Nintendo 3DS

[CrowKenobi]

I think that it does have a mic... if you look at the pic on the first page, there is a hole in front of the lower screen next to the start button. The mic in my DSi is nothing but a hole, so I assume that's where the mic is here.

[Xellos-_^]

is the 3DS going to be region free is it like the DSi and region lock?

[mangatron]

Originally Posted by Xellos-_^

is the 3DS going to be region free is it like the DSi and region lock?

Well that's a good question. Let's see if I can piece together some hints:

-They make emphasis on DS backwards compatibility, no mention of DSi, with, I believe they made mention of no current plans to give people the option to bring their DSiware to the 3DS.
-I do recall the DSi having two touch screens, with apparently the 3DS having only one.
-It seems the 3DS will launch everywhere around the same time, March 2011. This would mean no having to spend extra time making separate 3DS's for Japan, NA, and EU.

If we go by Nintendo making the DSi's region specific mainly due to the DSiware, then yes, the 3DS shouldn't be region locked. But,

-The 3DS has enhanced wireless capabilities.
-With probably some emphasis on using the DS for Nintendo related socializing.
-The mention of some online related stuff using ones' 3DS.

If we go by that, then the 3DS may just end up being region specific due to the online stuff. I do like this idea, making the online stuff IP based, with of course an account option to specify which region one wants to view content of. This should at least make the 3DS region free, free from the shackles of letting the 3DS deal with all the mumbo jumbo of region locking.

[GDB]

Wasn't the DSi only region locked in regards to the DSi-ware? Like, you could still play Japanese cartridges on an American system, just not get the DSi-ware?

And I'm pretty sure the DSi only had one touch-screen, just like the normal DS.

[mangatron]

Originally Posted by GDB

Wasn't the DSi only region locked in regards to the DSi-ware? Like, you could still play Japanese cartridges on an American system, just not get the DSi-ware?

Basically that's what I've concluded, as I've never seen anyone reporting Japanese import games not working on their non-Japanese DSi.

And I'm pretty sure the DSi only had one touch-screen, just like the normal DS.

While I don't have a DSi, it seems like there is only 1, but I thought it was two due to reports online as well as a pack of DSi screen protectors I bought, which had 2 of essentially the same type. Something like this I bought in Germany for my DS had the top screen protector different than the one for the touch screen, whilst my DSi pack from Hori had 2 identical ones, with instructions saying which one goes where, so it wasn't a 1+1 spare thing.

I wonder if anyone at E3 was able to go to the main menu of the 3DS.... I don't recall anything like that happening, although I think they said that part of the 3DS wasn't finished. It sure would have shed more light into whether or not it is region specific.

[Kudryavka]

Originally Posted by GDB

And I'm pretty sure the DSi only had one touch-screen, just like the normal DS.

Yea, the DSi only has one touch screen, for sure.

[Sides]

Originally Posted by mangatron

Basically that's what I've concluded, as I've never seen anyone reporting Japanese import games not working on their non-Japanese DSi.

DSi enchanced and DSi titles are region locked. DSI enchanced titles are region free when running on the DS, but not on the DSi. And DSi titles are just completely locked, as far as i'm aware off.

[mangatron]

Again, what I've basically concluded, is that anything relating to the DSi's additions over the regular DS are the only things about the system that made it region locked.

The various reports and such about the 3DS currently not supporting existing DSiware leads me to think the 3DS isn't region locked in the DSi manner, which perhaps it may be or may not be region locked.

[Sides]

Originally Posted by mangatron

Again, what I've basically concluded, is that anything relating to the DSi's additions over the regular DS are the only things about the system that made it region locked.

The only thing i can think of is that it works similar to the Wii, regarding DS mode, where functions will be locked out/limited, see no WPA support and limited ram used for DS games. However if a game is build to support DSi mode the region lock kicks in, with all the other DSi features. I'm pretty sure if publishers wanted the can disable the region lock feature, but that isn't going to happen.
Actually the region lock may have something to do with DSiWare software. Seeing that the 3DS might support games installation, DSiWare software might just be the same as DSi cart games, hence both supporting region restrictions.

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[wingman32x]

I can't wait for the 3DS to come out. It's going to be hard to find for a while. Ok, on a scale of 1 to impossible, how hard will the 3DS be to find during the first 3 months? I'm guessing damn near impossible unless nintendo pumps out insane shipments. I just hope it becomes easy to find faster than the wii.

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

Originally Posted by wingman32x

I can't wait for the 3DS to come out. It's going to be hard to find for a while. Ok, on a scale of 1 to impossible, how hard will the 3DS be to find during the first 3 months? I'm guessing damn near impossible unless nintendo pumps out insane shipments. I just hope it becomes easy to find faster than the wii.

Assuming Nintendo isn't going to go for world wide release, the only time when you would have supply problems would be when batch 1 comes out in Japan. By the time it comes out in the West the demand should stabilise.

I personally will not try to get the 3DS as soon as possible. Instead, I would be getting it when there is a game title I like. Sure, it might be out on release day, but it might not. A good RPG would be what I am after.

If I can resist the temptation, I might even watch for 3DS 2nd edition, as getting things from batch 1 can be buggy.

[mangatron]

Heh, buggy. Assuming they continue the firmware route, I doubt that Of course if you mean "buggy" as in hardware fault, like too big, then ok....

Originally Posted by wingman32x

I can't wait for the 3DS to come out. It's going to be hard to find for a while. Ok, on a scale of 1 to impossible, how hard will the 3DS be to find during the first 3 months? I'm guessing damn near impossible unless nintendo pumps out insane shipments. I just hope it becomes easy to find faster than the wii.

You know, it took me a good 6 months to finally get the DS when it first came out [in North America]. And that was hilarious. I learned from that lesson and imported a DS Lite for almost $300 during the Japanese launch. That price was because it was rare. Seeing as how my two experiences was specific to only one region, I would say this 3DS would be really really hard to find on launch [if it all happens again]. Especially if marketing is driven to the max, and exposure is high, we'll see even more pre-orders.

On a scale of 1 to impossible, I say it's somewhere far away from 1, that's for sure

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

Originally Posted by mangatron

Heh, buggy. Assuming they continue the firmware route, I doubt that Of course if you mean "buggy" as in hardware fault, like too big, then ok....

Hardware issues, mostly. I am expecting some problems in the 1st batch because they would be in a hurry to meet demand, so there would be a chance for construction issues bypassing quality control. This isn't a problem with Nintendo, but with all tech companies.

[mangatron]

Originally Posted by Vallen Chaos Valiant

Hardware issues, mostly. I am expecting some problems in the 1st batch because they would be in a hurry to meet demand, so there would be a chance for construction issues bypassing quality control. This isn't a problem with Nintendo, but with all tech companies.

But unlike most (if not all) tech companies, Nintendo has 1 FULL year to work on this (not counting work done prior to March 2010), as it was stated after E3 that this is not entirely the final design and that they are still working out the kinks and what not. AND they made multiple hardware demos for E3. In comparison:

-The original DS had a major shell change in only 6 months. (E3 to launch)
-Apple had presumably 1 year from iPhone 3GS to iPhone 4, with the 3 month drama of the "Engineer", most phones still suffer from the "End Call Grip".
-There was about in total an 8 month rumor span, officially almost 6 month public knowledge of the HTC LEO aka HD2, shortly after launch it had the Pink Dot of Death, which was easily fixed via software patch.

I'm a little brain drained right now, so that's from recent memory. In short, Nintendo has more time available than most companies simply because they have been working on this a lot longer than what the DS went through during E32004 to Launch Day November 2004. I think the odds are in favor of Nintendo this time around. There is just no excuse.

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

Originally Posted by mangatron

But unlike most (if not all) tech companies, Nintendo has 1 FULL year to work on this (not counting work done prior to March 2010), as it was stated after E3 that this is not entirely the final design and that they are still working out the kinks and what not. AND they made multiple hardware demos for E3. In comparison:

-The original DS had a major shell change in only 6 months. (E3 to launch)
-Apple had presumably 1 year from iPhone 3GS to iPhone 4, with the 3 month drama of the "Engineer", most phones still suffer from the "End Call Grip".
-There was about in total an 8 month rumor span, officially almost 6 month public knowledge of the HTC LEO aka HD2, shortly after launch it had the Pink Dot of Death, which was easily fixed via software patch.

I'm a little brain drained right now, so that's from recent memory. In short, Nintendo has more time available than most companies simply because they have been working on this a lot longer than what the DS went through during E32004 to Launch Day November 2004. I think the odds are in favor of Nintendo this time around. There is just no excuse.

No 1st batch hardware survives contact with customers.

No matter how much time they spent on it, the real test is always mass-production and use by consumers. All the real problems will be revealed then, and not before. You can't "test" mass-production.

[mangatron]

Originally Posted by Vallen Chaos Valiant

No 1st batch hardware survives contact with customers.

No matter how much time they spent on it, the real test is always mass-production and use by consumers. All the real problems will be revealed then, and not before. You can't "test" mass-production.

....

Let me give you the perfect example between Nintendo and Apple (MY personal experiences of what I brought with me in my travels. Real world use).

Spoiler for Nintendo products:

NINTENDO:
--Gameboy Advance (1st production version [that Indigo Purple thing])
The very first version of the Gameboy Advance, it survived the worst one can do to it: AFTERBURNED. Still playable since it cannot die internally from lithium batteries (which don't exist inside in the first place).
Winner: Nintendo
--Gameboy Advance SP (1st production version )
No matter how many times I dropped it, it didn't even crack. An L button that saw death was easily worked around. In short, the system can still play games
Winner: Nintendo
--Nintendo DS (1st production version Grey/Black fat thing)
The very first DS that included the Metroid Demo and the rare thumb styli, this one survived my brutalyzing mod, it even survived my self inflicted blown fuse and it still plays to this day. My most important purchase yet.
Winner: Nintendo

While I'd like to include my Japanese DS Lite (which still works including the awesome scratchless screen protector), in short, my experiences of late with Nintendo handhelds, no matter what I did, they still work. Let's look at my Apple experiences:

Spoiler for Apple products:

--iPod Shuffle 1GB 1st Gen
When I first got it, it was fine. iTunes in all it's earlyness synced songs fine in the pathetic manner the Shuffle allowed it to go. It wasn't Apple's fault the Shuffle was too simple... until iTunes kept getting updated and updated, to the point where my Shuffle took a dump and in order to reset it I have to have an active internet connection (wasn't possible at the time). I currently use Winamp to flawlessly mess around with it.
Loser: Apple and their required iTunes update.
--iPod Video 30GB (I believe 5th Gen)
I know what my Shuffle was capable of, but I got the Video to do one thing: play video. When I'm out there. It could do it all right, except to my horror I had to use specific video encoding settings requiring me to re-encode all my videos. To add insult to injury, out of the box the iPod had no brightness setting, it was constantly on Eye Cancer Sunlight mode until a later update enabled brightness settings, but making battery life worse. I gave it away before the battery died out completely (in only 2 years of use the battery became 70% efficient) I don't even want to mention it included NO AC CHARGER in box.
Loser: Apple
--iPhone 8GB (3G or 3GS, damn phone won't tell me)
Given to me to play around with until the eventual iPhone 4 arrives, I had a horror show awaiting me. I didn't have iTunes installed, so downloading it (94MB>__>) and installing it (about 400MB of space >__<) was a file extension nightmare. Quicktime took all my video extension associations (which I had customized to WM and MP Classic), whenever I plug in the iPhone Photoshop mysteriously opens up as well as iTunes with the overall procedure taking up 89% of my system resources (736MB). But that wasn't funny, right? When setting up the iPhone it was void of music and video, probably about 1 or 2 contacts, no apps, 1 Voice Memo and 2 Notes, and I told it to sync an empty playlist, no apps, no contacts, nothing. "syncing untitled playlist" it said for more than 3 minutes before I Slid to Cancel and when it canceled, it resync'ed again... and I see the Memos. What a first experience.
Loser: Screw you Apple for including Quicktime in the iTunes package. Give me back my damn associations (yes I know how to change them and yes I didn't have that atrocious QT installed earlier)

In short, I did the simple, no funky junky process of using Apple products, and it doesn't like my methods. I didn't even make a damn call yet on the iPhone!

I like Nintendo's odds as to the survivability of 1 production run handhelds. Why should the 3GS be any different

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

Don't get me wrong, I know Nintendo has a good track record with their handhelds. Nintendinum exists as a word for a reason. But I am just not a "First Adopter".

[mangatron]

Ah I see. It's cool.

Oh, one of the things I think they said they are working on is battery life. You can bet the 2nd adopters and later will get the bigger capacity-same-size battery than the 1st adopter

Although, I still don't understand the drop the DSi had from the DS Lite. Hope the 3DS doesn't end up like that.

[CrowKenobi]

Originally Posted by mangatron

Although, I still don't understand the drop the DSi had from the DS Lite. Hope the 3DS doesn't end up like that.

If you're talking sales drop, wouldn't that be the loss of the GBA slot?