Topic: New Art Academy versus Art Academy First/Second Semester Dsiware

So I'm considering buying New Art Academy for some basics in drawing/sketching. However, the high price is a concern. Should I try the Dsiware titles first? I have a 3dsXL... will they still look decent on the new handheld?

You could try the DSiWare titles first, though if you read the reviews here on Nintendolife, I think it was felt that Art Academy First Semester DSiWare was the best value, with the Second Semester not adding a lot extra. Both are quite expensive at 800 points. I felt the color tones and game generally didn't really transfer ideally onto the 3DS screen anyway (I have the First Semester).
I understand the New Art Academy looks great on the 3DS, has more tools like pastels and drawing pencils, and a lot more content. It's selling for about £20 on UK Amazon (you don't give your country) which is not high for a 3DS game. Personally I would feel I was wasting money by going for the DSiWare version first - its almost half the price of the New Art Academy 3DS, but only you can tell which option is the best for you.

I have a total of 5 copies of the DSiWare version spread out over 3 DSi / 3DS consoles. That's how much I love the program. But if you have a 3DS I say go for the new version. It has SO much more content and is definitely worth the money to me. The DSiWare version offers you a pencil set and paints. The New version also has pastels and coloured pencils - something that I was really wanting in them to come out with. There are loads more colour paints in the New version, and you have more pallets so it's easier to mix paints if you're not very good at that. The colours are also names like a true paint colours.
The New version offers a lot more features as well. You can now save all of your work so you can go back to it and work on it later. (The DSiWare version doesn't let you do that. Once you start on a new project you lose the old one.) There are a lot more lessons and the lessons are more involved - it teaches more art techniques and I'm finding it a lot more helpful.
If you don't have the money for the retail version, or you are worried you might not enjoy it much, then you certainly should try the DSiWare version. It's well worth the money to me. I can say that I honestly didn't think I could draw at all until I tried Art Academy. I'm loving the new version.

You can check out my work here: http://vatalbot.deviantart.com/gallery/25202837
The last 7 pictures are lessons from the New Art Academy - the others were made with the DSiWare version.

Well I think a better question here is:

New Art Academy or Colours! 3D?

Which one should I get of the two?

@BayCraig100 - It depends on what you're after.
Art Academy teaches you how to draw and paint. It uses a pallet of true to life paint colours, pastels, and pencils. It offers different texture canvas to make your paintings look like real art work. There are many lessons, and more will be available to download. Plus you are free to do your own paintings, and even create lessons of your own to share.
The nice thing Colors 3D is it lets you draw in 3D and trace your drawings if you wish. It uses a colour wheel, but doesn't let you mix colours in the traditional way.

I like how Art Academy drawings look like real art. And I like how Colors 3D lets you draw in 3D, but the draw back of that is the work doesn't look so good in 2D. Colors 3D has an online gallery. AA's online gallery is coming soon, though they do have a gallery on your 3DS which is available now and is a nice way to show off your work.

Thanks for the recommendation!

Thanks for the advice! I think I'm going to save up some money and buy New Art Academy 3ds. I have Colors3D, but New Art Academy seems to have so much more content, in terms of lessons, different mediums to sketch with, future DLC lessons etc.

It's one of the best valued 3DS titles around,and one of the best 3DS games to boot.
I'd give it 85%