Nintendo has announced new versions of its handheld gaming consoles, the 3DS and the 3DS XL, which will be available this October 11 in Japan. The new versions feature a number of improvements over the current versions of the handheld gaming consoles, but manage to keep the pricing about the same as the current consoles.
The handheld is slightly larger, in both its regular and XL configurations (called the LL version in Japan), and comes with some hardware improvements, including a faster processor, new buttons, and an improved 3D effect on the screen. The old SNES colour scheme has been adopted for the four face buttons, which are joined by a small ‘c-stick’, a nub-like analog controller reminiscent of the Gamecube’s. On the back of the device are two new triggers, ZL and ZR, which are accommodated by the cartridge slot shifting to the bottom of the lower screen. A built-in NFC (near field communications) chip is included as well, a feature that is already found in the Wii U’s gamepad controller.
The changes to the hardware have clearly been made in order to make new software possible. The extra analog controller is crucial to the gameplay of one of Japan’s leading games, Monster Hunter. Nintendo has shipped an add-on second controller for the existing 3DS in order to play Monster Hunter, but it’s a clunky solution at best. Building that in will enable not just Monster Hunter but potentially a number of other games. Similarly, the additional should buttons will provide more controls for game designers and make ports of other games easier. The addition of NFC is hugely important because Nintendo is about to launch its Amiibo line of figures, which will require NFC. These figures will be similar to Activision’s Skylanders series, which has resulted in over $2 billion in retail sales for Activision – something Nintendo would certainly like to see, and building this into the 3DS line will make it more likely.
More controversially, the CPU in the 3DS has been updated, and Nintendo has already announced a new Xenoblade Chronicles game which cannot be played on older 3DS devices. More games in the future may well require this additional processing power.
Sadly, these new 3DS models will not be making their way to Europe or North America until sometime in 2015. Oddly, the only name they have been given is “New;” the New 3DS and the New 3DS LL are the official names in Japan. Confused We still don’t know if these will replace the current models, or if they will continue to be sold at a lower price point. Perhaps Nintendo will clarify these issues before the new handhelds are up for sale elsewhere in the world.
Source: GamesIndustry.biz
