I love video games. Xbox, Playstation, PC, Nintendo — doesn’t really matter to me.
I’ll play “Castlevania: Mirror of Fate” on my 3DS XL and then “Call of Duty: Black Ops” on the Xbox 360. I’m excited to see what the next-generation consoles bring to the gaming world, but there are some consoles I'm not too sure about.
Nintendo announced that it will release a new handheld console on Oct. 12, the same day as popular games "Pokémon X" and "Pokémon Y."
According to Nintendo and IGN, the 2DS system, which will not have 3-D capability, is marketed toward children younger than 7 because 3-D technology is potentially harmful for them. The 2DS will not be a clamshell, which may increase the likelihood of the screen getting scratched.
The console and screen sizes are about the size of the original 3DS laid out flat. I’m all for expanding Nintendo’s target demographic, especially with two highly anticipated games being released on the same day, but this new console does seem a bit desperate on Nintendo’s part.
After the Wii U launch, it seems Nintendo is trying so eagerly to say, “We are still in this! We can still make good consoles!”
The gaming industry seems a bit confused right now. Companies are racing forward with next-generation consoles that seem to have a lot of gimmicks or just simply unnecessary and unwanted features. Some features have been scrapped or modified after public disdain, but others remain.
Focusing on Nintendo, 3-D technology was a gimmick that sold the 3DS and 3DS XL. I have an XL, and I honestly rarely use the 3-D features. Besides potentially screwing with your vision if you use it excessively, it’s not necessary to play the games. I only use the 3-D during cutscenes and even then, I use it sparingly.
The 3DS XL was also unnecessary. Yes, it updated certain features, but the main draw was the bigger screen. We're always saying “bigger is better,” after all. Too bad the update didn't also increase the resolution, leaving us with awkwardly stretched-out pixels.
Next-generation consoles should improve on the previous models, and the 2DS does not do that. Nintendo seems to be flailing after the failure of Wii U.
We don’t need gimmicks or “innovation” simply for the sake of innovation. What we want is something that is truly better and has real improvements.
Send you thoughts on the Nintendo 2DS to kcbennet@asu.edu or follow her at @Kasey_Bennett
