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[Lebon14]

you don't have to worry now

Xenoblade port is confirmed to be exclusive for the new 3DS.

Oh fuck.
I really would have liked to have a Wii copy of Xenoblade Chronicles but I'll need to have that revision with a stupid name convention. I really need to upgrade my noisy GeForce GTX 460.

Why not a new system Nintendo? Why not a new one!!

It frustrate me.

Oh well, at least the 3DS is a lit bit less pathetic config wise. They really need to catch up to today, sometime.

 

[Pooya]

They should have have focused on the resolution instead. Everything is about resolution these days everywhere... Enhancing web browsing with new CPU? ok.. at 240p? lol. It could have helped 3DS stay for some more years imo. This won't. Even kids know about "retina" and stuff these days.

 

[Coolwhip]

Meh anything other than gaming sucks with the low resolution and the double screens still.

 

[Canis lupus]

All those improvements, yet it still comes with shitty screens smh.

Even the PSP1000 has a better and less pixelated screen than 3DS XL.

 

[Papacheeks]

Don't confuse internet darling with a 'fairly popular' game.

Also don't confuse a possible new entry into a series with a 4 year old port.

Nintendo knows it's not going to make a lot of money on this port of an old game. Nintendo also knows it would be crazy to release a game that could sell 2-4 million on 3DS as a N3DS exclusive and get only a fraction of that.

Well there's another rumor thread that's open about Monster Hunter 4G being exclusive to new 3DS model, because of bump in memory and CPU for Textures.

 

[KojiKnight]

They should have have focused on the resolution instead. Everything is about resolution these days everywhere... Enhancing web browsing with new CPU? ok.. at 240p? lol. It could have helped 3DS stay for some more years imo. This won't. Even kids know about "retina" and stuff these days.

Resolution would be worthless without the tech to power it, and a massive boost to the display would have required an even more massive boost to stats, at which point you have a Vita... Expensive and mostly unloved.

 

[nordique]

Is that only with the small white edition?

Seems to be both the small (non-XL) white and black systems

The XL ones have coloured letters though not quite as badass as full blown super famicom button colour scheme

 

[Maintenance]

at which point you have a Vita... Expensive and mostly unloved.

Not by those who own it. By the rest, sure.

 

[Final Boss]

Why not just launch a new system?

 

[KojiKnight]

Not by those who own it. By the rest, sure.

As an owner and lover of Vita.... it's Sony's redheaded step-child. Unloved and too embarassing to show at parties.

 

[Pooya]

Resolution would be worthless without the tech to power it, and a massive boost to the display would have required an even more massive boost to stats, at which point you have a Vita... Expensive and mostly unloved.

bumping it to something like 480p and removing 3D, it could have been possible with similar hardware upgrade. It would still run old games at 240p, I would say upscaling 3DS games to 480p screen can't look worse than the horribly pixelated XL screen right now at native resolution. Then it could have worked well for everything else like web. I'm not demanding 1080p screens or similar here. Even $50 knock off Chinese phones manage better screens than the 3DS, nobody cares it's a parallax barrier screen.

I guess then they couldn't call it 3DS and they already used up 2DS! lol mess.

 

[fedexpeon]

Would make sense, I mean look at this

The difference is huge.

LOL.
I was like "wtf...is this gif actually going to be a 10mins long loop?"
I was about to time the gif until I saw the Forward sign too.
You know it is bad if they have to speed up a gif.

But yeah, not a huge difference since the 3DS has a horrible interface loading time for nearly everything.
I rarely go to the eShop because of how long it takes to do anything.
The packing/unloading animation+music make me want to break my 3DS sometime.
Who thought that it was a great idea to lock everything out of the system if you have to use the eShop?
And I have no idea there was a browser built in, and I owned a 3DS for over 2 yrs now.
Even if I knew there was a browser, why would anyone even want to use it when phone/tablet are faster?

 

[nelchaar]

Welp, I've been wanting to get a 3DS XL for a while. I would have been pissed if I got it a few months ago and then heard about this one.

But now getting the new 3DS XL makes me worried that a year or so down the line there will be a new iteration, or a new system.

 

[BruiserBear]

Hope they give the screen resolution an equal upgrade, the XL is fucking horrific.

Yeah, that's the only upgrade I'm interested in.

 

[lenovox1]

bumping it to so me thing like 480p and removing 3D, it could have been possible with similar hardware upgrade. It would still run old games at 240p, I would say upscaling 3DS games to 480p screen can't look worse than the horribly pixelated XL screen right now at native resolution. Then it could have worked well for everything else like web. I'm not demanding 1080p screens or similar here. Even $50 knock off Chinese phones manage better screens than the 3DS, nobody cares it's a parallax barrier screen.

I guess then they couldn't call it 3DS and they already used up 2DS! lol mess.

It still would have required a new GPU, as what they use is designed to output to a certain level at a specific resolution. This was obviously not that type of revision.

It's not like many people would be satisfied with that piddly little type of bump anyways.

 

[CamHostage]

I like 3DS a lot but I do not understand what Nintendo seeks to get out of splitting the user base with a power upgrade.

The controller additions, great if they do something with it, and at least it'll make Monster Hunter a little more comfortable to play. Amiibo too, obviously. Maybe that's enough to make some sales. But selling it on more power... I've yet to play a game that has challenged the launch period game Resident Evil Revelations (Smash at least looks like it's getting something out of the hardware, and Kid Icarus looked nice enough too,) so what do they think adding more horsepower will do when developers seem to be using a fraction of it as is? Unless there's something about the nN3DS chipset that makes it easier to port and support with engines like Unity, I don't see what developers will get out of making use out of it.

It's great if this new system is powerful enough to easily port stuff like Xenoblade and so that's the move, to make it easier to convince developers to use it. But it's still the same chipset and system, and the limitations have to my knowledge not been locked up in these specific RAM bottlenecks. And splitting the user base and purchase options is always frustrating (it bugged me with DSi, and at least that jump made a lot of sense since original DS couldn't do e-shopping.)

 

[lenovox1]

I like 3DS a lot but I do not understand what Nintendo seeks to get out of splitting the user base with a power upgrade.

The power upgrade probably has more to do with improving the overall system experience and accommodating the new functionality, ala the DSi.

This doesn't have much, if anything, to do with games or developer's needs. I think most developers can safely ignore the performance improvements the second 3DS brings, and maybe a couple more will throw in CCP/additional input support.

 

[Darius]

How is it more like the Vita? The Vita is a big upgrade over the PSP, and the Vita was a brand new system. The 32X wa a smaller upgrade, just like the New 3DS is, thats why the comparsion were made earlier.

Sure... I doubt you actually believe that the comparison with 32X was made for this reason and not for its implication as a failed product and therefore as a juvenile provocation. Either way a comparison is silly, the 32X was an add-on and not a self-contained system. And when it comes to sales, there´s no doubt it will have quite a success in the long-run, and just to make a comparison to its current direct competitor, I´ll be quite frank this revision alone will have higher lifetime sales than PSV.

 

[hongcha]

Either way a comparison is silly, the 32X was an add-on and not a self-contained system.

A more apt comparison is the Supergrafx:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PC_Engine_SuperGrafx

 

[TheFLYINGManga_Ka]

So what will improve? Just faster?

 

[Darius]

A more apt comparison is the Supergrafx:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PC_Engine_SuperGrafx

The most appropriate comparisons have already been made. Which were even from the same company (Nintendo) and the same kind of videogame systems (handhelds).

 

[golem]

Why not just launch a new system?

I'm confused about this as well. They could have just launched something new and kept it BC with the 3DS, etc. I guess that would have probably forced them to upgrade the screens though.

More in a line of confusing Nintendo moves..

 

[clarkision]

Anybody think they'll include snes and GBA virtual console with this??

 

[NolbertoS]

Anybody think they'll include snes and GBA virtual console with this??

I would think so, with Iwata preaching cross buying and synergies between console and portablr devices. This is the start of Nintendo's re-integration. Trying to bring console titled to the new 3DS or 4DS. I can just imagine playing Metroid Prime or Skies of Arcadia on thr new 3DS XL

 

[The Real Abed]

I'm kind of glad I put off buying a 3DS now.

Though I'm sad about the resolution. The 3DS resolution is so low in an era where everyone's carrying around 1080p smartphones. The DPI is so low. Even the GamePad has higher DPI. Double the resolution width and height and it'd be perfect.

 

[butman]

More resolution would be GREAT!

 

[KojiKnight]

I'm confused about this as well. They could have just launched something new and kept it BC with the 3DS, etc. I guess that would have probably forced them to upgrade the screens though.

More in a line of confusing Nintendo moves..

Because the new system isn't ready to be launched yet... This is a stop-gap measure as has been said numerous times.

 

[jhmtehgamr20xx]

How is it more like the Vita? The Vita is a big upgrade over the PSP, and the Vita was a brand new system. The 32X wa a smaller upgrade, just like the New 3DS is, thats why the comparsion were made earlier.

Because it's unnecessary power. I mean it was even said in this thread they wouldn't make games for it that absolutely require the power, so they'd still be using the regular 3DS as the baseline. That's a pretty low baseline.

The Vita's ridiculously overpowered for its purposes now, why would the "power handheld" market suddenly show up for this new 3DS? Is all the power just there for show now? The last thing Nintendo needs in a new 3DS is more power; they need a handheld w/ a real hook. Something, anything, preferably software.

3DS isn't trending below GBA and DS b/c it's weak; it's selling less b/c it doesn't have an angle to fight back against mobile other than Nintendo games, and that's not enough.

 

[M3d10n]

Also, none of you actually believe that there will be more than 4 or 5 games made for this new system. Right?

Retail? Yeah, probably. Download-only? If it supports Unity and has SNES VC, no.

Again, the DSi had over 500 exclusive download-only games.

 

[lenovox1]

The last thing Nintendo needs in a new 3DS is more power; they need a handheld w/ a real hook. Something, anything, preferably software.

Well, sure. That's what Amiibo and the improved web functionality bring, for better or worse.

 

[KojiKnight]

Well, sure. That's what Amiibo and the improved web functionality bring, for better or worse.

Improved web support is to better support Miiverse (which is web based). Technically, HTML5 will also improve it, but HTML5 also is a solid platform for indie development.

Nintendo doesn't expect the 3DS web browser to replace any other internet enabled device, the screen is only 400x240

 

[KratosEnergyDrink]

Nintendo doesn't expect the 3DS web browser to replace any other internet enabled device, the screen is only 400x240

The screen resolution of the top screen is 800x240 in 2D and 400x240 in 3D.

The bottom screen is 320x240.

So the browser has a resolution of 800x480 with both screens.

 

[ArtHands]

I like 3DS a lot but I do not understand what Nintendo seeks to get out of splitting the user base with a power upgrade.

The controller additions, great if they do something with it, and at least it'll make Monster Hunter a little more comfortable to play. Amiibo too, obviously. Maybe that's enough to make some sales. But selling it on more power... I've yet to play a game that has challenged the launch period game Resident Evil Revelations (Smash at least looks like it's getting something out of the hardware, and Kid Icarus looked nice enough too,) so what do they think adding more horsepower will do when developers seem to be using a fraction of it as is? Unless there's something about the nN3DS chipset that makes it easier to port and support with engines like Unity, I don't see what developers will get out of making use out of it.

It's great if this new system is powerful enough to easily port stuff like Xenoblade and so that's the move, to make it easier to convince developers to use it. But it's still the same chipset and system, and the limitations have to my knowledge not been locked up in these specific RAM bottlenecks. And splitting the user base and purchase options is always frustrating (it bugged me with DSi, and at least that jump made a lot of sense since original DS couldn't do e-shopping.)

There are certain games which have to sacrifice minor performances to run on the 3DS. Games such as switching from 60fps to 30fps in 3D mode, to having no 3D mode in certain game portions etc.

Having more horsepower should help with these problems

 

[Astral Dog]

Those figures come from a picture of a dev 3DS took before launch. The 3DS has multiple memory region layouts. The 96MB+32MB layout is used to run debug builds, which uses more RAM than release builds. The layout used in retail units is 64MB+64MB, as explained at 3dbrew.org. There are three memory regions. Their sizes at the retail layout are:

- APPLICATION: 64MB - games are loaded here
- SYSTEM: 44MB - the home menu and "multitasking" applications are loaded here
- BASE: 20MB - OS processes and services/drivers go here

This means the 3DS browser can only use up to 44MBs of RAM (the home menu is unloaded when you load a multitasking application like the browser or miiverse).

.

Wow I did not knew this,kinda dissapointed that the 3DS uses half of its memory for the browser,i always thought it used 96mb for the games

 

[ArtHands]

Because it's unnecessary power. I mean it was even said in this thread they wouldn't make games for it that absolutely require the power, so they'd still be using the regular 3DS as the baseline. That's a pretty low baseline.

The Vita's ridiculously overpowered for its purposes now, why would the "power handheld" market suddenly show up for this new 3DS? Is all the power just there for show now? The last thing Nintendo needs in a new 3DS is more power; they need a handheld w/ a real hook. Something, anything, preferably software.

3DS isn't trending below GBA and DS b/c it's weak; it's selling less b/c it doesn't have an angle to fight back against mobile other than Nintendo games, and that's not enough.

This really. the vita upcoming stuffs are made up just old indie ports and niche japanese anime games, both of which doesnt require major horsepower. Its not like the developers will spend huge AAA budget on portable games too. The vita failure has proven that.

 

[KojiKnight]

The screen resolution of the top screen is 800x240 in 2D and 400x240 in 3D.

The bottom screen is 320x240.

So the browser has a resolution of 800x480 with both screens.

No, in 2D mode the screen is 400x240 with the parallax barrier disabled. In 3D mode the screen is 800x240 with the parallax barrier on meaning that each eye receives 400x240.

It's the primary reason why running the system with 3D on drains so much power, it's literally rendering twice as many pixels as 2D mode.

 

[big_z]

I'm not too worried about the new specs. Dsi was the same and only 5 retail games were made exclusively for it, all shovelware.

Third parties aren't going to abandon a 50m+ user base to make an exclusive for the n3ds. Unless a bunch of must haves are announced there's no need to get your shit tied in a knot. The Xenoblade port I think is nintendos attempt to build a fanbase before the wii u game arrives next year.

Why not just launch a new system?

Because the 3ds is only mid life at this point. Don't expect a new handheld until late 2016-2017 at the earliest.

No, in 2D mode the screen is 400x240 with the parallax barrier disabled. In 3D mode the screen is 800x240 with the parallax barrier on meaning that each eye receives 400x240.

What resolution does luigis mansion run in when using 3D? It looks like the resolution changes/lowers because the jaggies become bigger. It's the only game I've noticed this type of change when using 3d.

 

[M3d10n]

What resolution does luigis mansion run in when using 3D? It looks like the resolution changes/lowers because the jaggies become bigger. It's the only game I've noticed this type of change when using 3d.

Luigi's Mansion runs at the same resolution in both 3D and 2D, with no AA in either mode. If any 3DS game rendered at sub-native resolution, you would know.

 

[golem]

Because the new system isn't ready to be launched yet... This is a stop-gap measure as has been said numerous times.

I understand it's a stopgap measure and in-line with Nintendo's previous strategies

What I don't get is why they want to split the user base and raise manufacturing costs of a system they are selling less and less of

 

[KojiKnight]

I understand it's a stopgap measure and in-line with Nintendo's previous strategies

What I don't get is why they want to split the user base and raise manufacturing costs of a system they are selling less and less of

The thing is, they likely aren't raising their costs of manufacturing. Over the course of nearly 4 years, the costs of components have gone down... In fact, the 128MB ram chips may be MORE costly to produce now than 256MB chips due to demand being much lower. Likewise with the other components.

The fact that these are coming in at the same price point as the old systems just screams the original models are being 'cost effectively' removed from the lineup. If the new hardware is going to have faster by that virtue, why not take advantage of it?

The 'fracturing your player base' is making assumptions that many/most new games will take such advantage of this that they'll either be completely incompatible, or be far inferior on the regular system. The only case we have for this is a port of a 4 year old Wii game and the promise that more games in the future will take some sort of advantage of this new hardware.

I also have no doubt that Nintendo wants them to be appealing to get double/triple system dippers, but they aren't going to throw 45+ million current users completely under the bus when they'll have a new complete system launch in just a couple years.

 

[DonMigs85]

Luigi's Mansion runs at the same resolution in both 3D and 2D, with no AA in either mode. If any 3DS game rendered at sub-native resolution, you would know.

I beg to differ, it did have AA in 2D mode from what I remember at least in Gadd's bunker.

Also I wonder if Smash Bros. or other games will have graphical enhancements if played on this. I'm still not buying it though. I skipped the DSi as well. Not a fan of market-fragmenting add-ons, much less full devices.

 

[KojiKnight]

I beg to differ, it did have AA in 2D mode from what I remember at least in Gadd's bunker.

Also I wonder if Smash Bros. or other games will have graphical enhancements if played on this. I'm still not buying it though. I skipped the DSi as well. Not a fan of market-fragmenting add-ons, much less full devices.

If the DLC rumors are to be believed, they plan on long term support for the game... I can definitely see them adding something in a future patch.

 

[Log4Girlz]

So I wonder if there is any hint of 4ds specs in this. 1 gb of ram (easy quadrupling), 1 ghz cpu (doubling of max rumored speed), 32 mb dedicated vram (same amount as embedded vram in wii u)

 

[vareon]

So I wonder if there is any hint of 4ds specs in this. 1 gb of ram (easy quadrupling), 1 ghz cpu (doubling of max rumored speed), 32 mb dedicated vram (same amount as embedded vram in wii u)

I think the fact that new 3DS (almost) has the same input buttons as the Wii U also hints for their next handheld.

 

[Luigiv]

No, in 2D mode the screen is 400x240 with the parallax barrier disabled. In 3D mode the screen is 800x240 with the parallax barrier on meaning that each eye receives 400x240.

It's the primary reason why running the system with 3D on drains so much power, it's literally rendering twice as many pixels as 2D mode.

Umm, you're sort of but not quite really there. The screen is still physically 800x240 in 2D mode, it's just that the pixels are doubled in software, limiting you to the same 400x240 effective resolution.

3D mode doesn't drain more power because it's rendering more pixels, it drains more power because the backlight brightness needs to be doubled to counteract the dimming effect of the parallax barrier.

 

[Derphoof]

Some of you must not have been alive for the gbc. It was a full 9 years after the gb when the gbc was released and it was a much more impressive hardware upgrade. Not to mention the gameboy was a much more successful console.

Do we know how much the GBC sold over it's somewhat short lifespan? Nintendo groups it in the "Game Boy" family of systems as a hardware revision and doesn't give it's individual numbers.

However, the GBC was quite the upgrade for it's time. Doubled the processor speed and went from 8kb of RAM to a whopping 32kb of RAM.

 

[M3d10n]

I beg to differ, it did have AA in 2D mode from what I remember at least in Gadd's bunker.

Yes, you're right. It uses 2X vertical SSAA in 2D (aka: the game renders in anamorphic 400x480 then downscales to 400x240).

I probably missed because there are a lot of vertical geometry, which doesn't get antialiased by this method.

 

[nubbe]

Should call it Super 3DS

 

[DonMigs85]

Yes, you're right. It uses 2X vertical SSAA in 2D (aka: the game renders in anamorphic 400x480 then downscales to 400x240).

I probably missed because there are a lot of vertical geometry, which doesn't get antialiased by this method.

Isn't this also pretty much the only type of AA 3DS can use? Same for Ocarina of Time

 

[Calavera520]

Hope they give the screen resolution an equal upgrade, the XL is fucking horrific.

really, horrific?

i recently got an xl and I don't mind it. plays well. little bummed that i could have waited for this, comes as a surprise.