Topic: New 3DS, It Can't Be Worse than the Old 3DS

[NWR_DrewMG]

I’ve been waiting for the day.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/editorial/38410/new-3ds-it-cant-be-worse-than-the-old-3ds

The 3DS is garbage. Okay, maybe that's a bit strong, but hear me out: it has some of the best Nintendo games of the past 10 years in The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds and Super Mario 3D Land. It is the home of the first fully mature digital storefront for Nintendo’s games, and the first place I played gems like Gunman Clive and Steamworld Dig. By all accounts, it’s a great platform, which is why it’s so unfortunate that the handheld itself is so poorly made.

The problems really start with the aesthetics of the handheld; it’s just not a pretty device to look at. The design team is, theoretically, the same ones that brought us sexy devices like the Game Boy Advance SP and the DS Lite, so it’s a shame to see the original 3DS in all its taco-style glory. This would be forgivable if the system didn’t have so many other fundamental flaws.

For starters, the shoulder buttons on the original 3DS are known to give out. Secondly, my D-Pad has a distinct lack of sensitivity to the point where I feel I need to press much harder than I should have to. The worst offender, really, is the fact that the ridges surrounding the bottom screen will dig into the top screen when the system is closed, leading to large vertical scratches on the 3D display. I had it fixed under warranty once, the same time I got my shoulder buttons fixed, and stupidly didn’t think to put a screen protector on so it happened again a year later. I cannot look at my 3DS without noticing the vertical scratches.

I could live with those irritating scratches and less than ideal D-Pad, but eventually my “A” button began to lose responsiveness too. I can repeatedly, and definitively, press it without getting any response from the system. The handheld is over three years old, so maybe that’s somewhat forgivable, but combined with the other problems I’m not in a mood to forgive.

I purchased my 3DS at the system’s launch in 2011, so it’s entirely possible that these issues got ironed out later in the production of the hardware. Presumably they got ironed out in revisions like 3DS XL and 2DS, but those aren’t exactly “upgrades” as much as they are sideways steps towards improvement. While the 3DS XL is by all accounts a much better piece of hardware than the 3DS, it’s huge. I wanted the improvements in that system, but not at the expense of the system’s portability, so I waited.

I was all set to finally cave and pick up a 3DS XL this holiday, but decided I would hold off a few more months to wait and see if they would release a remodeled version of the standard unit.  Finally, a few days ago, they have. And not only is it a remodel, it’s a true DSi-stlyle upgrade, complete with a beast of an exclusive game in Xenoblade Chronicles (a game I still haven’t played yet).

I won’t argue with others that this clearly does not make much business sense. Splitting the 3DS market at this point feels like potentially a really bad move, but as a consumer who’s been itching to replace his launch system with a shiny new model, I couldn’t be happier. It still may not be as sexy as the DS Lite or GBA SP, but it’s a major step in the right direction.

[Rodrigue]

I have a launch 3DS too and haven't had any issues with the buttons, I used a soft case to carry it around though.

Also have had 3DS XL and carried it in a pouch without issues so far.

I don't really get why people are whining, I don't remember DSi being so hated, I guess it's because it actually has a good game coming for it? Whatever, I'll get one when it feels worth it just like any other platform. I waited for the Zelda XL and don't regret it. I have no issues whatsoever with buying a new 3DS considering the massive improvements to functionality and power, if software warrants it of course. And the regular 3DS is powerful enough to handle many types of games, including... all the ones announced for 2014 and 2015, so it's not like there'll be a shortage of games on that system.

[azeke]

Screen scratches thing was still somewhat present even in XL models D:

Stupid, stupid, stupid oversight.

[chilenozo]

AMEN!

I never had a handheld....but was sure to buy a 3DS....but wanted a truly portable one with better battery life than the original.

The battery got extended between 1/2 hr to 1 hr, which is meh...but still an improvement.

The market won't be fragmented cause it makes absolutely no financial sense at all to go into a crazy mode of releases for the New3DS...who will forget 40 million units?...instead I predict it will ocasionally receive Wii ports during those dry months of no big 3DS games. Making ports is always cheaper and faster than anything else.

The ability to swap skins is awesome, and so having a more stable 3D effect.

Faster OS, faster web browsing, faster downloading.

Great article!

p.s.: Question. Who doesn't use a screen-protector in some of their touch-pad electronic devices these days?...they are all scratch attractors!, I learned that during the pda and early ipod years!...doesn't matter if the New3DS has corrected the scratch issue, you should always have a screen protector!

[Nemo]

I am in the same boat, with the original 3DS model: failing buttons & scratched screen (mostly the two vertical lines). I've been wanting to get a new version, but it was hard to justify paying $200 for the XL, just to play the games I already own with no real benefit (other than slightly larger screen & not scratched/broken). So, the timing of this is pretty good for me.

[Adrock]

The 3DS XL is the first Nintendo handheld that I ever had a real issue with. I got the hinge stress crack that was common on the early DS Lites, but it still functioned. Two months after I bought my 3DS XL, the L button gave out and I had to send it into Nintendo. I was able to haggle the repair down to $70, but that's only after the lady looked up my Club Nintendo account and saw all the games and systems I registered. I probably could have haggled the price down more.

Nintendo typically has the most durable hardware in the business. My PS3 Slim crapped out on me last week like my PS2 before it. I still have my original Gameboy Advance SP which still works wonderfully. I'm currently playing through Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow on my DSi. For now, I'm sticking with my L-button repaired 3DS XL. Nintendo's track record is pretty solid so even if it breaks down, I'm willing to pick up a New 3DS XL to replace it without a second thought. If it breaks down before then, well, ****...

[NWR_insanolord]

I had five separate DS units (a launch model, three Lites and a DSi) break on me in five different ways, which is kind of impressive when you think about it. No other Nintendo hardware has ever failed on me, though, including my launch 3DS that I passed on to a friend when I got my XL that's still going strong.

[AV]

sadly it doesn't look like the NEW 3DS will fix the screen scratch issue.
I understand what the original 3DS had this, they made a form and try to rush it to market and didn't want to fix it up after the fact.


Adding the bumpers was a way the XL attempted to fix it, without changing the form factor but it fails.


Now that NEW 3DS has a new form factor to fix the C-stick and LZ/RZ buttons they have no excuse to NOT make the screen sizes equal in size.


The 3D screen being bigger in size than the touch screen has been the problem, and if they made both screens equal in size they would be flush and not have this issue just like how DS never had this issue.


As a business standpoint it makes sense to just leave it alone because production costs and they have screens ready in that size and redesigning the mold of the model but this should have never been a problem to begin with.


I had this issue with my first 3DS and when I upgraded to XL I put on screen protectors right away and its helped to stop the scratches to a degree, I'm hoping after the scratches become more noticeable I can just buy new screen protectors and it will be fine but this flaw is stupid and should have never started

[oohhboy]

The only problem I have is the name, New 3DS is the best they could come up with? 3DSi, Super 3Ds, X 3DS, Mega 3DS, Neo 3DS, N3DS, 3DS+. Its almost as bad as calling the third xbox the first one.

[NWR_insanolord]

They already call one of the models the 2DS, why not just say **** it and call it the 4DS?

[Triforce Hermit]

I have a original 3DS and have invested maybe 1500+ hours into it and have never had a problem with it. Strangely the ridges never bother the top screen, just the circle pad. It seems like it would.

[broodwars]

They already call one of the models the 2DS, why not just say **** it and call it the 4DS?

Great Scott.  : :

[Sundoulos]

This only makes me hope that Nintendo will add to the general confusion by calling their next console the Wii New.

[Nile Boogie Returns]

When I think about how many "Ds's" I have purchased and how many more I will, I stagger myself.


A Phat DS (launch)
2 Ds Lites (white)
Another DS Lite (pink)
DSI XL (sexy)
Launch 3DS (aqua)
Red 3DS (my son's)


And we both are getting another DS in the next 6months


LTD SMASH4 next month and (NEW) 3DS next summer (possible import)



"I am part of the problem!"

[marvel_moviefan_2012]

I was torn, I was already planning on getting an XL like this month, for my birthday. Now I am struggling with get the XL or wait. I am still leaning towards just get the XL now and upgrade in a couple of years when there are more games and the price comes down but I waited this long to get an XL so I should have known they were due to replace it.

[Evan_B]

I upgraded from a launch 3DS to a 3DSXL last year around this time, and while I've enjoyed the larger brother of the 3DS I'm ready to return to the handheld's original size. I think with the updates to the form, many of the issues I had with my launch 3DS will be done away with. I'm ready for what could be considered the definitive version of the handheld, and I think that the customization options add to the cool factor of the New 3DS very much.

[Art_de_Cat]

I've worn out my 3DS with love definitely.  R button doesn't function like it should, battery life is getting low, and the thumb pad is finally breaking on it.  Love the thing to death.  I was dissapointed when I had called about the R button to be told if there was a major issue I wouldnt get my original color back.....  wth?


The improvements sound good, but the new button looks cheap and the colors being offered don't excite me. 

[Ian Sane]

The things the writer complained about are the very things that in theory can be addressed in a 3DS XL style redesign where the physical design is altered but the hardware is not.  When the GBA SP was announced I was a little annoyed since it addressed key design flaws with my original GBA but ultimately it up to me if those changes were worth buying a new system for and I didn't feel they were.  But that was fine because I could still play all the same games the GBA SP owners could.

But now there are going to be games that I can't play on my 3DS XL.  The writer's complaints don't require a faster CPU or extra buttons to be addressed.  He would be fine with a physical design variation.  "Well I want to buy a new model anyway so this is fine for me" is a pretty self-centered way to look at it.  What about those that don't want to buy a new system and have now been given the ultimatum from Nintendo to buy a half-step upgrade or miss out on certain games?  Your needs don't require the changes to the specs so why support them?

[Vahne]

Perfectly valid article.
Personally I have the original Zelda 3DS and have yet to meet any response issues, but there are other designs issues with the danged thing. My circle pad's rubber top is falling apart, which has never happened to me on any Nintendo console (even the N64 stick) and the plastic top layer is peeling off of my d-pad even though I barely use it. The d-pad itself is terrible; it's clicky and practically painful to use. Strangely, my little brother's Aqua Blue isn't clicky. Still not a good d-pad, but not as bad as mine. Not to mention the top screen scratches. I have a screen protector, so the scratches are on the screen protector but I haven't checked to see if they penetrated further and scratched my actual top screen.

[marvel_moviefan_2012]

Here is a thought, maybe the 3DS isn't a bad design but the reason they wear out is because of actual wear. I mean if Wii U is not appealing to most Nintendo gamers then it makes sense they would be playing their 3DS instead of Wii U so that means it gets more play and wears faster right? I am just curious because if the design really is that bad I don't think a hardware revision is in order I think I will just stay away completely. But if it is because people are playing 3DS more due to playing Wii U less than expected that would make some sense.

[Khushrenada]

Could be. I've got over 500 hours in Animal Crossing: New Leaf alone. I've been playing my 3DS pretty steady now for 2 years. It's the system I keep turning on to play games. I've played a few Wii games and Gamecube games in between but those have been the exception.

[Mop it up]

I agree, the original 3DS model felt like a prototype that should not have been released in its current state. I switched to an XL and I've never regretted it, it's much better in more ways than just larger screens. It's nice they'll finally be replacing the original with a better build model, but it should have happened sooner.

The only Nintendo system I've ever had issue with is the Wii, which had both the common disc drive breaking and later the infamous GPU melting. More recent Nintendo systems don't seem to be as high-quality as their older stuff, and this switch seems to have happened around ten years ago.

[Oblivion]

Wow, GPUs melting? What caused that?

[Ian Sane]

I agree, the original 3DS model felt like a prototype that should not have been released in its current state. I switched to an XL and I've never regretted it, it's much better in more ways than just larger screens. It's nice they'll finally be replacing the original with a better build model, but it should have happened sooner.

The only Nintendo system I've ever had issue with is the Wii, which had both the common disc drive breaking and later the infamous GPU melting. More recent Nintendo systems don't seem to be as high-quality as their older stuff, and this switch seems to have happened around ten years ago.

Ten years ago, eh?  Wasn't there some sort of change of management at Nintendo around that time?  Hmmmmm.

I'll cut Nintendo some slack on disc based systems.  Their older cartridge consoles didn't have moving parts and lasers.  The technology is just a lot more delicate today and that's beyond Nintendo's control.  But the handhelds aren't affected in the same way.  All Nintendo really has to do is be more durable than the other guys and that is not a hard benchmark to reach so they've likely slacked off.  If the videogame market is willing to accept the RROD then Nintendo's products look heavy duty in comparison.

[Adrock]

I agree, the original 3DS model felt like a prototype that should not have been released in its current state. I switched to an XL and I've never regretted it, it's much better in more ways than just larger screens. It's nice they'll finally be replacing the original with a better build model, but it should have happened sooner.

The only Nintendo system I've ever had issue with is the Wii, which had both the common disc drive breaking and later the infamous GPU melting. More recent Nintendo systems don't seem to be as high-quality as their older stuff, and this switch seems to have happened around ten years ago.

With Nintendo's home consoles, it has a lot to do with using moving parts and hardware that requires cooling. Nintendo probably wouldn't have had any issues with Wii if they didn't insist on it being the size of three DVD cases. That was such a strange priority for them.

With their handhelds, Nintendo was forced to make some compromises on 3DS that they didn't have to worry about before. The circle pad seems to cause the most problems. Its slightly greater height had to be accommodated to the point where the top and bottom are no longer flush when the 3DS is closed, like DS Lite and DSi before it. This is true on both the regular and XL models. With DS Lite and DSi, the top part of the "shell" curves slightly at the edges. Perhaps Nintendo was afraid this might cause problems on 3DS due to the extra space needed for the circle pad. It may be structurally weaker and putting pressure on it could damage it more easily. The border around the bottom screen appears to be the same height as the circle pad and I kind of feel like it's there to make it more sturdy. Or I could be completely wrong.

The original 3DS had other odd design choices that don't appear to serve any real purpose such as the three side layers. Why?