Nintendo 3DS - General Discussion Thread

[quote name='2DMention']So what gripes does everybody have with the 3DS so far?[/quote]
My only gripe is that it's region locked. I really, really don't like not being able to play imports. Also, I wish I could plug my USB cable into the right side of the 3DS instead of the top, but that's not really an issue...I just would've preferred it the other way.



[quote name='2DMention']So far, I don't like where the stylus is. It should be on the side like the other DS's.
The headphone jack is in a weird place.
I don't like how you have to press the Wifi switch and power button 3 times to turn them on.[/quote]
I think I understand why people don't like the placement of the stylus, but I prefer it this way. It's nice and easy to pop out with a flick of my index finger. With the way they had it set up on the DSi, I was always accidentally knocking it out. But more often than not, I just use my finger, so I'd be fine with the stylus going almost anywhere.
As for your buttons...that might just be an issue with your 3DS. Or I'm lucky. Either way, I haven't had that problem.


[quote name='2DMention']Do 3DS games have download play?[/quote]
I don't know which ones (if any) have it, but the option is available. When using Download Play, you are told to choose between a 3DS game or a regular old 2D game.


[quote name='2DMention'] Also, what is everybody's favorite game so far? I'd say mine is Pac Man/Galaga Dimensions.[/QUOTE]
Not sure, really. Of the ones I own, I think I'll go with Dead Or Alive Dimensions. I've played the hell out of that game and I feel like I've barely scratched the surface, which doesn't happen often in fighting games.
 
[quote name='ZombieToast']My only gripe is that it's region locked. I really, really don't like not being able to play imports. [/quote]

Region locked, as well as content being tied to the unit itself as opposed to an account you have. That, along with the lackluster and expensive eShop, makes me not want to buy anything. I bought some things on the DSi, believing that Nintendo would come around. But this hasn't happened.

Transferring the games from DSi to 3DS reminded me that they're really at Nintendo's mercy. All my saves are gone, and if the unit goes, I can't just replace it myself. This sucks.

The stylus placement isn't bad, just awkward. I still don't have a good sense where it is, so I have to turn the unit around to find it. I imagine in time this will become second nature. The stylus itself -- I like it quite a lot.

I've been putting hours into Ghost Recon. I wasn't sure I'd like it, but it's absorbing and it just keeps going. Even after I finish the story, there's all the skirmishes I've unlocked. Probably the best launch title of any system I've played in terms of content and polish.
 
Ghost Recon is pretty awesome for some reason, also TRU had it for sale for $19.99 + a $5 GC so that made it even a better investment.
 
[quote name='2DMention']So what gripes does everybody have with the 3DS so far?[/QUOTE]
Like others have said, I don't like that content is tied to the console rather than a Nintendo account.

[quote name='2DMention']So far, I don't like where the stylus is. It should be on the side like the other DS's.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, it's an awkward location. None of my 3DS titles use the stylus anyway, so I only ever grab it when playing a NDS title like Picross 3D. The stylus itself is awesome.

[quote name='2DMention']I don't like how you have to press the Wifi switch and power button 3 times to turn them on.[/QUOTE]
I never notice this since I always leave power and wifi on :p

[quote name='2DMention']Do 3DS games have download play?[/QUOTE]
I've heard Star Fox has 4 player mp download play.

[quote name='2DMention']Also, what is everybody's favorite game so far? I'd say mine is Pac Man/Galaga Dimensions.[/QUOTE]
Zelda OoT. I also really enjoyed DoA Dimensions and RE Mercs. I can't wait for Mario Kart 7 and Animal Crossing.
 
Actually Super street fighter has download play too(Very limited tho)And My fave is...Dont know,I only have SSF4 And Asphalt 3d.I hate how people bash on that game without actually having it,its pretty decent.
 
*Not having an account for your downloads similar to what Microsoft and Sony have is discerning.
*Don't like the placement of the stylus, hard to get to and often have to tilt system to see where it is.
*Battery life is decent, if that, but I feel it's going to suck once the battery gets older.
*There needs to be more good games and more importantly set a lower price point to successfully compete with other mobile platforms or have more content to ask for $39.99.
*Out of my small library I think Zelda OoT is my fav with Ghost Recon SW being a good second.
 
My main issue with the 3DS is that the d-pad and face buttons are not as responsive as they were on the DS Lite, which made playing games like Mario's Picross annoying with unintended errors due to the lack of response in the controls. All of my other issues (no cart, no sales in the eShop, a better unified account system across DSi, Wii, and 3DS, 12 hour clock, and other things) are things that can be addressed with firmware updates should Nintendo want to fix them.
 
Also, my pre-order copy of Bit.Trip Saga finally shipped from Amazon today, which is seven days after launch. I haven't seen a game be that rare so quickly after launch that a retailer couldn't meet demand from pre-orders that wasn't a situation where they got a ton more than they could handle.
 
[quote name='2DMention']So what gripes does everybody have with the 3DS so far?

[/QUOTE]
Region Locking, that's it.

It's all Region Locking now because what happens if they pull another Xenoblade on our ass.

Excited for Kirby tomorrow even though it's a DS game. Not excited about paying $5 extra at GS because I had stuff to trade in, but oh well.
 
I can't understand why the videos channel is so freaking quiet. Why are all these downloaded videos so soft? I know I'm already hearing impaired, but I can hear the 3DS just fine at max. But those videos? If I want to hear them, I have to get headphones.
 
[quote name='2DMention']So what gripes does everybody have with the 3DS so far?[/quote]

-wish it didn't have "3D"
-needs bigger screens. very hard to go back when I've been playing on 4.3" screens on my PSP and DS XL (going to be worse still with the Vita :lol:
-needs two sticks (though so does the PSP)
-the controller layout is...a bit off. D-pad seems too small and close to the stick. Start/select are weird to press and placed weirdly. Could be a bit better.
-Technically it would be nice to have current hardware for once. Sony releases a portable that competes with the current gen consoles, so Nintendo...releases a portable that competes with the PSP. Great. (Ok, I love my GBA and original Gameboy even, so this isn't really that huge a deal, but still :lol:)
-as others have mentioned, while I hate activation period, I'd like a better download system. Ideally like Steam (if they're going to use activation at all) but even like Sony/Microsoft do would be better.
-oh, and yeah, having to press the power button extra, etc., is a bit annoying.

Some really great upcoming games though!
 
- Poor display support for DS games (either blurry and scaled, or GB Micro sized)
- Location of the stylus. I liked it on the Lite/XL, but I'm also not left-handed.
- Hard to get the stylus out. I'm using the same stylus on my lite that I've been using since day 1. Never lost the thing. Still have the spare in the original box.
- Buttons are noisy. Not just the 3DS, but I like the silence of the lites. Sitting next to someone when it goes click-click-click-click-click is annoying.
- Prices of digital content suck.
- Having to use prepaid cards suck, cause I can't just buy one game and be done with it.

I typically wont play a fighting game seriously without a stick, and I don't play much FPSes these days (and would prefer playing on my TV or computer anyways), so not having a second analog stock doesn't bug me. However, having two would enable better controls for, say, Smash TV.
 
For all the talk of blurry ds games, I have to say.. I just haven't seen it.

And I believe the stylus is tucked away because most titles assume finger input on the screen. (or do they assume finger input because the stylus is tucked away?)
 
I only threw in my current DS game at the time-probably DQ9, and I didn't notice a problem with the display, though I only spent a few minutes with a single game, which is hardly enough to discount all the people who say there's a problem.

Even with it looking fine though, I could hardly go from dual 4.3" screens to...basically two 3" screens or whatever, and with a worse pad. I'm like "okay, okay it works" and ripped it out to stick back in my XL as fast as possible :lol:
 
Yeah i don't know. if people say it's blurry maybe they just have higher standards than me. nothing wrong with that.

also, I've been playing an original Gameboy game on a gameboy advance sp lately.. THAT looks terrible. maybe compared to that im just happy to have at least the right aspect ratio. :)
 
[quote name='smoger']Yeah i don't know. if people say it's blurry maybe they just have higher standards than me. nothing wrong with that.[/QUOTE]

I think it just depends on the person. Screen tearing never bothers me, but it bothers tons of people.

My monitor at work bugs me a ton, cause it's some weird resolution that the OS doesn't support. So the same letters would have different widths, be blurry at certain parts of the screen, and text spacing it uneven. I've gotten used to it, so I don't notice it as much, EXCEPT when I'm using a laptop as well and switch back and forth.

In other words, play a game on the DS for a few hours, then switch the same game to the 3DS, and you should see the difference.

Edit:

tumblr_lhagl0FVdl1qzpbds.jpg


This image really is a good example. Look at the text saying "Boost" on the bottom left corners. There's an obvious blur/scaling effect. The thinner texts "What will you do?" and "INFO" also have like poorly anti-aliased edges. And one thing I griped about on the demo units before the 3DS was released in the states, you can see that the 3DS screens have (to me) a very apparent horizontal scan line, verses the more uniformness of the DS.
 
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[quote name='smoger']Yeah i don't know. if people say it's blurry maybe they just have higher standards than me. nothing wrong with that.

also, I've been playing an original Gameboy game on a gameboy advance sp lately.. THAT looks terrible. maybe compared to that im just happy to have at least the right aspect ratio. :)[/QUOTE]

Hmm...I can't remember, but I'm thinking there may be some button combo you hold down when booting it to get the right aspect ratio, something like that.

[quote name='elessar123']My monitor at work bugs me a ton, cause it's some weird resolution that the OS doesn't support. So the same letters would have different widths, be blurry at certain parts of the screen, and text spacing it uneven. I've gotten used to it, so I don't notice it as much, EXCEPT when I'm using a laptop as well and switch back and forth.[/quote]

That sounds SUPER weird...I can't even imagine how that's possible! You're sure it's running at the native resolution, and probably 60hz if it's an LCD? (Since they don't even HAVE refresh rates technically.)

In other words, play a game on the DS for a few hours, then switch the same game to the 3DS, and you should see the difference.

This image really is a good example. Look at the text saying "Boost" on the bottom left corners. There's an obvious blur/scaling effect. The thinner texts "What will you do?" and "INFO" also have like poorly anti-aliased edges. And one thing I griped about on the demo units before the 3DS was released in the states, you can see that the 3DS screens have (to me) a very apparent horizontal scan line, verses the more uniformness of the DS.
Click to expand...

Weird about the scan line thing...don't even know what would cause that effect! I haven't used my 3DS yet enough to know :(

Thanks for posting those screenshots and explanation-yeah, with that you can really tell.

Still, I'd rather have backwards compatibility (even if only one generation) than not, but I'm not getting rid of my XL. I remember people a year ago going "oh no, you got ripped off if you bought an XL!" and I'm thinking...no...that's not for a year, and the screens are way bigger... I knew the 3DS was coming out when I bought mine.
 
[quote name='Wolfpup']That sounds SUPER weird...I can't even imagine how that's possible! You're sure it's running at the native resolution, and probably 60hz if it's an LCD? (Since they don't even HAVE refresh rates technically.)[/QUOTE]

WSXGA+, 1680x1080, which is unapproved by ISO, etc., and thus not commonly supported.

[quote name='Wolfpup'] Weird about the scan line thing...don't even know what would cause that effect! I haven't used my 3DS yet enough to know :([/QUOTE]

It's the pixels used in the 3DS. They used unconventional square pixels, oriented vertically, instead of the much more common rectangular (but non-square) pixels oriented horizontally. Google 3DS subpixels and you'll see what it means.

Edit: Actually, here's the best visual representation you'll probably find:

http://3dsforums.com/404565-post18.html

Why it shows up as horizontal scanlines, I'm not sure. I'm guessing it's cause of the non-uniform horizontal gaps.
 
I'm satisfied with the was DS games look on the 3DS now... Before the update came about that improved the issue DS games really looked horribly washed out.
 
What DSiWare games are worth checking out? I've been looking through the catalog on the eShop and I recall some games like Art Style: Pictobits and Boxlife getting some praise back in the day. I'm mainly looking for puzzle games that would be better suited for quick pick-up-and-play sessions.
 
Can't go wrong with those Art Style games at all. I love Box Life. Very unique.[quote name='utopianmachine']I thought the screen issue had been fixed when the 3DS got it's DSi transfer update? I used to think the screens sucked for DS games, but not anymore.[/QUOTE]
The color issue was fixed, so they're not as washed out anymore.

The only issue left is the ugly upscaling.
Playing in postage stamp mode fixed that though. And then it's perfect.
 
Kingdom hearts 3d will have Neku from The World Ends With You in it. And, so far the game looks very bizarre. Also, it will contain the hunchback of Notre dame.
 
[quote name='dallow']The color issue was fixed, so they're not as washed out anymore.

The only issue left is the ugly upscaling.
Playing in postage stamp mode fixed that though. And then it's perfect.[/QUOTE]

BTW, I mentioned nothing about the colors in my complaints... But it actually never bothered me (like screen tears), even in the side by side comparisons.
 
Saw that Zen Pinball 3D will be out later this fall as an eShop game and will have four tables from the PSN version in it, two from the main game and two DLC tables.
 
Now that I'm working, I'm thinking of buying a 3DS, here at a local video game shop they have some pretty great looking preowned units with one of them having the original box being price at 129.99.
 
[quote name='200STM']Now that I'm working, I'm thinking of buying a 3DS, here at a local video game shop they have some pretty great looking preowned units with one of them having the original box being price at 129.99.[/QUOTE]

sometimes you can really luck out and get great preowned anything, everything that i've sold/traded in has been in mint condition. if i knew everytime I bought something preowned was cared for like me or greater...I'd buy used more often.
 
[quote name='utopianmachine']Anyone else get the Notification TEST english today? Bit weird.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I got that myself this morning. You can "Launch" the app from the notification which just launches the App Store. Other than that, nothing much.
 
[quote name='100xp']pretty girl, ugly controller grip.[/QUOTE]
Funny, I thought the other way around. These guys usually make really stupid crap, but I'm genuinely interested in this. I won't buy one yet, though, just in case something similar comes out along with the additional slide pad.
 
i have a controller grip on mine(no battery, just a grip), and i probably would have sold my 3ds if i didn't. that grip makes the thing infinitely more comfortable and without it im lucky if i can play for 20 minutes without my hands cramping.

at least with the one i have, its designed to go on and off on a whim, so its not like you have to commit to the grip if you want portability. i imagine one with a built in battery will be more of an ordeal to put on and take off though
 
[quote name='Gden']Kingdom hearts 3d will have Neku from The World Ends With You in it. And, so far the game looks very bizarre. Also, it will contain the hunchback of Notre dame.[/QUOTE]

That sounds neat about Neku.

[quote name='FriskyTanuki']Saw that Zen Pinball 3D will be out later this fall as an eShop game and will have four tables from the PSN version in it, two from the main game and two DLC tables.[/QUOTE]

I'm always up for portable pinball, and as I don't have a PS3, I'm highly interested in Zen Pinball on 3DS.

[quote name='100xp']great idea, pretty girl, ugly controller grip. (probably doesn't look as bad on the black 3DS)
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/26/cta-strikes-again-deluxe-power-grip-controllerizes-the-3ds/

CTS double battery, controller grip, docking station, game holder combo.[/QUOTE]

Meh.
 
[quote name='ZombieToast']Funny, I thought the other way around. These guys usually make really stupid crap, but I'm genuinely interested in this. I won't buy one yet, though, just in case something similar comes out along with the additional slide pad.[/QUOTE]

hee hee, oh she's not that bad...better than a lot of other videogame spokesmodels.

I like the idea of this accessory just not the look of this one in particular. hopefullt nyko comes out with something sleeker as they already have a battery expansion pack.
 
Okay, so she's not ugly; just not my type. She looks a hell of a lot better than that Olivia Munn (that's her name, right?) chick, though. Of course, so does Roger Ebert.

As for the add-on...I don't care too much for the sleek look, so this works just fine for me. The only thing that bothers me is that the 3DS doesn't set in as deep as I would like (does that make sense?). But as long as they don't give it a glossy finish, it's fine and dandy in my book.
 
I like that you can not only store an extra game and get extra life out of your 3DS but you can also set it down on a surface they had me at that. I am going to be picking up a 3DS soon I really want a red one but I'll settle with Aqua Combat Squirtle Blue.
 
[quote name='ZombieToast']Okay, so she's not ugly; just not my type. She looks a hell of a lot better than that Olivia Munn (that's her name, right?) chick, though. Of course, so does Roger Ebert.

As for the add-on...I don't care too much for the sleek look, so this works just fine for me. The only thing that bothers me is that the 3DS doesn't set in as deep as I would like (does that make sense?). But as long as they don't give it a glossy finish, it's fine and dandy in my book.[/QUOTE]

dang...Olivia Munn isn't ugly, but I'm not head over heels for her either...but I will agree she is more attractive than the Munn-ster.

As for the flush look, I think it would look more flush to the eye with the black 3DS.
 
[quote name='100xp']dang...Olivia Munn isn't ugly, but I'm not head over heels for her either...[/quote]
You gotta keep in mind that beauty (or ugly) is in the eye of the beholder. I know most gamers are hot for her, probably just because she supposedly plays games, but I find her incredibly unattractive. She just has this weird dog-like face and she looks a bit like a cross between Soleil Moon Frye and Melissa Gilbert. I like Punky Brewster and Little House On The Prairie and I respect both girls, but they're not attractive ladies. I also hate-hate-hate Munn's stupid sense of humor. She tries so desperately to be funny and it just makes me want to stomp bunnies. If she could actually manage to be funny, I would go a little easier on her. But as is, I'd rather bang Walter Brimley.


[quote name='100xp'] As for the flush look, I think it would look more flush to the eye with the black 3DS.[/QUOTE]
You're probably right. Won't help me, though, 'cause I've got the blue 3DS. But I definitely don't want a blue add-on, so I'll just stick with the slightly awkward look. I'm more interested in what it does than how it looks anyway, so it's all good.
 
wow...the quaker oats dood over olivia munn? 1st roger ebert now walter brimley. I'll meet you half way, I'll bang olivia munn but I won't ask her to stay for breakfast.

once you're holding the controller battery game holder dock, i'm sure you'll forget that it isn't designed by herman miller.
 
I finally received my Xstylus Crayon from the Indiegogo project by Elton Leung. I can't even remember the last time this was discussed around here. There have been numerous updates at that link, and I've eagerly awaited the arrival of the stylii.

The stylus that comes with the 3DS isn't far removed from its predecessor cousins, but I've always hated how thin they are. I have big manly hands, the kind that caress bears gently and choke women, and also manage to mix up analogies constantly. The lure of the Xstylus is that it fits in the system's slot (hehehehehehe) but provides A) girth and B) width without the endorsement of rubbery actors who bear striking resemblances to flagship Nintendo mascots.

I was worried that the stylus would be low quality, or perhaps not worth the price of admission. I can't recall what I donated, but it was between twenty or thirty bones, which is right at the level where I should be banished from this site, never to return or sample its sweet sweet candy. I've purchased accessories in the past for a variety of systems, and the results tend to be mixed. America seems to lag behind Japan in this regard, as one look at PlayAsia is enough to send me into a coma. There are nice cases out there, or better alternatives to game cart storage, etc etc. Some accessories even highlight certain body parts a certain gender has, the likes of which I would never, EVER order. Ever.

So I'm quite glad to report that the Xstylus is very, very well manufactured. Sturdy and solid. I plan on using it to hang a hat on later, a feat which will no doubt impress temptresses of the night. The stylus is made of plastic, but it has a lot of give, so it doesn't feel like it's going to snap or break suddenly.

Recall that the design works because it has two pieces connected via swivel. The idea is that you spin the center around, which increases the length of the stylus. Additionally, the part that spins inward "flares" (not unlike women's jeans; men, you know this as "bootcut," or should, provided you wear pants, which I do not), which causes the outer part of the stylus to protrude outward. This makes the grip wider, approaching pen/pencil diameters. The extended part can then rest on the back part of your pointer finger, which is just like a regular pen/pencil, and also how God intended. This gives you more leverage and lets you relax your grip a little, which is more comfortable. Maybe people will small hands can still rest it, but I can't, so this is a good thing. I can even switch it back to flaccid state and see just how poor my grip/leverage/control is with a regular sized 3DS stylus. It really is more comfortable this way.

In its home state - henceforth known as "flaccid" state - it's the same size as a regular 3DS stylus. The swivel is just rigid enough to ensure that there's no loose flailing about. You need to exert a decent amount of force to crack it open, which is good, because I was worried about it dislodging itself randomly. Again - it's very sturdy and solid. Additionally, the "head" of the stylus will snap into place after you swivel it around, so there's two lines of defense to prevent it from flapping around. The design was really well thought through, which I appreciate given the constraints that had to be contended with.

The colors for the stylus are pretty stock; the inner part is red and the outer part - based on the ones I've gotten - are teal blue, black, and white. The first two are obviously meant to match the systems currently available. I also got an all-red one (which will be great for a Flame 3DS), and then - as an early donor - got a completely clear "crystal" stylus, which I hope to test later on to see if it alters gameplay in any significant manner.

If anything could be improved, maybe the inner part could be made of some heavier material to give the Xstylus more weight. A metal core would be a nice solution, and would probably promote more durability. I wouldn't really call this a complaint or deficiency though.

I haven't yet tried these out under gameplay, but I'm feeling really confident right now. The Xstylus feels nice both in terms of construction and in utility, and I'm impressed with how well it is designed. It looks nice and has a form factor that does promote comfort. I don't know if the inventor has plans to sell more of them, so I can't say if the moment to purchase them has passed, but I do hope he is pursuing something that would lead to wider avenues for release. The Xstylus feels like a "this is how it should have been" sort of thing; a similar example might have been this Wii Gamecube Port Replacement Cover, in that it has great functionality while retaining existing design protocol. It's this thing where you're left thinking about how there are unique and innovative solutions to problems out there, and you just need someone to really get the ball rolling.

Given all of this, I can heartily recommend the Xstylus. Assuming it comes back into production, I doubt most people will want to pay the higher-than-normal price for one. And that's cool. I just wanted to have a say.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40Dm7frY250

I also need to talk about the rather excellent CM4 Catalyst Slim Cover. This will have to come a little later. Mostly, the word "excellent" should be enough for right now.
 
[quote name='100xp']wow...the quaker oats dood over olivia munn? 1st roger ebert now walter brimley. I'll meet you half way, I'll bang olivia munn but I won't ask her to stay for breakfast.[/quote]
Ha ha, sounds like a good middle ground.


[quote name='100xp']once you're holding the controller battery game holder dock, i'm sure you'll forget that it isn't designed by herman miller.[/QUOTE]
Most definitely. Functionality greatly outweighs appearance. Besides, if Herman Miller designed it, I'd spend half an hour just trying to figure out what the fuck it was. Which is what just happened when I looked him up on Google.
 
Sell me your crystal XStylus.

Sounds like a quality product, thanks for the follow up. I had wondered what happened to it.

My favorite accessory is the Card Flame 24 for DS/3DS games (engrish on box, "frame" lol). I'll take pics of it when I get home.
 
[quote name='flameofdoom666']The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition (DSiWare) is live on the eShop for the price of FREE![/QUOTE]

It's on DSiWare too. I got it for both since I could maybe get my brother to help me play it. I'll play it on my XL though since the screen's bigger.

It's a weird game.
 
[quote name='KingBroly']It's on DSiWare too. I got it for both since I could maybe get my brother to help me play it. I'll play it on my XL though since the screen's bigger.

It's a weird game.[/QUOTE]

Does downloading it on both net 2 different post play surveys?
 
[quote name='flameofdoom666']Does downloading it on both net 2 different post play surveys?[/QUOTE]

only if they are on different account
 
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