Nintendo release budget handheld

[Dos_Box]

I thought this was a wind-up at first: BBC - Newsbeat - Nintendo aims at young gamers with new handheld console

 

Nintendo has announced it is launching a new handheld games console, seen by many as an attempt to strengthen profits.The new 2DS, a stripped down budget version of its 3DS model, will go on sale in Europe on 12 October 2013.

Announcing the 2DS as an "entry point" console, Nintendo confirmed it will be compatible with all DS games.

One analyst described the move as coming "out of the blue".

"Nintendo is expressly going after a market it's always really known how to cater for: kids." said Daniel Krupa, UK Games Editor at IGN.com

"If anything I would've expected an upgraded version of the 3DS, not a budget version."

 

 

They have also announced price cuts to the Wii U with the Deluxe version down to £192 from £225.

I'd be surprised if the new handheld sells TBH. With smartphone gaming going stratospheric the age of the dedicated handheld in almost over I think.

Edited August 28, 2013 by Dos_Box

[HaleStorm]

I may purchase one of these, I want to play new Pokemon and Zelda games, but didnt want the 3ds...but this...this makes me happy

[plexer]

A lot of recent releases have been 3DS only so if more DS games come out my kids will be happy.

 

Ben

[X-13]

I thought this was a joke at first... it's not that nice.

 

No folding, the screens are going to get scrached.

2d... i can do that on my 3ds.

Better battery life, but only just.

Plays DS games... so does the 3ds.

 

Nintendo are worried about not making as much money as they expected, so they release something pointless instead of making more GOOD games.

 

The Zelda WiiU looks cool though.

[HaleStorm]

I think the 2ds shape might make it more comfortable to hold for long periods of time. I cant afford to shell out for a 3ds xl which i would really love, and i rarely take it any further than the car. the screens should be ok if it lives in a case i suppose. It looks like its designed to live on a table and be played from the tabletop, which would lead to uncofrtable sitting positions though

[3s-gtech]

That's actually quite appealing. I never turn the 3D on when using a 3DS (so it's pointless to me) and my plucky old mk1 DS has cracked apart. I can't stand mobile games apart from Angry Birds - I'd buy this just to play Mario Kart 7 alone.

[sidewinder]

I don't really understand why it doesn't fold...it just looks weird. Surely with all the DS releases, the hinge and whatever components connect the screens are not exactly expensive any more?

[bladedanny]

Could the not folding be a problem? I know in some DS games ive played, closing and opening it was required to solve puzzles.

[mac_shinobi]

This looks a lot better :

 

Curiosities: Transforming a Nintendo 64 into a Handheld Console

[Dos_Box]

So whats the verdict? To little too late or perhaps a surprise hit for them?

[plexer]

I think it'll do well tbh.

 

Ben

[Hefferzzzz]

I think the point is that many parents, me included, did not buy a 3ds for their children because the 3d caused problems and was proven to harm the development of their eyes. A cheaper non 3d version? Yes I am interested.

[flyinghaggis]

I'd be surprised if the new handheld sells TBH. With smartphone gaming going stratospheric the age of the dedicated handheld in almost over I think.

 

This +1 TBH

 

Up against Nexus7's, iPad Mini's and mobile phones I don't really see much of a future market for dedicated handheld consoles. The main problem I have (and the reason I never bought one) isn't so much the hardware but the fact that Nintendo still insist on charging £30-40 for their handheld games and I just don't see how they can justify charging as much as a full price console game.

 

A tablet or smartphone might cost slightly more initially but at least once you own the thing most of the apps are free or next to nothing to buy.

 

It'll be interesting to see how the tablet style 2DS feels ergonomically compared to the clamshell design though as I always found my old DS too small to play comfortable for any longer then 15 minutes.

Edited August 29, 2013 by flyinghaggis

[rich_tech]

I cant help but feel nintendo dropped the ball in recent years with the WiiU and 3DS, interesting point made by Haggis though about price of online gaming, mobile platforms are starting to take off a bit now I think, it will end up with only the big boys like Sony bucking the trend here, largely because of the more adult natured games, nintendo have long been a bit too childish for me and all cute and cartoony.

[AlfaTech]

Yuh, as an old-time Ninty fan I don't really get this one either! I suppose it's a kids (i.e. under 7s) version of the 3DS - so that the 3D effects don't ruin the development of their eyesight - and to mop up that corner of the market?!! I can't see it being a big hit tho, I mean the raw appeal of the DSes was the the flip open/fold away portability. So I wonder how long it'll be until Ninty release the 2DS XL... I think it's high time they innovated some more instead of just reinventing the Nintendo DS/Wii.

[featured_spectre]

This looks a lot better :

 

Curiosities: Transforming a Nintendo 64 into a Handheld Console

 

1 chap I know did the same to his game cube! He also made his xbox (with added kinect bar) into a laptop also!