3DS is Possibly One of the Most Poorly Designed Nintendo Platforms - News
by VGChartz Staff , posted on 08 September 2011 / 13,459 Views
Nintendo does a lot of things right and a lot of things wrong. Unlike many companies, when they do things right, they do them not only effectively but uniquely. But when they do something wrong, things go horribly wrong. In the past, thankfully, Nintendo has had a pretty good track record in terms of hardware. All their platforms had their faults but felt overall well designed. While many ignore it today, the original Gameboy Advanced is possibly one of the comfiest portables to ever grace my hands. Even the original Nintendo DS, while a bit bulky and ugly, worked well and is still viable for those DS owners who didn’t rush out to buy every DS redesign. Nintendo’s most recent handheld, unfortunately doesn’t seem to fare as well.
From afar, the Nintendo 3DS looks like a fairly attractive platform. Even with its dated clamshell design, the platform has a very sleek look to it with gloss finish, multiple layers to the system and even a sleek battery cover that covers the entire backside of the system, getting rid of any sort of stand-out removable casing. It just looks like a nice solid piece of hardware. Unfortunately, that’s something that may be lost soon. The 3DS Circle Pad add-on accessory looks, uh…sexy? While we haven’t gotten our hands on it yet, it could almost be mistaken for a SEGA Game Gear based off the images we've seen.
Not only is it an ugly piece of hardware, it also looks quite functionally inconvenient. The Circle Pad is placed awkwardly to the right of the 3DS’ face buttons and looks like it makes the 3DS significantly thicker and reduces portability. The extra and uneven bulk even makes the center of play shift to the left, that may require players to adjust from how they hold the handheld in a position suitable for 3D gameplay. Not only that, but reports out of Kotaku claim the cradle blocks the game cartridge slot and even the wireless switch, an essential option given how precious battery-life is when using the Nintendo 3DS. And, while it is hard to say without hands-on time, the Circle Pad jutting out looks like it may make reaching the face buttons and touchscreen a bit inconvenient. After seeing all these issues that the 3DS' new cradle seems to add onto the system, it made me realize just how much was wrong with the 3DS' design from the start.
The current 3DS' awful battery-life can't seem to go more than a day without needing to be charged, which has caused me many Street Pass frustration. In the button layout itself, the d-pad is a bit awkwardly placed and can even become painful to use especially in combination with the L button. A problem that's easy to overlook is the fact that the bottom screen attacks the top screen. When the system is closed, the screens just barely connect, which usually just cause smudges, but can elevate to permanent vertical scratches on the system's top screen. And, a personal gripe of mine is the lack of notches in the analog slider, something Nintendo has provided in its analog controllers since the Nintendo 64. While the slider is smooth, it can be difficult to be precise in the direction you want to push it without the notches.
On the bright side, the Nintendo 3DS at least doesn't require you to attach it to your face, unlike Nintendo's other 3D handheld from years past. The 3DS isn't a foul system, but given Nintendo's track record it's a shame to see a number of issues that may be multiplied from Nintendo's attempt to fix the lack of a second Circle Pad. Hopefully these are all issues that can be fixed in a redesign and we can let all these bad memories float away. Despite how good it may look, the original 3DS might become one of their least memorable handhelds. Or maybe it will be one of the most memorable, but for all the wrong reasons.
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This is the most hit-grabbing article I've seen from this website in a while. WTF is going on with you people?
-This is a Nintendo-Capcom co-developed peripheral. While it is pretty horrible, nothing implies that it will be mandatory for games other than MHTri 3DS (is it mandotry for that, even? I think it is...) or trigger a whole redesign with two analog nubs, in a big "FU" sign to early adopters. Wait until TGS or Ninty's 3DS conference, then report accurately.
-The article straight up bashes the system. Forget the fact that the PSP has just about the same battery life if you're playing a UMD, right? After that, you mention VB for some reason... dude. wtf?
Cheers for the balls to post this though.
Yeah of course, he's not praising 3DS, so it is a bad article to you instantly of course, am I right? So let me tell you one thing, get out of your high horse and f*cking see that console is crap and a bad commercial move from Nintendo.
It isn't mandatory for Monster Hunter. You can play it without it. It's just if you want to play it with Wii controls.
this is a really poor article, it is based on personal opinion instead of numbers, surveys or maybe someone who actually knows something about gaming design. The circe pad add on is HORRIBLE, agreed, but still 3ds is a really nice portable device with a great library of games just around the corner. hope next article actually informs something with objectiveness and the right criteria for critizism
I'm not defending this garbage, but you should know that this is an Editorial not an Article. It is supposed to have opinion...even if its a bad one.
This article should be removed for trolling, seriously is there a report button for articles?Because there should be from now on.
This website has pumped out way too much terrible articles for it to be a legitimate source for gaming news,
You are not writing your personal blog. This article is totally needless, unnecessary at the moment and misleading, sorry.
3DS is the most beautiful looking handheld that I've ever seen
Nice and glossy, this article can pack up.
VGChartz writter 1 : The number of views as been down today.
VGChartz writter 2: What can we do to increase the number of views in an article ?
VGChartz writter 1 : Wait, i know. Why don't we bash on nintendo and sony consoles. Then, all fanboys will be mad and rushing to the page.
VGChartz writter 2: That's brilliant!
That's how i see this website from at least the past few months. IGN 2 would nicely fit as a name for this website. It's ridiculous how VGChartz are making editorials all the time whining about minor things or stating ridiculous opinions. We don't want opinions. We want news. If we want opinion, we'll read the comments section.
Journalism is supossed to be objective. Opinions aren't...
The problem is it works. Look at how many views and replies it's getting.
The 3DS is a magnificent platform that shows a lot of promise, its only major flaw in terms of actual hardware is its poor battery life, though as long as you charge regularly this really isn't much of a problem. The number one reason the 3DS isn't selling particularly brilliantly is the lack of games, once that is rectified the sales will go up, especially when the next main series Pokemon game is released.
People need to stop trying to find problems with the hardware to explain its poor commercial performance and just realise that it is primarily the software to blame.
Have you even handled a 3DS?
I knew it would be awful based on the title. Thee articledid not disappoint in the least. I may quit visiting this website if this garbage continues.
3ds looks great! nothing wrong with it. See you wanted attention VGchartz.
it's unfair to judge the peripheral before you actually played with it.
...and another terrible article signed Benjamin Yoder.
Well that peripheral does like a piece of crap.
Yes it does, but I don't even believe it's true. That picture is clearly not real, and it's just suggesting it as a possibility. Something that may or may not even happen. It's pretty stupid that everyone's running around screaming "CONFIRMED! CONFIRMED! CONFIRMED!" When:
- The picture is fake. (Don't believe me? Look at both analog pads!)
- Nintendo has said NOTHING about it.
- It does not look like something Nintendo would make.
-
There is a press conference coming up in 5 days which will confirm whether or not it is real!
It's just a cheap potshot for Sony fanboys to take, I.E. "LOL THE NEW NINTENDO THING LOOKS STUPID! LOLOLOL! XD" When even if it IS real, nobody can identify a problem with it. Not even aesthetics, because what we've seen is a photoshopped picture! Let alone how well it even performs.
All I know based off of this article is that Benjamin Yoder's articles will not be read by me from now on.
Benjamin Yoder? Yeah, the moment I saw the title I knew it would be a post from you. There's a fact-spinning job waiting for you at Fox News.
does this dude get paid? if so why do idiots get payed and not people who actually know what they are talking about?
the comments on the top lid getting scratched, the battery life and the addon are indeed valid concerns but the article is written in a pretty aggressive way though
I was just thining exactly the opposite about the 3Ds!!
I cannot think of any ''better than 3Ds looking'' console
Yeah nobody really cares if you're a Sony fanboy dude.
[i]-mod edit-
This post has been moderated[/i]
Are they letting middle school students write their articles now? Benjamin, you might want to plan on being a lifer at your local fast food restaurant as this article proves that you wont make it in journalism..
Truth hurts, doesn't it?
Another terrible article from our pal ben
hahaha can you guys really expect quality articles from the writer lol.. every post is nintendos is teh doomz !
i think some VGCHARTZ AUTHORS are the worse trolls that should get a BAN! <-----------Go twitter your ass. Unprofessional article.
"d-pad is a bit awkwardly placed and can even become painful to use especially in combination with the L button"
that had to be the dumbest complaint ive ever seen, do you want to insult almost every controller nowadays as well?
"And, a personal gripe of mine is the lack of notches in the analog slider, something Nintendo has provided in its analog controllers since the Nintendo 64. While the slider is smooth, it can be difficult to be precise in the direction you want to push it without the notches."
yeah, and make it even more bulkier, which is something you said you complained about lol
"Even with its dated clamshell design"
um what? what a stupid opinion you got there
Just wait for the redesign. It happened with EVERY Nintendo handheld.
Suckers early adopt. True consumers wait for the improved produuct the next year.
Its called will power people. Wait a year or two and by the time the redesign comes out youll have the latest tech with 2 years worth of games to choose from.
Actually, if there aren't any early adopters, I don't think we will ever see a redesign and 2 years worth of games to choose. The thing they will do is just scrap that product and make a new product again......
Tip for next time guys! come here for the numbers! and not for the whiny articles especially from Benjamin Yoder..
These editorials are starting to get on my nerves. Where is the real journalism. I remember a few years ago when VGChartz would actually report some fresh stories. Sure they rarely got exclusives but they were among the first to report some stuff. Now rather then doing real journalism and finding new stories conducting interviews and reporting on products their is editorial after editorial.
Theirs a place for personal opinions on products (A review), judging a product that hasn't even been officially unveiled a product you haven't gotten your hands on. Seems a little rash to me.
Honestly where is the news? Look at the N4G partnership for example. Its all Sony fanboy crap, Sony and Call Of Duty and BattleField 3 are almost the only things that get covered. For every legit story their is about 5 Sony fanboy, COD fanboy and BF3 fanboy articles.
VGChartz is great at releasing numbers , they used to be good at reporting some news relatively on time. But right now all these editorial's and this crappy partnership with N4G is ruining the site. Not to mention cheap shots by Runa at the non-atheist users of VGChartz.
What is happening to this site?
BENJAMIN YODER!!! Are you done crying?
Nintendo was stupid in the head for not adding dual analog to begin. This add-on will only scare potential buyers since an inevitable redesign will be coming and piss off current 3DS owners when that happens. Nothing more, nothing less. Crying about little details to jump the hate bandwagon is sad.
OMG can we just call this a IGN article?
It's easy to judge a book solely on its cover isn't it? I'll have my opinion ready when it's released and I've played with it.
This site needs to hire some older objective writers with more experience with the gaming industry as a whole.. VGCharts seems to have too many young writers who write articles on bias of what they grew up with or dont/do like too often..
While the 3DS has some minor issues, its a quality handheld and Im sure its sales in years to come will reflect this..
It's only for Monster Hunter Tri-G lol, nonsense all the way...i see.
I dont reckon adding peripherals at this stage is the right thing to do. As some of the other comments state, they should redesign the 3DS to include the 2nd nub and release it next year as a new 3DS version. The fact that they are designing a peripheral draws negative attention to the fact that the console has a problem that needs fixing (whether real or not).
The 3DS system is much like the DS system. As for the add-on: it looks weird and useless. It doesn't look like something that's going to be used in very many games.
If this handheld is the most poorly designed Nintendo platform, then Nintendo is really a superb company. Because even their most poorly designed one is turn out to be this good.....
I don't like ugly looking of the 3DS circle pad add-on too, and all its issue, but overall it is still a good system, at least for me personally.
I lol'd at the last line.
This made my head hurt... Just go buy a Vita if you're going to cry about the 3DS. Sad "artical".
"While the slider is smooth, it can be difficult to be precise in the direction you want to push it without the notches."
I know, right? I'm always pushing that thing up when I mean to go down. Directions are tough.
Another crap article on this site. Chris M. Arnone, Editor-in-Chief, do you screen these editorials or do you just push them out without looking at them?
Are there somebody who knows a good site for nintendo news.. a site that not let people do these "hatenews"
Nintendo World Report is pretty good IMO
I don' get it.. it looks almost exactly like the DS... does that mean the DS also was poorly designed??? wow not mad to sell 150 million copies of a badly designed console...
considering that the 3DS was rushed on the shelves unfinished im happy it turned out as well as it did
the 3Ds was origionally supposed to support 2 analog pads but they didnt have time to finish it (hence the addon)
I dont really care for the add on unless it becomes a requirement for games i really want
I think Nintendo should fall back on the camera and AR technology since the 3D has fallen
I do love the 3DS but i dont care so much for 3D
although you cant argue with how amazing Ocarena of time looked in 3D
I think they are wasting thier time with 3D classics though
i mean who really wants to play Excitebike in 3D
the 3DS is a great system though and i really think it will benifit from its new upcoming titles and i really hope to see a few more N64 remakes as the N64 probably had the ebst game line up ever
I've got Excitebike 3D!
I paid for it.
Pretty expensive too.
Why would you need two thumb sticks to play on a 3DS?
Most games that you need two thumb sticks for suck anyway.
Infact I haven't used two thumb sticks since the original XBox and Gamecube.
Exactly, the only genre you need two thumbsticks for is for first person shooters and I would only play an FPS on a home console/PC. OoT 3D doesnt need 2 thumbsticks, mario games dont need 2 thumbsticks, star fox 64 doesnt need 2 thumbsticks, pokemon doesnt need 2 thumbsticks, the list goes on.
i totally agree. it needs a redesign, not only physically but its UI also
It just goes to show you what happens when Nintendo dabbles with 3D again.
"Mom, why does it hurt every time I put my finger in a flame ? Well honey, the first time was just a learning experience. Now, it hurts because you're a dumb ass for doing it again. You see?"
I strongly disagree.
You must have loved my I'm Not Buying This 3D Thing thread.
I think if we're to be honest it must be said that not having 2 analog knobs right from the start was kinda a dumb decision. Still will be fixed with the first HW revision, and that will mean a whole lot of people will buy a replacement 3DS quite soon after having bought the first 3DS. Perhaps rather than being dumb it was actually rather cunning. If they vastly improve battery life of the first HW revision then it won't just be cunning but dastardly. Who's going to have a one knob, short battery life 3DS 6 months after the first HW revision comes out? Almost no one, especially if revisio9n 1 comes out in September. Excellent way to double your sales without actually increasing your install base.
But then a lot of their fans will be annoyed and feel cheated out of their money... unless they give them another bunch of games
Congratulations, you got a hit from me. Happy?
Plenty of games are coming out at the end of this year and next year some time. Ive already known a MH game is comin out, as well as mario and such. Hell I cant wait for Resident Evil. Cant wait for this Nintendo Conference and TGS so we can see better articles because these ones have been flooding this site for far too long.
Thank you for this article! You made my day!
The Virtual boy
Are they letting middle school students write their articles now? Benjamin, you might want to plan on being a lifer at your local fast food restaurant as this article proves that you wont make it in journalism..
I think Nintendo released the 3DS too early. Very little software was around when the 3DS released, it sold for $250, and the system only has a 4 hour battery life. However it's still a functional and well made system, that's not something I can say about an iPhone (so many breakdowns).
I will get mine when there is a re-deign, mainly due to the battery and touching screens. Nintendo can make some sexy systems, the DS lite, GBA SP, Gameboy Colour, etc. This just needs a redesign, and maybe some new colours.
For the DS, I have an original model, and I have no problems with design or functionality. I did however wait for the electric blue hand held, the silver one is ugly.
Also this article is weird. That cradle is ugly as hell, but the 3DS really isn't that bad. With a better battery, I would even say it's a great first gen system.
ROFL, good job with the article because you know the NDF will come running and defending the "brilliance" of Nintendo and how they could do nothing wrong while Iwata laughs his way to the bank. Jesus, admit it for once pathetic fans, Nintendo f.....ed up with the launch of the 3DS and design choice. Once you do that you can learn to accept the more amazing thing of it all: they are learning from that mistake, correcting it and perhaps bringing out something much better for it. All you guys seem to read is "Nintendo did this wrong" then react "OMFGWTFBBQ Nintendoz gettin pwnzzorz, so I must protect Iwata and his people who I worship" instead of seeing the bigger picture. They make mistakes, they go have a few meetings, address the problems, get some feedback and make the necessary adjustments. They win and then that trickles down to the fans that win afterwards.
This comment will be buried - but I don't care.
Fact of the matter is that Nintendo jacked this product up. Face it guys, it didn't meet its lofty expectations in the least, even with its price cut. Then when these people read anything negative about Nintendo - they go militant - and mask their fanboyish distaste for people with other opinions with a pulled-out-the-ass qualm they may or may not have.
You are all lying to yourselves if you think that the real reasons you're complaining as "article-grabbing" or "poor writing" and "lack of arguments". You could care less about these issues when the XBox or PS3 gets scorched by sensationalist titles/articles, but OH HELL NO, Nintendo! someone brought up something negative about Nintendo!
If you think it's so great, good for you. The writer doesn't - and despite all the weak and lame threats to leave this site, you're still here - bitching and pitching empty threats. I thought the article was fine.
So... chill guys. Have a good day folks, and look on getting those panties unbunched sooner than later..
guys you dont call something terrible written because you dont agree with it, actually its a well written article, even if i think hes full of shit.
who in their right mind would buy one of these things right now. They are changing and fixing things so often, it would be a bad decision to rush into the current model. They definitely made a mess of it and they say so themselves, so, sorry your favorite company is in limbo right now, but they are working to fix. maybe they will, maybe they won't.
they will or they will adapt to the flaw in the design
if the system wasnt rushed out and was completed like the origional design then they woudlnt be having this problem
personally i dont see much worong with it though
2 Analogs have never been a requirement for nintendo before and i dont think the 3ds missing one is a bad thing most titles that come out these days can be played with 1 analog stick and its not liekly we will be seeing games like MW3 coming to handhelds
I like the 3ds fine as it is and i cant wait to get my hands on all the big titles coming out in the next few months
and nintendo still havent brought out the big guns yet either
3DS is a very poor design, yes.
It always was.
The functionality has its merits, but people who owned two or more DSs might have a hard time seeing the relevance of the new additions gameplay-wise.
I'm pretty sure Nintendo will release a new version of 3DS next year.
geez, you nintendo readers are a sensitive bunch. it is what it is and they are just pointing it out. things are a bit off in nin-land.
Look people, I don't agree with him but he is entitled to his opinion. That is why it is called an opinion piece, or better yet an editorial. It's am article based on HIS opinion, not facts, that is what an editorial is.
That said, I am unfortunately surrounded by what makes up the majority of DS owners, and that is the blue ocean crowd, or the casual crowd if you will, and they have all complained about one or two of the issues the article mentions. I do not own a 3DS yet, I am waiting for the obvious redesign and consequent huge middle finger to a lot of the hardcore nintendo fanboys and fangirls.
And speaking about the big N's rabid fanboys and girls, you guys absolutely, automatically, and mindlessly shut down anything that bad said about Nintendo. I know I'm going to get down voted for saying this, but you people are the absolute worst as far as fanboys go. You guys are even worse than the PC fanboys that go into every thread, including the ones that have nothing to do with PC gaming, and type the most obvious thing that no one cares about "it will be better on the PC".
geez, you nintendo readers are a sensitive bunch. it is what it is and they are just pointing it out. things are a bit off in nin-land.
Every main Nintendo handheld as been gold with the exception of the Virtual Boy. So considering that, I don't think this article is that out of line. Actually, it's pretty accurate. The only reason it's getting hate is because like Apple fans, Nintendo fans are the most blinded of ALL the console fans. If they even SNIFF something negative about the big N, it's war.
Ah, so our friend Benjamin was just trying to be clever. "It's designed well, but it's one of the most poorly designed!' Sneaky sneaky! It's technically not a contradiction! You sure tricked us! Unfortunately, I think your optimistic perception of this situation is based more on what you WANT to be true, rather than what you THINK is true.
so its not surprising to see Ninteno fans retaliate when the system they support is constantly insulted and bashed dispite Nintendo being the sole reason that Gaming is as successful and populer today
if ps3 and xbox fans are allowed to defend thier system then you cannot bash nintendo fans for doing the same
(in 2 parts cause i accidently hit the add comment) >.<
I agree the 3DS is a poorly designed console.
Thats what you get when you rush a system and rely on a gimmick. Its all over for Nintendo.
as much as i love just having a controller and not having to rely on crappy motion control
I think that the current generation of kids just dont understand gaming and unfortunatly for Us they are what companys are focusing on right now
that its all over for ninteno remark though LOL
if you think that one bad launch for a handheld is going to cripple Nintendo then your an Idiot
Nintendo have been in far worse situations than this in the past and always come through
Nintendo rely on a large first party game community that brings in tons and tons of cash every year and they build thier consoles and handhelds themselfs using thier own developed technology
Nintendo are not stupid and they make mistakes just like everyone else
If Microsoft were able to save the 360 after its Horrific system problems when that launched then the 3DS will have no problem getting its feet grounded XD
