Mineyl wrote:I'm okay with this (except that name. I can hardly believe they've tagged "New" to yet another IP. That's totally not going to confuse people just like the Wii U did. Nope, not at all!), but just one thing: if Nintendo takes the worst-case scenario route and alienates their 40+ million-strong install base by never producing a 3DS/XL/2DS-compatible game again after this releases, what can be seen as a money grab on their part will end up ultimately hurting them in the long run.
Judging from all the information available, the changes here have been made for 2 reasons. Firstly, the 3DS was limited when it was first released, and Nintendo realised this quite early on. They released the Circle Pad Pro to combat this, but almost no developers adopted it because it's a huge hit to sales to rely on a peripheral for your game to work. Because of this, Nintendo have incorporated it into the console itself to allow developers the extra freedom they sorely needed.
Secondly, Xenoblade Chronicles. They announced a port on the 3DS, and from what I understand, it requires a faster processor to run than the 3DS actually has (possibly because of the insane draw distances), not to mention also requiring the extra buttons and thumbstick. Re-releasing Xenoblade is a very business-smart move, considering that the original has been discontinued (and is now very rare and expensive), and the popularity of the series is likely to take a huge boost now that Shulk is in Smash Bros. (as tends to happen). If they were going to need either one of the faster processor or the new buttons, it makes sense to include both at once.
Personally, I'm quite happy with the new console. The naming probably will confuse some people, but I tend to put that down to their ignorance and impatience rather than something Nintendo did wrong (though they should really account for this), since every game released on a Nintendo console always has a very clear list on the back of all the consoles (at the time of the game's release) that it can be played on, as well as a generation or two back stating that it can't be played on those (to help avoid confusion). It will also likely have a big, multicoloured logo on the side that is different from the standard 3DS, much like the GBC logo was different from the GB one.
All in all though, Nintendo found flaws with their console and fixed them
with a new console, not a peripheral patch. It's exactly what people would expect them to do, the only complaint I can see people making that has any real validity is the name, which perhaps could have been better. I myself was thinking of getting a new 3DS anyway, and now I think I'll hold off for one of these. It's a little annoying, because I already bought a Circle Pad Pro in preparation for Monster Hunter 4, but oh well. Judging from the Japanese info, the price is pretty reasonable, too. Converted, the Japanese price of the XL system is just over £100, and I paid over £200 for my 3DS on release, so it's not even that expensive, for a new system.
Pokémon is hard.
. Also, I'm really glad that the new one can supposedly display 3D despite orientation. That was the major thing that made me not use 3D because holding my 3DS in the exact right position to see the 3D just wasn't comfortable for me. It is really lame that there will be exclusive games though. I mean, I guess that is the one thing that would justify me getting one, but still, I'm kinda short on cash...
