Nintendo Direct 6/22/12

[D³]

So there's gonna be a Nintendo Direct in Japan, at 6/22/12. Which translates into EST at 6/21/12 at 11:00 PM.The focus is on 3DS and Wii games. So I'd imagine we're gonna see Animal Crossing Info and Luigis Mansion Dark Moon info for the 3DS. And for the Wii, Pretty much just Kirby's Dream Collection. I mean, what else is there about the Wii to say, it's dying.

So yeah, those are my predictions, what do you hope to see there?

[D³]

Well, here's the conference in a nutshell.

>3DS remodel with bigger screens. No second nub, so ultimately, you'll have to choose between small and portable or bulky and big.
>More Kirby Dream Collection Info! looks nice, though it showed the anime and magna in the Japanese direct, and the in the American one. I hope they don't remove it...
>More info on 3DS games like Animal Crossing and New Super Mario Bros. 2

So nothing really interesting, though I'd be lying if I didn't say I was a bit pissed when they announced the new 3DS remodel, especially right after I bought a new Purple 3DS yesterday. :/

[Hiei]

The 3DS XL looks great. I'm glad they made it, and that it's relatively inexpensive. However, I don't like that they supposedly lied and how they went about announcing it. A lot of people are angry. I'll probably end up getting one once the white one is available in NA.

[MelonBread975]

I'm pissed right now. Miyamoto just said that there wasn't going to be a new model. I'm sick of all of these new models of handhelds. I actually strongly dislike the XL versions because the resolution is going to be the same as the regular 3DS, making the pixels giant and creating an extremely blocky screen. The regular 3DS screen is already blocky enough - compare it to an iPhone or even the PlayStation Vita. They both have very high PPI (Pixels Per Inch), resulting in very crisp, sharp, vivid screens. The PPI is very low on the 3DS. It's not horrible, and it is much, much better than the original DS, but it's still low. An XL version with the same display resolution would look atrocious, like the DSi XL.

Second, having an XL model defeats the purpose of having a handheld gaming system. The 3DS is supposed to be, well, a portable system. I can easily fit it in my pocket and take it with me everywhere. My biggest complaint with the PlayStation Vita is that it's a bit large for a portable system, although I can still (barley) fit it in my pocket (I tried with a friend's Vita). The 3DS XL will be massive and non-portable. StreetPass wouldn't really be possible.

I'm actually not too surprised that there isn't a second circle pad, since games that use the Circle Pad Pro are programmed to receive input from the infrared port and it wouldn't be feasible to really incorporate a right circle pad directly into the system, although the games could be patched for the 3DS XL. Playing games that utilize the Circle Pad Pro would not be playable unless there is an XL version of the peripheral.

The only real benefit it seems is the improved battery life, but for a system that gigantic it seems piss-poor. I don't see how the iPad can get such great battery life and have more powerful components than the 3DS. The XL version doesn't really have an excuse since it's using the same hardware as the normal 3DS. It leaves plenty of room for a larger battery. Heck, I even think the original 3DS looks better than the XL version. The design looks a bit bland on the XL model. I like the glossy finishing on the original 3DS.

Nintendo should have just kept their focus on the original 3DS. I am very disappointed. I won't be picking one up.

[mamthew42]

No, Miyamoto said there wouldn't be an upgrade. He didn't say anything about alternative versions that don't improve on anything the original does. The original will still be sold and still is the main version of the system. The XL is only for people who would prefer that, which makes sense for the vision impaired or people who have trouble with smaller buttons. An XL makes sense and doesn't go against what miyamoto said at all.

[D³]

To be honest, I was really pissed when I first saw the new model, especially after I bought the Purple 3DS just two days earlier. But after I thought about it a while, I realized it wasn't that big of a deal. Since the new model isn't supposed to replace the current model, like the DS Lite replaced DS Phat. But rather, more like the DSi and DSi XL, just an option to choose on whether or not you want big and bulky, or small and portable. There's no real big advantage to have one, just a preference. It doesn't make the current model outdated, just small.

Though the timing is not good here Nintendo, right after Miyamoto said there would be no revision of the 3DS, unless he meant a replacement model like the DS Lite, or if he just doesn't know that Nintendo was gonna do this, which I doubt. Also, right near the release of the WiiU and while the 3DS is selling well? Not smart Nintendo. At all.

Though the timing does sort of match up with the DS Lite's announcement.

[Hiei]

No, Miyamoto said there wouldn't be an upgrade. He didn't say anything about alternative versions that don't improve on anything the original does. The original will still be sold and still is the main version of the system. The XL is only for people who would prefer that, which makes sense for the vision impaired or people who have trouble with smaller buttons. An XL makes sense and doesn't go against what miyamoto said at all.

The buttons are the same size, I think. However, the touch screen will certainly be easier to use. Also, I think the sweet spot for the 3D will be improved since it's a larger screen.

Anyways, I like that the system isn't glossy, and that the design is bland. That makes it obvious that it's marketed towards older people who have a hard time with the smaller 3DS.

[MelonBread975]

No, Miyamoto said there wouldn't be an upgrade. He didn't say anything about alternative versions that don't improve on anything the original does. The original will still be sold and still is the main version of the system. The XL is only for people who would prefer that, which makes sense for the vision impaired or people who have trouble with smaller buttons. An XL makes sense and doesn't go against what miyamoto said at all.

Oh. I was making a big deal out of it at first because I thought it would be an upgrade at first glance. It's fine if it's just an option, since it's just a 3DS with giant screens. I just hope Nintendo doesn't over-market the XL and continues to give the regular 3DS the same level of support.