Your pre-launch excitement for the 3DS versus DS

[k.vlaros]

Think back to early 2004 and the debut of the Nintendo DS (Nitro). There was the fugly E3 prototype, the talk about a 'third pillar', excitement over SM64 DS, possibilities with WiFi, and the touch screen's potential. Over six years have passed and we're within striking distance of its successor. For those that have followed both launches, how does your excitement compare between now and then, 3DS and DS?

[fastbilly1]

Less excited. When the DS came out I was writing for a now dead gaming site and had played most of the GBA catalog, so I was pining for some new titles, even if they were gimmicky. However due to a long foray into mobile emulation, I never did play through most of the DS library. So now I am slowly working through it and am not terribly excited about the 3ds since I have so many other titles to get through.

It also helps that I cannot view 3d for more than a few minutes without getting a headache. Im curious to how well that slider works.

[ZeroAX]

I'm waaaaaaaaay more excited for the 3DS than I was for the DS. As everyone has said the gaming world hasn't been this excited for a console release since the Playstation 2.

There have been a ton of exclusives announced for the 3DS, and I'm not talking about handheld exclusives (like how the PSP had a ton of inferior console ports) but in general games exclusive to the 3DS like Megaman Legends 3, Kid Icarus, Phoenix Wright VS Layton, that Resident Evil game that is supposed to be a return to survival horror. And that's the games announced before the console even gets released.


On the other hand what did the DS have at launch (or even down the pipeline for its first year)? A crappy port of Super Mario 64 (the new levels sucked and the controls were horrible), a crappy port of Rayman 2, some crappy mini game collections, polarium (nintendo wanted to push this one as the new puzzle sensation hahaha).

Despite that I gave in and bought a DS almost at launch, which for its first year (with the exception of the Kirby game) was a GBA with a better screen for me.

[Opa Opa]

I'm in the less excited group. The 3DS seems more like another DS update rather than a new system. We get better graphics and a control stick. Of course there's 3D but I care more about the games than the graphics.

And speaking of games, I do like the game line-up so far. I don't know how many will be out around the time of its release but it seems to have a strong library that wouldn't disappoint.

[Ziggy]

I chose 'other' because I wasn't excited about either. I only recently (some time in 2010) picked up a DS on the cheap. Maybe I'll get a 3DS some time, when they're dirt cheap. But for right now, I have a full library of DS and GBA games I've never played.

[k.vlaros]

I must admit to being somewhat less excited now than then.

I'm skeptical about the two screens developing sharply different roles. I am skeptical that because the 3D can be slid completely off - and in the wake of the 'may stunt childhood vision development' news - that the integration of 3D with gameplay mechanics will be nominal.

Yet the DS's dual screens with touch and microphone was so curious and exciting. It was a new way to input - interact - rather than a new level of processing power and presentation that had my interest pegged.

It wouldn't surprise me if, 5 years down the road, it's the 3DS's finally enhanced OS, 'avatar' support, enhanced "bark mode" and other platform improvements that define the system more so than 3D. And those are welcome changes, but to me read more like finally upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7.

[Dakinggamer87]

I'm very excited for 3DS compared to DS much better launch lineup and variety of games. I can't wait to pick it up on launch day!! I'm always excited for new tech

[AmishSamurai]

I want to clear out my backlog first before I buy a 3DS. There will be a new hardware version that fixes some stuff that comes out in 2012 or 2013, and I'll buy that.

[Croooow!]

I'm excited but cautiously so. I was really excited for the DS launch and my two younger brothers both bought DSs, only to be disappointed with the numerous hardware revisions. I'm not a fan of the 3DS's appearance and can be patient for a revision but I really want to play some of those games.

[Curlypaul]

I'm excited about the 3DS - its a cool bit of kit and the range of games in the works is impressive.

However I wont be able to afford one for a while so I guess I'm most excited about how many cheap DS games I'll be able to get my hands on as the shops clear them out