Considering getting a 3DS

[Doclector]

Few questions:
1) Is there any reason you would recommend getting a new one over a preowned one? I don't know how reliable it is or whether you can easily get a clean slate on a used 3DS (I've seen a few preowned 3DS that seem to have e-shop downloads on them, it made me wonder whether the previous owner's details are easy to delete).

2) It seems to me that it's difficult to find decent 3DS games for anything under £20. Maybe I've just been spoiled by the ridiculously cheap prices on xbox 360 in the last couple of years. Would you say it's hard to find affordable games for 3DS?

3) How easy is it to get connected to the internet? On the DS, I never got online, because it would have required me to go into my router and set up a completely different kind of security. Does the 3DS work with most routers out of the box?

Thanks for your help.

 

[thatonedude11]

1) The only major reservation I would have over getting a used 3DS is the possibility of worn or damaged hinges, as those things aren't the most durable in the world. However, if you buy it and you find the hinges are bad, you can always just return it, so that isn't a huge concern. Other than that, the only potential problems are an old battery (which can be replaced) or the lack of an SD card (which can be bought pretty much everywhere). Wiping old data is very easy on the 3DS.

2) That's the biggest problem with the 3DS. Most of the best games are first party Nintendo games, and those rarely go down in price. Nintendo does sometimes offer deals where if you buy a new system and a specific game, you can get another game for free (they did this when Pokemon X/Y launched), so you should look out for that. You can get cheaper games used, and Amazon sometimes sells games for a lower price, but other than that there isn't much help I can give you for cheap 3DS games.

3) This is still an issue with the 3DS. The Wi-Fi is incredibly finicky, and whether or not your router settings will work is a complete crapshoot. It is better than the DS though, so just because you couldn't get online with the DS doesn't mean you can't get online with the 3DS. However, most wireless network cards have the option of broadcasting a short-ranged wifi network, so you could look into that if your router doesn't work (you may need to have an Ethernet cable or another method of connecting to the internet though).

All that being said though, I would still recommend getting a 3DS, as the amount of quality games is absurd (Luigi's Mansion, Animal Crossing, Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Donkey Kong Country Returns, and many, many more). Nintendo makes the best portable consoles around, and the 3DS is no exception.

Edit: Slight proofreading.

 

[Lilani]

My 3DS situation is very different from yours so I'm afraid I can't give you any helpful advice one way or another on your three points (I got my 3DS new, I don't buy a lot of games for it and since I never had a DS in the first place I've been buying a lot of super cheap used DS games, and I don't do a lot of connecting to the Internet but when I have done it it worked alright).

The one thing I will tell you is that, if it is at all possible, GET A 3DS XL. New it's only like $20 or $30 more than a regular one, the screen is significantly larger, the unit is easier to hold, and the battery life is longer. I spent that little extra on the XL and every time I see my boyfriend's dinky regular DS I don't understand how he can see a thing on those tiny screens. Also know there's no loss of resolution, I haven't played a 3DS game yet that looked stretched or pixelated.

Captcha: less is more. No captcha, you've got it wrong. In this case MORE IS MORE.

 

[Doclector]

1) The only major reservation I would have over getting a used 3DS is the possibility of worn or damaged hinges, as those things aren't the most durable in the world. However, if you buy it and you find the hinges are bad, you can always just return it, so that isn't a huge concern. Other than that, the only potential problems are an old battery (which can be replaced) or the lack of an SD card (which can be bought pretty much everywhere). Wiping old data is very easy on the 3DS.

2) That's the biggest problem with the 3DS. Most of the best games are first party Nintendo games, and those rarely go down in price. Nintendo does sometimes offer deals where if you buy a new system and a specific game, you can get another game for free (they did this when Pokemon X/Y launched), so you should look out for that. You can get cheaper games used, and Amazon sometimes sells games for a lower price, but other than that there isn't much help I can give you for cheap 3DS games.

3) This is still an issue with the 3DS. The Wi-Fi is incredibly finicky, and whether or not your router settings will work is a complete crapshoot. It is better than the DS though, so just because you couldn't get online with the DS doesn't mean you can't get online with the 3DS. However, most wireless network cards have the option of broadcasting a short-ranged wifi network, so you could look into that if your router doesn't work (you may need to have an Ethernet cable or another method of connecting to the internet though).

All that being said though, I would still recommend getting a 3DS, as the amount of quality games is absurd (Luigi's Mansion, Animal Crossing, Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Donkey Kong Country Returns, and many, many more). Nintendo makes the best portable consoles around, and the 3DS is no exception.

Edit: Slight proofreading.

I had a look online, and it seems the 3DS supports my router whereas the DS did not, so that's solved. In what way did you mean "finicky" anyway? Is it typically unstable? Honestly, I can live without online play, but in the age of patches and bug fixes, seems foolish to not have access to the internet at all.

My 3DS situation is very different from yours so I'm afraid I can't give you any helpful advice one way or another on your three points (I got my 3DS new, I don't buy a lot of games for it and since I never had a DS in the first place I've been buying a lot of super cheap used DS games, and I don't do a lot of connecting to the Internet but when I have done it it worked alright).

The one thing I will tell you is that, if it is at all possible, GET A 3DS XL. New it's only like $20 or $30 more than a regular one, the screen is significantly larger, the unit is easier to hold, and the battery life is longer. I spent that little extra on the XL and every time I see my boyfriend's dinky regular DS I don't understand how he can see a thing on those tiny screens. Also know there's no loss of resolution, I haven't played a 3DS game yet that looked stretched or pixelated.

Captcha: less is more. No captcha, you've got it wrong. In this case MORE IS MORE.

Hmm. Perhaps. I coped fine with the DS lite's screen for years, but improved battery life would be nice. By the looks of things, if I can scrape the money together, I'll probably get a preowned 3ds/3dsxl bundle from GAME or the like. There were some cheaper ones down the local market, but considering what was said about the hinges, I'd rather buy from someone more reputable.

 

[thatonedude11]

I had a look online, and it seems the 3DS supports my router whereas the DS did not, so that's solved. In what way did you mean "finicky" anyway? Is it typically unstable? Honestly, I can live without online play, but in the age of patches and bug fixes, seems foolish to not have access to the internet at all.

All I know is that I've had trouble connecting my 3DS to the internet, but I fully admit that I may be a small exception and that most people may be able to just fine. I'm just going with my own experience on this one.

Also, I agree that you should try to get a 3DS XL. Bigger screen + better battery life = no brainer in my opinion.

 

[Doclector]

I had a look online, and it seems the 3DS supports my router whereas the DS did not, so that's solved. In what way did you mean "finicky" anyway? Is it typically unstable? Honestly, I can live without online play, but in the age of patches and bug fixes, seems foolish to not have access to the internet at all.

All I know is that I've had trouble connecting my 3DS to the internet, but I fully admit that I may be a small exception and that most people may be able to just fine. I'm just going with my own experience on this one.

Also, I agree that you should try to get a 3DS XL. Bigger screen + better battery life = no brainer in my opinion.

Definately considering it. My parents offered to pay my rent this month as reward for good uni grades, so I have some extra money.

 

[SmugFrog]

Picked up a refurbished one from Gamestop my daughter, haven't had any problems with it.

 

[Doclector]

I got a red 3DSXL, couple of scratches on the top screen, but otherwise good condition, and I snapped up Luigi's mansion 2 (you have no idea how long I have waited for that, BTW) and Animal crossing. Thanks for your help, guys!

 

[CatLafitte]

Don't forget they are releasing a New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL with some changes next year, including a second analog stick, shoulder buttons and slightly better hardware. Might be worth to wait for it.

 

[Doclector]

Don't forget they are releasing a New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL with some changes next year, including a second analog stick, shoulder buttons and slightly better hardware. Might be worth to wait for it.

Yep, they announced that a couple of days after I got my 3DS. I'm not too pissed, if worse comes to worse, I should still be able to get a decent trade in price against the new one, and it won't be here until at least late 2015, and that's before I wait and see whether it'd be worth the extra money, honestly some of those extra buttons look kind of uncomfortably placed.

 

[Malpraxis]

1) As long as the hinges are in good condition, I'd say buy used. No benefits to buying new and they're fairly sturdy. I still have my original DS in working state. Personal data is easy to delete.

2) Maybe. But a better strategy is to own few games that you really enjoy, and play the crap outta them. I definitely get more bang for my buck on portable games than all the stuff I buy on a sale on Steam/PSN and never play.

3) Never had any issues at home, work or random coffee places. So I'd say it's pretty easy.

EDIT: Didn't read you got one. Congratulations on a smart move.

 

[Mikeybb]

If no one has already advised it, wait until the new 3ds arrives.

There will be software specific to it, and that may change your purchasing option, but it's mainly for the price drop that should follow on the other models as the new release becomes more desirable.
Not just in the second hand market too as people upgrade.

if you're desperate to make the purchase soon, even waiting a month might be beneficial. See what christmas packages are going to be like for the current 3ds

oh, and go for the XL.
It's a damn site better.