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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deathly_hallows said:

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

Kid Icarus Uprising, Pokémon Dream Radar, Bravely Default, The Denpa Men, Spirit Camera, and Kingdom Hearts all do, off the top of my head. (not counting the pre-loaded games on each 3DS, like Face Raiders and such)

Posted by

GameDadGrant

on: 09/03/13, 00:09

@NoName

My wife had one of those as a kid and she adored it!

This 2DS thing is totally bizarre. I get the concept, but I think there's Good Weird and Bad Weird. This looks like Bad Weird to me.

Posted by

kriswright

on: 09/10/13, 18:48

@kriswright
I thought that, too, at first, but even just as a seven-and-under device, it makes sense. I mean, it'll probably be $100 at Black Friday. Cheap! Pokemon! Anything that expands the DS userbase is fine by me.

Posted by

Anand

on: 09/10/13, 22:13

So, surprisingly, Nathalie saw this and really wants one, despite never having any interest in my 3DS. Weird. And my little niece wants one too. Might have to grab one this holiday season.

Posted by

Jargon

on: 11/20/13, 04:31

@Jargon
The 2DS will be $99 at Walmart on Black Friday.

Posted by

anon_mastermind

on: 11/20/13, 05:27

@anon_mastermind

Saw that. The question is whether braving those crowds is worth $30.

Posted by

Jargon

on: 11/20/13, 05:47

@Jargon
I highly highly highly recommend spending the extra $40 for the 3DS, it's just a relatively small amount of money for a much better system!

But to each his own, if somebody finds the 2DS more appealing then maybe they will like it better, hard to imagine why! (for me)

Posted by

deathly_hallows

on: 11/20/13, 06:04

@deathly_hallows

Nathalie's played my 3DS, she doesn't like it's design (can't blame her there) and 3D gives her headaches. If I got her a 3DS, she would be very disappointed and return it.

Posted by

Jargon

on: 11/20/13, 14:45

@Jargon
But the 3DS screens are so much nicer, even with the 3D off! Oh well people like what they like!

Posted by

deathly_hallows

on: 11/20/13, 15:49

@Jargon

She doesn't like the clamshell design? But that's brilliant! Keeps the screens nice and clean, too!

It's confusing to me why someone would prefer the design of the 2DS over the 3DS, but....hey, to each their own.

Posted by

GameDadGrant

on: 11/20/13, 21:28

I actually like the design of the 2DS, it looks comfy to hold and I don't need a clamshell design since I don't play games on the go. It reminds me more of the Game Boy line, and the original Game Boy and GBC have always felt more comfortable to me than the 3/DS line. The problem is that I wouldn't want to give up the missing features, and certainly not the larger screens of my XL.

I may still pick one up if I see one real cheap, to have as a second-player for multiplayer games. But even $99.99 is still too much for that.

Posted by

Mop it up

on: 11/20/13, 21:34