What Do You Make of This 3DS Prototype?

I'm pretty glad they went with the final design. This... just isn't as appealing, nor as sleek.

Prototypes are better suited to museums than being used for actual gameplay. And I like the final design best. But this does look good.

I actually like the whole swapping idea. The position of the d-pad now seems like it will be a little uncomfortable to use.

I think switching the D-Pad and the Circle Pad would of been awesome! But still, I think the 3DS looks way better.

@JesusSaves This to me looks like a DS Lite with an interchangeable Circle Pad/D-Pad.

While this particular model doesn't appeal quite as much as the final 3DS design, the idea of interchangable controls is very appealing. The downside -- how long before people started losing them, through carelessness or them wearing loose? The upside -- potential for some interesting games with two circle pads, and Mad Catz and others would release a host of 3rd party control nubbins.

It looks awkward since it makes the left side look cluttered. I'm glad that they changed it. But it is a neat idea.

Swapping the two components would have been awesome, but probably would have made them easy to lose

dem! I actually had this idea about the 3ds, This would have meant that you could have 2 circle pads in the box and applied them both for certain games for example.

Neat idea, but it would make things easy to loose. The only thing I'd want is bigger screens, but I guess they need to leave them small so they can expand them for the 3DS Lite.

Swapping the controls on an actual console to me is a terrible idea. Internal-wise, the hardware for the analog stick takes up a lot of space, which is why the PSP cant have two analog nubs. Second, It would be better if you could use the circle pad for the d-pad in ds games similar to Analog Dualshocks in PS1 games.

The swapping would be cool, but I'm sure it'd create problems (dust, losing one or the other, ect.)

I was actually thinking of something like this as solution for the 3ds, if people didn't like where it was already place. Neat to see that they had previously thought of this too.

Edit: I do agree that this would be a way to lose parts, if not break something easier.

Definitely would like to the see the control-pad/circle-pad swap-ability but other than that I'll stick with the current model

The final model is the best one for sure, though it'd be interesting if you could swap the D-pad and Circle Pad on it. Eh, people would probably lose the pieces or end up breaking them anyway.

I perfectly fine with the final version, the prototype looks too much like a redesigned DS.

I have designed a controller that does that, and I did it a few years back, but in much smarter way than anyone has though of so far.

That honestly just looks like a DS with a black mole on it.

It's a DS Lite with components swapped out here and there.

I dunno about a GBA slot. That would make the hardware bigger because of the need for room

It is a DS Lite, no a 3DS, look at the GBA port

Swapping the D-pad and the Circle Pad would be awesome; too bad they didn't include it on the final model.

They could have done this by putting both on a pull-out (To make room to switch them around) swivel base to switch around, but still keep it connected to th unit. Then you wouldn't lose anything. Be a little slicker way of doing it

Nintendo should have done something similar what Microsoft have done with the new 360 controller - a slide pad that can also function as a d-pad. Then you get both functions with no uncomfortable placement.

It looks like this was just used to try and figure out how to do the controls.

After all it pretty much just looks like a DS lite but with swappable buttons. So I certainly doubt this prototype was ever going to be out there.
Although I think being able to swap the d pad and slide pad would have been a good option for some, I imagine extra parts that can pop off wouldn't have been so good for some of the younger audiences either.

Damn that would have been awesome. They could've even made it with swappable buttons on the right side of the screen so you could have a left-handed version! Who cares if they get lost, that's the peoples problem. So many more possibilities with this like 4 thumb pads.

But NOOOO they just HAD to fill the system with a bunch of useless crap underneath the shell on the right side of the screen like cords and circuit boards and stuff.

People who are saying that this picture just looks like a DS Lite, it is one.

It's not necessarily confirmed, but there was a footnote in the interview about OoT 3D, and it says it is scheduled for Spring 2011. Then again, the facts could simply be old, or it could be a translation of a note in an old interview.

is that a GBA slot?

Being able to switch the positions of the D-pad and Circle-pad would have been ace.

What about being able to swap the circle pad with the A/B/X/Y for lefties? I would've liked that

I think that there should just be the circle pad. Then you could press down on both sides of the pad leaving just the + pad.

The swapping of the d-pad and circle pad would've been a cool feature for the 3DS to have...

As for people losing the parts, that's their problem...

right on

whoohoo! ya id like to pay 250 for a ds with a circle pad.

Maybe they should Do this for the 3DS XL and also add a NES A B buttons block. Be able to Switch all 4 button block to your likeing. Like if you were Left Handed.