The end of the 3DS marks an inflection point for portable gaming

What does the future hold for dedicated portable gaming hardware?

Read the whole story

 

[mikesmith]

The switch isn't suitable as a Gameboy replacement for many reasons, especially from a ruggedness standpoint. Now the question essentially becomes is there still a market for a portable gaming device that costs more than $100. Maybe the answer is no, but I'd love to see something that's at least as powerful as the switch but designed to really be portable, not just something you can play sitting around the house without a TV.

 

[Rockchurch]

I missed the DS generations as a kid and so regret not diving in as an adult.

 

[Arfius]

I hope new handhelds are made. I enjoyed getting the Switch, my first Nintendo console, after getting years of good gaming out of my Playstation Vita. I may be in the minority, but I find playing on a handheld console for an extended period of time to be a cozy experience. My smartphone, on the other hand, seems to be always wanting me to jump into the next application and doesn't create the same feeling for me.

 

[Uncanny Valley]

Those "tiny computers practically everyone carries around in their pockets" are certainly replacing a host of devices in our lives. When's the last time we bought an alarm clock, a chronometer, a calendar, a portable radio (or a newspaper for that fact). We are entering a time where all media are filtered through the glowing rectangle of the smartphone.

Perhaps some day we'll realise the inherent value in these bespoke artifacts of daily life. Gaming on a touchscreen is not the same.

 

[Kyle Orland]

The switch isn't suitable as a Gameboy replacement for many reasons, especially from a ruggedness standpoint. Now the question essentially becomes is there still a market for a portable gaming device that costs more than $100. Maybe the answer is no, but I'd love to see something that's at least as powerful as the switch but designed to really be portable, not just something you can play sitting around the house without a TV.

Are you... not aware of the Switch Lite? It is "more than $100," just as powerful as the Switch and truly portable. Also decently rugged, even if there's no clamshell design to protect the screen.

Oh yeah, and it has a real d-pad. And it's selling pretty well.

https://meincmagazine.com/gaming/2019/09/ ... ever-made/

 

[M3000P]

If only the Vita had true R2/L2 triggers. I can only imagine the joy of spending quarantine without getting out of bed for months at a time because there'd be no need...

 

[fizzlefist]

I missed the DS generations as a kid and so regret not diving in as an adult.

Nothing stopping you now Used 3DS hardware is cheap and will run all DS/3DS game cartridges. Not too mention homebrew software options, much like the Wii and Wii U, that let you run legally acquired ROM backups.

 

[Ancalagon]

Ars I think perhaps a deep dive into classic handheld games consoles might make for a great article.

I myself consider the Nintendo DS Lite to be the best video game console ever made. Long battery life, excellent 2D games like Sonic Rush, the Castlevania series and the Megaman ZX series. Some excellent JRPGs from both Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, to say nothing of the Pokemon games, which are generally regarded as the best Pokemon games ever made (HG/SS, Platinum, White Black).

I will probably eventually buy a Switch, but I'm kinda sad that the DS line, or perhaps more generally a handheld only line, is gone forever.

 

[ravin311]

Only recently I was thinking about how the Surface Duo resembled a 3DS. I hope we get some sort of an emulator in that device. Lack of physical buttons would still be a bummer.
On a different note, I still miss the days of Nokia N-Gage. Though that was termed as a failure, it was a fun little gaming device for me that also doubled up as a phone. If only that makes a comeback, I would certainly buy one in a whim.

 

[obarthelemy]

"... an inflection point..."

Eric Schmidt, is that you ? (I've seen him live 3 times, 3 time that was one of his main points)

 

[Kyle Orland]

Only recently I was thinking about how the Surface Duo resembled a 3DS. I hope we get some sort of an emulator in that device. Lack of physical buttons would still be a bummer.
On a different note, I still miss the days of Nokia N-Gage. Though that was termed as a failure, it was a fun little gaming device for me that also doubled up as a phone. If only that makes a comeback, I would certainly buy one in a whim.

I saw video on Twitter recently of someone playing emulators on the Surface Duo. It honestly looked not ideal. The lack of physical buttons is a dealbreaker when it comes to emulating classic games, for me.

Edit: Here's the tweet -- https://twitter.com/inputmag/status/1304510260259041281

 

[OrangeCream]

Ars I think perhaps a deep dive into classic handheld games consoles might make for a great article.

I myself consider the Nintendo DS Lite to be the best video game console ever made. Long battery life, excellent 2D games like Sonic Rush, the Castlevania series and the Megaman ZX series. Some excellent JRPGs from both Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, to say nothing of the Pokemon games, which are generally regarded as the best Pokemon games ever made (HG/SS, Platinum, White Black).

I will probably eventually buy a Switch, but I'm kinda sad that the DS line, or perhaps more generally a handheld only line, is gone forever.

I don't understand why you don't consider the Switch Lite a handheld only line. Why is it important that it be handheld only?

 

[clackerd]

For the small bit of gaming on the go that I do, my phone is just fine. If it's a longer plane ride or something, the Switch is perfect. I imagine portable gaming just morphs into phone gaming. I can't see a dedicated portable console succeeding nowadays, if only for the inconvenience of carrying multiple devices daily.

 

[OrangeCream]

Once 5G internet is widespread, this could make a big impact on portable gaming:

I mean, if you're within 1000 feet of a tower for mmWave, yeah.

On the flip side, my 4G bandwidth is currently higher than my wifi bandwidth, and I can already use PS Remote Play on my wifi, so I don't know that 5G is really going to change anything.

 

[Statistical]

Back in 2017, Nintendo said explicitly that the newly launched Nintendo Switch wouldn't replace the 3DS. Since then, the company has repeatedly reaffirmed that continued support, saying as recently as last November that the 3DS would be supported into 2020.

and as far back as 2017 plenty of people said Nintendo is lying and of course it will. It was just a matter of time. I am only surprised by the when. I figured Nintendo would give it a couple more years.

 

[Kyle Orland]

Back in 2017, Nintendo said explicitly that the newly launched Nintendo Switch wouldn't replace the 3DS. Since then, the company has repeatedly reaffirmed that continued support, saying as recently as last November that the 3DS would be supported into 2020.

and as far back as 2017 plenty of people said Nintendo is lying and of course it will. It was just a matter of time.

I don't think this was fated in 2017, though. If the Switch bombed as hard as the Wii U (seems hard to imagine now, but a distinct possibility in early 2017), I think Nintendo would have gone all in on the modestly successful 3DS and possibly updated the line one more time by now (4DS?)

Even with the Switch being a success, 3+ more years of post-Switch 3DS support is pretty good. I don't think anyone took that 2017 statement to mean "we will continue to support the 3DS forever no matter what."

My main point is that "lying" is a strong word for characterizing Nintendo's 2017 statement.

 

[Ancalagon]

Ars I think perhaps a deep dive into classic handheld games consoles might make for a great article.

I myself consider the Nintendo DS Lite to be the best video game console ever made. Long battery life, excellent 2D games like Sonic Rush, the Castlevania series and the Megaman ZX series. Some excellent JRPGs from both Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, to say nothing of the Pokemon games, which are generally regarded as the best Pokemon games ever made (HG/SS, Platinum, White Black).

I will probably eventually buy a Switch, but I'm kinda sad that the DS line, or perhaps more generally a handheld only line, is gone forever.

I don't understand why you don't consider the Switch Lite a handheld only line. Why is it important that it be handheld only?

Because there is no game that you can buy for the Switch Lite that is not compatible with the Switch. In terms of the handheld itself, yes the Switch Lite is handheld only. In terms of the games library, it is not.

This may sound like a difference without a distinction, but there was a day when there was a difference in handheld games and home console games. That difference was gone. Part of this was due to the less CPU and GPU power available to the games, part of this was due to the expectation that you could be in the same physical space as friends you were playing with or against.

Take the DS and it's ad hoc wireless capabilities. Such capabilities make no sense on a Switch Lite.

It used to be that main series Pokemon games were handheld only - precisely because they wanted you to be able to trade Pokemon.

Maybe I'm just nostalgic for the way things used to be.

 

[Deathmonkey]

Back in 2017, Nintendo said explicitly that the newly launched Nintendo Switch wouldn't replace the 3DS. Since then, the company has repeatedly reaffirmed that continued support, saying as recently as last November that the 3DS would be supported into 2020.

and as far back as 2017 plenty of people said Nintendo is lying and of course it will. It was just a matter of time.

Those of us with long memories remember that the original DS was Nintendo's "third pillar" and was not a replacement for the Gameboy line.

 

[Kyle Orland]

Ars I think perhaps a deep dive into classic handheld games consoles might make for a great article.

I myself consider the Nintendo DS Lite to be the best video game console ever made. Long battery life, excellent 2D games like Sonic Rush, the Castlevania series and the Megaman ZX series. Some excellent JRPGs from both Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, to say nothing of the Pokemon games, which are generally regarded as the best Pokemon games ever made (HG/SS, Platinum, White Black).

I will probably eventually buy a Switch, but I'm kinda sad that the DS line, or perhaps more generally a handheld only line, is gone forever.

I don't understand why you don't consider the Switch Lite a handheld only line. Why is it important that it be handheld only?

Because there is no game that you can buy for the Switch Lite that is not compatible with the Switch. In terms of the handheld itself, yes the Switch Lite is handheld only. In terms of the games library, it is not.

This may sound like a difference without a distinction, but there was a day when there was a difference in handheld games and home console games. That difference was gone. Part of this was due to the less CPU and GPU power available to the games, part of this was due to the expectation that you could be in the same physical space as friends you were playing with or against.

Take the DS and it's ad hoc wireless capabilities. Such capabilities make no sense on a Switch Lite.

It used to be that main series Pokemon games were handheld only - precisely because they wanted you to be able to trade Pokemon.

Maybe I'm just nostalgic for the way things used to be.

There are Switch games that only work in handheld mode: https://meincmagazine.com/gaming/2017/02/ ... nly-games/

Not many of them, but still.

These games technically work on the non-Lite Switch, but only in handheld mode, so....

 

[OrangeCream]

Back in 2017, Nintendo said explicitly that the newly launched Nintendo Switch wouldn't replace the 3DS. Since then, the company has repeatedly reaffirmed that continued support, saying as recently as last November that the 3DS would be supported into 2020.

and as far back as 2017 plenty of people said Nintendo is lying and of course it will. It was just a matter of time. I am only surprised by the when. I figured Nintendo would give it a couple more years.

But it wasn't a lie. The 3DS was supported into 2020. It got 10 years of support.

The DS got only got 9 years of support, between 2004 until 2013; now there is a difference, in that no Switch ships with a 3DS cartridge slot, but outside that the 3DS was not abandoned after only 5 years or something.

And even before that, the GBA also only saw 9 years of support, between 2001 to 2010.

 

[brionl]

Those "tiny computers practically everyone carries around in their pockets" are certainly replacing a host of devices in our lives. When's the last time we bought an alarm clock, a chronometer, a calendar, a portable radio (or a newspaper for that fact). We are entering a time where all media are filtered through the glowing rectangle of the smartphone.

Perhaps some day we'll realise the inherent value in these bespoke artifacts of daily life. Gaming on a touchscreen is not the same.

I haven't worn a wristwatch since '05 or so.

OTOH, I still have my GB color, GB Advanced, GBA SP, DS Lite, DSi, New 3DS and Switch Lite.

 

[Kyle Orland]

Back in 2017, Nintendo said explicitly that the newly launched Nintendo Switch wouldn't replace the 3DS. Since then, the company has repeatedly reaffirmed that continued support, saying as recently as last November that the 3DS would be supported into 2020.

and as far back as 2017 plenty of people said Nintendo is lying and of course it will. It was just a matter of time. I am only surprised by the when. I figured Nintendo would give it a couple more years.

But it wasn't a lie. The 3DS was supported into 2020. It got 10 years of support.

The DS got only got 9 years of support, between 2004 until 2013; now there is a difference, in that no Switch ships with a 3DS cartridge slot, but outside that the 3DS was not abandoned after only 5 years or something.

And even before that, the GBA also only saw 9 years of support, between 2001 to 2010.

Indeed. I took a deeper look at this here: https://meincmagazine.com/gaming/2017/04/ ... -a-future/

 

[OrangeCream]

Ars I think perhaps a deep dive into classic handheld games consoles might make for a great article.

I myself consider the Nintendo DS Lite to be the best video game console ever made. Long battery life, excellent 2D games like Sonic Rush, the Castlevania series and the Megaman ZX series. Some excellent JRPGs from both Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, to say nothing of the Pokemon games, which are generally regarded as the best Pokemon games ever made (HG/SS, Platinum, White Black).

I will probably eventually buy a Switch, but I'm kinda sad that the DS line, or perhaps more generally a handheld only line, is gone forever.

I don't understand why you don't consider the Switch Lite a handheld only line. Why is it important that it be handheld only?

Because there is no game that you can buy for the Switch Lite that is not compatible with the Switch. In terms of the handheld itself, yes the Switch Lite is handheld only. In terms of the games library, it is not.

This may sound like a difference without a distinction, but there was a day when there was a difference in handheld games and home console games. That difference was gone. Part of this was due to the less CPU and GPU power available to the games, part of this was due to the expectation that you could be in the same physical space as friends you were playing with or against.

Take the DS and it's ad hoc wireless capabilities. Such capabilities make no sense on a Switch Lite.

It used to be that main series Pokemon games were handheld only - precisely because they wanted you to be able to trade Pokemon.

Maybe I'm just nostalgic for the way things used to be.

I don't understand. You dislike that you can blast your games onto a larger screen, as an option?

Also, the ad hoc wireless capabilities still exist in the Switch. It's called local wireless:

Local wireless play may seem strange for those of us out there who rely on online for multiplayer of any sort. But you don't need an internet connection for local wireless play. All you need is two Nintendo Switches (yourself and your friend), the same game cartridge, and the simple task of being next to one another.

And Mario Kart has support for 8 local players, ie 8 Switches in the same room.

 

[LuDux]

The switch isn't suitable as a Gameboy replacement for many reasons, especially from a ruggedness standpoint. Now the question essentially becomes is there still a market for a portable gaming device that costs more than $100. Maybe the answer is no, but I'd love to see something that's at least as powerful as the switch but designed to really be portable, not just something you can play sitting around the house without a TV.

Are you... not aware of the Switch Lite? It is "more than $100," just as powerful as the Switch and truly portable. Also decently rugged, even if there's no clamshell design to protect the screen.

Oh yeah, and it has a real d-pad. And it's selling pretty well.

https://meincmagazine.com/gaming/2019/09/ ... ever-made/

Good luck stuffing that in your pocket.

 

[Zomboe]

Ars I think perhaps a deep dive into classic handheld games consoles might make for a great article.

I myself consider the Nintendo DS Lite to be the best video game console ever made. Long battery life, excellent 2D games like Sonic Rush, the Castlevania series and the Megaman ZX series. Some excellent JRPGs from both Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, to say nothing of the Pokemon games, which are generally regarded as the best Pokemon games ever made (HG/SS, Platinum, White Black).

I will probably eventually buy a Switch, but I'm kinda sad that the DS line, or perhaps more generally a handheld only line, is gone forever.

I don't understand why you don't consider the Switch Lite a handheld only line. Why is it important that it be handheld only?

Because there is no game that you can buy for the Switch Lite that is not compatible with the Switch. In terms of the handheld itself, yes the Switch Lite is handheld only. In terms of the games library, it is not.

This may sound like a difference without a distinction, but there was a day when there was a difference in handheld games and home console games. That difference was gone. Part of this was due to the less CPU and GPU power available to the games, part of this was due to the expectation that you could be in the same physical space as friends you were playing with or against.

Take the DS and it's ad hoc wireless capabilities. Such capabilities make no sense on a Switch Lite.

It used to be that main series Pokemon games were handheld only - precisely because they wanted you to be able to trade Pokemon.

Maybe I'm just nostalgic for the way things used to be.

I definitely know what you mean, the design of handheld games has historically been pretty distinct from console games. For a few generations there, Nintendo's handhelds were practically the last refuge of 2D games, with N64/Gamecube/Wii games being almost entirely 3D. That combined with targeting shorter play sessions resulted in handheld games having more of a retro feel. For that same reason, I also preferred the DS to the 3DS.

The other huge difference, from Nintendo's point of view, is that the days when they could sell you two systems (home console and handheld) and their accompanying games are long gone. So when comparing hardware unit sales, the real comparison isn't Switch vs. 3DS, it's Switch vs. 3DS+Wii U, or Switch vs. DS+Wii (etc.). Their actual potential profit might not be halved, but combining home console + handheld still was a move of desperation.

Hopefully Nintendo's bet that there will remain a market for dedicated handhelds pays off, since I don't see them ever producing a new non-portable system; they've essentially lost the home console wars at this point.

 

[Quasius]

I *just* picked up a used "New 3DS" and am loving it. (I also own a Switch.) I'd fallen off the Nintendo train after the Wii and got pulled back in by the Switch and am realizing how many great games I missed. As a bonus I've been able to pick up nearly every 3DS game I'm interested in for $15-$20 each on eBay.

Also, I think the 3D effect is really cool. Apparently it's much better on the "New" models because of eye tracking. (Whenever I shift positions, there's a brief moment while it realigns before looking perfect again.) I'm actually surprised it works so well, given that I often find various 3D techs either annoying or headache-inducing.

 

[Thad Boyd]

The switch isn't suitable as a Gameboy replacement for many reasons, especially from a ruggedness standpoint. Now the question essentially becomes is there still a market for a portable gaming device that costs more than $100. Maybe the answer is no, but I'd love to see something that's at least as powerful as the switch but designed to really be portable, not just something you can play sitting around the house without a TV.

Are you... not aware of the Switch Lite? It is "more than $100," just as powerful as the Switch and truly portable. Also decently rugged, even if there's no clamshell design to protect the screen.

Oh yeah, and it has a real d-pad. And it's selling pretty well.

https://meincmagazine.com/gaming/2019/09/ ... ever-made/

The clamshell protects the screen but, on the downside, it adds another physical weak point.

Last year I pulled out my old (original-model) DS, opened it up, and heard the pop of a snapping hinge. I keep meaning to pick up a replacement -- probably a DS Lite so I don't lose the GBA slot.

But on the whole I think I'd rather forego hinges and protect the screen with a hard case.

 

[Zomboe]

The switch isn't suitable as a Gameboy replacement for many reasons, especially from a ruggedness standpoint. Now the question essentially becomes is there still a market for a portable gaming device that costs more than $100. Maybe the answer is no, but I'd love to see something that's at least as powerful as the switch but designed to really be portable, not just something you can play sitting around the house without a TV.

Are you... not aware of the Switch Lite? It is "more than $100," just as powerful as the Switch and truly portable. Also decently rugged, even if there's no clamshell design to protect the screen.

Oh yeah, and it has a real d-pad. And it's selling pretty well.

https://meincmagazine.com/gaming/2019/09/ ... ever-made/

Good luck stuffing that in your pocket.

The last Nintendo handheld that really felt comfortable in my pocket was the Gameboy Micro (played GBA games only). I'd love to see something slightly larger with the screen resolution and buttons to emulate 2D consoles and handhelds. In the meantime, I have an Arduboy coming, which should be fun to mess around with: https://arduboy.com/

Still the DS Lite or New 3DS (not large versions) does seem a lot more portable than the Switch Lite, and the clamshell is a great feature.

I don't understand. You dislike that you can blast your games onto a larger screen, as an option?

There was a Gamecube add-on that let you blast your GBA games onto your TV, but at that time it would be completely obvious whether you were playing a Gamecube or GBA game.

During that era, if you bought a Gamecube you could expect very different types of games than on the GBA. So if you liked GBA type of games, you could be sure that by buying a GBA, that's all you were getting.

These days, the hardware distinctions are gone, so you would need to do some research to determine whether a Switch game is more like a Gamecube game or a GBA game.

EDIT: This is not theoretical, since to this day I still prefer 16-bit era 2D, sprite based games. As recently as the DS line, you could still find major releases of such games, such as Castlevania DS and its sequels. The GBA had Zelda: The Minish Cap. I do love Breath of the Wild but I'd kill for a brand new sprite based Zelda.

To be fair, that aspect of handheld gaming really died with the 3DS, not the Switch. The D-Pad placement on the New 3DS (at least) is pretty awful and most of the games are rendered in 3D.

 

[WaywardScythe]

Man now I’ve really gotta decide if I try to repair my New 3DS (Full stop, no LL). Or get a New 2DS LL ....
My only Slowking is on my N3DS though, but parts are so hard to find, and I borked it the last time I attempted repairs (switching out button boards, cause Dpad and A are wearing out)

Also I generally agree with the nostalgic sentiment of preferring games that were strictly designed for pocket portable handhelds. Pause anytime is a great feature, and a lot of them just feel nicer to pick up on a whim.

 

[50me12]

It was such a durable travel friendly format.

I really hope we see more of that in the future.

For anyone who likes video games it was great, and for kids it was an outstanding first console.

 

[sword_9mm]

The switch isn't suitable as a Gameboy replacement for many reasons, especially from a ruggedness standpoint. Now the question essentially becomes is there still a market for a portable gaming device that costs more than $100. Maybe the answer is no, but I'd love to see something that's at least as powerful as the switch but designed to really be portable, not just something you can play sitting around the house without a TV.

Are you... not aware of the Switch Lite? It is "more than $100," just as powerful as the Switch and truly portable. Also decently rugged, even if there's no clamshell design to protect the screen.

Oh yeah, and it has a real d-pad. And it's selling pretty well.

https://meincmagazine.com/gaming/2019/09/ ... ever-made/

Good luck stuffing that in your pocket.

What type of pockets do you have?

A DS Lite still needs cargo pants to 'stuff in a pocket'. Hell the only 'pocketable' portable that I know of was the GBA Micro and MAYBE the Gameboy pocket. Even the Neo Geo portable/GBA SP is too large for regular pants pockets.

Phone, keys, where you gonna 'pocket' your portable?

edit: hell; even PHONES are getting too big for regular jean pockets imo.

 

[Quasius]

The switch isn't suitable as a Gameboy replacement for many reasons, especially from a ruggedness standpoint. Now the question essentially becomes is there still a market for a portable gaming device that costs more than $100. Maybe the answer is no, but I'd love to see something that's at least as powerful as the switch but designed to really be portable, not just something you can play sitting around the house without a TV.

Are you... not aware of the Switch Lite? It is "more than $100," just as powerful as the Switch and truly portable. Also decently rugged, even if there's no clamshell design to protect the screen.

Oh yeah, and it has a real d-pad. And it's selling pretty well.

https://meincmagazine.com/gaming/2019/09/ ... ever-made/

Good luck stuffing that in your pocket.

What type of pockets do you have?

A DS Lite still needs cargo pants to 'stuff in a pocket'. Hell the only 'pocketable' portable that I know of was the GBA Micro and MAYBE the Gameboy pocket. Even the Neo Geo portable/GBA SP is too large for regular pants pockets.

Phone, keys, where you gonna 'pocket' your portable?

edit: hell; even PHONES are getting too big for regular jean pockets imo.

If it's important to you, you can just buy pants with bigger pockets. I never have trouble finding roomy pants pockets, but it's a feature I specifically look for.

 

[adespoton]

Here's what I'd like: the "3D" feature of 3DS going into regular smartphone screens, and Nintendo bringing their portable game to enclosures with proper gamepads that'll work on most smartphones.

I'm one of those odd people who, after spending $$ on a smartphone, can't come up with a defensible reason to buy another portable device that only does a subset of the things my expensive device can already do, even if it does them marginally better.

 

[WaywardScythe]

mikesmith[/url]


Good luck stuffing that in your pocket.

What type of pockets do you have?

A DS Lite still needs cargo pants to 'stuff in a pocket'. Hell the only 'pocketable' portable that I know of was the GBA Micro and MAYBE the Gameboy pocket. Even the Neo Geo portable/GBA SP is too large for regular pants pockets.

Phone, keys, where you gonna 'pocket' your portable?

edit: hell; even PHONES are getting too big for regular jean pockets imo.

I mean, I have regular guy jeans, I can fit Two DSLites or an NDS or a 3DS and a GBASP in the same front pocket. I dunno maybe switch from skinny jeans to carpenter and boot cut if you wanna carry more stuff.

 

[adespoton]

mikesmith[/url]


Good luck stuffing that in your pocket.

What type of pockets do you have?

A DS Lite still needs cargo pants to 'stuff in a pocket'. Hell the only 'pocketable' portable that I know of was the GBA Micro and MAYBE the Gameboy pocket. Even the Neo Geo portable/GBA SP is too large for regular pants pockets.

Phone, keys, where you gonna 'pocket' your portable?

edit: hell; even PHONES are getting too big for regular jean pockets imo.

I mean, I have regular guy jeans, I can fit Two DSLites or an NDS or a 3DS and a GBASP in the same front pocket. I dunno maybe switch from skinny jeans to carpenter and boot cut if you wanna carry more stuff.

I hear fanny packs are making a comeback too....

 

[samred]

My New Nintendo 3DS XL has a permanent place in my collection, owing primarily to its incredible face-tracking adjustments for 3D content and how easy the thing is to jailbreak and get Retroarch, SCUMM, and other classic gaming options running.

Related: I jailbroke it originally so I could play Japanese carts, particularly the Japan-exclusive Sega 3D Classics collections (arguably the best things ever released on 3DS). I'm still stunned that Nintendo fiiiiiiiinally gave up on region-locked carts for the Switch generation. That made the end of the 3DS era a lot easier to swallow.

Also related: "New Nintendo 3DS XL" is a terrible system name, but it did just fine, if you wanna talk crap about Xbox Series. That's my "I'm just sayin'" for the day.

 

[Elektriktoad]

with two kids that will be old enough for their own gaming handhelds in a few years, this is rather disappointing. The Switch Lite isn't really the right form factor for a young kid's gaming device (less rugged than DS, more expensive).

I still have some time left before this becomes an issue. C'mon Nintendo, surprise me with a new kid-friendly handheld.