So the long-awaited XL version of the 3DS is coming out this Sunday, along with New Super Mario Bros. 2.
The XL has a 90% bigger screen, improved battery life, better 3D viewing angle, and retails for $199.99.
NSMB2 will be the first Nintendo retail game to also have a digital version available upon launch.
Any of my fellow Dopers planning on upgrading? 
I only bought my 3DS a few months ago 
Kind of annoyed that they already have a new and improved version.
I don’t think I’ll upgrade so soon, although I’ll be interested to hear what people think of it if they do.
I have a blue one pre-ordered. I waited for the 3DS to get a revision, and I’m glad I did.
I already own Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land. NSMB2 doesn’t interest me as much as those two games. I hope I own it one day… but NSMB’s is too vanilla for me, and I don’t like the coin gimmick. I would have LOVED a new Wario game.
I hear many people are saying good things about the system
I can’t wait to finally own a 3DS. We all have to share our friend codes afterwards.
I’m happy with my current 3DS, so I’m not going to upgrade. If my current one ever needs replacing, I’ll consider whatever 3DS XL i Lite version they have at that point :).
I’ll pick up NSMB2 at some point I’m sure, but I already have a few games to play through, so I won’t be getting it for a while.
Are there any 3DS XL exclusives actually?
What do you mean by exclusives? Any game you can play for the XL, you can play with the old 3DS.
I would punch kittens, thousands and thousands of kittens if they made exclusives. I don’t see how or why they would but there would be punched kittens. :mad:
Does anyone know how Nintendo is handing upgrading to the XL when it comes to DLC and games you own? I am an ambassador and don’t want to lose my games if I decide to upgrade down the line…
You can do a System Transfer, Steampunk Willie. When you’re done transferring everything, your old 3DS will be wiped clean, like it’s fresh out of the box, and your new system will have everything that used to be on it.
All the DLC, Ambassador status, StreetPass info and puzzle pieces, any leftover money from the eShop, all that stuff will go over to the new system.
Call me silly, but why does Nintendo(and other companies, I assume) make tiny screens initially, only to make larger screens later? It seems like the larger screen would be preferable. Is it not technologically possible at the time of release?
Maximizing sales, making sure that more market segments are covered, if I had to make a guess.
Traditionally, the XL versions of Nintendo have been pitched to people who like to play their handhelds at home (less portable) and they also seem to focus on the older gamers. (More expendable income, more presbyopia, makes the more expensive, larger screen device more attractive?) Games like Brain Age and Professor Layton are frequently showcased on the XL-sized screens, I’ve noticed.
But yea, I’m sure it would have been technologically possible to make the bigger screen last year when 3DS launched. The thing already cost $250 with a small screen though. I don’t think they’d have sold many XLs at an even higher price point.
I waited outside the EB games opening day for the 3DS. Never again. :mad:
No, I don’t like to up convert hand helds. One gameboy (color), one DS (original), one 3DS.
I had the original GBA, but then my grandpa bought my little cousin a GBA SP, and mom could tell I was seething with rage at how cool that was. The rechargeable battery built in was the tipping point, though everything about that system was oozing with way more cool than the original DS.
You play online? I already have a few chat forum racing partners from the interwebs, could always use some more! 
My code is 4511 0482 9962 - if you add me, say so in this thread or send me a PM with your code.
I play MK7 online pretty often, and own a few other online games (SSF4, Tetris Axis) that I don’t play as often.
I got NSMB2 over the weekend and lately that is taking all my attention!! 
My code is 1461 7482 9968
My handle is MyFootsZZZ.
I’m going to creat a new threadwith 3DS friend codes as I’ve searched the boards for but didn’t find.
Boy, I’m pretty bad at Mario Kart, (as you could see).
The 3D in the 3DS is almost impossible to use for me while I’m playing a game, (I keep it as still as I can, but It’s hard for me to find the ‘sweet spot’ when I move), so I keep it on 2D most of the time. I usually keep the 3D on if I’m playing a track on MK7, or a level on SMB3DL for the first time… then turn it off once I go back and play them again. Watching videos in 3D is a blast though. People are most impressed when I show them the AR cards, and when we play “Face Raiders”.
The system’s a little heavy, so I have to get use to that. The screen is beautiful though. And I love 3D pictures, but I wish I could share them with other people that don’t have a 3DS.
I don’t like pressing the Home button every time I wish to exit something. I wish I could just cancel out and go back to the main menu.
SM3DL is a great game, but difficult for me to get use to. I’m glad the levels are so short. Right now I’m not interested in NSMB2. It looks bland to me. Does anyone here want to tell me if it’s worth buying in the future? If I can get it used, I might pick it up one day. I hear getting a million coins takes forever, and I like
to get 100% so…
Overall it’s great, though I wish the 3D worked better.
Just my opinion here…
When I got my 3DS last year at launch, my eyes would be strained if I played games (PilotWings Resort was the one that almost gave me a headache) but I didn’t mind the videos and such. Super Mario 3D Land was the first game that I started leaving the 3D slider at 100% for long periods. I think by the time MK7 came out last year, I’d already been properly trained at keeping my hands still and my head still while gaming and I absolutely love the 3D on that game too.
I think you just need practice.
I also had eye strain at first and assumed it was just going to be a part of 3D gaming, buf after a week or two all of it completely went away and I’ve rarely turned down the 3D slider since. This seems to be the experience of most people.
If you’ve played any of the NSMB games then you know what to expect with the new one. It’s a little vanilla and does little to innovate, but honestly even medicore Mario is more fun to me than almost any other game. I’d give this one the slight edge over the other two just because I’m happy to have the flying raccoon suit back and it’s neat to actually have an incentive to pick up coins again. I only have around 50K coins after finishing the game (including all the collectibles and secret exits), so yeah a million will take a long time, but it’s completely optional.
I agree with MyFootsZZZ. The problem is that I can’t keep my stoopid hands perfectly still when playing/racing, so the result is a lot of out of focused Mario karts! It works much better in, say, pilotwings, than in a game that needs quicker, sharper turns. YMMV, of course.
I know I’m ‘late to the party’, but Super Mario 3D Land is getting really tough! I’m on Special World 7-3. I have all three coins for each level and all Golden flag poles thus far. They should have indicated that you can only 100% it with a gold flag at the end of each level… I’m glad I looked it up first.
I have 600 extra lives, because I keep going back to world 1-1 for the tanooki and a tanooki reserve… it’s the best power-up in the game, especially if you want the gold flag poles. They need to give you more power ups in the game, versus giving you all the extra lives. The silver leaf is no better than the regular leaf… I never needed the statue feature. The only way I know how to beat Bowser is to get hit by him. I’m sure you can run under him when he jumps, but I NEVER successfully did that.
One thing I don’t like about SM3DL is that the star coins are MOSTLY just hard to get… I would rather they be hidden, (I know some are). I would rather explore the level than making a leap of faith. The levels are nice and short though, and I like that.
It’s also weird that there are random themes to each level… there’s no “snow world”, just levels scattered with snow.
Even if there’s things I don’t like about it, It’s been my obsession since I got it. There’s a lot of content, but unlike Mario Galaxy for the Wii, I don’t think I will be going back and playing it just for fun. NSMB2 probably had more longevity with it’s ‘coin rush’, but I have NSMB for the DS and the Wii, and both felt so ‘vanilla’ and stale.
I see most people here are playing NSMB2, and I wish I could join you… but I only had enough money for two games, (the other is Mario Kart 7). I think I made the right choice.
SMB3DL is a great game.