I am going with option 3.
My little brother had a 3DS when he was 7, but wasn't responsible enough, and lost it, he is a little more responsible now, but he can be careless. He has been asking for a new one and I think I will buy him one since his birthday is at the end of October along with Disney Infinity as he wants that too.
I personally think it is ugly, but a good investment on someone you don't want to spend 150+ on, and still get the same sized screen.
I also find it to be a sly tactic as Nintendo promised they wouldn't redo the 3DS after XL...yay technicalities?
I wonder what you call 3DS software now. Are they 3DS games or 2DS games with 3D capability?
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I think is the stupidest thing they've done for a while. First off they have given it a stupid name. Which average consumer is going to think that the [b]2[/b]DS is going to on par with the [b]3[/b]DS? The new form factor seems silly, why not just sue the 3DS form factor? Wouldn't it have cost them more to design and produce this new case? Couldn't they have just removed the 3D technology to create a cheaper version, or does having a device that looks significantly different help push sales? It loos horrible to hold, the doorstop shape just makes it look like it would have awful balance, and why and the buttons now at the top screen? Also for a handheld console it doesn't seem very portable anymore.