While it seems to be the case that the New Nintendo 3DS XL is the stronger seller in territories with both that and the smaller model on offer, those with the standard option have clearly been keen on the cover plates. Special edition cover plates - called Kisekae in Japan - often see pre-orders sell out rapidly online, and there's a sizeable range on offer.
For those with an artistic approach, though, a trader on Etsy is now offering the charming 3D printed custom plate shown above. The product's listing says the following.
It's 3D printed in ABS and supplied with a natural raw matte white finish for you to paint, draw and customise to your heart's content!
Being ABS, it can be made smooth by gentle sanding or exposure to Acetone vapors. It can be painted with Acrylics, Enamels and most spray paints. You can draw on it with most markers (although Sharpies tend to "bleed" if the surface isn't primed). It can be spray painted and airbrushed! With the right equipment, you can even electroplate it with metal!
With worldwide shipping and a UK price of £6 this may be tempting to some - just think of the masterpieces that can be created.
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[source tinycartridge.com, via etsy.com]
Comments 27
Oooh, yes! If developers don't do it, I'll just put up my personal favourite designs on that! And the price difference really is impressive!
Damn you, NoA! I wish I could do something like this.
What a great idea. I'm not much of an artist myself but perhaps we will see more talented individuals than myself buy these in bulk and produce wonderful designs to sell on. That could be great.
These will sell well. If I had the new 3ds then I would buy one and place a vinyl over it since I am crap at making art.
Just started makijg custom amiibo myself, so I might give this a try. I was planning on trying this out on a standard white cover plate anyway, so I'm very much intrigued!
This almost makes me want a regular sized New 3DS. I've already got the New 3DS XL though, so I'll probably won't be getting it. But these are really nice, Nintendo could have done something like this themselves
i already tried to order a custom one, but the seller is really slow at replying to me...
Hello good news normal size New 3Ds faceplates are coming soo as I am making them
@DonnaxNL
Hi Donna, sorry about that! February has been our busiest month on record and your message may have slipped through the cracks.
We'd love to reply to you right now, but at the moment etsy seems to be having some maintenance/stability issues when we're trying to access it. [Perhaps all the traffic from Nintendo Life may be responsible for that? ]
When etsy is behaving itself again, if you give us a nudge in the etsy conversation, we'll try to make it right.
If you are doing anything with acetone I recommend you don't live with anybody else
Why stops at this?
A 3D printed New 3DS XL shell would be awesome.
(yeah it would be harder to replace but it's not impossible)
Wow!
How about 3D patterns in/on the surface for embossed and/or debossed designs?
Screenshots, themes, Miis, etc - Including contact info subtly along the edge..
A simple spray paint would be adequate then - Paint & wipe techniques could leave different color effects in the pattern with minimal skill required.
Or just leaving at as is.
Are back plates too complicated?
I'd buy a custom backplate for my XL - front plate too if replacing it isn't warranty-spoiling. Obviously removing the back plate is no big deal, since we do that to upgrade the micro SD.
@Chompworks My comment was in an upset tone, as I wanted to have one before it spread out. And of course I would recommend other people too.
I will leave a message in the Etsy conversation again.
@abwx We can do embossed designs already - we've had to temporarily remove the custom plate option to keep up with demand though Basically as long as people can provide a vector image we can emboss most things!
As for the bottom plates, we've modelled them but haven't been able to source screws yet for them - they will be up as soon as we do!
Great news guys we custom print directly onto your 3DS all you need to do is send us your artwork and we will quote to print 'directly' onto your 3DS. Even better is that we can build up the print layers to give a 3D finish like Braille.
UK only.
And of course we can print on any attachable face plates, armour or clam cases etc.
So, just to be sure, what difference would there be when using this over the official white face plate for making custom painted plates?
@Chompworks
I must get back to you too about my mii embossed faceplate. Loved the villager axe and net, btw. Now to make him look psychopathic!
My Brother has a 3D printer, a really nice one at that... But there'd probably be no business for cover plates in the US lol!
@Dawn-Shade Was thinking the same. Have you tried replacing yours or seen it attempted by anyone else?
@AVahne There isn't any difference - it works in exactly the same way as the official plate (there are two 'keys' which slot into two small holes on the 3ds so it fits into place)
We thought it would be nice for people to have a blank canvas for creative folk to express themselves after one of our artist friends enquired about making custom plates - and at the moment the only blank official plates ship with the consoles.
Clear ones would be good, as then you could paint the inside and not worry about it scratching.
@chompworks
The backplate screws are probably available as camera parts. If that isn't enough help, or you aren't sure of the spec, try http://www.lensrentals.com/contact - they have parts sources & can refer you. If necessary, they are experienced in identifying oddball small screws. If your inquiry sounds interesting enough & hits enough geek buttons you're sure to get their interest (I follow Roger Cicala's blog, and grin widely thinking of him getting into this). And I'd be surprised if there aren't a few Nintendo players among their staff. Tell them the 3DS iterations are all 3D cameras.
The more I think about it, the more I love the idea of having a steampunk textured backplate for my fingers to stroke on my New XL while I play. These ARE 3D devices, after all, so why would I want 2D decorations?
I bet you could offer a basic repeated design or three in steampunk flavors, in metallic gray ABS (with some rub&buff metallic antiquing hints) and get a LOT of orders from New 3DS XL owners. I've been googling designs & there are lots of nice looking ones. If I settle down long enough to determine if any are free, I'll let you know.
Lol: "posh fish and chips."
Most British sentence I've heard all week!
If this can be done then it should be possible to create a N3DS XL variant. If that happens, I will be more inclined to actually buy a N3DS in America.
@Chompworks Do you foresee blank covers for the new 3ds XL in the near future? There are two designs I really want but they only fit on the smaller version.
@Sakura_Moonlight2421 It might be something we can look at offering in the future, but unlike the smaller covers which are designed to be interchangable, changing the cover of a larger 3DS might affect the warranty for the console.
@MyBodyIsReggie yes. But it's not the New model.
My friend dislike his boring dull blue 3DS XL, so he airbrushed the shell and painted a cool Giratina on top of it (after he removed the shell first, of course).
Too bad in order to remove the top shell, the four screws near the top screen will be permanently exposed. He said you have to rip the 'rubbery' protector to remove it.
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