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

I'm one of these so called insane, non true Nintendo fans or whatever you want to call me. Really, it's not that complicated. Before the Switch the 3DS was effectively the only option for new, portable Nintendo games. Now it isn't. So when something comes out on 3DS? It's not just competing with other 3DS games. It's competing with Super Mario Odyssey in 720p on a 6" screen. And if I am picking a machine to take with me on a holiday or something? It'll be the Switch for those reasons.

With the new Metroid? I would have got it if it was on Switch. On 3DS it's a less compelling purchase so I skipped it and brought Steam World Dig 2 on Switch instead. Pokemon Crystal? Sure, I'm interested. But if I buy it will that carry over to the inevitable Switch VC? Probably not. And as the 3DS continues to lose support there's less and less reasons for me to turn it on. I know if these games were on Switch I'd play them, on 3DS? I'm less confident

Switch is my favorite console of all time. Including the games I'll get for Christmas, I've already got more than 50 games for the system. 3DS has always been a system that I was okay with. Got not much issues with the hardware, the home menu UI and so on. Just okay, though, not more, not less. I doubt my 3DS purchases have even cracked double digits this year. And most, if not all, were picked up once, twice or even three times and played for a few hours. Some weren't even played once. And that is sad. I believe it's most definitely the technical superiority of Switch to 3DS. But the sheer amount of quality Switch releases is yet another factor. Gamers just have so much time to play games and have to choose what to play. I can't speak for everyone but I'd rather play the new shiny console that is technical superior and has loads of quality releases. And again, I find that sad and unfair towards Ever Oasis, Lady Layton and Metroid Returns. If these had been released on Switch, I'd probably have played them more. Now, the only games I've firmly been on the No Switch, No Buy side are the VC releases of Gold/Silver/Crystal. I did end up buying GS but again, never touched.

Now, do I understand and respect Nintendo's approach to 3DS this year? Definitely, I wouldn't have changed a thing. Nobody knew Switch would be such a hit so having a few 3DS releases just in case, to prolong the 3DS's life just a bit more, makes sense. Plus, it's not like these games can magically be ported to Switch with the clap of a hand. GSC are old VC titles, it can't be so hard to release those on Switch, now can it?

What annoys me isn't that the games are on 3DS, but that they aren't multiplatform - on 3DS AND Switch. Fire Emblem Warriors proved this could happen, so why couldn't Metroid II remake do the same?

@Meowpheel That happened? I'm pretty sure they never shifted all their attention to the Wii U. Even 2014, when they put the most effort into Wii U, the 3DS got some good games as well.

I'm not calling you anything, don't worry.

@skywake I disagree that Switch VC is inevitable, at least the form we're used to.

@shadow-wolf Not sure which year, but I remember that as soon as the WiiU didn't sell like pancakes, they started giving prioritizing it in an effort to save the system.

I remember it being a rather dry time for the 3DS, since the handheld had already gone through a period of priority itself, as it was also failing early on. So it went from being the special child to being the stable sibling that didn't need moral support.

(the funny thing is that in the end the 3DS ended up giving shelter to some WiiU games, isn't that amusing?)

Anyway, it seems the support they're giving to the 3DS today feels like just the natural amount a system nearing the end of its life should get. There's no rush to kill it off to make the switch seem like the one option, because the switch doesn't seem to need the "help", and the 3DS is still profitable.

@eXtremeHippo
Well the first page of this thread is basically just people saying that "true" Nintendo fans would get the game wherever it was. I can assure you, I'm quite the Nintendo fan. And even so there are valid reasons not to be hyped about 3DS exclusives now the Switch is out.

@Grumblevolcano
Isn't that kinda the point? I think it's fair to say that Nintendo will continue to want to sell these old games one way or another. The less that looks like the current VC the less likely your VC purchases on 3DS now will mean anything. Sure it's only $13AU but it's still a harder purchase when the Switch equivalent, whatever it is, would replace it and could be announced at any time.

@shadow-wolf Most of the cases you have in mind probably have simple enough explainations. FEW is the exception because 1) the FE audience is on 3DS, 2) FE as a franchise has enough selling power to justify a 3DS version (unlike, say, Metroid), and 3) Nintendo is probably working on a full-fledged Mario Party or what have you for Switch, and a port of the recent 3DS titles might be detrimental to the sales of this future installment.

@skywake That was said, but not by me. It doesn't even matter if someone is a "true" fan or not in my opinion. I just wanted to understand the other point of view better.

I have another question for the people who refuse to buy games on 3DS because they only want to buy Switch games. If the Switch was backwards-compatible with the 3DS, would you buy them then?

Also, was it like this with previous consoles? For example, did people refuse to buy Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones, Mario Tennis GBA, Zelda: Minish Cap (in some regions) and Mother 3 (in Japan) because they were GBA games and the DS was out? Or did the backwards-compatiblity mean it was different?

Well...
For me, doesn't care the games are 240p or 720p, as long the games are interesting, i don't care with graphic aspect.
I'm adult 33 years old, still playing NDS, 3DS, Wii, Gamecube games with very low pixel ( Under 720p) and have No Problem at all. Gameplay does really matter for me than graphics, but great graphics also does important too.

I use the Backward Compatibility for some machines.
I use my Wii to play Gamecube games since i never owned Gamecube machine, so it is very helpful for me.
I also use Wii U for playing BOTH Wii U and Wii games. The only TWO Wii games that i still prefer to play on my old Wii are : Harvest Moon Tree of Tranquility and Harvest Moon Animal Parade, since those games don't support Auto 16:9 ratio, the games will not stretched on Wii U but Stretched Automatically on Wii.
I still use my 3DS to play BOTH 3DS and NDS games.
I have White NDS Lite, i will use it to play GBA games since i never have GBA machine.

If Switch has Backward Compatible, i would be Excited.

I mean for me, I don't have a Switch and we all know Wii U isn't be supported anymore. So it is actually "Not on 3DS, no buy"

Really ?
But i still ADDICTED with Animal Crossing New Leaf for 4 YEARS since i bought the game back on 22 December 2013 ago.
Same with Miitopia, Fantasy Life and NDS games.
240p and still Acceptable in my eyes.
Even i have Kurikin Nano Island Story NDS by Nintendo or Ochaken no Heya series by MTO that literally 2D graphic games but still captivating my interest.
So, 2D or 3D in 240p from NDS or 3DS are still Acceptable for me.
In my opinion, those pixelate in 240p gave me some Artistic looking from Oldies era. I like it, as long the 3D rendering are decent enough for NDS or 3DS engine.
3DS and NDS games will be Everlasting for me no matter the Resolution of 240p.

Gosh...
You have No Idea to manage your town in Animal Crossing New Leaf ?
To tell you, I Have FOUR Copies of Animal Crossing New Leaf games. Two are Old Animal Crossing New Leaf in Physical, the other Two are Welcome Amiibo ( 1 is Digital download for Villager Supplier, 1 is Physical version ). Also i Have TWO 3DS XL, 1 is Older 3DS XL & 1 is New 3DS XL. So, with my Two 3DS , I can take away Move Out Villagers easily. I have Managed my First Town until i got all PWPs, got 10 Dreamy Villagers, and i expand my Towns with Another 30 Villagers on 3 Different Towns. Sometimes i don't play ACNL, so i do Time Reset every Morning before 6 AM real life and after 6PM Real life, to keep the date stay same forever until i want to continue the games.

240p is NOT Horrible at all.
I don't Care if this 2017 or before. Numbers don't really matter for me.
It Still Tolerable and Acceptable for me.
I will buy any Nintendo games regardless of their graphics as long still acceptable for me.

I NEVER consider Just Only One machines.
With so many Nintendo machines in my house, i feel like i can revisit their era right now in my house. I keep support their Old machines because i LOVE the things that i had bought with my own money and paid by my patiences to get my games from Ebay or Playasia after i have ordered with helps from my friend.

They are OHANA, Ohana means family in Hawaii. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.
My Nintendo machines are like Family members, can't be separated. I will Welcome every single Nintendo games that i bought, considered as my family member.
Btw, i am Not just only gamer, but also a Collector. That's why i have more than 90 Nintendo games right now, in different machines.

Those wanting 3DS to die in 2018 will be very disappointed, looks like instead 3DS is getting Switch ports. It started with Fire Emblem Warriors and continues with Kirby Star Allies according to the recent Australian classification.

Are they really ports if they launch at the same time...?

Wasn't a port more of a... First there, now here kinda thing?

Wait, Kirby Star Allies also on 3DS ??

Its kinda ironic that in the past people complained about dropping support for a system BEFORE the new one came out.

Now they want them to do the opposite.

Cant win.

@AlternateButtons Let the system have a transition period, and let sales taper off instead of dropping a brick on them.

The idea of having a cheaper, huge back-catalog system, is good. It's additional, very cheap revenue. Lord knows the PS2 and PS3 didn't stop once they got successors. They stuck around as the budget options, because a lot of people pick up systems at the cheap end of their lives with loads of games for cheap.