You know it's coming. Probably not this year, but I'd bet my bottom dollar that in 2013 we will see a newly designed 3DS hit the market. Given Nintendo's track record for releasing updated versions of the same hardware and given that they've already had to release an attachment in the form of the Circle Pad Pro which adds additional shoulder buttons and a second analog stick. These two things alone point to a redesign in the works. But, what should that redesign include? I know what I'd like to see and I've listed it here.

Make the 3DS thicker.
Not a lot thicker, no, just enough to accommodate an R2 and L2 button on the shoulders. Pretty simple.

A second analog stick.


Do not put it beside the face buttons! Put it under them. Increase the size of the 3DS just enough for this addition without making your fingers cramped.

No more sliders!
The sliders to adjust volume and 3D effect work alright but I'd rather see actual buttons with a digital number. Volume could be 0-100 in value while the 3D effect might be 0-10. Having an actual numerical value to associate with your preferred 3D setting would be a lot easier then having to adjust a slider until you "think" it's about where you had it before. I don't know about you folks but I turn my 3D on and off according to what game I'm playing and I hate having to readjust. Perhaps give the 3D effect a memory function that automatically goes back to the last setting it was on when you first press it.

Use Gorilla Glass.
It's a known fact. If you have a 3DS, you have a screen protector on at least the touch screen to keep it from getting scratched up. While this is all fine and good thanks to Hori screen protectors being so easy to install but it's still a pain in the ass because if one little spec gets under there then the whole thing is just ruined. Putting Gorilla Glass, an excellent scratch resistant glass used on iPhones, Android Phones, and other touch screen devices would eliminate the need for screen protectors unless you're the type that likes to really dig into your 3DS screen with that stylus.

Bigger battery.
Increasing the size of the 3DS, as I've mentioned above, should also allow Nintendo to put a little more battery power in there. This would be a nice thing to have, even if it only added an hour or so.

Keep the cradle.
The charging cradle is one of my favorite things about the 3DS. If I'm at home and I'm ready to take a break, I just plop my 3DS in the cradle and it's good to go. It would, of course, be enlarged to fit this newly designed 3DS.

The bottom screen bezel should not touch the top screen!


I have little rubber feet on my top screen in order to keep it from resting on the bottom screen's bezel, potentially causing scratches on the upper screen. What kind of design choice was this? Other than a poor one. Fix it by reducing the size of the bezel or putting more space between the halves when the 3DS is closed.

So? What do you think? Would you add anything else on the hardware side to a redesigned 3DS?

2012 is going to be a great year for those of us that have a 3DS. The list of quality titles coming out this year is quite impressive. Resident Evil: Revelations, Tales of the Abyss, TEKKEN 3D Prime Edition, Metal Gear Solid 3D Snake Eater, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure, Heroes of Ruin, Animal Crossing, Paper Mario, Luigi's Mansion 2, and KINGDOM HEARTS 3D Dream Drop Distance. Although the last four on that list do not yet have firm release dates they are believed to be releasing this year. My guess is that the announcement will come at this year's E3. One look at that list should have every 3DS owner drooling and those that don't yet have a 3DS seriously considering a purchase. So, what I have here is my 3DS wish-list. Most of these games will probably never be released but consider it wishful thinking.

Bastion

I recently contacted Supergiant Games to inquire about the possibility of Bastion on the 3DS. They stated that they currently had no plans on it but the possibilities for the future is wide open. While that might not mean Bastion exactly, I remain hopeful for anything that comes from the same studio of one of my favorite games of all time. Bastion was a masterpiece of style and I firmly believe it would be brilliant with a little 3D and a few additions.

Smash Brothers

A portable Smash Brothers title has been on my wish-list since the DSi and it doesn't change with the 3DS. But, unlike the DSi, the 3DS is fully capable of providing a stellar Smash Brothers experience complete with online play. Now, with the Circle Pad Pro, there really is no reason we shouldn't be getting the first portable game in the flagship series.

The Binding of Issac

Much like Bastion, The Binding of Issac shows the quality that Indie developers are capable of delivering. With its simplistic but addictive gameplay and warped sense of humor, TBoI would be great on the go. Sadly, there is no chance (Or is there? See the comments below.) it'll ever be on the 3DS but one can hope. Right?

Portal

Just imagine the things that Valve could do with the 3D effect on a Portal title. It would provide all new ways of thinking with Portals. There is no doubt that Portal will never come to the 3DS but just thinking about it opens all kinds of giddy nerd feelings.

A MMO

Hey, if games like Order & Chaos Online are possible with the limited resources of an iwhatevers and Android whatevers then there is absolutely no reason what-so-ever that it wouldn't be possible on the 3DS given the increased power of the handheld. I've played Order & Chaos and while it's certainly not in the same league as its big MMO brothers, it's also not bad either. It runs really well, looks pretty good for what it is, and it actually plays well given its control limitations. A big name MMO would draw in a whole new crowd of 3DS owners and with Nintendo's announcement of the Nintendo Network, the framework for Free To Play MMO micro-transactions would be in place.

EDIT:

Thanks to a Reddit post, I have now seen how Nintendo can just write blank checks because this would print millions of dollars in mere seconds. It's Pokemon: Type Wild, a fan-made fighting game in its beta stage and it is gorgeous. Make this happen Nintendo!

With the discovery that 999 is getting a follow-up game, I realized that I had never played it to start with. A shame to be sure as it's turning out to be a great game. I'm ashamed of myself for letting it fly under my radar until I heard about the sequel. If you're a fan of the more interactive novel type games then you'll love it. I also picked up Mutant Mudds and Freakyforms off the Nintendo eShop. Freakyforms is, well, interesting. Making an assortment of odd creatures to explore the "world" with is fun and although they're animated rather poorly, the fun is in the creation. I haven't passed anyone to share my creations with yet though and I'm just waiting to see what sort of perversions I'm bound to see. Mutant Mudds is a triumph of classic design and proof that you can indeed get great downloadable content from the eShop. It's simplistic in its design to perfection. Plus, it used the 3D effect extremely well with little eye strain at longer play sessions. Plus, the soundtrack is great as well.

I'm still on the hunt for more 3DS friends to game with so if you add me let me know.

Hello everyone, my name is Dallas and I'm 34 from the Chattanooga area. I'll be clear on this from the start so everyone will know where I stand on the issue, despite this particular blog being Nintendo focused I love everything about gaming. I love the PS3, the 360, the upcoming Vita. I've been a gamer for about 31 years now. I have, at one time or another, owned every single console that has come out with the exception of an Atari. I had an Intellivision because it was cheaper. My point is, despite this blog's focus, I am a gamer. Being a gamer means that you love gaming on all platforms. Simple as that.




Now, a little more about me if you'd like. I've been around Dtoid before, in another form, but for some reason or another it would not allow me back in to my old account so I've made this one which is fine with me because I wanted a fresh start and to narrow down my focus anyway. I'm married, we were a high school couple that went our separate ways and ended up back together. She's now a little disabled thanks to a stroke in 2010. Speaking of that, my "job" is being her caretaker though she can pretty well do most things for herself. Before her stroke, I worked for UPS. I have also written reviews for various websites at one time or another, some of which have disappeared into that great internet void. I am always looking for paying writing gigs that allow me to work from home so if anyone knows of any just point me to the person I need to speak with.




I'm currently playing Mario Kart 7. I just picked it up a few days ago and tried my hand at online racing last night. I've discovered that people are ruthless and you have to be just as ruthless if you want to even have a chance at winning. They will go out of their way to run over you if they have a star, the red shell will be shot at you, fireballs will be flung backwards, and there's always the blue shell. But, it's a great game to play online and will certainly keep me busy for quite some time. I'm very much undecided on getting RE: Revelations or not. I've got the demo and don't care for how the game controls without the add-on. The game looks great and being able to move and shoot should have been added to the series a very long time ago but I'd hate to spend the money on the game and circle-pad then dislike the game. I haven't played a RE game since the first one because of the controls. Oh, and Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy can not get here fast enough.

So, TL/DR? Hi.