I’m pretty comfortable saying that the Nintendo 3DS is the best gaming platform the company has ever created: The user experience is quite polished in a variety of ways, and its forward-thinking core feature really does make gaming better. Nintendo will sell a lot of them and glasses-free 3-D will be a big deal in the next generation of gadgets, just like an avalanche of touch screens followed the first DS.
But all that may not be enough to keep smartphones and tablets from siphoning away more and more of the gamers that have long kept Nintendo in charge of the portable gaming world.WIRED 3-D visuals are true game-changer. Variety of fun, pre-loaded apps. Lots of reasons to carry it around in sleep mode.
TIRED Camera images are low quality. Chews through battery in the blink of an eye. Games start at $40.
Notice the use of “pretty” when describing comfortable. That’s code for “still not sure.”
See, "pretty" to me means "very".
Well… consider me more and more interested in the 3DS then. If that's the bad news then I'm happy.
Camera is low quality – ok… I'm not using it for much other than some games that use the camera… a low quality pic is A-ok for it.
Battery life is chewed up in a blink of an eye – that's something that is both good and bad… it means that you're having fun with the system though! We don't need to leave the system in the cradle to charge though correct? We can attached the charger cord to the 3DS and play it while it charges correct?
Games start at $40 – not entirely true – there are some listings for $30 games and even a $20 one too. Even at $40…. it's not a bad thing… it's the new thing and over time the prices will start to fall… well except perhaps Nintendo's pricing. (Think the Wii game pricing over the years)
So that's the bad news eh? Wow… I can't wait to try this thing out… I hope the 3D works for me and that the games look good in person (even with the 3d turned off). 116 hours from now, I should have it in my hands!
@David
I also think the author was being sincere when he wrote that he was comfortable saying that about the 3DS.
"3-D visuals are true game-changer". Just that by itself says a lot to me.
I don't think $40 is out of the question. I happily paid $35 for ds games over 6 years ago. $5 more isn't that bad really.
@king_salamon
My understanding is that you can use the plug/cord directly to charge and the cradle is just an option for convenience.
Nintendo 3DS is the best gaming platform!
@ Unremarkableguy
That would make sense and be great for me… I don't mind sitting on the sofa while playing sometimes. The 3-5 hour battery life works for when I go to and from work too.
System is paid for in full now… almost have Street Fighter paid off as well. Now when I go to pick up the system, I'll have to buy an extra game or two… I can't just walk out without spending any money. lol
The problem with the $40 game price tag is that it puts the 3DS games in almost direct competition with console games for consumer's money, a fight most of them could lose…
I do wish that the camera had a nice big sensor and high MP count but oh well.
Camera's not a big deal. Plus they'll probably improve that when the 3DS Lite and 3DSi/3DS XL come out, amirite?