0.3mp.

I mean, seriously? My three year old phone based on a five year old design outdoes the camera and screen resolution. It's the resolution that bothers me most. With the 300+dpi iPhone4 as primary competition you think they'd make an effort.

I don't think you're being very fair. This is a device meant for gaming, not browsing the web - having a really high DPI that crams in a bunch of detail for content designed for desktops is not as big of a necessity. Besides that, what exactly were their options? Ignoring the fact that they're likely bound by whatever technology the display manufacturer is willing to provide, they're already probably brushing against the limit. You might not "see" 800x240, but it still has to be physically there. So would you prefer an effective 400x480, which trades up for a completely off aspect ratio (which have never benefited the vertical), or maybe you would expect an effective 800x480, which would mean an outrageous 1600x480 pixels crammed into a tiny area? When already considering it has an entire second screen for additional real estate?

Criticizing the colors is silly when you know Nintendo is going to release this in every color scheme imaginable. The "shape" is the exact same as the hugely popular DS's and I don't even get your references. The graphics are a massive improvement from DS, something Nintendo probably didn't even have to bother with, and we're only seeing launch effort (refer to launch effort on PSP), but the better looking titles (non-first party) look much better than anything we've seen on PSP. As for comparing to Pandora, well I haven't seen very good things on Pandora yet either, but it's also a console that was released a month ago so I don't know what your expectations were from a Nintendo device that'll probably cost < $200. How in the world does the d-pad look unusuable? It's the same basic design Nintendo has used on every other platform they've ever done and has worked great on at least a majority of them; are you criticizing it for not being circular? You can't really tell what they've done or haven't done to reinforce the hinge just by looking at that single picture. It amazes me especially that you can comment on internal support without seeing a teardown.

Quite frankly I'm glad that Nintendo isn't designing this to try to directly compete with iPhone 4, a device I think is still, completely by design, extremely limited in the gaming department. I'd rather leave the high resolution screens and high resolution cameras to the phones, bring on the much improved 3D capabilities, innovative 3D display, and improved controls on top of an already massively successful gaming platform. I'm irritated that iPhone has even been taken this seriously as a gaming platform (including by Nintendo), and if you ask me its lack of controls and emphasis on piles of steaming shovelware going for nothing prices is an enemy of quality gaming and I'm certainly not the only person who feels this way.

About the dpad, I believe he was talking about its placement more than it's actual quality.

As for the iPhone, +1. I feel the same way.

My only complaint is that they have the Start and Select buttons in a useless place. I hope they move them to where that power button is, and make them more like real buttons.

-God Ginrai

 

[Exophase]

About the dpad, I believe he was talking about its placement more than it's actual quality.

Hm, okay. I'm holding my DS and pretending the d-pad is where it is on the 3DS and the position actually seems more comfortable to me rather than less. But I have very small hands.

My only complaint is that they have the Start and Select buttons in a useless place. I hope they move them to where that power button is, and make them more like real buttons.

I agree, but I think this is a minor concern since start and select don't usually play a very large role in games. On DS they were already too small to be very useful primary buttons. Having them towards the center does let you distribute access between your hands and the home button is a good move. It looks like quite a bit more space is spent on them too. It's surprising that this is pretty much DS Lite size (except even thinner).. the screens are pretty small, which is a pretty opposite direction from DSi XL. I wonder if we'll be seeing a 3DS XL to cater to this (maybe not, depending on how large they can get the 3D display)

So, does anyone have an explanation for why there are two outer cameras? Yeah, it might have been nicer to have a better camera instead, but anyone using a 3DS for actually taking pictures is out of their mind. It's all about gaming augmentation.

 

[Nintendo]

@ Exo

I 100% agree with you!!!





@ NeX-Ferret

I f*cking hate you!!!

 

[OrR]

So, does anyone have an explanation for why there are two outer cameras? Yeah, it might have been nicer to have a better camera instead, but anyone using a 3DS for actually taking pictures is out of their mind. It's all about gaming augmentation.

For taking 3D pictures, of course! I'll be taking a lot of pictures with that aslong as I don't have any other 3D camera. B)

 

[klikklak]

I don't know if you all have experience with 3D displays, but the funny thing about them is that older games look absolutely gorgeous on them. It's because the image has depth that all models seem more pretty. So the 3DS should be good even without PS3 graphics.

 

[PokeParadox]

I'm also thinking homebrew + VirtualBoy emulator!

 

[quote]

^ Whatever you do, don't think about homebrew + VirtualBoy emulator.


I'm getting excited about this now. I wonder when it'll be in my local Game for playing around with.

 

[x68000]

Nintendo should do a compilation cart with every Ninty developed Virtual Boy game on it

MGS looks amazing for a Nintendo handheld!

 

[Exophase]

For taking 3D pictures, of course! I'll be taking a lot of pictures with that aslong as I don't have any other 3D camera. B)

Heh, I guess I didn't really think about it. Those are going to be kind of creepy.

 

[quote]

MGS looks amazing for a Nintendo handheld!

O: Wow, looks amazing.

 

[Evil Star]

Nintendo should do a compilation cart with every Ninty developed Virtual Boy game on it

MGS looks amazing for a Nintendo handheld!

How is that guy moving the camera around Snake without a second nub?

It's beyond me why they just don't add another nub so that FPS's can be played properly.

 

[quote]

How is that guy moving the camera around Snake without a second nub?

Touchscreen, I think.

 

[Jourdy288]

Two cameras?

Two cameras! I guessed right! 3D picture taking
They say it can also be used for 3D movies...
I think the games are coming up now...

New Kid Icarus title: Uprising.

There will be DJ Hero, Kingdom Hearts, Resident Evil, Batman, Assassin's Creed, Professor Layton, Ridge Racer, and Metal Gear Solid on the 3DS.

From my thread.

 

[quote]

From my thread.

Did you take those?

 

[God Ginrai]

Nintendo should do a compilation cart with every Ninty developed Virtual Boy game on it

MGS looks amazing for a Nintendo handheld!

How is that guy moving the camera around Snake without a second nub?

It's beyond me why they just don't add another nub so that FPS's can be played properly.

Oh Stop Whining. Nintendo has never been about FPSes, and frankly, that makes me happy. I like FPSes, but when you design a console to allow them, the console seems to become flooded with FPSes and has less games of other types. (i.e. Xbox360)

-God Ginrai

 

[x68000]

The camera is being moved by tilting the 3GS. Could be groundbreaking if done properly whilst using the physical controls to move the character.

 

[SomeGuy99]

Nintendo should do a compilation cart with every Ninty developed Virtual Boy game on it

MGS looks amazing for a Nintendo handheld!

How is that guy moving the camera around Snake without a second nub?

It's beyond me why they just don't add another nub so that FPS's can be played properly.

Oh Stop Whining. Nintendo has never been about FPSes, and frankly, that makes me happy. I like FPSes, but when you design a console to allow them, the console seems to become flooded with FPSes and has less games of other types. (i.e. Xbox360)

-God Ginrai

If you watch the interviews on Nintendos site, FPS games get mentioned a lot. They're obviously trying to appeal more to the American market, which the designer of the new Kid Icarus game even admitted.

I think Nintendo are trying to steal away the entire PSP userbaser for some reason.

 

[OrR]

The camera is being moved by tilting the 3GS. Could be groundbreaking if done properly whilst using the physical controls to move the character.

Nope, that won't work for playing FPS at all. You can make games with this control scheme but definitely not a proper FPS.

@Evil Star: While the touchscreen is not quite as comfortable for FPS camera control as an analog stick, it is actually a lot more precise. Have you ever played an FPS on the DS? It works really well, especially with a proper thumb stylus. If they wanted to have really good FPS control, they'd better add a mouse, though. Dual analog was always kind of a crutch.