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Should Nintendo's Next Handheld Include or Abandon Dual Screen
- Thread starter JayWood2010
- Start date
Primethius
Banned
sörine;188269820 said:Only with microSD, 1st party support and Monster Hunter.
That's the sound of heaven.
They aren't the only reasons to keep it.
It allows a large screen area combined with a compact design.
It's also really useful for stats-based games- RPGs and strategy games really benefit from having more supporting info visable rather than hidden in a menu or cluttering the screen. Fire Emblem, Etrian Odyssey etc really benefit from it.
Agree that your reasons to ditch it outweigh BC and maps if they were the only ones though, I just don't think they outweigh the advantage in compact form factor for a clamshell design on a portable that also has to include sticks and buttons. They can happily ditch 3D though, and seem to have been ready to do it since the launch of 3DS by making all games work fine without it.
They're gonna keep it for the sake of continuity, the dual screen setup is the most recognizable aspect of the system. They need a second screen if Splatoon is going to work on a handheld as well.
It's a mistake to go with a single screen and a more premium look because that gives off Vita vibes.
It's a mistake to go with a single screen and a more premium look because that gives off Vita vibes.
Soapbox Killer
Grand Nagus
Keep em. Make em the same size and 720p. While I think 3D 720p60 is completely doable and would look glorious, I would understand if they dropped the 3D in favor of more graphical power.
Nimmermehr
Neo Member
There is no turning back from the second screen!
I think the benefits are incredible and really underrated. Or maybe people got so used to it after all the years.
I think the benefits are incredible and really underrated. Or maybe people got so used to it after all the years.
From all the tear downs I've read, a 1080P screen costs around $50. That's a lot of money committed to the screen of a system that they want to sell for less than $200.
In all likelihood, the NX Console is gonna ditch the GamePad. And unless Splatoon 2 comes with a GamePad-like controller, Nintendo will have to make sacrifices for the sequel regardless.
RPG stats are in the same category as maps, IMO. What we're really talking about is using the second screen as a replacement HUD. A data display. I don't think that's enough of a reason to include one again given the other factors.
In all likelihood the NX handheld will be the logical successor to 3DS and considered the main platform, while other form factors (such as NX console) will have to conform to it.
How will Mario Maker work on a DA controller?
sir_bumble_bee
Member
I'm sure that's what at least 90% of the people in the gaming community are hoping for actually lol
Bony Manifesto
Member
How does that compare to the cost of a 540p one?
Doesn't matter, 540p looks like shit.
TouchMyBox
Member
It was a neat idea and developers came up with some neat ideas surrounding it, but there has been no interest in the concept for years now, and there are better things they could do with the real-estate and component cost most likely.
Most low-end smartphones have moved to 720p screens so those are probably the best bet for a decent screen that can be bought in bulk for cheap. 1080p would tax the silicon and battery more and would drive up the cost of everything.
Most low-end smartphones have moved to 720p screens so those are probably the best bet for a decent screen that can be bought in bulk for cheap. 1080p would tax the silicon and battery more and would drive up the cost of everything.
JayWood2010
Member
Well, if the NX really is some kind of handheld or hybrid, we may not have to wait long to find out because it is rumored that it will be releasing in mid 2016 which would likely mean an early 2016 nintendo direct announcement
http://www.parentherald.com/article...tsumi-kimishima-promises-a-new-experience.htm
http://www.parentherald.com/article...tsumi-kimishima-promises-a-new-experience.htm
It's definitely a factor. It's a decision that impacts battery life, graphical power, software development, cost, and price.
It's a huge decision that could absolutely impact success.
TheCongressman1
Member
Get rid of it.
Yes. There's no real reason to keep the DS setup for backwards compatibility as long as they go with a larger touch screen.
They don't need two separate screens to make DS/ 3DS backwards compatibility work. This is what the Nintendo 2DS screen looks like:
It is one large screen that is separated by plastic bevels. This is why the 2DS does not have a clamshell design. They could easily do this for their next handheld and still have backwards compatibility with DS/ 3DS games. Just drop the bevel and make use of the full screen.
Personally I think one higher resolution screen would be much more flexible for developers. The only downside I can see might be the form factor and the possible lack of a 3D effect for 3DS backwards compatibility. But even then, they may be able to solve that through some sort of software solution.
Yes. There's no real reason to keep the DS setup for backwards compatibility as long as they go with a larger touch screen.
Leafhopper
Banned
Well I personally think the 3DS doesn't come close to the DS's library. I was mainly talking about the hardware when it was first announced.
Just because there haven't been any outstanding or really innovative concept lately doesn't mean convenience factors aren't there all along. I think I'll really have a hard time letting go of the 2nd screen.
Was the map innovative? No. But it's convenient. Was inventory innovative? No. But it's convenient. Touch screen as dedicated big ass buttons innovative? No. But it's convenient. It allows a bunch of stuffs while retaining portability with clamshell design.
Was the map innovative? No. But it's convenient. Was inventory innovative? No. But it's convenient. Touch screen as dedicated big ass buttons innovative? No. But it's convenient. It allows a bunch of stuffs while retaining portability with clamshell design.
Not necessarily. The 2DS is just a single screen with a bezel that gives the illusion of it being dual screen. If the next handheld is just a single scree they could just have 3DS screens appear as separate windows like they do now with 2DS.
People are really clutching to the idea that it has to be innovative in order to warrant staying. I don't understand it.
It makes things so much more streamlined. So much less cluttered. So much more accessible.
There's no reason to remove it whatsover? More power? This is Nintendo, they don't give a crap about power. They care about making the experience fun and easy for the user and thankfully that indicates to me that they'll keep it.
People who say they need to abandon it obviously haven't played the recent Pokémon games, or Monster Hunter games, or 3DS Zelda games, and so forth. If they had, I question why they'd advocate removing it.
Ingueferroque
Banned
Abandon! It has been great, but the sacrifices are greater.
Either with the NX Handheld, a touch-pad on the NX Console's controller, or a companion app.
Bony Manifesto
Member
I explicitly said that 540p would be the sweet spot for hardware-intensive games. The advantage of a 1080p screen would be that 540p scales exactly, so you could output a native 540p image by simply doubling each pixel on a row, and then doubling each row. The frame buffer size would quadruple, but in terms of processing, it's practically free.
It's probably not worth it if Nintendo are looking to cut corners to hit a particular price/profitability point, but it's something I'd like to see personally.
Shalashaska161
Member
The only reason they would get rid of it is if they think it would get in the way of making a unified platform with their console. Otherwise they should keep it. It's a defining feature of a Nintendo handheld at this point.
I'd drop the 3D aspect though in favour of some decent resolution however.
I'd drop the 3D aspect though in favour of some decent resolution however.
Minister of the Dog
Member
3D is an option that can be deactivated, and some of us enjoy playing with the 3D on, why are you all so bent on removing it?
I'd also prefer they keep two screens.
I'd also prefer they keep two screens.
What about battery life, cost, price, and ease of software development? You don't think Nintendo gives a crap about these either?
Back when they were designing the 3DS, they obviously went with the philosophy you describe, but these are different times. I'm hoping they are focused on correcting the problems of the past, not continuing them.
At this point, 'the clamshell' is a relic of Nokia cellphone design, and it's the reason the Dual Screen continues to exist. It's time for Nintendo to evolve.
A beautiful multi-touch screen can be a big selling point for their next handheld -- especially if it has an industry-standard resolution. Based on the rumors, streaming to the NX (assuming the NX is the handheld) is a major feature, so I hope they invest wisely on the screen.
A beautiful multi-touch screen can be a big selling point for their next handheld -- especially if it has an industry-standard resolution. Based on the rumors, streaming to the NX (assuming the NX is the handheld) is a major feature, so I hope they invest wisely on the screen.
FunkyDealer
Banned
I like dual screens, but 3D has to go.
……forgetit
Member
If it's a horizontal widescreen it wouldn't work.
Cost and price aren't an issue as seen with the price of the 3DS. Ease of software development, it's quite easy really for a second screen. You're exaggerating the issue. Battery life? 3DS has a better battery life than the Vita and it has two screens, one of which does 3D, so...
Evolve by taking a step back?
So your solution is to either buy additional hardware for console owners who want to enjoy MM, play a crappier version of it, or use your smartphone(?)
In a previous post you speak of making design sacrifices in certain games for the NX console. But sacrifices to achieve what exactly? The whole point of buying NX console will be to play Nintendo 1st party games, and those should be as enjoyable as possible. Not to mention the OS UI and Miiverse; the full Wii U experience depends on having a gamepad.
Also as a third example, the competitive meta for Mario Kart 7 and 8 depends on info coming from a second screen, which could not fit on a main screen. Knowing which items your opponents have on them changes things up significantly in a good way, no second screen would mean Mario Kart has to regress as well.
Chuckwagon
Banned
3 screens or kiss my ass.
This.
Dude, they were forced to drop the price by $80 in year one. Beyond that, we have a fundamental disagreement on the overall success of the platform. Selling two third less units than the predecessor is not a success.
As for software, I'm talking about making it easier for mobile developers to port over. If you don't think that's important, then we disagree again.
Battery life? You're comparing to the Vita, which is irrelevant. 3DS battery life is not good enough. It needs to be better.
If they go with a dual screen yet again,that signals to me that they aren't changing aggressively enough for this market.
orthodoxy1095
Banned
Pretty much.
Maybe craft companion apps so we can still do map and inventory stuff off the main screen?
Teardowns are usually done at the time of release, so it's hard to tell how much it's gone down. For example, the iPhone 5s, it featured a 4" 1136x640 screen that was estimated to cost $41. A year later. The iPhone 6 came out with a 4.7" 1134x750 screen pegged $41. The iPhone 6 plus featured a 5.5" 1920x1080 screen at $52.
Edit
at the time of the iPhone 6(2014) release, the 5s screen was estimated to cost $36. A drop of $5 a year later doesn't sound too compelling. Not sure where it stands today.
The gameplay benefits far outweigh the minor inconvenience for mobile developers to port their games, especially considering they're unlikely to as it is.
yes, the battery life can be better, that's why you put better batteries in it, but again, gameplay benefits outweigh it all.
Regressing back just to capitulate is not the way. That's not changing aggressively enough for the market, that's capitulating to it in order to "fit in".
Seriously, dual screen handhelds are an amazing thing and many of the games on DS and 3DS would struggle greatly having to cram everything back into a single screen. It'd add so much clutter and cumbersome menu navigation. I can't imagine Pokémon having its massively integrated online system if it couldn't have the second screen. It's so vital to it, yet it's something most people here think "oh they can put it in a menu". It doesn't work like that.
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