43 replies to this topic

[toptenmaterial]

I recently bought a 3DS. Here are a few random thoughts....

The 3D effect is very nice, by and large. I use it maybe half the time, as it occasionally makes my eyes sore, especially if I am tired. The effect varies, but it can be breath taking at times (for example, when Link talks to the Deku Tree in Ocarina). I would like to see 3D Netflix, why isn't this up yet?

The operating system is confusing. It is nice not to have to restart the system every time I make a change like I had to with the old DS, but changing some of the settings is daunting. I shouldn't have to call tech support to set my alarm clock (joking).

Esthetically the system is beautiful and sleek looking. The top screen (where 3D is projected) is larger than the top screen of the DS Lite, or so it would appear. It weighs just enough and is comfortable to hold. Button placement is weird, and the d-pad is positioned way too low. The analogue nub provides superior control and works great, but makes my thumb sore. It is leaps and bounds above the PSP-1000 analogue nub though. The upper half of the system feels a little loose on the hinges.

There should be more games, especially first party titles that take full advantage of the unique 3D effect. No excuse for this, as in-house games are Nintendo's bread and butter. The possibilities for side scrolling platformers, the likes of which were revived on the Wii with games like New SMB, DK and Kirby, are limitless and these games types of games should have made an appearence from day one. I understand re-releasing Ocarina and Star Fox, but if they are going to go that route, why not plug in some Wii titles like Galaxy? Also, if they were depending on third party titles at launch, then we should have seen something hot and new, like GTA V.

Face Raiders is really fun and a good choice for a pack-in. The 3D works well here and once again Nintendo brings something new and simple to the table. The game is easy, addictive and works well. I haven't played around with the AR games yet.

The e-shop (is that what it's called?) is pretty cool and I see that there is some free content on there. The purchase system should be streamlined with the Wii to avoid confusion. I am glad to see old GB games on there, but feel that we ought to see EVERYTHING- a huge amount of GBA games, combined with everything on the Wii's virtual console. I would also be nice to plug the 3DS's SD card into your Wii and use those programs like Gamecube's Game Boy Player- can that be done?

Nintendo's tech support on the phone is first rate- I cannot emphasise that enough. They are patient, polite and thorough, with very low wait times. The techs are fluent English-speakers. Your free tech support never runs out (like with Apple) and the service doesn't treat you like an ATM. In this respect Nintendo stands by their customers, 100%!

Overall I think that the 3DS has enormous ass-kicking potential. The graphics and sound are great and the 3D is the real deal. I hope that Nintendo can really live up to it's full potential in the future.

Edited by toptenmaterial, Sat Oct 15, 2011 10:24 AM.

[Animan]

Agreed. My 3DS is getting repaired right now, but I still love it very much!

I heard there was technical issues with getting 3D Netflix working, the main problem being that you would need a VERY fast internet connection for it work good. Just try and use the streaming 3D trailers in the eShop. It's laggy, and the compression artifacts nearly ruin the 3D effect.

I recently dusted off the Wii again to try the Horizon Riders demo, and I couldn't help but notice how primitive the Wii's interface was. It's clear Nintendo took the Wii and DSi interfaces, mixed them together, and improved upon the shortcomings.

The eShop is another example of this. For the first time, you can view the game images FULLSCREEN. Why didn't they do that with the Wii or DSi? I can also watch game trailers while on the eShop without having to go to a separate app (I hated having to switch back and forth from the Nintendo Channel and Wii Shop Channel).

Ninty has a bunch more games in the pipeline. Super Mario 3D Land, Luigi's Mansion 2, Mario Kart, Animal Crossing, Kid Icarus, and so on. It'd be pretty hard to mess this up.

[Mendon]

Maybe its just me, but after playing around with my son's 3DS I came away with the impression that the volume on the 3DS is much softer than that on the DSi XL.

I don't have the volume on my DSi XL anywhere near "full blast" and have no problems hearing games. But in watching some of the video's and playing with Netflix on the 3DS, I found that I was having trouble hearing some area's, especially voices, even with the 3DS turned up full blast. I'm thinking that if I buy a 3DS, I might have to invest in a good pair of headphones.

Like I said, maybe its just me (old and hearing going) or maybe my son's 3DS has a problem or maybe its because I was watching videos/Netflix, but to me it sure seemed like the 3DS is quieter than my DSi XL.

Anyone else notice this?


Mendon

[Rex Dart]

Yeah, it could've had a better launch, but that just means the library can only improve from there. Of course it should've launched with a Mario game of some sort or one of their other major franchises, but I don't understand people who expected it to launch with ALL of 'em. What Nintendo system has ever launched with Kirby, Mario, Zelda, and Donkey Kong?

[Video]

Glad to hear you're over all happy with your 3DS. This is one time when Nintendo really short changed a systems launch on the games though. I love starfox again, but it's a 15 year old game at this point. The 3D is amazing. I've never noticed the artifacts and compression on the 3D videos though, but that may be due to speed of the internet, and your location in relation to a server too. Netflix was obviously pixely in some areas, but I suspect it's the location and compression again (a different movie may get different results) As for 3D videos, that was, at least about a year and a half ago, one of the bigger selling points on the 3DS and one of the reasons I was more interested in it, and I'm kind of bumed that they don't have that up yet. People say how much it pushes over the line, but honestly, it's a LOT lower resolution than any console, even if you had to send two videos and have the system combine them, I wouldn't see a problem....unless the 3DS isn't strong enough to do that in real time (except from a cart or something)

Anyhow, over all, I love the 3DS. Invest in yourself a screen protector, the bottom screen will eventually scratch the upper screen, and if you plan to play a lot, get an extended battery too. People tell me the short (sub4, sometimes sub3 hour)battery life isn't an issue, but all I can say is, they aren't fans of games that you have to invest time in (like final fantasy, or pokemon, or it would be awesome to get an Elderscrolls game in glorious 3D at some point)

Mendon, on Mon Oct 17, 2011 7:52 AM, said:

Maybe its just me, but after playing around with my son's 3DS I came away with the impression that the volume on the 3DS is much softer than that on the DSi XL.

I don't have the volume on my DSi XL anywhere near "full blast" and have no problems hearing games. But in watching some of the video's and playing with Netflix on the 3DS, I found that I was having trouble hearing some area's, especially voices, even with the 3DS turned up full blast. I'm thinking that if I buy a 3DS, I might have to invest in a good pair of headphones.

Like I said, maybe its just me (old and hearing going) or maybe my son's 3DS has a problem or maybe its because I was watching videos/Netflix, but to me it sure seemed like the 3DS is quieter than my DSi XL.

Anyone else notice this?


Mendon

I have noticed this. I thought maybe my ears were just going bad, as I am getting older after all, but no. I pulled out my old brick gameboy, and at half volume it'll straight blow your head off, even with half assed headphones. GBA was softer, but still acceptable, PSP is softer still, DS softer still, and 3DS is to be honest, unacceptably soft. I only listen to it turned all the way up and I STILL constantly find myself reaching for the volume switch. I seriously want to find an inline audio booster that I can plug in so I can get some decent sound out of the thing (among other systems I have that have the same issue)

Seriously, what is the issue? I can get more than enough sound out of even the cheapest MP3 player. I have a Sansdisc Sansa, and an RCA (uh?) and they both have great sound, and my friends have several things, including actual Ipods, and they have great sound. So why is Ninty (and every other handheld maker, apparently) getting so skimpy on the sound booster? I know it can be done, and cheaply I assume, so why not include it? Like I said, it's time someone makes an inline booster you can buy, a bit inconvenient, but when you need it, you need it. (and trust me, when the duct fans at work drown out your music source on maximum volume, it is NOT loud enough)

[Animan]

Nintendo was probably expecting Super Street Fighter IV to be the "killer app". I guess fighting games aren't nearly as popular as they once were.

Speaking of fighting games, the 3DS seems to be getting tons of them.

Street Fighter IV - 2D fighting with 3D graphics
Dead or Alive - 3D fighting
Blazblue - 2D sprite fighting
Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion - Smash Bros. Style Fighting

And soon we'll be getting Tekken and Smash Bros.

*crosses fingers for Fighting Vipers 3D or FIghters Megamix 3D*

Edited by Animan, Mon Oct 17, 2011 3:55 PM.

[Video]

Cool, about time Smash bros makes it to a handheld.

As for fighting games, I don't think it's that they are unpopular, (probably less so than they were 20 years ago, but still) I think it's more that they aren't really suited to a handheld...most people I know like an arcade style stick for fighters. That, and the 3DS isn't very friendly to moving a lot, due to that messing up the 3D effect.

[Animan]

Video, on Mon Oct 24, 2011 8:42 PM, said:

Cool, about time Smash bros makes it to a handheld.

As for fighting games, I don't think it's that they are unpopular, (probably less so than they were 20 years ago, but still) I think it's more that they aren't really suited to a handheld...most people I know like an arcade style stick for fighters. That, and the 3DS isn't very friendly to moving a lot, due to that messing up the 3D effect.

I must be different from the rest of the world. I never move my system around while playing a game, yet it seems a lot of people do.

Edited by Animan, Wed Oct 26, 2011 3:20 PM.

[Rex Dart]

^ Too many games require you to waggle the system around. Face Raiders?

[Ryanw]

I use the system daily. Can't say that about my 360 or Wii

[atari2600land]

I'll be using my system daily once Mario Kart 7 comes out.

[wood_jl]

I've only played one in the store - and after they were out for a LONG TIME and kind of old-hat. The Nintendo Kiosk system has been a disaster. I've been to many Targets, Walmarts, Best-Buys, and Gamestops, and only in ONE Gamestop from launch until about 6 months ago, did they have a WORKING kiosk, and I got to try it. That's not the way it used to be with Nintendo handhelds; I had to maintain a sustained effort to find one working.

I must say, I'm kind of impressed, too. I was ready to shit-talk, but left impressed as the 3-D with no glasses is a first for me, and it really worked! Price too high and great games too few, but I expect that situation will correct, in time.

I want one later. But I'm sorry to say, I've NEVER NEVER seen anyone with one. This isn't like the days of Gameboy or DS Lite when I'd see people with them. In the airport, all I see are iPhones and Droids, occasional PSP and DSi/DS Lite/whatever.

I'm certainly no Nostradamas (hah!) but I think this will probably be one of (if not *THE* last) generation of dedicated handheld systems, and that's kind of sad. I started back to college - lots of young people/males - and NONE of them have one, or are even remotely interested. The Smartphone is where it's at. I know the criticisms of "smartphone" gaming, but seriously, that's where it's at. If you were a software developer, you could much more easily create a lame game for iPhone or Droid and pull in some bucks, than a dedicated handheld console that the kids aren't interested in. They wouldn't even *think* about carrying something that they couldn't "facebook" on, and I really mean that to be the truth, because I'm around many of 'em and I notice the tech they're carrying.

This makes me want one more, as and "end of era" piece, kind of like the old consoles. But in the meantime, the 3D is pretty cool. When it hits $99 after a redesign, I'm all in.

[atari2600land]

I don't want to have to get an iPhone in order to play portable games!

[ComputerSpaceFan]

atari2600land, on Thu Oct 27, 2011 6:08 PM, said:

I don't want to have to get an iPhone in order to play portable games!

Why not? Get an iPod Touch if the phone is too expensive.
Our BestBuy has them for $199. Comparitively, a 3DS plus a single game is the same price and to be honest you can get a heck of a lot more games for iPod for 99 cents or free.

No brainer.

As we all know, Penny Arcade put it best ....

[atari2600land]

Why not? Because I don't want to nor know how to pay for games online. I love the fresh factory-sealed smell of a game once it had been opened. I love taking the cellophane off in anticipation. I love going into the store to look at all the games and then handing the clerk $30 for a game. All that will be gone, the clerks will be out of a job, and I'll have to figure out how to download stuff online without a "hot spot" or anything like that around. Imagine going into a Starbucks not liking coffee, sitting down with a latte that I probably won't even drink just to use their free wi-fi. The world is going nuts over this crap. And it won't stop, either. My god, I sound old, don't I? I'm only 28!

[ComputerSpaceFan]

atari2600land, on Fri Oct 28, 2011 1:26 PM, said:

Why not? Because I don't want to nor know how to pay for games online. I love the fresh factory-sealed smell of a game once it had been opened. I love taking the cellophane off in anticipation. I love going into the store to look at all the games and then handing the clerk $30 for a game. All that will be gone, the clerks will be out of a job, and I'll have to figure out how to download stuff online without a "hot spot" or anything like that around. Imagine going into a Starbucks not liking coffee, sitting down with a latte that I probably won't even drink just to use their free wi-fi. The world is going nuts over this crap. And it won't stop, either. My god, I sound old, don't I? I'm only 28!

Lol, I totally understand. Ironically, I'm 44 and I'm the one making you feel old.

For you definitely the brick and mortar store is the route to go and enjoy. Buuuuut to play devil's advocate here, I would say those days are numbered. When's the last time most people bought a music CD?

But yes if you prefer the business model you describe absolutely go ahead and enjoy it. I would simply argue that the big business has gravitated toward iOS, I mean in terms of sales numbers, that's all.

No disrespect intended.

[Cybergoth]

ComputerSpaceFan, on Fri Oct 28, 2011 8:49 AM, said:

Well, if that one 3DS game would actually exist it would be more fun than 40 iGames...

[atari2600land]

That guy's handwriting makes his f's look like p's. I honestly thought he said "We'll see who has more 'pun'."

[VertigoProcess]

ComputerSpaceFan, on Fri Oct 28, 2011 8:49 AM, said:

atari2600land, on Thu Oct 27, 2011 6:08 PM, said:

I don't want to have to get an iPhone in order to play portable games!

Why not? Get an iPod Touch if the phone is too expensive.
Our BestBuy has them for $199. Comparitively, a 3DS plus a single game is the same price and to be honest you can get a heck of a lot more games for iPod for 99 cents or free.

No brainer.

As we all know, Penny Arcade put it best ....

Not to mention that playing games with 100% touch screen sucks... give me a ds advanced color or pocket any day over trying to play with a button that's just a circle on a screen...I got a snes emulator on my droid, tried to play Mario rpg on it, gave up after like a 20 min of getting pissed off... went on ebay and bought a gameboy micro... small enough to carry anywhere... wayyyy better

Edited by VertigoProcess, Sat Oct 29, 2011 7:16 PM.

[toptenmaterial]

iOS is great for many things, including posting on AtariAge. That being said, mobile phone gaming sucks. But it does seem to be the direction that things are going... the only solution is for Nintendo and Sony to make incredibly awesome, fresh, innovative and visually stunning games that make people remember what they are missing while playing Angry Birds.

[Animan]

toptenmaterial, on Sun Oct 30, 2011 2:32 PM, said:

iOS is great for many things, including posting on AtariAge. That being said, mobile phone gaming sucks. But it does seem to be the direction that things are going... the only solution is for Nintendo and Sony to make incredibly awesome, fresh, innovative and visually stunning games that make people remember what they are missing while playing Angry Birds.

Ninty is already working on that : http://3ds.nintendol..._revitalise_3ds

[ComputerSpaceFan]

toptenmaterial, on Sun Oct 30, 2011 2:32 PM, said:

the only solution is for Nintendo and Sony to make ... games for 99 cents or free

I added the blue part. To me, personally, this is really their only solution.

[godslabrat]

I can't imagine playing Metroid, Zelda, Mortal Kombat, or any of the other games I truly enjoy on an iOS device. I also can't imagine any of the games I mentioned being sold for 99 cents. To me, those games are worth $30+. I will pay it. It might be the only game I buy all year, but I'd be satisfied with the tradeoff.

If that makes me a relic, so be it.

[ComputerSpaceFan]

As far as my 99 cents comment goes, does anyone remember way back in the early 80's before VCRs were very common how much it cost to buy a movie on video tape? A buddy of mine got The Rocky Horror Picture Show and it was over one hundred dollars back then.
Great movie, a classic.
Would anyone pay one hundred dollars for it on VHS today?

Similarly if Nintendo and Sony think gamers are going to pay more for their games versus what they can get for 99 cents on iOS, no matter how classic they are, I think they have a rude awakening coming.

Just my two cents worth.

[Rex Dart]

ComputerSpaceFan, on Mon Oct 31, 2011 10:38 AM, said:

Similarly if Nintendo and Sony think gamers are going to pay more for their games versus what they can get for 99 cents on iOS, no matter how classic they are, I think they have a rude awakening coming.

Just my two cents worth.

You're ignoring this thing called "quality." Those dollar turds that get pinched off into the Apple store are throwaway games, of course they're cheap. If you weren't stuck with a device that doesn't support Flash, you could be playing similar Flash games for free.Just my two cents worth.