One of the only criticisms I have of the original monochrome-screen Gameboy was that due to its bulkiness it was not the sort of console you would be able to comfortably fit in your pocket. As the years have gone by and Nintendo have moved to the DS/3DS line of portable consoles they have become what could easily be considered the most portable console – something I would regularly slip into my pocket at conventions, easily forget about and then come back home for potentially hundreds of Streetpass hits. Turns out that the new 3DS console may very well be returning to the days of being near impossible to simply carry around in your pocket.
Nintendo have today introduced the Nintendo 2DS console, which is set for release in Australia and New Zealand on the 12th October 2013 at a standard retail price of $149.95 AUD / $179.95 NZD. The console is set to target the younger market as well as market who prefer not to play with the 3D effects – but will still support both DS and 3DS games. It is as they have been claiming: “an entry point into, or a new way to enjoy the Nintendo handheld experience”.
As you can see above, the main flaw is that you cannot fold the console down, and from initial glances is not something that would go in a regular sized pocket. This also means that some functionality such as sleep mode has been reduced to a slider to cater for the systems design. Irrespective both White + Red and Blue + Black models will be available at launch.
Now if only they brought back that Gameboy Advance slot….
