Nintendo 3DS

[Baggins]

So let's discuss the 3DS. I can't wait to see it action (and really can't wait for the OOT release).

So, after seeing the trade in offers, I decided to trade in my year old DSi, towards the Nintendo 3DS.

Most places offering the trade a deal, offer it up to the 20th. I decided to go for it, considering I still have my ol fat DS, and can still use it to play DS games while I wait over the next two months.

Sigh, however, I've hit a snag, I can't for the life of me find my charge cable for my old DS... Some of the gremlins I live within the house (i.e. relatives) moved things around again, I think... Damn, just as I was working through Suikoden Tierkreis...

Oh well, its only two months (plenty of time to find my charger).

[dark-daventry]

So far as I know, GameStop hasn't announced trade offers yet. Or at least, my manager hasn't actually told me about them yet. I have a feeling you'll be able to trade in your old DSi/DSiXL for $100 trade in credit.

But yeah, I'm really interested in playing with the 3DS myself. The only thing I'm a little annoyed about is the fact that neither OOT or Kid Icarus: Uprising are launch titles. That really annoys me. Which also rules out a day one purchase for me. I'm most definitely buying the 3DS, but not until there's a decent game for it. The launch titles right now don't look particularly amazing, but that could just be me.

[wilco64256]

I too am a bit frustrated at the glaring lack of major launch titles, but I will still be picking one up early on just to play around and get used to it a bit in anticipation of bigger releases like Kid Icarus and OoT.

[Baggins]

Gamestop has the trade-in offers already at least at my local, and online, same as at Amazon. It's good until february 20th.
$100 for the DSiXL, $75 for the DSi, and $50 for the DS Lite.

I traded in my DSi, and mom's  DSi and DS Lite, I preordered one of each color. I'll go with the black and she'll get the blue. Shame we don't get the red one though (I would have loved that).

I too would like OOT, but hoping there will be some good stuff in the DS virtual console early on (I'd love to get ahold of some of my old GB games again).

[dark-daventry]

I too am a bit frustrated at the glaring lack of major launch titles, but I will still be picking one up early on just to play around and get used to it a bit in anticipation of bigger releases like Kid Icarus and OoT.

You'd think Nintendo would try to launch Ocarina of Time with the 3DS. I mean, it would bring old fans to the handheld, and it's also a great game to get introduced to video games and the handheld itself. I'm really a bit disappointed with Nintendo's decision to not have it as a launch title. They're missing out big time.

[Baggins]

They should have at least had a Mario game...?

I also understand there is no GBA virtual console? Is that something that could be patched in later, via console updates?

[MusicallyInspired]

Ocarina of Time and Star Fox remakes.

/thread

[dark-daventry]

They should have at least had a Mario game...?

I also understand there is no GBA virtual console? Is that something that could be patched in later, via console updates?

Honestly, I want Nintendo to make another handheld under the GameBoy name. But that's probably not going to be happening any time soon, if ever. And from what I understand, there isn't one, but it's bad for them to do that. I think they should have a virtual console for GBA games. Because then my GameStop can get rid of the cardboard box we dump them in. We seriously dump all of our GBA games in a cardboard box. When a customer says they want a GBA game, we die a little on the inside. Not because it's a bad system, but because the whole box is unalphabatized and we really hate having to go in and find things in it...

[Baggins]

Ya, DS was originally going to be 3rd tier side release. It wasn't supposed to replace the GBA. Infact they considered it more of an experiment. The thing was it turned out so popular, that they never bothered to make a nextgen Gameboy... One wonders if a tradition one screen portable by Nintendo would compare to the PSP/NGP.

Because then my GameStop can get rid of the cardboard box we dump them in. We seriously dump all of our GBA games in a cardboard box. When a customer says they want a GBA game, we die a little on the inside. Not because it's a bad system, but because the whole box is unalphabatized and we really hate having to go in and find things in it...

Hahahahhahahah!!    ...and I think its bad trying to find my DS phat power cord, or at least my GBA SP cable (they share the same cord) in this cluttered house of suffering...

[dark-daventry]

Ya, DS was originally going to be 3rd tier side release. It wasn't supposed to replace the GBA. Infact they considered it more of an experiment. The thing was it turned out so popular, that they never bothered to make a nextgen Gameboy... One wonders if a tradition one screen portable by Nintendo would compare to the PSP/NGP.

Because then my GameStop can get rid of the cardboard box we dump them in. We seriously dump all of our GBA games in a cardboard box. When a customer says they want a GBA game, we die a little on the inside. Not because it's a bad system, but because the whole box is unalphabatized and we really hate having to go in and find things in it...

Hahahahhahahah!!    ...and I think its bad trying to find my DS phat power cord, or at least my GBA SP cable (they share the same cord) in this cluttered house of suffering...

I'll see if I can take a photo on sunday when I work opening to closing over there. I'm legit not even kidding. It's a cardboard box of just GBA game, piled in and strewn about. Granted, hardly anyone asks about our GBA games, but when someone does, we just die. It's like a competition for who can be the busiest so they don't have to do it. Being the n00b (I got hired in November), it's usually me that has to go rummaging through it... I've offered to my manager time and time again to take time aside and alphabatize the whole thing, just so we won't have to ever worry about finding things in it again... Unfortunately, the answer is always no. Is he trying to make his life even more miserable?

[Baggins]

No seriously, part of me would like to ask  you to find a game, so you can waste your time, and then I can say, "hmm I change my mind".

[dark-daventry]

No seriously, part of me would like to ask  you to find a game, so you can waste your time, and then I can say, "hmm I change my mind".

hahahahaha no. I have the authority to refuse a sale. I might just exercise that authority if you do that.

The 3DS itself is pretty cool though. I imagine Nintendo will try to get 3D movies on it as a selling point. At least, if I were Nintendo, I would do that. It makes logical sense to me, but whether it does to Nintendo is another question...

[Baggins]

hahahahaha no. I have the authority to refuse a sale. I might just exercise that authority if you do that.

You'd never know if and when I will enter your store (I could be anyone), so be afraid be very afraid .

The 3DS itself is pretty cool though. I imagine Nintendo will try to get 3D movies on it as a selling point. At least, if I were Nintendo, I would do that. It makes logical sense to me, but whether it does to Nintendo is another question...

Netflix 3-d?

Hmm, looks like Splinter Cell 3-D (SC3 remake) is coming out about a week after the system's release. That just might be my first 3DS game. That's my favorite SC in the entire series.

[Arkillian]

I considered the 3DS, but it's regionalised so I couldn't play half my games on it so I got an XL. It doesn't effect you Americans, but here in NZ, games cost $80 each, and a DS XL cost $400 NZD. I just got a DS XL and a game and the starter kit from America for $300NZD LANDED. These DS games are SO expensive. If I ever get one, it'll be American, but I don't want to have to chuck out all my $80 games cause I can't play them.

I'm only interested in the Phoenix Wright x Layton cross over so far. The rest don't interest me.

[Baggins]

Actually the DSi is regionalized as well.

DSi specific games and hybrid games that use DSi functionality are region locked (the latter have warnings in small writing on the cover, near the copyright). Actually apparently some companies put the DSi region locks on their current games as a copy-protection measure (without actually putting any DSi functionality into the game) Ubisoft and Sega have apparently done this (so pay attention and do research if you buy newer games).

The old DS games (pre-DSi or are not contain DSi-functionality) are not regionalized. So any old DS games will work on the just fine on the 3ds (the same cannot be said for any DSi games might have). The older games have no software in them to "lock them".

Here is the break down;

Region Locking:

Regional lockout for 3DS software between Japan, America and Europe/Australia.
Regional lockout for Nintendo DS games with exclusive DSi content and DSiWare
All Nintendo DS hardware and software is region-free

So really if you wanted to avoid "region-lock' you'd have to use a DS-lite to get around playing the hybrid games, I think.

I'm only interested in the Phoenix Wright x Layton cross over so far.

I'm looking forward to that one myself.

[Lambonius]

I too am a bit frustrated at the glaring lack of major launch titles, but I will still be picking one up early on just to play around and get used to it a bit in anticipation of bigger releases like Kid Icarus and OoT.

Don't forget, the Wii didn't have any major launch titles either, and it went on to become the best selling system this generation (despite the embarrassing lack of good games for it.)  And before you guys say anything--Twilight Princess does not count since it was not Wii exclusive.  It was the exact same friggin' game as the Gamecube version.  Lamest "launch title" ever.

[Baggins]

The original DS didn't have any major launch titles either. I seem to recall it took 8-9 months before I got an app in the genres I enjoy. In the meantime it was essentially a backlit GBA to me. Most of the first release stuff was casual/mini-game type crap. It had a glaring lack of adventure games/RPGs.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6109869.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_DS_launches#North_American_launch_games

The only good one was probably Mario 64 (but i'm not as big a fan of 3-d mario games), and its really just a port of an older game with new characters/abilities (and is still probably my least favorite mario game, even with the additions :p). So it was not on my to buy list (I picked it up several years later, when I found a better deal). Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt is just a crappy tech demo, so not really good either.

At least with the Nintendo 3DS, I only have to wait a week for a game that I know I'll enjoy (Splinter Cell, yay), and only two months for the Nintendo first-party stuff.

Don't forget, the Wii didn't have any major launch titles either, and it went on to become the best selling system this generation (despite the embarrassing lack of good games for it.)  And before you guys say anything--Twilight Princess does not count since it was not Wii exclusive.  It was the exact same friggin' game as the Gamecube version.  Lamest "launch title" ever.

Then if we used your standards, we shouldn't be counting OOT 3D either (even though its released a couple months after 3DS), since its not a N3D exclusive, and has been ported over to several systems (this would mean even fewer original 3DS games in the first year).

Twilight Princess wasn't a launch title, IIRC, but came one month later (due to a delay, but maybe that was for the GC version?). I know one came out a month or two before the other.

Actually, Twilight Princess on GC and Wii are different games. They are mirrors of each other, the maps are literally mirrored. So its almost like playing a "master quest" remix.

[wilco64256]

Heh, I'm not sure I'd agree that just mirroring everything makes it more difficult at all.

[Baggins]

I wasn't really talking about "difficulty" but remixed aspects.

The so-called master quests in earlier zelda games wasn''t all that more difficult to me though (though I suppose they tossed more enemies at you earlier on). Was changed the overworld quite a bit. It's the only game in the series to have a truely great master quest, as it remixed all the levels (all new maps).

The "oot master quest" I suppose had a different balance of enemies, and changed a few puzzles in the dungeons, but 90% of the game remained the same, as did the maps. It's generally sought just for collector's sake, but frowned upon because it barely changed anything. It also generally appears unfinished in places.

[MusicallyInspired]

Don't forget, the Wii didn't have any major launch titles either, and it went on to become the best selling system this generation (despite the embarrassing lack of good games for it.)  And before you guys say anything--Twilight Princess does not count since it was not Wii exclusive.  It was the exact same friggin' game as the Gamecube version.  Lamest "launch title" ever.

Except the Gamecube version didn't come out until an entire month AFTER the Wii version, which did launch with the Wii. That really ticked me off. I didn't have a Wii yet and I was dying to play it at the time. I guess they really wanted people to try out the Wii and used Twilight Princess as bait.