Incline Nintendo is finally giving up on 3D (for now).

[DragoFireheart]

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/199129/Nintendos_new_2DS_is_a_3DS_minus_one_dimension.php

Nintendo of America made the surprise announcement today that it will be introducing the Nintendo 2DS in October.

The 2DS is described by Nintendo as an "entry-level" handheld that can play all Nintendo 3DS games – minus one dimension, of course.

It will launch on October 12 for $129.99, the same day as the release of Pokemon X and Y. The new handheld will be available in blue and red.

Form factor-wise, it has no hinge – Nintendo calls it a "slate" style. The company will offer carrying cases for $13 to help protect the otherwise exposed screens.

The handheld has essentially the same features as the 3DS, including backwards compatibility with DS titles and wi-fi, access to the eShop digital storefront.

Nintendo also announced a price drop on the Wii U to $299.99, effective September 20.

tl;dr: The 2DS is a 3DS but with no 3D feature and it's cheaper.

Nintendo has tried the whole 3D before. Virtual Boy comes to mind. Hopefully this sends a signal to all industries that 3D is shit and they'll give up on this head-ache inducing gimmick.

 

[evdk]

Fuck, I bought the 3DS too soon.

EDIT: although the lack of a hinge is a stupid design decision

 

[Humanity has risen!]

Good, screw this 3D garbage. I always disabled it on my 3DS, I didn't use it even once.

 

[evdk]

Yep, it's been used for purely gimmicky bling effects in all the games I've played.

 

[DragoFireheart]

EDIT: although the lack of a hinge is a stupid design decision

Yeah looks like Nintendo can't help but include stupid design choices. They probably removed the hinge to make it cheaper to produce.

 

[Renegen]

Interesting. But nothing's cheap with Nintendo, they release new versions of their hardware every year. I bet used 3DS's can be found for a good price.

 

[Fat Dragon]

This is just a budget version for parents to buy their kids to help boost them Pokemans sales in a few months. I doubt Nintendo is ditching the 3D, the upcoming Zelda game was designed with it in mind.

 

[Delterius]

Once again, Nintendo's evil genius is only surpassed by the guy who invented Skylanders. They aren't giving up on 3D, they are reselling the same piece of hardware in yet another way. So beyond the smaller, bigger, more colourful, less colourful and limited edition versions, you've got the same but less version.

 

[Humanity has risen!]

This is just a budget version for parents to buy their kids to help boost them Pokemans sales in a few months. I doubt Nintendo is ditching the 3D, the upcoming Zelda game was designed with it in mind.

I'll still disable it

 

[DragoFireheart]

This is just a budget version for parents to buy their kids to help boost them Pokemans sales in a few months. I doubt Nintendo is ditching the 3D, the upcoming Zelda game was designed with it in mind.

If the new Zelda requires 3D, I won't buy the new Zelda.

 

[Fat Dragon]

This is just a budget version for parents to buy their kids to help boost them Pokemans sales in a few months. I doubt Nintendo is ditching the 3D, the upcoming Zelda game was designed with it in mind.

If the new Zelda requires 3D, I won't buy the new Zelda.

I don't know if it can be turned off or not, but the director did say that Link turning into a drawing and camera angle changes were results of experimenting with the 3D features.

 

[evdk]

This is just a budget version for parents to buy their kids to help boost them Pokemans sales in a few months. I doubt Nintendo is ditching the 3D, the upcoming Zelda game was designed with it in mind.

If the new Zelda requires 3D, I won't buy the new Zelda.

How would it "require" it? Stupid "hit the thing most in front" boss fights? Even they are not that stupid.

EDIT: Fat Dragon from the gameplay I've see it was nothing that would not work in 2D.

 

[Daemongar]

EDIT: although the lack of a hinge is a stupid design decision

Yeah looks like Nintendo can't help but include stupid design choices. They probably removed the hinge to make it cheaper to produce.

Nah, I'll bet two things influenced this decision: reports on where most defects are found on the devices (at the hinge) and the overall acceptance of tablets (that is, people aren't adverse to a larger footprint device/these aren't just kids carrying them around in their back pocket as would be assumed.)

And Black and White 1 & 2 would play on a DS, but they announced X&Y would only play on 3DS. Well, they have a cheaper version of the 3DS for those who wouldn't normally upgrade to play a game. But damn, this thing looks ugly.

 

[Fat Dragon]

It looks liked the rape child of a DS and Gameboy.

Also, 2DS is a terrible name and will likely cause confusion with consumers. Should have just called it the 3DS Jr. or something.

 

[DragoFireheart]

It looks liked the rape child of a DS and Gameboy.

Also, 2DS is a terrible name and will likely cause confusion with consumers. Should have just called it the 3DS Jr. or something.

Wait wut? Why is 2DS a bad name? 3DS jr. would be more confusing as it implies it still has 3D tech.

 

[Fat Dragon]

It looks liked the rape child of a DS and Gameboy.

Also, 2DS is a terrible name and will likely cause confusion with consumers. Should have just called it the 3DS Jr. or something.

Wait wut? Why is 2DS a bad name? 3DS jr. would be more confusing as it implies it still has 3D tech.

Because this has already proven to be a problem for Nintendo. A lot of people still think the Wii U is just a new controller for Wii and not an entirely new console. And before the 3DS took off, they thought it was just the same old DS with 3D gimmick, causing poor sales, as well as some people buying 3DS games for regular DS and then complaining when they didn't work.

At least with the 3DS in the product's title you'd know exactly what it does and what games it supports. 2DS will know doubt confuse dumb parents, which is bad because this new model is made specifically with children in mind.

 

[evdk]

How do you hold this and where are the shoulder buttons?

 

[Excidium]

How do you hold this and where are the shoulder buttons?

Looks very comfortable

 

[Don Peste]

I guess I'll wait for 2DSXL.

 

[Excidium]

Is $50 that great of a saving that people would consider getting this thing over a regular 3DS? Does it come with a toast decal?

 

[Delterius]

Is $50 that great of a saving that people would consider getting this thing over a regular 3DS? Does it come with a toast decal?

No but maybe it will take over the living room with netflix.

 

[Whisky]

Seems like a weird design, having the main buttons by the top screen, instead of the touch screen.

Still, the 3D was never a good feature, but it can be easily disabled.

 

[groke]

Once again, Nintendo's evil genius is only surpassed by the guy who invented Skylanders.

YOU TAKE THAT BACK YOU DIRTY HEATHEN!

 

[deuxhero]

Remember than budget PSP model with no wi-fi and one speaker?

Neither do I!

This is hardly indicative of some massive failure or policy shift, it's just a "budget" version.

 

[:Flash:]

Why does this thing still have a stereo camera if it has no 3d?

Also, this reminds me of the N-Gage. Only instead of sidetalkin' it's brickgamin'.