Gallery: Say hello to the Nintendo 3DS

by JC Fletcher on Mar 7th 2011 12:50PM

A beautiful aqua blue Nintendo 3DS arrived from Japan while we were away GDC-ing the sights. For those of you who haven't obsessively inspected every angle of the upcoming device yet, we set to work taking Glamour Shots of the handheld and its included accessories.

We'll be bringing you additional coverage of the Japanese 3DS as we stop taking pictures of it and actually turn the thing on. The European and North American 3DS systems will be out on March 25 and 27, respectively (and will look identical to this one).

Nintendo 3DS (3/7/11)

Tags: 3ds, ds, nintendo, nintendo-3ds

Reader Comments (85)

@Meat Boy \

Sorry guys, I got here late.

So the general gist here is that this guy thinks the 3DS is in competition with the iPad 2?

...

...Really?

Logic, where art thou?

Well, hello there.

It looks happy to see me!

I still will never unsee that 'smile' on the 3DS from that angle. It looks so cute. Awwwwww.

@Uncle Jesse
It looks better than that pirate eyepatched, "watches you pee" look of the Xbox360 Slim's intercooler from Nyko, LOL.
I hope the 3D is as good as the hype... especially since the first two games I'm purchasing are fighting games(and then STARFOX, RE, MGS later on).

@Meat Boy

I dont know, I doubt it would do any damage to 3DS sales.

Sooooo pumped.

i think everyone that wanted to see photos of this has already seen them from kotaku or nintendo3dsblog or other places. But, always gets me excited to see it.

kota- wha?

@bshido

Ya know, I'm totally pumped for the system. Between all the GDC info, hearing about the awesome 3D aspect, social/network integration... Super stoked. Even think it looks awesome everywhere else I've seen it (pre-paid for the Blue one)...

but these pics are kinda bumming me out. It looks really cheap in all these photos. Hopefully it's just bad photography though.

@Punkrawk Bbob some places are saying the hinges are similar construction to the ds lite/dsi's

I find myself more interested in the inevitable tear down than the actual system.

@PN04
Too late.

@Meat Boy you havent seen the sales figures for japan and the preorder numbers have you?

@Meat Boy
It's already made it money back just by virtue of existing, so I really doubt an ipad has any effect on the 3DS maket share.

@Meat Boy

I don't see people going out to purchase an iPad 2 being swooned by a 3DS and vise versa, no.

Certainly waiting for the more polished, fished 3DSi XL

@Co

LOL *finished

But sure, fished as well

Considering the XL was simply the DSi with a larger screen (stretching the pixels, and making them ugly) I wouldn't say that was a "finished" thing in the idea of improvements.

Seeing the top overhang the bottom is just ugly. I am going to wait for a revision here. I still see room for refinement in the design, It's not huge in the fashion that the original DS is, but it still looks a little too large on the upper screen for no reason.

That and the fact that I found out it doesn't come with a browser. Really? We went from needing the browser cart and memory expander for the original DS/DS Lite (and it sucked when you got it, anyway) to having a built-in browser in the DSi, to back with no browser again? That's not an improvement.

@Co

I'd pay $500 for a 3DS with more normal sized buttons and D-Pad.

That's all I want.

=/

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze
The button size is the same as the DS Lite/DSi buttons. I really don't see the size being a problem, unless they cut into your fingers or something...

Although I do like that massive A button on the GC gamepad...

@Drakkenfyre

The browser comes with a software update in May.

@tendoboy1984

Thanks. I thought it was completely stupid to remove it, and wasn't going to buy one until it had it. Even a paid-for downloadable one would be better than none at all.

@Greippi

Yeah, I know, and that's why I haven't purchased a DSL or a DSi.

One of these days, I'm sure I'll break down, since I seriously doubt they're going to change anything about the buttons after 3+ successful iterations.

Maybe when the 3DSLite comes out.

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze

People keep saying that they'll wait for a 3DS Lite or 3DSi. You'll be waiting for a long time as it's not likely to happen. For starters, the 3DS is virtually the same size as a DS Lite sans the extra ~25g the former weighs. Additionally, Nobuo Nagai (a managing director at a Japanese Nintendo plant) mentioned that the 3DS was intentionally designed to mimic the qualities and size of the refined DS Lite.

Also, the 3DS hardware designer Kenichi Sugino told president Iwata, "We don’t have any short-term plans for creating a more compact version of the Nintendo 3DS like we did with the Nintendo DS Lite.” On top of that, there's no real reason to release another "refined" 3DS anytime soon. There was a reason for the Lite: it addressed the poorly lit screens and bulky size of the original. The DSi addressed social/multimedia issues the Lite lacked. The 3DS does ALL of that already in a compact form factor.

If anything, maybe we'd get an "XL" model down the line or something but I really can't see any big time improvements they can make to the 3DS as is. Well, other than battery life over time.

@C1ph3r

Well I'm waiting for more colors. And that's almost certainly going to happen.

@C1ph3rDivyne
Yeah, the 3DS is small as it is (significantly more than the DSi). I'd like to see them address some other concerns, most importantly the 3D viewing angle.

@C1ph3rDivyne

I bought an original Game Boy Advance at launch. No light, no nothing. It was like within two weeks, the Game Boy Advance was announced.

I am not making that mistake again.

And it's not about the size for me, it's about the uneveness of the lid. Currently the system looks like a stack of differently shaped plastic pieces. When they do eventually release a redesign, it at least will correct that. It looks terrible from a design point of view when looked at on-edge.

@C1ph3rDivyne

Very well said. I love seeing people use logic and reason on Joystiq.

@C1ph3rDivyne

Hey, I'm not going to disagree with you. You make great points.

I'm just not in that much of a rush to pick one up. If it never happens.. it never happens. I'll grab one when they hit $150 or something. =P

@Meat Boy

I dunno know about you, but I'd much rather be playing Ocarina of Time 3D, KH Dream Drop Distance, Rayman 3D, and so on than blown up touch screen "flash games"

Am I reading the back of that box correctly?? No Wireless N???

@Co
looks like you're right, only b/g, which is good enough for me at least, it has WPA support (something DS lacked)

does anyone know if it has WPA2 support?? I want to connect in my school but it's network has WPA2 ):

@Co
Yeah Nintendo likes to get whatever is "IN" the market now days, you know 3D, 802.11n, touchscreen, 64GB of Flash ROM, a GPU comparable to the PS3, gyro sensor, flying pigs, a port version of everything nintendo and of course best Wireless communication method, Infrared.

Although it doesn't have 802.11n I already have it pre-order just to add another DS to my collection. I probably get the 3DS(insert version name).

I think I just out-premature ejaculated Premature Ejaculation Man

@Meat Boy
It's a different market, and no, even if iPad can be used for gaming, that's not its purpose or its main market, so I can be sure 3DS will sell faster than steamy hot bread in the morning

iPad will sell a lot as well because of many "post-PC users" out there!!

And you know, there is enough fanboyism on both sides so both will sell a fkn lot

Still not a fan of the aqua color. I'll wait for the inevitable upgrade instead, hopefully with better colors available.

@Meat Boy

Even the Kinect destroyed the iPad in sales last year.

@Nofriendo 3DS might(Most likely) will damage the ipad 2 sales

@Meat Boy
The only 3DS sales that will be affected are for those buyers who want both devices and can only afford one. Because this is apples to oranges (no pun intended).

iPad2 is a (very appealing) tablet which has mostly non-gaming applications such as news reader, e-reader, laptop replacment (not a full replacement yet but it does have many of the functions), video-watching device, note-taker, survey taker, POS (point of sale, not the other pos) device, etc. It's more than just a 'big ipod touch'. Oh it plays games too.

3DS is a handheld gaming device that plays 3D video games without glasses, it's the successor to the DS which is the most successful game console ever from both a hardware and software standpoint (sales-wise). It isn't in the same league, it isn't even the same effin sport!

God. Cannot unsee the cameras as two wee eyes on the device. They should make a Professor Layton recolor with an additional top hat accessory... and monocle.

@The Only Girl

It looks like its saying "Ooooo".

Oh nice, I was hoping joystiq would get their mits on one.

Looks great! ..Please review Street fighter

Because a tablet only useful to the fanboys who bought the original one is competition for an actual gaming machine.

It supports WPA2, as does the Wii. I wonder if the NGP will support wireless N? I'm not paying a subscription just for 3G service.

DON'T
FEED
THE
T
R
O
L
L
S

also lol ipad

@Asok
Oh hush John, like you're one to speak.

@Phoenix

:B

Going to hold out for a 3DS XL

@QuePasa87 I will wait for the 3DS Lite instead. Nintendo will make it smaller and better looking. ;-)

Let me reinterate my point.

You are comparing a device that is limited in it's functionality and only fanboys of Apple are happy it's being released. You are being milked for a small upgrade in specs with no additional functionality out of the box. You are pitting it against a dedicated game machine, which is much cheaper, and has an actual new feature in gaming systems, to one that lacks buttons, or any other dedicate gaming hardware. $250 compared to $600 for an iPad. Your comment about it being a bad idea to be released at the same time is nothing but a troll.

There is nothing wrong with the grammar.

| 1 | 2 | Most Recent | Next 50 Comments

Gallery: Say hello to the Nintendo 3DS

Nintendo 3DS (3/7/11)

Reader Comments (85)

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 3:07PM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 12:53PM Uncle Jesse said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 1:07PM Uncle Jesse said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 1:29PM foxhound said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 12:57PM Nofriendo said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 12:57PM superaj said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 12:58PM bshido said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 1:43PM 343 Guilty Fart said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 5:35PM Punkrawk Bbob said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 7:27PM bshido said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 12:59PM PN04 said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 1:11PM The Only Girl said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 12:59PM bshido said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 1:01PM PN04 said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 1:03PM Co said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 1:04PM Co said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 1:09PM Co said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 1:22PM Drakkenfyre said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 2:17PM Ezio Auditore da Firenze said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 2:42PM Greippi said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 2:48PM tendoboy1984 said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 3:05PM Drakkenfyre said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 3:05PM Ezio Auditore da Firenze said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 4:46PM C1ph3rDivyne said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 5:03PM Phoenix said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 5:19PM Silent Intent said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 5:26PM Drakkenfyre said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 5:55PM Punkrawk Bbob said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 5:58PM Ezio Auditore da Firenze said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 1:04PM skyblaze said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 1:05PM Co said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 1:13PM DarkSonata said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 1:24PM UrielItachi said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 1:05PM skyblaze said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 1:06PM DarkSonata said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 1:07PM mwatcher said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 1:08PM Raffi256 said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 1:08PM StormChaser91 said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 1:10PM arrrdawg said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 1:14PM The Only Girl said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 2:27PM ShadowXIII said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 1:15PM ND92 said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 1:18PM Drakkenfyre said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 1:24PM tendoboy1984 said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 1:27PM Asok said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 5:04PM Phoenix said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 6:07PM Asok said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 1:27PM QuePasa87 said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 7:56PM Eroded Fallacy said

Posted: Mar 7th 2011 1:28PM Drakkenfyre said

Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

Breaking News

WB conjures up Harry Potter for Kinect this fall

Featured Stories

Silver Lining: I Am Alive's unfeeling world

Game Of Thrones and the paradoxes of adaptation

Super Joystiq Podcast 004: 38 Studios meltdown, Gravity Rush, Civilization 5: Gods & Kings, Dragon's Dogma

Engadget

TUAW

Massively

WoW