Topic: Who's still buying a 3DS at launch?

[KisakiProject]

I'm getting a blue one.  Not sure what game.  I held onto my DS phat until DSi came out.  Personally I think 3DS was in the oven longer than GBA and DS so it will be longer till a redisgn.  The launch windows looks a bit meh but still more encouraging than DS and I still had alot of fun with my DS in the first 6 months.  I am more excited for NGP but it will drive me crazy if people are talking about 3DS in March and I don't have one.
 
Plus Steel Diver is a new IP and Pilot Wings is a franchise thats been ignored for 15 years.  We always complain Nintendo should bring back old stuff and make new IPs.  Time to put $ where you mouth is.  I will.

[BranDonk Kong]

I plan on getting one on launch...hopefully the tax return comes swiftly!

[KnowsNothing]

Plus Steel Diver is a new IP and Pilot Wings is a franchise thats been ignored for 15 years.  We always complain Nintendo should bring back old stuff and make new IPs.  Time to put $ where you mouth is.  I will.

I've been begging for a new Pilotwings game for years but Pilotwings Resort isn't exactly what I had in mind.  I will still probably get it but I can't help but feel disappointed in the direction the game seems to be heading...

[Kytim89]

I bought my DSi thinking that with the GBA slot removed that Nintendo was going to have a virtual handheld service, but I was one handheld console behind with that sentiment.
 
Nintendo is most likely not going to include Gamecube BC with the Wii 2 simply because it would be cheaper to emulate the console on a virtual service.

[Ian Sane]

Nintendo is most likely not going to include Gamecube BC with the Wii 2 simply because it would be cheaper to emulate the console on a virtual service.

What part of the Wii makes it backwards compatible though?  I'm assuming the Wii 2 will still play Wii games.  If the hardware that makes Cube games compatible is required to even play Wii games then it might stay.  They didn't remove GB compatibility, and only had GBC compatibility, with the GBA because the two were connected.  There is no way to have GBC hardware that cannot play original GB games.  The Wii is an expansion of the Cube's architecture.  Compatibility might be a requirement.
 
Though Nintendo could remove support for the smaller discs, remove the controller and memory card slots and then you have something that in terms of the guts of the hardware can play Cube games but lacks the external components to allow someone to do so without a mod.  It would be like how the Genesis was always backwards compatible with the SMS but you needed an adapter to fit SMS carts in the Genesis cartridge slot.  But the SMS compatibility was because the Genesis used the SMS's CPU as its sound chip.  If Sega took it out the Genesis could no longer play Genesis games.

[BlackNMild2k1]

I'm pretty sure Nintendo will be able to emulate the Wii in it's entirety with the next console, whether it's accepting disc or downloaded games.
But hopefully Nintendo is smart enough to just write in CCPro support in place of GC controller support and then sell different special edition CCPro's for those that want specific controllers.

[Kytim89]

Is it safe to assume to that all gaming companies will adopt emulation as their standard way of achieving backwards compatibility because it is cheaper?

[BlackNMild2k1]

no. not a safe assumption since the follow up console has to be a massive jump in power to emulate the previous system with any success.
see: PS3 emulation of PS2 & X360 emulation of Xbox

[NWR_insanolord]

It's also not necessarily cheaper. Upping the cost of manufacturing the system by a few bucks to ensure full hardware backwards compatibility might be cheaper than the effort that would have to go into programming an emulator for such a recent piece of hardware that works consistently with its entire software library. Of course, they could also pull a Sony and not offer it at all. There's no way to really know, but I don't think cutting BC on the PS3 has had any significant effect on its sales.

[Kytim89]

The lack of BC for the PS2 is one reason why I refuse to buy a PS3. I am one of those consumers that believes that a new console MUST have backwards compatibility with previous consoles. I will be damned if all of the money I spent building up a game libraury is **** down the drain when I buy a new console.

[TJ Spyke]

Not that I am defending Sony, but it's not like you have to throw out your old system. I prefer to have BC too, but there is nothing stopping you from just playing your games on the system they were release for.

[BlackNMild2k1]

What happened to the console you bought all the games for when you bought the new console?
Did it fade away into obscurity to never be seen or heard from again?

[Kytim89]

What happened to the console you bought all the games for when you bought the new console?
Did it fade away into obscurity to never be seen or heard from again?

I always send the older system into the great console paradise in the sky following my purchase of a new system. 

[BlackNMild2k1]

I might not rush out on Day 1 since there are only 2 games I'm interested in at this point (both from Capcom), but I think I can hold out till the end of the year and likely early into next year too. A small cosmetic redesign is all I'm hoping for, not extra features (even though those would be nice too).
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/forums/index.php?topic=30917.msg653709#msg653709

[NWR_insanolord]

I think the earliest you'll see a redesign is late 2012, and I'd be fairly surprised to see it even that early. Early 2012 might get you a price drop to $200, though.

[BlackNMild2k1]

It's not a requirement to buy, it just a one of several reasons to not be in a rush to own (along with $$$<$250 system + possibly $50 games at launch> & game selection).

Most important thing being the game selection of course. Last thing I want to do is rush out to buy a system that I will only play for a few days/weeks at first, wait for the online stuff to get released.... then it collects dust for a while, then new games I want get released around Xmas and all the games I bought at launch that I barely played have all dropped $20 in price so now I'm mad I bought them so long ago and never played them.

I can wait till I see what being offered as far as movies & video content(please give me Netflix 3D), big name 2nd gen games and 3DSware/VC games listings. At this point, there is no rush to be first to have one as I still have a MAJOR Wii backlog I need to get to and all sort of TV shows I want to check out/catch up on.

E3 could be the one thing that makes me rush out to get one before Xmas though, but that's not for about 4 more months, so I can wait. But i will definitely own one, just not likely before E3, unless Nintendo can convince me otherwise.


edit: What would be an instant buy would be a 3DSXL.

[NWR_insanolord]

To everyone still planning on being there day one: what launch window games are you looking at?

I personally am very interested in Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars, and I feel like I'm the only one. I love turn-based strategy, and the fact it's being made buy the guy who made X-COM excites me, even though I've never played that game and am going purely by its reputation.

I'll also probably get PilotWings as long as it seems like there will be some depth to it. I've never really played a PilotWings game before, and probably wouldn't be looking at it if there were more substantive first party titles at launch (I still know essentially nothing about Steel Diver, and have no interest in Nintendogs + Cats). What I've seen so far looks interesting, though, and it seems like my lack of time spent in the air sports mode in Wii Sports Resort has paid off.

Aside from that, I don't know. I'd be interested in Madden and Pro Evo if it weren't only 4 months until Madden 12 and a couple more until EA's FIFA, which is more appealing to me than Pro Evo. The list of launch window games includes Resident Evil: Mercenaries, which I'm definitely interested in, but it sounds like it'll be later in the window, if it even hits it at all.

[TJ Spyke]

Some of my launch window games I am interested in:

Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition
Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D
Pilotwings Resort

Even LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars looks like something I could enjoy.

[Ian Sane]

  Is it safe to assume to that all gaming companies will adopt emulation as their standard way of achieving backwards compatibility because it is cheaper?

I think they'll do what is the easiest and cheapest way to do it.  If the next system builds directly on the architecture of the previous one then it would be easier and cheaper to just use hardware BC.

[TheFleece]

I had a dream Joan Rivers sold me a 3DS in a park. I took it home and found a giant AR symbol painted on the side of a building and I had The Time of My Life. I'm reserving mine at the Nintendo store.

[BlackNMild2k1]

It would be pretty sweet if Nintendo did a spotpass AR game that took place all over everywhere.

Maybe if they teamed up with McDonalds and/or Starbuck where both of those stores would put an AR symbol in somewhere in their store and you have to visit them all to play and beat the AR game which gives you another piece of the puzzle. Your results are automatically uploaded using the free Wifi that McD's and SB already provide and a map with all locations of those stores has a new X as that location has been marked off for you.

I don't know what the end game will be or if there should be a prize or something, but it's just an idea that maybe Nintendo could run with.

[leroypantweather]

i still plan on getting mine day one(black), have it almost paid off, plan on getting street fighter and pokemon black with the system. 

[oohhboy]

These days, if it says Tom Clancy on it, stay the hell away. It's been a long time since Hunt for Red October and games like the original Ghost Recon. However guy from Xcom? Interesting. I hope he has found some sort of solution to deal with door ways and corners in turn base games. Doorways are absolutely lethal and pretty messed up with the massive move, time, shoot and space penalties of try to go through one. There aren't any real tactical entry solutions other than explode wall a lot of the times. Maybe if they allow you to toss nades around corners and open doors without exposing yourself would help.

Back on topic, hell no, not on launch. Besides waiting to see how the region issue pans out, the launch titles are pretty lackluster. Cost is also a major factor, it just feels a little steep and with import hindrances on the horizon, I can wait for options to open up.

[Razorkid]

I pre-ordered mine at Gamestop and plan on selling my DSi to save on cost when they inevitably do their "Get  an extra 25-50% more credit towards a purchase of a 3DS" promotion.


I've sorta gone back and forth on buying one at launch and a few factors have swayed me to plunk down for day one:


1.) My DSi is broken - Specifically the shoulder buttons.  I've RMA'ed this DSi twice already.  This is the first Nintendo portable that I've owned that has not been reliable hardware wise.


2.) I game portably, a lot - Besides my iPhone, I constantly bring my DS with me.  Like bringing a good book around with you, you'd be surprised by how much free time you have standing around doing nothing that you could be dedicating to entertaining yourself. 


3.) The DS is old - Like, 7 years old. It launched in 2004.  It's 2011.  I believe an upgrade is well past due.


4.) Backwards compatability - This is absolutely HUGE.  Unlike the GBA, DS game carts are almost the exact same shape as 3DS ones (besides the little tab), so BC will most likely NEVER be phased out.  And the DS has amassed a (IMO) PS2 like library of awesome games (particularly in the RPG genre) that I still would like to experience and can alongside my awesome 3DS titles.  So I'm not sore if the game I want doesn't come out till a few months later, there are gobs of NEW DS games that are coming/have recently released that I still want to play.


5.) Availabilty - I'm not a technophile who buys up all the latest and greatest gadgets released (don't have the cash and why anyway?), but I know I want this product. If I wait until the Summer or Fall to purchase a 3DS, I know that those who got it at launch will splooge about it on forums worldwide (which I lurk frequently).  I also know that at that time, suddenly more games that I will be interested in will be either released or announced to be released shortly and then I'll be chomping at the bit to buy a 3DS only to find that......they are sold out everywhere.  "Sorry sir, the next shipment won't be here for another couple of weeks and we are only receiving like 5-8. Better get on the waiting list and in the meantime, would you like to pre-order some games?" Not. Happening. To me.


Those are the reasons I am buying a 3DS at launch on top of the feature set of the system itself and a couple of the software titles.


Personally I am interested in picking up Steel Diver and SSFIV 3D.

[Chozo Ghost]

Not that I am defending Sony, but it's not like you have to throw out your old system. I prefer to have BC too, but there is nothing stopping you from just playing your games on the system they were release for.

Most people have limited shelf space, and TVs have limited inputs. Its more of a hassle and cluttered mess to have a dozen consoles. So there is something stopping a lot of people from playing games on the system they were released for.