Nintendo 2DS

Nintendo has announced the "Nintendo 2DS" which seems to be a spinoff of the more powerful Nintendo 3DS. It plays all DS and 3DS games strictly without 3D graphics, but the shocker is that it has no hinges. Essentially it is a 3DS that got the tablet treatment, featuring rounded edges, spaced out buttons, screens the same size as a 3DS, and a normal camera. The 2DS is set to be available on October 12 with a retail price of US$129.99. It comes in red and blue, and will be released alongside Pokémon X and Y.

For an image, see Joystiq. (image tags don't work)

Catch my drift.

The 2DS is going to fail. Hate it or love it but if it's that big, can't fold, and no 3D(Yes I understand why it doesn't have any of these things) then Nintendo shouldn't really call it a 2DS. That just means a DS XD. But I don't see it sell well unless it can prove itself.

The distinguished RandomBoy spake:

It looks kind of clumsy - if that makes sense. I definitely wouldn't get it, but it would seem okay for a tablet user. Also, it wouldn't be able to shut it to pause any action going on, right?

There is a switch to put it into sleep mode.

We don't have time to do things right the first time. But we have time go back and do it again. Why not do it right the first ti

I understand Nintendo's reasoning, but the thing is still stupid. Holding the thing looks very awkward. lol

I am the official Paint/SDK Absol

The buttons are on the top, would be too akward to play properly.

I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives.

I can't put a finger on whether Nintendo did this to reaffirm their statements about no 3DS Lite, or to try appealing to low budget and tablet-loving audiences. It looks barely ergonomic, bulky, and heavy. I suppose it could be meant for playing games which are primarily stylus driven while the thing rests on a lap or table. The 2DS's only attractive feature is its price tag, but said price makes the whole design seem like a handicap. Not to mention in a way it values the 3DS's stereoscopic 3D and portability at US$70 (200 minus 130). Probably buyers will be those completionist gamers who bought the Gameboy Micro.

Catch my drift.

The distinguished Limxzero spake:

I can't put a finger on whether Nintendo did this to reaffirm their statements about no 3DS Lite, or to try appealing to low budget and tablet-loving audiences. It looks barely ergonomic, bulky, and heavy. I suppose it could be meant for playing games which are primarily stylus driven while the thing rests on a lap or table. The 2DS's only attractive feature is its price tag, but said price makes the whole design seem like a handicap. Not to mention in a way it values the 3DS's stereoscopic 3D and portability at US$70 (200 minus 130). Probably buyers will be those completionist gamers who bought the Gameboy Micro.

Um, no. Watch the 2ds introduction video on youtube, the people on it show it's real size. They didn't go for a clamshell design because it's designed for those kids 5 to 6 years old, and frankly, the hinge on a clamshell device will break eventually in some way, no matter how much you take care of it. And a Kotaku writer who was able to hold the 2ds said that it's lighter than the 3ds xl.

We don't have time to do things right the first time. But we have time go back and do it again. Why not do it right the first ti

A 2DS is lengthwise smaller than an open 3DS because no hinges means much less space between screens. However as it cannot be folded closed, stashing it away in a small purse or pocket is impossible. Weight: 3DS is 8 ounces, 3DS XL is 12 ounces. So drawing from what you said about Kotaku (discernible weight difference), and that the 2DS is fully thicker, perhaps it weighs around 10 ounces. The fewer components probably don't make up for the underside's angled molding. On durability, it is trading troublesome hinges for more screen scratches. Up to the consumer to determine if that's worth it. (Sidenote, in my opinion, anything with a stylus poses a choking hazard for young children.)

Catch my drift.

It is like 2 grams heavier than a 3ds and is going to sell like crazy for the 7 under crowd!! Comes out same day as Pokemon for a reason!!

I haven't posted anything on the Bulletin Boards for awhile (1½ year) So I'll come out of hiding for this. I only have one thing to say *clears throat* ........Really Nintendo?

Call me, мя sрзdу.

Its weight is reportedly roughly an ounce heavier than the 3DS, so 9 ounces. 8.3 to 9.2 are the exactions.

Catch my drift.

The distinguished Limxzero spake:

Its weight is reportedly roughly an ounce heavier than the 3DS, so 9 ounces. 8.3 to 9.2 are the exactions.

Such a BIG difference •_•

Call me, мя sрзdу.

The distinguished Equinox71 spake:

Hey, there are a LOT of flaws in designs of consoles here and there... I mean, WiiU??? Oh, let's give you a huge version of a DS so you can play on a tv screen even though the screen is right in front of you. -__-

Yea... flaw... That's why both
Microsoft and Sony copied it for their next gen consoles.

We don't have time to do things right the first time. But we have time go back and do it again. Why not do it right the first ti

I'll probably get it, so I'm not always flashing my AC:NL Limited Edition 3dsXL, and this way I can play Pokémon without having to have my 3ds.

And I just want you by my side

Re: the image of a cracked 2DS that circulated for a while, any average electronic is bound to be damaged after eating hardwood and/or a flight of stairs. All it really proves is that the 2DS's dual screens are actually a single sheet for the surface.

Catch my drift.

Yeah, each handheld has its own durability pitfalls. DS Lite had a notoriously weak hinge and the glossy outer molding was prone to cracks from small falls. DSi mostly eliminated that but its shoulder buttons deteriorated quickly. 2DS was geared toward younger users, so in addition to being able to withstand mild stress, it went to one extreme by completely factoring out hinges; unfortunately the screens are therefore always exposed, so more room for natural wear-and-tear.

Catch my drift.

Seems like people are missing a huge point of this thing. This device isn't aimed at teens or even the kids who will be using it. The ones buying this are going to be parents who want a cheaper and (seemingly) more durable device than the 3DS for their children. The fact that it doesn't have 3D is only a plus for Nintendo in that parents will buy it because it lessens their worries about harming children's eyes.

What this amounts to for parents is a cheaper new gaming device their kids can use without as much worry of breaking or health risk. It doesn't matter that it has a greater risk of screen scratches because a major selling point they'll be pushing is that it won't be at risk of having the hinge break. It doesn't even matter that it doesn't appeal to the people who want a DS for themselves because the target demographic won't be buying for it themselves. This was a great idea for Nintendo.

Moo.

The distinguished Raisons du Coeur spake:

Seems like people are missing a huge point of this thing. This device isn't aimed at teens or even the kids who will be using it. The ones buying this are going to be parents who want a cheaper and (seemingly) more durable device than the 3DS for their children. The fact that it doesn't have 3D is only a plus for Nintendo in that parents will buy it because it lessens their worries about harming children's eyes.

What this amounts to for parents is a cheaper new gaming device their kids can use without as much worry of breaking or health risk. It doesn't matter that it has a greater risk of screen scratches because a major selling point they'll be pushing is that it won't be at risk of having the hinge break. It doesn't even matter that it doesn't appeal to the people who want a DS for themselves because the target demographic won't be buying for it themselves. This was a great idea for Nintendo.

I agree,it also works for people that have problems with their sight.

To the final battle, where our true enemy awaits!

The way I see it, if parents seriously wish to preserve their children's eyesight, they would not buy them handheld video games, period. A small backlit screen (or two) measuring anywhere from 2 inches to 5 inches is still exactly that. And chances are nobody really heeds the compulsory health warnings, particularly the ones recommending users to take a break from playing every so often. I've heard the gamut concerning stereoscopic 3D's effect on vision, from being hazardous to being a non-factor to being beneficial to depth perception. It stands to remain inconclusive, so I don't blame Nintendo at all for erring on the side of caution.

Catch my drift.