Is the massive price drop tempting you into getting a Nintendo 3DS? Or are you going to hold out for Sony’s sleek new PS Vita? Maybe you think handhelds are dead and mobiles and tablets are the future. Well – we want your views!
We’re kicking off a new feature today in which we want to hear what our readers have to say on the hottest topics in gaming, and first up we’re asking for your opinions on the handheld wars.
3DS started off slowly, but after Nintendo’s unprecedented price drop, and with Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 on the way, are you now tempted to invest in a 3DS?
Perhaps you’re holding out for Sony’s PlayStation Vita. Packed with the latest technology and with games such as Uncharted: Golden Abyss and Resistance: Burning Skies announced, the Vita looks like a hardcore gamer’s dream. But have you been put off by the fact that it will now cost significantly more than the 3DS and not arrive in the US and Europe till 2012? And are you happy to pay home console prices for handheld games?
Of course, the biggest change in the gaming market since the release of the original DS and PSP has been the rise of mobile and tablet gaming. Is having one device that does it all important to you? What about the far lower prices for mobile games? Are handhelds dead for you, or can touchscreens never replace proper controls when it comes to gaming?
We want to know what you think on all the above and more – so let us know in the comments below. And as a special bonus for BeefJack members, we’ll be selecting our favourite comment from the thread to receive a hefty XP bonus! Don’t hold back – Have Your Say!
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I actually really love my 3DS, and don’t have as much interest in the Vita. What I *would* very much like is some games to play on Nintendo’s delightful console, mind.
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Lewis Denby (August 17th, 2011)
As a sucker for anything techy, the Vita does tempt me – because it’s frankly like the Ferrari of handhelds. The 3DS is a nicely put together bit of kit, but already feels a bit “old-school” to me.
But I find it hard to see me paying nearly the same for a handheld game as a home console game, which is where I think Sony might come unstuck…
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Simon Williams (August 17th, 2011)
Its interesting that initially I played the hell out of my DS for around 4 years but have since then have played the PSP to death. I have a feeling that with the belated game releases of the 3DS its gonna turn out the reverse this handheld generation, PSP-Vita I will buy first while the 3DS slowlys gets more and more tempting.
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megamoppy (August 17th, 2011)
I have my 3DS. I too just wish there was more to play on it and that Nintendo really get their act together with the eShop. It’s a disgrace at the moment, but should be helped by the “Ambassador” program, as grating as that name is.
I’m not convinced by the Vita at all, though. It has so many bells and whistles on it I wouldn’t know where to start. Watching that Uncharted demo at E3 where the guy is moving with the analogue sticks, then tapping the front screen, and then twiddling with the back – it seems so unnecessary.
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James Pickard (August 17th, 2011)
I bought a DS Lite solely to play Pokemon black! But the 3DS still has nothing that interests me. I am very interested in the Vita but I agree with Simon when he says it will be hard to justify paying more for the Vita than it will be for a console.
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Gamage (August 17th, 2011)
I’m not the biggest handheld gamer, but I did love the Nintendo DS. For me now, handheld gaming and console gaming are different things and completely different experiences. Vita seems like a portable console, 3DS seems like a more expensive DS.
Mobile FTW!!
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Artful Dodger (August 17th, 2011)
The 3DS.
Hahaha of course I’m joking. I’m getting the superior PSVita.
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Mark Ankucic (August 17th, 2011)
I gotta go for the Vita, though I’m sure I’ll eventually give in and get some form of the 3DS, just not the current one. I let my DSLite sit for about eight months, picked it up, and it still worked great. The 3DS’ battery problems are well documented.
As Nintendo is always saying, their franchises are always exclusive, but unless there is a Metroid and a Zelda game coming, Mario isn’t selling me on the 3DS. I’m sure enough things will crop up and I’ll buy a 3DS, but not until the 3DSLite hits at the earliest.
On the other hand, Vita has Uncharted, and Sony has shown it can support third parties (sort of).
Really though, I’m still playing through regular DS games I never got around to, so neither is looking very appealing right now. That, and for every 20+ year-old franchise Nintendo has, there are a dozen new and different games on iPhone.
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Kevin Pabst (August 18th, 2011)
Handle game consoles have dropped in worth in the view of myself considering that most of the good games come out on console now a days and I love having a bigger screen that I don’t have to put my face right next to just to see it. The 3DS seems like a huge fail because all they are doing are making all of the good games from the past and present and making them in 3D, I don’t give a crap if it is in 3D I just want a good game, I have all the games it seems that the 3DS has released just on there older systems and they are the same just without 3D. They are finally releasing a Luigi’s Mansion 2 but they ruin it for me by making it for the 3DS which is a huge turn off that they finally start releasing good games but they have to make it on the “small screen.”
At least for the PSvita they are making new games that are different (I hope), but they will probably fall into making HD remakes of older games, I’d take HD remakes on the big screen but don’t make a worse HD remake on a small screen.
I hardly play any handheld games for these reasons, I would rather take the same game that was released on a handheld system and play it on the PS3 or Wii but that hardly happens with handheld games but console games get ported to handheld all the time. I hope companies learn that handheld isn’t better.
Sorry for the rant but I’d say the 3DS just because of Luigi’s Mansion 2.
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Boss \'The Plumber\' Luigi (August 18th, 2011)
I think you make a really good point there, Boss Luigi – do people really want “full console” experiences on their handhelds? To me, part of the “full console” experience is the big telly, sound system and settling in on a comfy couch for a good few hours of gaming – I’m going to choose that every time over booting up a handheld, which is an entirely different experience: there I’m looking at limited play time where I can quickly slip in and out of the game rather than immerse myself in it.
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Simon Williams (August 18th, 2011)
In short, yes.In full, hell yes.
Let’s not forget, with cloud saving the chance is you won’t have to choose between, you can just play it on both.
While peple do want the ‘full’ experience of a big tv, games that I’ve finished on the PSP and DS have felt just as satisfying and engrossing as they have on the big screen.
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Mark Ankucic (August 19th, 2011)
As far as I can say vita is the rockstar of handhelds so Im gonna wait it out and get the beast first. Later down the line if 3ds gets some good games Ill pick one up as well who can resist a new mario, zelda, metroid, etc… both are good portables but lack of support for 3ds is killing it, reminds me of how sony was the first few years with the psp but then came monster hunter…
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lytera (August 18th, 2011)
Vita is appealing to me so much more, mainly because I can’t look past the 3DS’ main selling point, the 3D, as a gimmick. There are a few good games, and I’m sure more will come out eventually, but nothing that really gives me a reason to need to buy it.
Vita, on the other hand, has me very, very excited. Is there anything it can’t do? While the multiple touch screens and control schemes could be over-complicated, they look like they will just offer choice in how you play. The games announced for are also looking a lot stronger than the 3DS lineup, most notably Uncharted.
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Jamie Donnelly (August 18th, 2011)
I’m on the fence, still.
I’m torn between price versus line-up. Yet neither has particularly dazzled me, however I do like keeping my gaming activities separate from my phone activities, so a dedicated handheld is important to me and as releases for the previous generation dry up I will have to make a choice.
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Emily King (August 18th, 2011)
My 2 pence worth. I will buy the 3DS soon. I will but the Vita in possibly a years time. It’s all about support for me. Not power or gimmicks. 3DS for Pilotwings, Mario, (next) pokemon. Vita for… well, I don’t know yet. But in a year I will.
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Kelsey Jackson (August 19th, 2011)
*buy*… not *but*
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Kelsey Jackson (August 19th, 2011)