3DS XL announced

[UsualNoise]

Due out 8/19 for $199.

I will probably go for this and give my current 3DS to my daughter ... assuming I can find a decent deal for something less than the MSRP. Kind of surprising that they didn't include the second circle pad on the XL given its already larger footprint.

[Jincman]

I'm excited.

I have to say ... the Nintendo Direct was really well done. Lots of good info.

... and eShop sales? wow ... who know that would ever happen?

Jay

[reaper]

Wow... they made it... bigger. With slightly more battery life and no extra circle pad. Amazing!

When I first read an article on Joystiq about it, they wrote it poorly and seemed to be indicating it would ship with 2 games! At that point I was slightly interested. Once they rewrote the article to indicate it shipped with no games and not even a power supply...

Waa waaaa

[dschroll]

I'm mixed about this one. I think its another poor decision to not take the opportunity to put a second analog stick on this. Clearly, the Circle Pad Pro was an admission that their hardware is lacking for some types of games. So, why not correct that with the next revision? Speaking of which, are they making a larger Circle Pad Pro to go with the new XL? Seems doubtful since the XL is so much bigger and the Circle Pad Pro makes the handheld even bulkier.

The screen size is definitely nice. Huge upgrade. Glad to see that, for both the top and bottom screens. The price is also right. $199 is what the original 3DS should've been at launch. So, having the XL be $199 now is definitely a good move on their part. But that begs the question, what about the current 3DS price? At this point, you're looking at a $30 difference between the 3DS and the XL. Who wouldn't spend the $30 more to get a 90% bigger screen? So, I'm thinking Nintendo is gonna drop the price of the 3DS to $149.

Finally, what's up the with XL colors for the US? Bright Red or Blue? Again, another poor decision by Nintendo. Both colors generally appeal to younger demographics. Why not release the all white one here like they are in Japan? Or a black one? These are colors most adult gamers tend to gravitate towards. The XL feels like its targeting older gamers with its larger screens and such, but then they brand it with colors appealing to younger gamers.

Overall, the screens are very VERY tempting, but I'm gonna attempt to hold out on getting one as I want to wait for a different color and to also see what they do with regards to a circle pad pro for the XL.

[fatty]

Looks like the AC Adapter will be included for NA. Is the AC adapter there just so you don't have to lug around the dock?

I really wanted the white one, disappointed to see only the red/black and blue/black being offered in NA. Heck, even the silver/black is better. But red/black is OK and still not enough to stop me from finally getting on the 3DS bandwagon because I really like the design of this thing.

Second circle pad is also disappointing, but Nintendo seems like they are making the decision that they really don't intend to make games that support it. It seems like they provided it to appease 3rd parties and after taking a look at it how it was doing decided it wasn't a good idea to add it to the XL and confuse the 'general' consumer over the models. That's the only reason I can think of at least.

Only reason I might not get one on day one is if Nebraska Furniture Mart doesn't offer a good deal (like free $20 gift card) and then I might wait til Christmas to see if there is another color announced.

[reaper]

Maybe it is targeted towards adult women?

[dschroll]

Here's a good article from 1up:
www.1up.com/news/3ds-xl-avoids-rocking-boat

Nintendo releasing a 3DS hardware revision was an inevitability; it was only a matter of how long the company would wait before doing so. When no announcement was made at E3, it looked as if we would be waiting at least a few more months, until perhaps the Tokyo Game Show in September, before plans for one would be revealed. Instead, giving us little notice once again, the company broadcasted yet another Nintendo Direct event last night, and along with an announcement regarding Namco Bandai's involvement in the development of the next Super Smash Bros., Nintendo unveiled the 3DS XL.

Much like the DSi XL, the 3DS XL is essentially the exact same piece of hardware as the existing model, only with significantly larger screens and a $200 price tag. More specifically, it has screens 90 percent larger than those found in the standard 3DS, measuring in at 4.88 inches on top and 4.18 inches on the bottom (compared with 3.53 inches and 3.02 inches, respectively, for the regular 3DS). As an added perk, the battery life is also improved, which is a welcome development considering that is one of the 3DS' most glaring weak points.

The most noticeable distinction between the 3DS XL and DSi XL is the timing of their releases. The DSi XL was announced five years after the DS made its debut and was positioned as a spectator handheld. The 3DS XL has now been announced just a few months after the one-year anniversary of the 3DS' release. To be fair, the DSi XL was not the first revision of the DS; the DS Lite was announced just over a year after the DS' release and came out several months later, making the timetable not drastically dissimilar from that of the 3DS XL. What's worth nothing, though, is the fact that the DS Lite addressed some serious flaws with the DS: It had brighter screens, weighed less, was thinner, and didn't look unrelentingly ugly. In short, it took care of many of the complaints leveled at the DS. While you could argue the improved battery is one 3DS flaw being resolved by the XL, the new system otherwise does nothing to improve the 3DS.

That is not to say the 3DS XL lacks appeal; I find myself wanting one despite my 3DS rarely being picked up. The increased size of the XL makes it much less portable-friendly than its predecessor, which seems strange as Nintendo has, with features like StreetPass, positioned the 3DS as a system you'll want to bring everywhere you go. I wonder if Nintendo has found gamers are increasingly using their portable game systems at home (where portability is less critical), something I know I know is the case of me. My iPhone comes with me anytime I go out and is more than sufficient for those occasions when I want to play a game on the go. My 3DS and Vita are systems I most often play at home, and as such, the XL potentially being too big for my pockets is not an issue. And although the top screen still may not look as good, at least it is no longer dwarfed by the Vita's 5-inch screen.

I had expected the eventual release of a 3DS revision to bug me as an early adopter of the 3DS. I bought one on launch day and between the poor software lineup -- Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars was the only original title I cared much for until this past November -- and the price cut just five months after launch, I couldn't help but regret my purchase. So whenever Nintendo decided to come along with a hardware refresh of some sort -- something it has done with every one of its previous handheld systems -- it seemed like I would regret my purchase even more. And although I would prefer to have an XL, I find it difficult to be angry with this announcement because the system I have has not been rendered outdated or obsolete. By not introducing improved specs or a second circle pad as the standard, the system I have can play all of the same games as an XL -- and in fact, it can potentially play them better as I have the option of picking up a Circle Pad Pro which, unless a new one is released, will not be compatible with the XL.

By not including a second circle pad in this revision, Nintendo has all but confirmed it has little interest in supporting the Circle Pad Pro. The fashion in which it was released in the United States -- it's a GameStop exclusive -- suggested as much, and passing up this opportunity to make it a standard feature going forward makes it abundantly clear that Nintendo plans to keep the 3DS a one-stick system. Whether or not that's a wise move is a subject that remains to be seen. It's not as if a second stick would bring with it a big-budget Call of Duty game that would provide the system with a major sales boost, though it would undeniably benefit certain kinds of games.

If Nintendo's goal with the XL was to provide an alternative style of 3DS that does not rock the boat and anger existing 3DS owners, it has succeeded. If it was hoping to come out with a new piece of hardware that would have a significant impact on sales, I don't think this is it -- larger screens and a bigger battery are nice, but I'm not sure those were the hold-ups for many people. The kind of hardware changes it would take to get those people interested in buying a 3DS (like improved specs) were not the sort that should have been made at this point in time. A second circle pad may have been on many prospective buyers' wishlists, but that alone would be unlikely to sell systems as it's only appealing if developers take advantage of it. And there's a good chance it would not be used extensively because only a portion of the 3DS userbase would have access to two circle pads, and developers don't want to limit the number of people their game can be sold to anymore than is necessary.

Considering the modest changes, I don't think Nintendo is expecting 3DS sales to jump tremendously with the launch of the XL this summer (July 28 in Japan and Europe; August 19 in North America). It looks to be a nice improvement for those willing to sacrifice portability and is a way to squeeze an extra $30 out of buyers. Now, if only Nintendo provided 3DS users with an account system to make transferring their purchases from one system to another easier, I'd be a lot more inclined to buy one.

[dschroll]

Looks like the 3DS XL will be getting a Circle Pad Pro, according to IGN:

The latest issue of Famitsu has just hit Japan, and the magazine confirms Nintendo intends to ship the specialized cradle for the XL, which adds a second slider as well as two additional shoulder buttons. Currently there are no images of the new device. No specific release date is provided, though Famitsu, translated by Andriasang, mentions the peripheral will arrive in Japan in 2012. The device will still work with Kid Icarus Uprising's stand.

Famitsu also confirmed that consumers will be able to transfer their applications, save data and more from a standard 3DS to an XL, just like they're able to shift their content between 3DS systems currently.

[dschroll]

I'll most likely be getting an XL now that I know the CPP will be coming out for it. Just want to wait for a good color to come out and also read the reviews of the XL. So far early reviews seem to be pretty positive overall saying the big screen offers a better 3D effect and wider sweet spot.

[reaper]

I'll go play with one in best buy and see if I am hooked

[dschroll]

LOL....its getting to the point that they just should've made dual screen version of the Wii U gamepad and called it the 3DS XL

[reaper]

That would have been a win

[dschroll]

Engadget Review:

"After playing with the 3DS XL, we returned to the original only to find it difficult and awkward to use in comparison. The new size is an improvement in so many ways, including ergonomics and playability. The bigger screen makes 3D gaming less tiring, and offers a larger sweet spot for Nintendo's all-important gaming effect, while the curved edges simply fit your hands better. Competition remains tough, however. The Vita remains clearly ahead technically, while Nintendo banks on its strong in-house software team to bring in the customers. Pitch Resident Evil: Revelations against Uncharted, or Super Street Fighter IV 3D against Marvel Vs. Capcom 3, and it's clear to see on those big ole' portable screens which has the most potent hardware. But if you've been waiting out for a 3DS Lite before taking the plunge into 3D waters, then we can't help but recommend Nintendo's latest. We just hope the company can give its online content offering a shot in the arm soon, as it's really starting to age the hardware."

[UsualNoise]

Nice, it helps confirm my decision to upgrade. After playing through Mario 3D Land all the way through over the last two weeks, I can really see how the bigger screen will make the sweet spot much easier to maintain. I've also been playing virtual console (Donkey Kong, which is the original precursor to Mario vs. Donkey Kong) and other downloadable stuff and really enjoy the automatic save / resume. They are definitely heading in the right direction with their online shop, hopefully it can keep improving. And getting cheaper, although I'm not holding my breath on that one (why would I re-buy Legend of Zelda for $5 when I own it on countless other places? Give me a $1 download as a previous customer - perhaps if you own it on Wii ... or even SHARE the purchase between the two a la PS3 & Vita.) Again, not holding my breath for Nintendo to do the right thing.

[dschroll]

Completely agree UsualNoise. That's one of my biggest beefs with buying stuff on the Wii VC. Why would I buy it on there if that's the only place I can play that game? Especially when clearly the 3DS is capable of properly playing old NES games. They should definitely provide a transfer feature where I can play it on one device or another, as long as they know I own the game. And the key to knowing that I own it? My club Nintendo account of course, which is linked to both my Wii and 3DS. When I make a purchase on either platform, Club Nintendo immediately knows I bought that game. So, why wouldn't they just then allow me to choose the platform I want to enjoy that game on? Yes, you can make a case that because the 3DS and Wii are different platforms, an emulator had to be tailored to each platform, hence they charge for it twice. But, I think if Nintendo could make it such that you could buy an eshop or VC title and play it on multiple platforms, then they would see a lot more digital business come their way as they would now be providing an actual ecosystem for people to enjoy.

[dschroll]

When Iwata was asked about why no second analog pad on the XL, here's what he said:

"Attaching a second analogue stick is possible but it would have made the system even bigger," Iwata said. "It perhaps puts a burden on people that really want that second stick, [but] it’s a call we had to make and these people will have to live with it. "

"When we looked at the design of the 3DS XL we had to look at various factors," Iwata said, explaining the XL's design further. "One was battery life, one was the overall size of the unit, and we had to make some trade-offs. The choice, if we were going to include the second analogue stick, was to reduce the size of the battery or make the unit much bigger. "

[dschroll]

Ahh crap. That's it, I'm getting a 3DS XL. Even the blue system doesn't look as gaudy as I thought it would. Seems like its a solid piece of hardware overall and the screens really do make it much better to play.

www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9111491

Speaking as a total mark for handheld systems, this thing hits almost every single note just right. The initial announcement of the XL met quite a bit of cynicism due to its lack of a second analog stick -- and quite reasonably so given the existence of an accessory for the standard 3DS that adds precisely that -- but I think the sting of that weird oversight has been mitigated by news that Nintendo will be creating a Circle Pad Pro XL. Not the ideal solution, but a solution nevertheless.

And, having held the XL and played a fair amount of Super Mario 3D Land and Castlevania: Mirror of Fate, I can't find it in my heart to hate the system. As I said, it's almost exactly everything I could ask for.

Of course, in essence it's a 3DS exploded into a larger format. But Nintendo didn't simply increase the system's proportions and call it a day; the XL features a number of minor tweaks that make it far more usable.

The first improvement Marty remarked on is the way the corners of the system have been rounded off. The standard 3DS tends to cut into your palms as you play, which can become uncomfortable for lengthy sessions. The XL fits your hands far more comfortably regardless of the size of your mitts, simply because the corners don't jut out sharply.



The system has a good look, too. The two-tone colored finished has a nice luster, but the finish is more matte and doesn't pick up the fingerprints that immediately coat the base model 3DS. The front edges taper into a rounded bevel, a lot like Apple's current MacBook Pro line. A Nintendo product that resembles an Apple device? Fancy that.

Despite the increased size of the system, it feels well-balanced and doesn't sit awkwardly in the hands. It's very slightly thinner than the base 3DS, which means it creates the perception of being much thinner thanks to the different proportions.



An even greater difference in proportions becomes obvious when you open the system. As you can see from this comparison shot with my trusty ol' Aqua Blue 3DS, despite being only moderately wider than the previous system the screens are almost twice as large. Proportionately, the screens occupy far more of the real estate; in fact, the top screen is nearly as large as the upper half of the standard 3DS.

This means everything looks great on the XL. (Folks with a severe allergy to aliased edges will shudder at the visuals, but those people don't like the 3DS to begin with.) I didn't notice a difference in color temperature, and the 3D effect works really well despite the change in size (and thus the screen's relative position to the viewer's eyes).



What really sells me on the XL is how much Nintendo has improved its build quality. The slightly loose feel of the 3DS is absent here, and lots of minor tweaks really make the system more usable. The stylus, for example, has been moved to the system's right side -- no more fumbling behind the open screen and accidentally popping out the cartridge while trying to grab the sylus. The system buttons are now buttons, not membranes. And perhaps the best change of all: The 3D slider now has a small notch immediately above its off position that demands a small amount of extra force to turn the 3D on or off. We're not talking a major amount of effort, but it should prevent the effect from being activated or deactivated by mistake.

There are still a few unknowns about the XL; we haven't seen a standard DS game running on it, so there's no way to know if it improves its predecessor's famously terrible DS upscaling. And while existing 3DS owners will be able to transfer games, Street Pass, and other data from their old handheld to the XL, Nintendo has indicated a few (unknown) elements won't transfer over. Despite these minor concerns -- and the lack of a second stick, of course! -- we're impressed by the XL. You could argue that the XL is coming about a year and a half later than it should have, but we're happy to have it, late or not.

[UsualNoise]

Thanks for that. I too am looking forward to the upgrade, it sounds like everything that I didn't like about the current 3DS (stylus placement, weird start / select / home buttons, horrible fingerprint magnet) is going to be better on the XL. I'm all in baby!

[Jincman]

I'm getting on board the upgrade as well.

I'm going to sell my Dsi XL before launch and then after I transfer games ... I'll sell my 3DS. Hoping with all that ... it will only cost me less then a 100.

Looking forward to it!

[oldskoolboarder]

NSMB2 for 3DS in the US isn't downloadable, is it?

www.engadget.com/2012/07/20/nintendo-3ds-downloadable-games-release-date/