Topic: "3DS only, no buy" - but why?

Since the Switch was released, every new game on the 3DS seems to be greeted with people stating that they will not buy it because it isn't on the Switch, and I do not understand this way of thinking.

The comments section on this website for articles about recent and upcoming 3DS games such as Metroid: Samus Returns and Pokemon Crystal have lots of comments from people who say they are interested in the game but they will not buy it because it isn't on the Switch. I can understand if someone would rather play a game on the Switch than the 3DS (bigger screen, better graphics, TV play), but for a 3DS exclusive it is either 3DS or nothing. If people are truly interested in games such as Metroid: Samus Returns, why would they refuse to buy them just because of the console that they are on? If they buy it for the 3DS, they get to enjoy a game that they are interested in. If they refuse to buy it because it isn't on the Switch, they miss out on the game completely. It doesn't make sense to me.

I see comments in which people say that they have packed their 3DS away and they are never going to play it again, and I think it is silly. The 3DS, although it seems to be coming to the end of its life, is still being supported at the moment. If someone has sold their 3DS or it has broke or something, then I understand not buying a game because it isn't on the Switch. However, if someone owns a 3DS and still refuses to buy games for it just because they want the games on the Switch, they are needlessly limiting themselves and missing out on games that they would find enjoyable.

I don't have a Switch yet but I am hopefully getting one for Christmas, but as long as I have 3DS games in my backlog or there are good 3DS games that I haven't bought yet, my usage of my 3DS will not decrease anytime soon. In fact, I have had a 3DS since launch and 2017 is the year that I have played it the most.

Of course people are free to have their opinion and refuse to buy games just because they are not on the Switch, but if someone has a 3DS and is interested in the game, I do not understand. Please explain it to me.

Maybe is that some sold their 3DS when they bought the Switch, or they simply don’t have time for the Switch AND 3DS?

@eXtremeHippo Because I don't own a 3DS. So if it isn't on Switch, it's no buy from me.

I think the issue is that the Switch is their new handheld. It's supposed to be both, combining their development teams and focus on the Switch. That was kinda the premise. So it's weird seeing all these 3DS exclusive games. If they want a separate dedicated handheld device, then why make the Switch portable to begin with?

@eXtremeHippo
Some people are demanding Too Much.
3DS and Switch are Completely Different machines.
By selling all 3DS stuffs for upgrading to Switch = Stupid idea. Because the games on 3DS are designed for 3DS, Not for Switch.
I can say, those peoples like that are NOT 100 % Loyal to Nintendo. If they are True Nintendo fans, they Will NEVER sell any of Nintendo machines due to trivial matters. They might collect all of them. More variety, better experiences.

Me, myself has a lot of Nintendo machines and games because I Like them regardless of machine specs and more important, i like those games on specific Nintendo machines. From NDS, 3DS, Wii, Wii U, Gamecube, Switch, i like all of them.

To be honest, I don't think it's too demanding to have that attitude. The Switch could easily run all the games that will come to 3DS, and most people don't want too many consoles. I think it's too much that I have a previous gen console, a current gen home console and then also a Switch. Ideally I would want just one console that played all the games I wanted, but I realize that's not realistic. What is realistic though is that I should be able to get all future Nintendo games on their new hybrid console.

@Luna_110 I wasn't talking about people who sold their 3DS so I understand if that is the reason. Regarding your second part, wouldn't it make more sense to balance time between games rather than consoles? When I have free time and I am trying to decide which game to play, I don't think "Which console do I want to play?". Instead, I think "Which game do I want to play?", and if that game is on a dying console, it doesn't affect my enjoyment of it.

@Octane I understand your point about how the Switch is supposed to be a replacement, but I don't see how that should affect whether someone buys a 3DS game or not. The Switch will replace the 3DS in terms of Nintendo's support, but a 3DS that someone owns and plays doesn't stop working because the Switch is available.

The only reason I can think of is if people think that the games will come to Switch eventually. For example, suppose someone wants to play Metroid: Samus Returns but they would rather play it on the Switch than the 3DS, so they don't buy it. If a Switch port or remaster of the game is released in the future, then that person has made the correct decision because they get to experience the game for the first time on their preferred console. But if it doesn't, they are missing out on the game even though they could easily play it on their 3DS that they already own.

@Anti-Matter The Switch will eventually completely replace the 3DS, but I agree that they are two completely different machines. The second screen on the 3DS, although it isn't necessary, is still very useful because having things such as a map, information or an inventory on the bottom screen is very convenient. I will miss the second screen when the Switch completely takes over, but I'm sure I will get used to its absence. After all, I play my PS Vita just fine without a second screen.

@Agriculture Yeah, I can understand some people not wanting to carry around too many devices, and there's nothing wrong with expecting to be able to get every Nintendo game on the Switch. It will be like that in the future, but in the meantime, why limit yourself?

Don't you know, guys?

The switch is definitely not a portable system. Not at all. Nope. Not even a little.

You can't make portable games for a home console. Duh.

@Deadstanley That makes sense, but people don't need to make any statements to get Nintendo to move on from the 3DS, because that is what they are doing anyway.

I'll still grab new 3DS games while it lasts. And once they're done with 3DS, I'll still occasionally buy games that I missed during its lifespan. There are 10 or so "must buy" games I haven't gotten yet and I'll pick up other games along the way as well. I seem to have 65 retail games (half of them downloaded), 70 or so eShop exclusives and bunch of VC games.

That said, I'm much more inclined to buy Switch games now since it's already getting so many games that I can't keep up, meanwhile 3DS game prices are going down. I also think I've bought more Wii U games in the last 3 months than I did in total in 2016.

Of course it all boils down to people doing whatever they want with the products they own and it is their prerogative and thus not silly at all but I'll bite.

For me the 3ds has been showing its age for some time; the screens are small (I've got XL systems) with poor resolution and the system is quite uncomfortable for me to play for long periods of time. I play 3ds because of the games, but I'm honestly not fond of the hardware at all.

The switch fixes pretty much all the issues I have with the 3ds: tv out, better resolution of screen, larger screen, comfortable inputs (and options for that as well), no 3d (I have vision issues...nothing worse than accidentally turning 3d on). That is just the hardware portion.

The fact that it is more powerful and has newer games is also a plus (although I still play older systems so this isn't a main factor for me). I don't want to carry around multiple systems (especially since I have a JPN and NA 3ds that I had to haul around) when I can just toss my switch case in my bag and I'm good to go for the day. So yeah for me if a game comes out on 3ds and not on Switch it is going to get a hard pass right now. Not because the game isn't good, but because I've transitioned my playtime and library to the switch and I'd rather play games on that one system rather than go back to the previous gen for a less enjoyable (hardware wise) experience.

I'll go back to the 3ds at some point as I have a huge backlog...but for new games they are going to get the most notice on the newer system. Although if Nintendo made a tv player without me having to resort to modding I'd enjoy my 3ds a lot more.

I got a 3DS and I wanted all the good 3DS games on Wii U, because like you say yourself, better graphics, better tech, better experience.
I still have a 3DS, and now I want all the good 3DS games on Switch.

I never played much on the 3DS to begin with because Wii U and Switch are just a better experience for any kind of game.

I think now that I'm used to the Switch, the 3DS seems a bit lame in terms of graphics and screen size. I agree with you though, if a game's only available on 3DS I'm happy to buy it on there. I'm sure I'll keep using mine for years to come.

@Anti-Matter I'm not 100% loyal anymore. Sony pulled me into the Dark Side. Excuse me, I'm off to the Unknown Regions to mine some kyber crystals for my new red lightsaber.

@Meowpheel The games don't even have to be exclusive to one platform. Pokemon Crystal? (or Red, Blue, Gold and Silver for that matter), who not release them on Switch as well? I'd buy them if they were available.

@eXtremeHippo I loved my 3DS, it was my most played system over my PS4, PS3, Wii, and WiiU during its life. I loved my NES, but when I got my SNES I preferred playing SNES games.

Ultimately the main reason is that while I strongly miss the 3D of the 3DS and wish Switch still had that feature, other than that, there's really nothing that the 3DS does that the Switch doesn't also do, and do better. I know the touch screen thing is different, and some games use it a lot, but in general, everything I loved about 3DS (weight, portability, instant-on, instant-suspend, quality games) the Switch does as well, but then adds to it a bigger, sharper, brighter, more colorful screen, and the full compliment of inputs as well as additional types of games/performance, plus the ability to play the same game handheld or on the TV. It's not that I dislike my 3DS as much as my Switch is kind of a Super 3DS merged with a WiiU, and improves upon it in nearly every way short of the 3D and second screen. If I could play Samus Returns on the 6" screen and on the TV it would be better than on 3DS. But I do love the 3D, and MercurySteam uses the 3D better than almost anyone.

I'll still be sad when 3DS is fully sunset...tons of great memories of that system. But Switch continues everything I liked about it and more.

@Ryu_Niiyama BTW, almost kinda related but not, I did test VR with one eye closed and it looks great. No weird 3DS mesh effect. Looks like normal life with one eye closed....it's not in 3D, but neither is reality. The head tracking and looking around objects works like life. Can't comment on if it would affect you dizziness/disorientation wise though.

@Octane If the old Pokemon games got released on Switch before the new game, for plenty there'd be less reason to play the new game.

@Grumblevolcano Not really. If they don't release it on Switch, I'll just play it on my PC instead. It doesn't really affect any of my other purchases.

@Octane
Psst...
You know what ?
I had ELIMINATED Two PS2 games from my PS2 Wish list.
They are Street Fighter Zero Generations and Street Fighter III 3rd Strike PS2.
Since i heard about Street Fighter 30th Anniversary for Switch that included Street Fighter 1, 2 , 3 , ALPHA series, suddenly i eliminated both of them from my PS2 buy list.
I Love those games, but i would rather betray Sony machines if my favorite games also appear on Nintendo machines, doesn't matter from PS1 / PS2 / PS3 / PS4. Once i got the Nintendo version, the PS version officially eliminated from my list.

But, don't worry.
I still have PS2 Slim Japan to play Dance Dance Revolution games, K-1 games, Drummania games, Beatmania IIDX, Pop'n Music, Para Para Para Paradise, Bomberman Battles, Bomberman Land 3, etc.
My Lovely White PS2 Slim will be considered as my Home Arcade since i have A Lot of Rhythm games list for my PS2 + Kickboxing games.

Maybe wait until you get a Switch and see if you change your mind.

When I got my PS4, I didn't feel inclined to buy PS3 games. Even if I was "missing out", it didn't matter. For example, apparently I'm missing out by not watching Game of Thrones, but since I don't know any different I don't care.

What it comes down to is people have limited play time and they might want to keep it all within certain confines. I can understand that.

I do get your point too, of course. But would you rush out and buy a DS or Gameboy Advance game today when you have a 3DS? Would you be less inclinded to watch a film in standard definition if you'd just got a new 4K TV? I think if you try you can get into the alternative mindset.

Well I bought Bravely Default and Bravely Second week before Xenoblade Chronicles 2 for my most beloved console ever! Yes, I do love my Switch and playing it every day but still playing my 3DSXL few days a week. I have lots of games and it’s not going anywhere soon. Last physical game I bought was FE: Echoes and I plan to buy Samus Returns but that’s it. From now on just Switch games for me.