IGN said:

Nintendo announced the 2DS today, a new entry-level handheld system. The 2DS will be available for $129.99 on October 12th (the same day as Pokemon X and Y) and features a slate-like design rather than the clamshell seen on DS and 3DS models.

The 2DS is fully compatible with all 3DS and DS games but does not include the ability to display games in 3D. It still features all the functionality of 3DS (WiFi, local multiplayer, etc.) and can be put to sleep using a slider that replicates closing the clamshell on a standard 3DS. WiFi can still be turned off, though it’s done via controls in the software rather than with a physical switch.


“Imagine a standard 3DS laid all the way flat, and with the depth slider all the way down,” Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime explained to IGN. “Everything else is there in the system.”

The 2DS will launch in red and blue models to start and will be sold alongside the standard 3DS (still available for $169.99) and 3DS XL ($199.99). It will include a 4GB SD card and uses the same power source as 3DS and DSi. It also includes two cameras on the back side, so AR games still function and players can still take 3D photos -- they simply can’t be displayed on the 2DS, but are still viewable in full 3D if transferred to 3DS. The 2DS only includes one speaker, which plays mono sound, but features full stereo via its headphone jack.

According to Fils-Aime, the idea for the 2DS came from wanting to appeal to younger consumers, as the standard 3DS is aimed at players age seven and up.

“Imagine a standard 3DS laid all the way flat, and with the depth slider all the way down. Everything else is there in the system.

“We’re always thinking about what we can do that’s new, unique, different, and brings more people into this category that we love,” Fils-Aime said. “And so with the Nintendo 3DS, we were clear to parents that, ‘hey, we recommend that your children be seven and older to utilize this device.’ So clearly that creates an opportunity for five-year-olds, six-year-olds, that first-time handheld gaming consumer."

"We’ve always been thinking about, 'how do we approach that as one target?'" he continued. "And that certainly helped spur the idea of the Nintendo 2DS. Let’s have the consumer have access to all of these great games – Mario Kart 7, Animal Crossing – but do it in a 2D capability with a device that has a dramatically lower price point. That’s just an example of how we’re always thinking about, ‘how do we get more people playing games? How do we get more people playing Nintendo games?’”

Keep checking back to IGN for more on the 2DS as we approach its October launch.

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@Renjaku Well, I mean, a poor substitute for what? It's a pretty general statement and I agree with it, but that doesn't mean I don't think it can be used, for example, as a tool for finding a significant other. But you're still going to meet that person in the flesh before you decide anything.

Posted by

Mop it up

on: 09/01/13, 00:54

Hey, I don't think it looks THAT bad here...

Posted by

carlosrox

on: 09/01/13, 00:57

Edited:

09/01/13, 00:58

I was thinking those who plan to stay single can have different expectations from what they can gain from socializing.

Posted by

Renjaku

on: 09/01/13, 00:59

carlosrox said:

Hey, I don't think it looks THAT bad here...

It's always the same: people freak out, call Nintendo "stupid", and then a bit later they see it all makes sense and works.

Posted by

Simbabbad

on: 09/01/13, 01:26

@carlosrox
So wait, I confused, does it or does it not come with the nifty soft case? I know it's a small detail but it makes a huge difference to me because without the clamshell design those screens are gonna be exposed!

Also, I think it's utterly bizarre that it has the 3-D camera but not a 3-D screen, seems like they were looking for ways to save costs and that a single camera totally fits the bill. (I mean c'mon, it has mono sound).

Hrm.

Posted by

deathly_hallows

on: 09/01/13, 05:01

This is really smart and will sell like crazy. Showed my 7year old who has a 3ds he thought it was awesome and said its a 3ds for kids. He gets it and most kids will and will inform their parents.

Posted by

colep53

on: 09/01/13, 05:04

@carlosrox I think it looks fine, and the Start and Select buttons are where they should have been on the 3DS/XL.

@deathly_hallows If I had to guess, the camera software might not have functioned properly without two lenses, so they were probably stuck on that one and had no choice.

Posted by

Mop it up

on: 09/01/13, 05:04

deathly_hallows said:

@carlosrox
So wait, I confused, does it or does it not come with the nifty soft case? I know it's a small detail but it makes a huge difference to me because without the clamshell design those screens are gonna be exposed!

Also, I think it's utterly bizarre that it has the 3-D camera but not a 3-D screen, seems like they were looking for ways to save costs and that a single camera totally fits the bill. (I mean c'mon, it has mono sound).

Hrm.

In the unboxings I have not seen it but no American unboxings, sometimes we get extra stuff like charger. I think it needs to come with case.

Posted by

colep53

on: 09/01/13, 05:05

@Mop it up
You mean the AR stuff? How many games use that, Kid Icarus and... ? I'm stumped.

I think they could have left it out without too much of an uproar and I'm surprised they didn't.

@colep53
I hope we get the case in NA!

Posted by

deathly_hallows

on: 09/01/13, 05:13

Edited:

09/01/13, 05:14

@deathly_hallows The Denpa Men games come to mind also. The camera application as well. There may not be much, but they didn't want to have to say that there are some exceptions to what can be played on the 2DS, I'm sure.

Posted by

Mop it up

on: 09/01/13, 05:15

My son just said its not a very good name, 2d like tooty, like a fart.

Posted by

colep53

on: 09/01/13, 05:35

@colep53



Like a fart!

That should be the slogan.

But... are we sure it isn't pronounced Toodees? I'm pretty sure I heard from a reliable source it is pronounced toodees.

Posted by

-JKR-

on: 09/01/13, 06:18

@Jargon
Oh. Then probably whatever came out at the tail end of the Wii's lifecycle with Wii U enhancements.

Something else to note here: This seems like the end of 'games that sort of need to be viewed in 3D to be played properly'. I say 'sort of' because Nintendo never really went whole hog on that in the first place, with the exception of optional challenges like the 3D levels in Super Mario 3D Land. (And the subtle enhancements that certain genres naturally receive from stereoscopic visuals.)

I was wondering how the Big N would handle the next handheld console, considering 3D's lack of traction and their emphasis on backwards compatibility. The 2DS (along with, theoretically, the 3DS software released from this point on) seems to be Nintendo's way of nudging us back over to more traditional waters.

NoName said:

The more I see of the 2DS, the more I like it. It just looks, fun. I even kind of want one. Or wanted one. I just watched GameExplain's hands-on video and realized it only outputs mono sound. Mono!? Sure, plug-in some headphones and stereo sound is yours, but mono without?

A feature shared with the best portable console of all time, the GBA SP! Actually, that was even worse, since you needed a special adapter to plug headphones into it, as well.

Monophonic and monoscopic.

Posted by

Anand

on: 09/02/13, 00:45

Edited:

09/02/13, 00:53

Hmm, never really thought too much about the mono sound, guess I nearly always play with headphones. The 3DS speaker were never really loud enough anyway, even the headphones are really weak, I keep them up all the way and I don't like loud music etc.

Posted by

deathly_hallows

on: 09/02/13, 01:04

@Anand

That's why when I played Game Boy games, I used this bad boy...



Not all the time, as I remember it weighing a ton (of course my arms and hands were super tiny when this thing was relevant).

As for the 2DS, I'm only bummed about the mono only output, as games these days really sound great, and Nintendo keeps skimping on the speakers. The 3DS speakers are low, but the surround effect is fantastic. But on the 3DS XL, the bigger system, the sound is even lower. I'm not a headphones kind of gamer, so nice sounding speakers are kind of big deal. Kind of.

Posted by

NoName

on: 09/02/13, 03:52

Edited:

09/02/13, 03:53

my 3DS becomes a foldable 2DS when I slide the switch off. It can also be a permanent 2DS by accessing this feature called Parental Controls - it's amazing - complete with stereo sound!

Sure...it's cheaply made..and made for younger kids - so I think it will sell a bunch this Christmas but this just solidifies that parents thought they were 'smart' in not getting a 3DS because it was dangerous for their eyes when they actually could take precautions in other ways and save money on merchandise that needs to protect a touch screen device that doesn't fold up. Will they think that Nintendo made a mistake by producing a 3DS? who knows..parents can be thick sometimes...

Posted by

Smerd

on: 09/02/13, 07:21

@Smerd

In what I can see, they do know very little about what their kids play and are passionate about.

Posted by

Simbabbad

on: 09/02/13, 11:49

@NoName
What... the hell? Is that thing real? It looks like a robot from the '50s.

Posted by

Anand

on: 09/02/13, 15:44

@NoName

I also had one of those crazy attachments. Funny, it looks a lot more insane than I remember when I was a kid.

Posted by

-JKR-

on: 09/02/13, 17:18

I had just a GB magnifier. It worked pretty well.

Posted by

Wellsy529

on: 09/02/13, 23:52