3DS Impressions

[The_Doom-ed_one]

Today I'm going to go to a demo station to see for myself what it's like. I'll report my opinion when I get back to you.

For now, the biggest drawback I've seen is the price.

[GrooveMan.exe]

I really want one, but I'm broke for the time being. The games I really want are Paper Mario and Kingdom Hearts, and those don't even have a release date yet - so I can wait.

I'm gonna go with my journalism friend to the local midnight launch, though.

[Koopaul]

I wonder how the gyro sensors will be implemented in the future or if Nintendo will eventually ignore that feature.

Either way I pre-ordered my copy a while ago. Too bad there's no games I'm interested in at launch.

[GrooveMan.exe]

They'll be implimented the same way they are in iPhone games - a gimmick that will define some early titles, but will be rarely used in 'serious mainstream' applications, with the exception of the very creative and daring.

How many DS games used the 'close the lid' mechanic to progress? I can think of 3.

[Alpha Six]

How many DS games used the 'close the lid' mechanic to progress? I can think of 3.

I didn't even know this was a mechanic.

[GrooveMan.exe]

Yeah, the DS was aware (beyond putting it in sleep mode) that you closed the lid. Another Code, Phantom Hourglass, and TWEWY all made some use of it. Not even Wario Ware used it, and that series exists to demonstrate all of the hardware's functionality.

[Rosencrantz]

That pissed me off in Phantom Hourglass trying to figure out how to imprint the map. I had no idea the "closing the lid" bit was a legitimate mechanic at the time, and I slapped myself in the head when I realized what to do there.

I'm all for more games using that mechanic :>

[water dog]

Literally only buying one becuase it's new, I have 100$ worth of Wal-Mart gift cards to blow, and no longer own a regular DS. Not to mention I just bought Black and White and have to borrow my friends DSs to play.

Also probably wont buy any launch games... they all look kinda shitty...

[Yawackhary]

I don't think that I would get a 3DS. First is that I don't think that I can see the 3D effect very well (at all?) which seems to be the main draw to the console even though I do know that it can be turned off, second seems to be the cost (currently I can't afford to buy a 360 or a PS3 and a HD TV to go with it [I think you can use a CRT TV not sure but game developers like to do things with small text, considering that I have very poor eyesight it makes things worse if I can't see the menu of a game], can't even afford a Wii to be honest just enough money to survive) and third is the battery life if it doesn't keep the charge. The DS has a long battery life and keeps its charge, the PSP has a short battery life (the same as the 3DS) but doesn't keep its charge.

Besides with a console, it is about the games that you are interested in. Most consoles try to offer something for everybody but some are lacking in selected genres that can be a big turn off for someone who is really into that genre of gaming (like the Wii not having hardly any racing games except Mario Kart and a few others). For me to at least own a console nowadays, it has to be at least 5 games that I would get and enjoy in order to have its "money worth" in the future, there is no point buying a new console only to gather dust on a shelf with nothing that interests you. So far for the 3DS, there might be just one game for me. Also it depends whether to get time to even play on a game.

Whether it will be like the Virtual Boy (speaking of which I'm sure Nintendo will put the few VB games onto the Virtual Console like VB Wario Land) or as successful as all of their handhelds remains to be seen. Knowing Nintendo's marketing and the fan base, personally I think it will be the latter.

Yeah, the DS was aware (beyond putting it in sleep mode) that you closed the lid. Another Code, Phantom Hourglass, and TWEWY all made some use of it. Not even Wario Ware used it, and that series exists to demonstrate all of the hardware's functionality.

Duck Amuck was another that used the lid. I think the developers even had to get permission from Nintendo to use it.

[Vipershark]

Yeah, the DS was aware (beyond putting it in sleep mode) that you closed the lid. Another Code, Phantom Hourglass, and TWEWY all made some use of it. Not even Wario Ware used it, and that series exists to demonstrate all of the hardware's functionality.

that one part in trace memory where you had to close the lid on the picture or the book or whatever it was

it took me HOURS
i scoured every inch of the mansion up to that point looking for any kind of clue
when i finally resigned to gamefaqs, i raged so hard that it was that simple

[Sol]

Another Code

I remember that!!!! It took me a really long time to figure it out, and I wasn't even sure it would work, but when I closed the hinge and the stamp was made I was like "whaaaaaaaaaaaa that's so cooool"

The puzzle I had the most trouble with was that sliding tile puzzle. I knew WHAT I had to do, I was just terrible at doing it. I'm terrible at those puzzles.

Also

nintendo said themselves that they aren't planning any hardware updates to the 3ds for at least 2 years or so

See you in 2 years then, 3DS.

Really, I'm going to have to pay $250 just for a better version to come out 2 years later? Fuck you, Nintendo, I can wait.

And I never really assumed the 3D would be anything to freak out about, anyway. I just don't see any way it could legitimately improve or innovate gameplay, at present. It's more akin to an improvement in graphics. A jump from N64 equivalent graphics to Gamecube certainly looks nice, but that's it. I feel the same about 2D Gamecube equivalent graphics jumping to 3D Gamecube graphics.

All that ranting aside, I do plan to get one eventually, as the DS is my favorite handheld, and if this is just a new and improved DS, then that's fine with me.

[The_Doom-ed_one]

Gathered friends... listen again to our legend... of the 3DS...

Anyway, I got to a try out station today and I can now report my opinion. Before I jump into what the 3D is like, I'll get some other, smaller things out of the way. The new control on the 3DS is actually more comfortable than it looks, and is a lot easier to get adjusted to than the PSP (unless you are native to Sony products in which case it's backwards). The console is slim, but that's all I can really tell you comfort-wise because it was bolted to a stand. I am still impressed with the general graphics.

Now for the 3D. It's freaky. If it works for you (like it did for me) here are some things I noticed. When in 3D mode, especially set on high, your eyes tend to wander throughout the scenery like they do in real life... the downside to this is that when your eyes wander from closer to farther away objects, your brain is programmed to change the position of your eyes to see farther or closer and the 3D tricks your brain into thinking it is physically farther away... so rather than scanning ACROSS a screen, like you would in a 2D game, you try to look THROUGH the system, resulting in double images or distortion in your vision for moments of game play in 3D, which can affect your playing performance. For best results, try to keep your vision focused on ONE field of depth, preferably directly on the screen, otherwise your vision will become distorted for moments as your eyes wander. For me, the best place on the depth slider was near the middle. The depth slider response rate is delayed by about 1/4 of a second. You can see the 2 images slide into each other if you do it fast enough. When turned off, the screen flickers for about 1/32 of a second and then the image is 2D. What's cool is that even if you move it from off to just barely on, you can tell it's switched to 3D.
Now, unless you are a gamer that likes to have the screen AT your eyeball or across the room, finding a comfortable, but usable distance to hold your system shouldn't be too difficult... other than having to slouch over (that kiosk is small) I found the distance very comfortable. Distortion when moving the system side to side? Yes, but it's not as bad as it sounds. You have a little room to move the screen around and still get a good image. Not many people I know like to play games out of the corner of their vision anyhow.
So why wouldn't 3D work for everyone? Well not everyone's eyes are the same distance apart. Some peoples eyes are about half an inch apart, while others (I've seen) can have 2 inches between their eyes, so their eyes have to cross at a different distance to get the same depth field. That's what I believe at least. I think you can figure out why 3D wouldn't work for someone who can only see out of 1 eye. People who have to wear glasses shouldn't make a difference either as I brought my mother (nearsighted, wears glasses), and she could see it just fine, too. The experience of 3D is more immerse, but not more helpful, though.

Now for me, the biggest problem appears to be price. I realize that 3D without glasses is revolutionary and everything, as well as being packed with a powerful portable console with great graphical capability, but in this economy, I'd suggest either a lower price, or a more useful feature packed in, like a 3D modelling program compatible with a 3D program on the computer. Or 3D movie editing software. Or some kind of application...

But those are my current thoughts on the 3DS after using it.

[GrooveMan.exe]

About the 3D not working; that's actually a genuine flaw of concept, rather than a specific issue with the Glassless technology. The Percentage of people who can't use 3D media at max capability is actually more than the people who can. Of course this is a sliding scale, but it's something of... a conceptual concern that the majority of the people you're trying to sell 3D to can't even use it. This is more of an issue with Films, since for those people, they're being made to pay more for a medium that doesn't work, and is unwatchable if you forego it (Have you taken your glasses off during a 3D movie? It's blurry and nauseating). I'm just thankful the 3D can be turned off, and is implimented in such a way that game mechanics don't hinge on it.

[The_Doom-ed_one]

This is more of an issue with Films, since for those people, they're being made to pay more for a medium that doesn't work, and is unwatchable if you forego it (Have you taken your glasses off during a 3D movie? It's blurry and nauseating).

Well, that does make sense...

So, I offer some help! For those of you who have a hard time watching 3D media, like GrooveMan says, but can't get to a 2D version, but still want to enjoy the media in general... I have a simple solution if you are willing to sacrifice: Close (or cover) one eye. Sure you might look a little silly, but at least you won't get a headache, and you'll still get a clear 2D image. OR, if you're feeling crafty, try this:
Get 2 sets of the 3D glasses you get at the movies
On one pair, cut out the left lens and on the other, cut out the right.
Be careful not to cut into the lenses as you'll be needing them again.
Now, put the left lens from the first into the right hole on the second and vise-versa.
If done correctly, you now have 2 different sets of 2D glasses!

... God, what kind of society do we live in where we need 2D glasses to watch expensive movies that don't work?

[Cobalt Blue]

for someone with such a shitty avatar you sound smarter than you look.