Welcome back!

Here's my list of suggestions, why, and links to where to get them. A few are only available on computer, but you'll see which ones:

• Thomas Was Alone (Meta. A cute puzzle game about AIs, and their relationship to the game and developers. It's simple in graphics and big on heart. = computer - itunes - android
  
• The Stanley Parable (another meta game. About the players role in games itself and their relationship to the developers. This is a MUST HAVE for anyone who is really into games. It's fantastic, hilarious and oddly artsy) = computer -
  
• Telltale's "The Walking Dead" seasons 1 & 2. (These are some of the best games I've played. Point and Click adventure games that everyone loves, even those who don't like point and click games. They are extremely emotional and heart-pounding. I recommend it highly, especially if you want a game that you can watch him play, or vice versa, and really get a fantastic story. Storyline continues based on your decisions in the previous game) = SEASON ONE: computer - PS3 - XBOX360 - PSVITA - iPhone/iPad (first episode free, others are in-game purchases, same with all the mobile games) - Android === SEASON 2: computer - PS3 - XBOX360 - iPhone/iPad - Android
  
• To The Moon (sweet looking 16 bit game that is more of an interactive story. It routinely makes people cry because it's so darned sweet. Love is a central theme.) = computer
  
• Borderlands 2 and/or Borderlands the PreSequel (both fun and funny FPS games that you can run coop if you like) = BORDERLANDS 2: computer - XBOX360 - PS3 === BORDERLANDS PRESEQUEL: computer - XBOX360 - PS3
  
• Portal (fun and funny puzzle game - but he MAY have already played this if the Half-Life 2 he got was the full "The Orange Box")
  
• Portal 2 (also fun and funny, but with a coop mode as well) = computer - XBOX360 - PS3
  
• Fallout 3 and/or Fallout: New Vegas (Post apocolypic games that are fun and often funny. They are open world RPGs with FPS playing style, although you can switch to 3rd person. Fallout 3 is more epic, grand and is more metropolitan, and Fallout New Vegas is more like a spaghetti western, intimate, and has better writing/storyline in my opinion) = FALLOUT 3: computer - XBOX360 - PS3 == FALLOUT: NEW VEGAS: computer - XBOX360 - PS3
  
• Mass Effect 1, 2, & 3 (RPG/FPS set the future, in space, where the storyline continues, using your decisions from the previous games) = computer - XBOX360 - PS3
  
• Red Dead Redemption (an open world RPG/FPS that takes pages from both spaghetti westerns and film noir. If you get this, be sure to get the add on called "Undead Nightmare", where you fight Zombies and meet mythical creatures. The base game is more artsy, and Undead Nightmare is just a squat load of fun.) The links that follow have both thenormal game, and Undead Nightmare in one. = XBOX360 - PS3
  
  
• A different idea is to actually get him a wireless controller for his phone! If he has an Andriod, I would suggest the Power A Moga Hero Power It's portable, holds the phone, and I just am in love with mine. And because I have an Andriod, I can download ROMs to play older games like Zelda: Ocarina of Time, etc etc. But the controller works with SO many games! If he has an iPhone or iPad, or if you want another option for Android, I would go with the iPega. I don't have one, but it has the highest reviews.
  
  As for if you should give 1 or 2 gifts, I think 2 might be a lot of fun! But it might depend on what the "1st place" person has on their list and what you want to give them! I'd say make the decision based off of what you want to give the main winner! =)
  
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  EDIT - 3DS Games to consider:
  
  
• Fire Emblem: Awakening - it's one of the best RPGs out for the 3DS. It's immersive and epic. Top reviews across the board.
  
• Animal Crossing: New Leaf because everyone loves it so much and it's just adorable.
  
• Professor Layton vs Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney because anything Phoenix Wright related is flipping amazing and totally fun.
  
• Kingdom Hearts 3D Dream Drop Distance A great option if he's played other Kingdom Hearts games.
  
• The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. Especially if he's into Zelda, I agree with others that this is a nice option. Top-down action that returns to Zelda's roots.
  
  edit 2: P.S: I'm new. I'll be making an intro post hopefully tonight! So hopefully it's alright that I posted here first. I was just excited, as I'm a gamer and love helping people with what to play next. In any event... HI!!
  
  edit 3: I just made my [INTRO] post. It's here if you/anyone's interested.

I struggled a lot trying to play video games when I was first having serious trouble with my hands. I don't know your genre of choice but mine have always been MMOs and turn-based strategy. I agree with /u/SixJointsOfPain that once you're on some sort of DMARD you will likely feel better soon, but until you do here are some of my favorite ways to ease hand stress while gaming with arthritis.

• Compression gloves. They can help keep swelling at bay (and keep heat in during these wintery months) and ease some of the pain of swollen knuckles.
  
• Ergonomic keyboard/mouse/controller. If you play anything on a system they make Monster Hunter for, try searching specifically branded ones like this. People who spend hours at a time hunting monsters on their handhelds are serious about hand comfort, I guess.
  
• Breaks to stretch. Not always the easiest if you're playing something fast-paced, but people can be surprisingly considerate if you're like "hold up a sec, medical stuff". I heal a lot in WoW and 99% of players will just let it go at that or after a quick "what's wrong?" "oh I have arthritis in my hands, just needed to stretch. We're good now!" or whatever. You're (presumably?) a grown-up; you do you. ;)
  
• Playing easier, slower-paced games. This can suck when all your friends are playing Overwatch but like... The Sims 4 is pretty neat. And Animal Crossing and Pokemon never really get old, do they? :)
  
• Find new ways to enjoy the games you love. I personally collect dolls and figures so one of my non-gaming hobbies is posing and photographing my Link figma in all sorts of silly ways and places. Papercraft is also really cool-- and I believe there is software to convert game models straight into papercraft projects.
  
  I hope this was at all helpful and not just a lot of reading for no payoff. :x I also hope you feel better soon. When I quit WoW four years ago I thought I would never be back but I'm literally logged in right now on my healer in the window behind the one I'm typing this comment in. Modern medicine is amazing.
  If you want someone understanding to commiserate with on bnet (I think I saw some Overwatch in your post history lol) I'm eiridel#1620. This goes for anyone who reads this comment, but please just let me know who you are when you friend me lmao

First off I'll simply say if you're looking for a game that you can sit down and play for hours on end, avoid the Animal Crossing games(at least the first one and the newest one) unless you're the type of person who enjoys messing around with making clothing designs or just wandering around enjoying the sights.

If you have experience with the AC franchise after the first game, I can't give a good review compared to anything but the first game as I've never played the sequels, but as someone who was really hoping for something very similar to the first, it was more than worth my purchase.

What is there to do?
The game is entirely in "real time" based on your 3DS clock, so if your clock is set to, say, 10PM, when you start up the game, it'll be 10PM in game as well and most of the shops will be closed and many of the villagers asleep(this can be changed a little, more on that later. Some villagers also stay up longer than others but others also may go to bed earlier than others).
Edit Holidays/events also happen every so often. Things ranging from fishing or bug catching contests, to a summer solstice to an april fool's day event and many many more. Some aren't terribly game changing(the solstice, for example, making it just look like it's day time even at midnight and making villagers stay out very late) while others like the catching contests can give you plenty to do during the day it's going on.

Disregarding time restrictions, you can run around and collect fruit to sell, talk to villagers(more on that later also), visit shops to buy clothing, furniture, wallpapers, carpets, etc etc. Over the course of a week or two, so long as you're playing regularly, you'll likely unlock an island that you can visit to do mini games and(if you're so inclined) collect a crap load of bugs/fish to rake in easy bells(the currency in game).

Speaking of bugs and fish, catching them is a major part of the game as well as not only is there a museum to donate them to to eventually reach 100% with it, but they're also a major source of money, especially early game with the "mainland" bugs.

Regarding my earlier comment about being able to change the times shops open, this is because you're the mayor of the town on the first character you create. You'll be allowed to enact ordinances such as making the town a "night owl" town which causes shops to close later and villagers to stay up later, make a "rich town" making things sell for larger amounts, but also making buy prices go higher, and a few others. You'll also be able to create "public work" projects which amount to you building things such as simple light posts, wells and bridges to things like a campsite, a police station and a club, to name a few of them.

One of, if not the* main draw of the games, though, are the villagers. There's dozens of potential villagers in game and upon making your village you're randomly assigned 4(I think) and can have a maximum number of 9(10 I think with the campsite but that one's temporary). Villagers can move out and be replaced with other random ones so you'll rarely be wanting for variety, though it can lead to some sad times if a favorite moves out unexpectedly. Personality wise there's about 8 or so "types", 4 for each gender, that they can act as, though it may just be me, but it seems very much like each individual one also has their own unique mannerisms to a degree. You can talk to them every day, be given "quests" ranging from picking fruit for them, delivering items for them and going to their house(so nothing too epic or anything). They'll sometimes, if you're on your mayor, also ask you to build certain things for them. There's other things you can do with them, but that should give you a relatively quick overview of them.

Other than the villagers moving in and out, the town also evolves to a degree. After spending certain amounts of bells at certain places or doing other things, the "main street" area which is the main area for shopping will expand it's buildings or add new ones for you to use.

A big time sink for many people is the clothing as well. Not only can you collect various types like shirts, pants, shoes, socks, glasses, helmets, etc etc, but you can also make your own designs for shirts and dresses. On the 3DS they've also included a QR system in which you'll eventually unlock the ability to download QR codes that are all over the net and even upload your own.

The other main draw of the game is the housing system. Upon arriving at the town you'll be given a house that you can pay off the loan for and, if desired expand it several times. You can obviously collect and fill it with furniture but also now customize the outside, from the fence around it, to the mailbox, to the walls and roof and door. A fun system is also the feng shui which can give you better luck with various in game mechanics by putting colored pieces of furniture in the "correct" places in your house. You'll also eventually get to have your house graded each day based on various factors.


Sorry for the long post, but that should basically sum up everything you can expect from the game, for the most part. Feel free to ask if you have any other questions, too!

Verdict: If you enjoy games that are pretty primarily geared towards a more casual "pick up for an hour a day" style, then I'd say definitely go for the game as it's worth the money. Totalbiscuit described it well, in my opinion, in saying that it boils down to basically being a "daily quest", but you don't actually have to do anything each day as the only way in which that harms you is that some things may take longer to build. All in all it's a game about having fun, not challenging yourself or trying to overcome obstacles. You can set your own goals, but nothing in the game is really "forced" on you after the tutorial, and even then you don't have to do the entire thing.

EDIT The game's also on sale for about $5 off on Amazon at the moment. http://www.amazon.com/Animal-Crossing-New-Leaf-Nintendo-3DS/dp/B0053BCML6

OH OH BOY I can talk a lot about this. I literally just sat back in my chair and stretched my fingers so that I could write this comment. Ok. Here goes.

• Bravely Default. Do you like JRPGs? You better like JRPGs, because there are probably going to be a lot on this list. This game is one of the best JRPGs made for the 3DS. It was created by the lovely folk over at Square Enix, and it's basically Final Fantasy, even so much as to have "Phoenix Down" as an item. You have four heroes, you go on a quest, you do a lot of stuff, you interact with cool people and do cool things, and the 3D looks awesome. The story is really pretty good, except for a part in the middle that everyone hates - but it gets good again at the end. Oh! And if you've played JRPGs before, this game will spoil you - not only is there an auto-battle feature, but there's an encounter rate slider, so grinding while watching Netflix is a BREEZE. Need four more levels? Time to watch Sherlock and run in circles, going back to towns to heal as needed. Also, there's going to be a sequel coming soon, called Bravely Second. There's a release date already announced for Japan, but us in the US probably won't be getting it until the end of 2015. Silly localization time. Uh. So yeah. This is a great game. Play it.
  
  
• Fire Emblem: Awakening. Another fantastic game that will take you more than 40 hours to complete! It's a SRPG, so a bit different than Bravely Default. It's also basically "Shipping: The Game", because part of the game is to make characters fall in love and get married, and you have a lot of options when it comes to who you want to get with whom. It has a great use of the 3D, and is one of the few games where I've kept the 3D on at all times. Music is fantastic, as it has been in every Fire Emblem game. It's also nice that there are varying levels of difficulty, so you can pick which one based on how comfortable you are with the game. For example, if you pick "Classic", if a character dies during a match - bam boom bomb, they are dead and gone for the remainder of the game. If you don't want that kind of challenge, you can play on casual and not have to worry about permadeath. Great game. Awesome game. You should play this one too.
  
  
• A Link Between Worlds. Next on my list is the most recent entry in The Legend of Zelda series, which is one of my favorite. I wasn't a fan of the first two Zelda games on the DS (Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks), so my hopes weren't very high for this game - but it blew my socks off. Just, completely off. What's really cool about this game is that you can do the dungeons in any order you choose. What that meant for me is that I got to every boss in each dungeon and then ran around defeating the bosses all at once, but I think I'm kind of weird in that respect. It's a Zelda game, through and through. If you haven't played any of them, this is a perfectly fine place to start, although I'd also suggest picking up Ocarina of Time 3D if you don't have easy access to an N64.
  
  I think I've typed enough but I could definitely keep going. Basically, if you ever want recommendations for games just hit me up, folks! :P

For both N3DS and N3DSXL systems

Some of these can also be found from retailers online, like Best Buy and Target. I generally use Best Buy, Amazon, and eBay, but check other retailers just in case.

Case: Looking for a protector that protects your system from scratches? Most people recommend the HORI TPU case. NA currently has one for the XL (LL in Japan), but you'll have to import one for the standard size.

• HORI TPU case for N3DSXL or sometimes the one from Japan is cheaper.
  
• HORI TPU case for N3DS, or just search "New 3DS HORI TPU" and look for the ones without XL/LL in the title.
  
  Looking for a pouch to keep your system from dust or to carry on-the-go and protect them from falls? There's sooo many options you can just search up on Amazon and eBay, not to mention other Japanese import sites.
  
  
• HORI Hard Pouch for N3DSXL is what I went with for my Fire Emblem N3DSXL. Looks plain and I admit I usually go for something different, but when I received it, it screamed good quality. It's black and looks classy, and there's room for 6 cartridges and a stylus. It also fits a system with the HORI TPU on. Alternatively, you can use this for the standard N3DS because it has a strap that will keep it in place.
  
• CyberGadget Mint Semi-Hard case for N3DSXL - I originally went for this one. It's fine if you just want to carry around your system, but that's all the room it has. It also had a weird chemical smoky smell that I'm still trying to air out (it's been over 2 weeks now). If the smell ever gets out, I'll use it. Maybe it's just the one I purchased.
  
• Trunk Case for N3DS - I have the blue one, and it's decent quality. These trunk cases seem to be in and out of stock though, and prices are unstable. If you can find one for a good price, I'd recommend it.
  
  Screen Protectors: Screens will inevitably get scratched, as careful as anyone can be. If you're someone who cannot stand scratches or want to keep your system in perfect condition, you can't go wrong with screen protectors.
  
  
• HORI Standard Screen Protectors for N3DSXL is what I had on my old N3DSXL. Here's one for the N3DS. Appliance is easy and they don't interfere with the 3D at all.
  
• HORI Blue Light Filtering Screen Protectors for N3DSXL and ones for the N3DS - I just wanted to reduce the blue light because I mainly play before I sleep. Research a bit about blue light if you'd like. I like them, they do the same job as the standard ones with the added blue light filtering.
  
  Micro SD card: Can't go wrong with Sandisk, and I purchased the 32GB since that's the highest Nintendo says the system will support. Any higher and you have to format it to FAT32 in your PC so the system will recognize it. Any good brand will be fine though, but I just go with Sandisk all the time.
  
  Stylus: This DSi stylus is so damn comfortable. I never thought it mattered because I just put up with the cramping, but I purchased some items on the Nintendo Online store, so I went for it. It's all I use now. The cheapest shipping is $5 on the store though, so go for it when you're ordering other items with it.
  
  Customization?
  For N3DS
  Coverplates: Amazon.JP if you have a forwarding service like Tenso. I like AmiAmi, but it's hard to catch the plates sometimes. PlayAsia tends to be more pricey, so sometimes you're better off just looking on eBay if your last resort is PlayAsia.
  
  For N3DSXL and N3DS
  
  Charms: Basically the same as the above. Many options around Etsy, just search what you want up. Up to your discretion. :)
  
  Overall
  Yeah, I'm a HORI fan. Their products have been solid for me, so I have no qualms with them. I just wish more of their products would appear in NA so shipping times would be shorter, but I think the wait times have been worth it anyway.

Short answer: No.

Long answer: Yes, with a ton of work, dedication, and actual real-life money spent, and the right 3DS firmware version.

SUPER LONG ANSWER: Yes, with Homebrew (currently not feasibly achievable with the current firmware version), a PowerSaves device, the proper firmware version (reiterating because it is literally impossible to do on some of the more recent ones). Some valuable resources, in a short form, are this 3DS Homebrew guide, this PowerSaves device purchase page, and this encouraging potato. More than likely, if you're running the proper firmware version, you'll only be able to use OoTHax, which uses an exploit with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D (cartridge only, sorry). So here's a purchase page for that, too. Both a Nintendo Selects version and a non-Nintendo Selects version will work, as long as it's a cartridge.

And that's just the basics to get your Homebrew working properly. You'll need the Save Manager Homebrew App, which can be downloaded from a link in this reddit thread in order to export the save data from the 3DS to your SD card, and then this beautiful site in order to actually edit your save data. Since you're only going for a backup, though, I'd recommend just saving the files put onto your SD card by Save Manager (something like garden.dat, exhibition.dat, etc.) and tucking them away in a folder somewhere on your computer. After you backup your files on your computer, you are free to delete your town as you wish and start anew. When you want to return to the old town, just backup your current town's files to your computer, and put the old town's files onto your SD card.

And, uh, one more thing, which I'm going to bold and italics because it's extremely important, no matter which route you go for save backing-upping: Nintendo was VERY smart about the way Animal Crossing: New Leaf deals with save data, and because of this, every single save has it's own unique key. If, for some reason, the game is expecting a key for one save (your most recent one, let's just say) and it gets a key for a different save (a random example being someone else's saves), the game will delete all the data, and wipe the keys, making it only possible to restart ALL over without any way of recovering or restoring from any prior backups. The site I linked you to has a way to make sure that any save put through it can sync up with the current save key, and the Save Manager Homebrew app does, to my best understanding of many uses of it, automatically sync the keys up. I think. I've never really had any problems, and I'm telling you almost 100% exactly how I do it, so you probably won't have any problems either.

(coughs) Did I go a little bit too far there? Nevertheless, everything you need to do is contained within this post.

I really don't think that Ocarina's 'biggest' fans underrate it. Anyways, here let me pick apart this article I disagree with:

>Ocarina doesn’t need perfect controls or intense boss fights to be fantastic.

I'd say most gamers would call bullshit on this.

>the way Link smiles when he learns a new song

No he actually looks quite disgusted.

>Minor characters like Grog are completely fascinating, and the game’s world feels fleshed out and real.

I would totally argue against this. Ocarina had a couple of neat npc's which attention to detail but attention to detail throughout the whole game was pretty inconsistent and Grog wasn't nearly that facsinating as he doesn't do much. Every other game after Ocarina, ESPECIALLY Majora's Mask, The Wind Waker, and Skyward Sword had significantly more interesting npc's and a real fleshed out world. Ocarina's world does not feel 'real' to me.

>Spectacular games are allowed to be flawed.

"The game can have lots of flaws and be poorly designed in many ares (As mentioned before in the article itself!) but when I have rose-colored nostalgia glasses on, the game is simply spectacular)

>Yes, Ocarina‘s Z-targeting sometimes sucked, and yes, its puzzles weren’t as good as they could have been. That doesn’t mean the game wasn’t fantastic

Okay so this is just terrible writing. You never argue against your own point. And the only puzzles in Ocarina that weren't totally mind-numbing to anyone above the age of 8 had solutions that no one would think of, and are frustrating to play through.

>Some games have no room for missteps, but Ocarina of Time isn’t one of them.

I'm noticing a theme here, which is "Ocarina of Time has a bunch of big flaws but the game is better than all the others anyways". I don't think the writer is holding other games to the same standard as Ocarina of Time, because the games that have no room for missteps should be the spectacular fantastic timeless masterpieces. By saying otherwise, the writer is essentially saying that if a game is popular it doesn't have to be as good as or worked on as hard as games that are less popular.

>When I think about my time with Ocarina, I don’t think about the frustrations of the Water Temple. I think about dancing Gorons and riding Epona for the very first time.

"When I think about Ocarina, I deny that poorly designed parts of it even exist (unless I'm writing an article about the poorly designed points and why that means it's a great game) and replace it with nostalgia."

>If you truly appreciate Ocarina, you have to accept that the game can afford a few flaws.

This is another big no-no in writing. It's like when a manipulative girlfriend says something like, "If you really love me then you'll buy me really expensive things". No, I can appreciate Ocarina, accepting the game's flaws, and still acknowledging that it wasn't as perfect as most people generally make it out to be.


All in all, this article is complete shit. It's victim to bad writing, extreme opinionization even with the nature of the topic, and false logic. I will point out here that I love Ocarina of Time. It has a special place in my heart and I think the game is fantastic and innovative and when I think about parts of it or play through it again memories and nostalgia flood through me, but I think that letting a high personal opinion of the game stop you from being able to judge the game for what it is, or even view the game objectively.

Shin Megami Tensei IV and its sequel Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse. You may be familiar with the franchise already, the popular Persona 5 is a part of it.

• Its an amazing game that sucked me in with its challenge and incorporation of all kinds of lore and mythical creatures as your enemies/allies from Norse/Chinese/Gaelic/Japanese/Islamic myth, to the more known Christian angels and Greek myth.
  
  
• It's a very similar game to Pokemon in that you have to capture (negotiate) the pokemon (demons) and train them to learn new moves and then evolve (fuse 2 of them together and combine their moves together into a new demon) then catch more demons and repeat. All demons are weak to certain move types, but instead of Pokemon's 17 types, there are only 8.
  
  
• It also has a morality system, but instead of being the standard Good vs Evil, its Law vs Chaos. So instead of games like Infamous and Mass Effect where you become either Jesus or the Anti-Christ by the end of the game, you become a Totalitarian Dictator where the word of God is Law, or an Anarchist where its Survival of the Fittest and Rule by Power. So you have to take a path in the middle of the two extremes to get things done. No other series really does this, and its really interesting.
  
  
• As tired as the expression is, It is like Dark Souls in that its challenging, and expects you to step up to the plate and learn the game, and if you dont, you wont make it out of the first area. But as soon as you do, the rest of the game is much simpler and more fun than anything else, and easily the most fun I've had with a new game franchise in a long, long time.
  
  
• All the cut scenes are fully voiced as well, for what it's worth, as well as being able to transfer your save data to the Sequel for a bonus.
  
  
• Its also easily a 50+ hour game, so it will last you a while.
  
  My other big recommendation is Bravely Default, and its sequel Bravely Second. The combat is also the most impressive thing about the game, and its hard to explain, so try the free demo for either game on the eShop. If you do try the Demo, and beat it, it gives you a bonus if you play the full game. Both are fantastic games, and are throwbacks to classic Final Fantasy games of the NES and SNES era. If you do try either demo and beat it, it will unlock a bonus in its own full game.
  
  
• Just like SMT IV above, All the cut scenes are fully voiced as well, for what it's worth, as well as being able to transfer your save data to the Sequel for a bonus.

I use TPU cases for both of my N3DSXL's and another one I had to special order from overseas for my N3DS. They do a good job of protecting the systems and still allow me to see the designs on them since I wanted something clear as I have Monster Hunter faceplates on my black N3DS looks like this, and my XLs are the Galaxy Blue and Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate units.

For carrying around, I have an Amazon Basics Case that is small and light and fits in a backpack or purse easily while protecting the whole system. Fits both N3DS and N3DSXL units with the TPU cases on and uses the elastic bands to hold them in place.

For storing at home so they're kept in good shape: I have two of the Smatree Hard Protective Carrying Case which is a much bulkier case, and allows me to keep a 3DS charger with the units if I don't put much else in the zippered pouch on the top half. The inner pouch with the ability to lift it out is an interesting design for keeping the system protected and is a snug fit for N3DSXL's with the TPU case on, but still doable.

Amazon Link for HORI N3DSXL TPU case. It used to be much cheaper, so look around to find the best price.

Amazon Link for the Japanese version HORI N3DSXL TPU case. This alternate link is about half the price for the same exact product that's above.

eBay link for a New 3DS TPU case. I recommend this for N3DS units as the glossy plates are easy to scratch on N3DS units and the plates can be hard to get as it is, don't want them to get scratched when they're hard to find or expensive.

Finally, no matter what unit you get: Always use a screen protector and get one once you decide which system to get to have it ready for when you finally get your system. Some people have waited on getting protectors and have scratched screens day one since the plastic over the touch screen is quite soft.

New 3DS IllumiShield Screen Protector Set

New 3DS XL Tempered Glass Protector Set Note: I have used and recommend the HORI brand, but those seem to be out of stock on Amazon and I'm not sure where to look for it.

Then, there's also GRIPS for the units as they're quite small and thin and quite a few people have problems holding their units. I like the styles from CyberGadget and use their grips, but there's also silicone grips that some people like. You can take off the TPU case on the bottom and put the grip on and just store the TPU case somewhere as you use the top half of the TPU case to protect the top shell of your unit. Obviously, any grip out there will bulk up your system and make them less portable and unable to fit in any of the cases. However if you're at home, it's nice to be more comfortable with your gaming sessions.

The two I'll link are my preferred grips for several reasons: They keep everything on the 3DS accessible as some of the grips are known for blocking off the game card slot and even the stylus, they have a game card door on the back that can store 2 game cards in there, they're easy to put on and take off, and won't scratch your system as they're covered in a rubberized material.

New 3DS Grip from CyberGadget You should be able to find it cheaper elsewhere.

New 3DS XL Grip V2 from CyberGadget I use this every day on the N3DSXL that I play.

>It is. Which is why i dont agree with people bitching about how "slow" the switches hardware is. If the games on it are good (which they are), why the fuck does it matter?

Dead Cells is a fine example of why it matters.

It's a great game if you have even the most remote interest in Metroidvanias. It runs like shit on the Switch. The crappy framerates of the game significantly impact the gameplay in a game where careful timing and reflexes are required.

>I have a 3ds. While yes, they have good games, most of them are clerly designed to be purely portable games. Not to mention the fact that with my large hands, i find holding the 3ds for longer than 10 minuets at a time to be very uncomfortable. Which is why the switch is better. Not only is it more comfortable in hand held, not only can i have multiple controller options, but i can dock it and play it on my TV as well.

They make grip cases for both the Switch and the 3DS that significantly improve their feel. My hands hurt holding either of them outside their cases. For the Switch, I recommend the Satisfye grip although the Skull and Co Gripcase is a close second. For the 3ds, I personally use the Monster Hunter Cross that I've modded with a rubberized grip. This is a pretty expensive option, however, so there are cheaper ones for people who don't want to invest that much.

>Exactly. And my PC does PC things and is a superior gaming machine to my Switch. But most games that i can play on one or the other, most time, i prefer the switch. I have emulators on my phone as well. But id still rather have those games on the switch because its a better platform for gaming than a Phone is.

I disagree. I use a cheap little xbox controller phone clip to hold my phone when I game. The controller connects bluetooth and provides a generally superior experience to gaming with my Switch. My phone has better audio, a better screen, and a more powerful processor. It also has free cloud saves and can connect to the internet without wifi (anbd has a superior wifi antennae).

>Ill take the taller screen, but even that said.. your arguing over .2" as if its a huge deal. Its not.

No, it's not. The OLED vs LED is though.

Shin Megami Tensei IV

is the ninth official entry in the Shin Megami Tensei series, (if you're following with Megami Tensei, Megami Tensei II, Shin Megami Tensei, Shin Megami Tensei II, Kyuuyaku Megami Tensei, Megami Tensei: if..., Shin Megami Tensei III, and Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey). Shin Megami Tensei IV is a sequel to Shin Megami Tensei I and II, although its story can very much stand on its own, as do most other SMT plots. The game was developed by Atlus and released in 2013. SMTIV is very much a dungeoneering RPG; you level up through gaining experience, you gain equipment and loot, and you negotiate with demons during battle and convince them to join you.

GAMEPLAY:

Shin Megami Tensei IV is not an easy game and it's far from a game that holds your hand. If you aren't looking for a challenge, then turn away right now. Gameplay consists of exploring dungeons, fighting monsters and demons in turn-based combat, (to which you can talk with said demons and try to convince them to join you), explore towns, accept sidequests, etc., etc. It's pretty much your standard Role-playing Game. The combat system also features a mechanic called the Press-Turn System; when a character or enemy strikes an elemental weakness of their target, an extra action for the turn is gained. It should also be mentioned there are 4 different endings to achieve based on the many dialogue choices and actions in the story you make.

STORY:

You take on the role of the protagonist, (defaultly named Flyyn), who is one of the few people chosen to become a 'samurai' in the Eastern Kingdom of Mikado, a world that seems to be a mix of European and Japanese culture. You and your fellow samurai are tasked with fighting demons underneath the castle grounds. Unfortunate events begin happening when a Black Samurai visits the kingdom and begins handing out things called 'books' to the local natives. As you and your friends delve deeper underground the castle, questions become answered while many more are raised.

The main characters beside yourself are: Jonathon - a noble of the Eastern Kingdom of Mikado. He believes in the fair equality of all people and is a gentle soul. Walter - a resident of the Casulary class, much like yourself. You and Walter were raised in poor situations but have now become respected samurai. Walter is a hothead and more than often thinks with his soul, not his head. Isabeau - a strong woman from the noble class who is also apart of your long journey. She questions the many situations your group come across and she has trouble deciding where her beliefs lie...

ART/GRAPHICS/MUSIC WARNING: SKIP THIS PART IF YOU DO WANT TO BE SPOILED OR DON'T OPEN THE IMAGES AT LEAST

SMTIV uses a mixture of 3D polygonal graphics and 2D hand-drawn artwork. The environments are typically in 3D while the enemy battles and cutscenes are all in 2D. Some examples: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

The art style is very much steeped in a dark tone; you'll be going through kingdoms as well as apocalyptic locations. This is not a happy game; there's little color to be found and nearly the entire world of SMTIV is filled with misery and despair.

The music is easily one of the best aspects about Shin Megami Tensei IV. There are quite a few peaceful tracks as well as many fast-paced battle themes. Hallucination is very much a reference to the title screen of previous SMTs. Kicchigorgi Forest is a great example of a once-beautiful place gone desolate. Battle B2 is a personal favourite of mine as it always pumps me up for a great boss fight.

**MY OWN CRITICISMS*

As I said before, SMTIV does not hold your hand very much. This game is hard and if you're not cautious or prepared, the game can easily wipe your entire party in an instant, even in a random battle. I see it as a dog-eat-dog world, but some see it as unfair and unpredictable, so be wary of this. Many people also have trouble with being prepared for certain areas and bosses and because of this, they'll often overgrind their party and make the game somewhat easy... for a little while. Grinding can be long and tedious in SMTIV but if you don't want to grind, there's the option of using your brain.

While grinding is awful, there's the wonderful alternative of using strategy. I've gotten through SMTIV at extremely low levels, even with weaker demons, because I knew exactly what to do and what to expect. I've gotten through SMTIV without grinding at all, instead relying on what I'm capable of. Of course, this is only expected of you if you're a veteran of the series. Most people will probably have to grind and I think this is where some people lose steam for SMTIV.

The 3D effect of the 3DS is absolutely awful. SMTIV might be the worst '3D' game I've ever seen, no joke. Also, there are few 'animated' cutscenes, and it would've been nice if there were more of them.

FINAL NOTE*

Personally, I think this game is freaking amazing and being an RPG veteran, I absolutely adore what SMTIV is. The replay value on this one, for me, is high and I'd pop this fucker in any day. The art style is fantastic, the music is amazing, and best of all, the gameplay feels fresh every time I go through it. I love the characters and there are many scenes in the game that resonate with me. On Amazon.com, the game is currently... $20!!! Holy crap, that's an amazing deal! I originally payed $50 for this game, although that version came with a strategy guide, a box, and a sample soundtrack CD.

If you guys have any questions about this game, especially* if you want to prepare for the eventual SMT X FE, then SMTIV is a great place to start and you should totally ask me questions!

Hey there! Fellow ex-circle pad pro user. I upgraded to the new 3DS XL from my 3DS XL when it dropped here in NA.

To answer your questions:

>how do you think it compares to the new systems' nubs?

To be brutally honest here, I find the CPP way more responsive compared to the system nub. have really huge hands and found that the nub was a bit tad too small for my taste. But it was still usable and definitely capable of handling the camera changes I needed.

> Which do you find more comfortable?

CPP for sure

> Do you think the nicer screen and better load times are worth the upgrade?

I can tell you right now that the increased performance from the more powerful console is a huge benefit and makes the gameplay and everything much, much smoother. I actually perform way better in hunts because of the higher frame rate. In short - yes it was worth the upgrade. You can always buy a controller grip to ease the lost of the CPP extension (if you're like me and had a more comfortable grip using the CPP). I used this grip for my new 3DS XL and it's wonderful. EDIT: Forgot to mention that the added ZL and ZR buttons for hunter arts are a huge plus as well.

I have both and a Vita and love them all. I play a game on the Switch, a game on the 3DS and then a game on the Vita...wash, rinse and repeat. I purchased all three systems around when the Switch came out because I decided I wanted to give mobile/handheld gaming a go. The games on the 3DS are cheaper too than brand new games, but they are a ton of fun.

The 3DS library is amazing and will give many, many hours of entertainment to both of you. The Switch has good games right now as well and also gives many hours of entertainment.

If you get a 3DS XL (although I agree that the New 2DS XL looks great since I never turn my 3D on haha), I would recommend grips like these for longer sessions. Happy gaming!

The Nintendo DS and Nintendo DS Lite both play Nintendo DS games and Gameboy Advance Games.



The Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DSi XL only play Nintendo DS games (and, as the name suggests, the DSi XL is just the DSi with a larger screen).

The Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL can play Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS games. Again, XL is just a bigger version.

Now we have the New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL - these can play Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS games. Again, XL is just a bigger version.

The Nintendo 2DS is basically a Nintendo 3DS without the 3D function. It can play Nintendo DS games and Nintendo 3DS games.

The New Nintendo 2DS XL is an upgrade of the Nintendo 2DS, equivalent to the New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL. It plays Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS games.

There's also the virtual console from the Nintendo 3DS onwards; by purchasing games off of the eShop and downloading them to your console's SD card, you can play titles from old consoles. The 3DS virtual console allows you to play Gameboy, Gameboy Colour and NES games. The New Nintendo 3DS/3DSXL/2DSXL allows you to play the same as above, but with the addition of the Super NES.

Basically, ignore the DSi/DSi XL. If you want to play DS and GBA games, get the original DS or DS Lite.

If you want to play DS and 3DS games, get either the New Nintendo 3DS/3DS XL or the New Nintendo 2DS XL.

As for Is it worth it?, I personally have a 3DS and a New 3DS XL (I originally had a 3DS XL but I traded that in for money when I got the New Nintendo 3DS XL; the 3DS is mainly to trade my Pokemon between games and for my mum to play). I think it's a fantastic console with a great library, and would definitely recommend.

Please feel free to correct me or ask anything else.

I actually have gone through three.

first I got the dreamgear and holding that one worked really well but i didn't like the material so much and it kept slipping off parts of the 3ds. plus it's also geared towards protection which I'm not too worried about so I returned that one

then I tried the cyber one which honestly felt the best overall to hold. I have pretty big hands and it just fit perfectly like an actual controller. But, for me at least the shoulder buttons were really hard to get to. The way my hands fit onto it, my fingers didn't rest on the shoulder buttons naturally, and trying to move them in the heat of the moment wasn't really working out.

so I returned that one, and picked up this one. I actually just got it today so I haven't gotten to try it out yet, but I've heard good things about it, and it seems like the best of both so here's hoping

I think I can do that for ya, honestly. I also have, for the left joystick, little caps that make grip better if that interests you too. Maybe private message me I suppose, get this goin!

Edit: and no purchasing, they're so silly cheap, I got it n the postage etc..

Edit 2: This is the left joystick cover, could hook you up with one of those. I honestly love it. Long gaming sessions are perfect for this seemingly simple and pointless lil' grip.

Edit 3: And this is the c-stick replacement. Someone else linked it above as well, but yeah, the psp-1,000 joystick or whatever. Works really great.

Edit 4: Since I'm really gettin down on all this N3DS speak, I'd like to share this as well. My goodness, it makes gaming 1,000x better. Since the grips are not directly under the 3DS, and they are almost basically on the sides, it makes it feel like a legit, comfortable ass videogame controller! (In the vein of an Xbox or PS4 controller) With how I said the grips are on the sides, it makes it not feel so damn cramped like some of the other N3DS grips can. It's seriously so, SO worth the $15 bucks.

Well this is a stretch.. but here is my link!

July 8th 2013 is when I added the above to my Electronic Greed list. You can kindly check. :3 The first item applies because animal crossing has a gorilla towns person I believe. I honestly don't know if it's from this version or the other previous, but I remember seeing it on a youtube video and it's when I was looking up New Leaf. (Could be in both?)

guerilla gorillas

Thank you kindly for the contest!

EDIT: I would love to be gifted randomly actually. I do love a good surprise if I happen to win please.

I have both the N3DS (Pokemon 20th Anniv. edition) and the N3DS XL (black).


Screen-wise, it's a wash between the standard and XL versions for me. One is bigger but the other one is slightly sharper. Some games definitely look better on the standard size screen. The XL screen might benefit people who plays RTS games like Fire Emblem or games that have small texts and have a lot of small details, like Monster Hunter. The 3D looks more "immersive" on the bigger screen as well.

Regarding the comfort on using the either, it depends on how you hold it. If you like your handhelds rested/buried onto your palms, the XL is for you. If not, the standard might be better. Do mind that I personally find pressing button combinations that use the shoulder buttons (e.g. R + X + A) a tad difficult on the standard model. If you plan to play games that use these buttons, like Monster Hunter and some platformers, you might need a hand grip for it.

Regarding customization, the standard N3DS definitely have the advantage with the faceplates but you can always have your N3DS XL skinned if you want. The other advantage of the standard N3DS is the matte finish, but I personally don't mind because I use a TPU cover for both of them.

To be honest, there is no absolute "better" unit between the two, because it all boils down to personal preference.

Hurray for the UK. We love you guys. Thanks for being an awesome Santa. You are what Christmas is all about. :D

http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/bd/bd2c2a51ec2aac0ac300a861f0cdd761ceb09c97085ac82e861983fe05ce1909.jpg

----------------

Thank you so much for being an awesome Santa. You are the reason this place works and so many special memories are made. This is what Christmas is really all about.

We would sure appreciate it if you would report these gifts here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSemyT7WrSbxtRVr4syz7TN01eWnKVf0uRfX-TxqzqZXq8ufwA/viewform

You'll be automatically entered in our grand prize drawing on Christmas Day.

This Year’s Grand Prize is a Choice Between:

Inspiron 14 3000 Non-Touch Laptop

THE COFFEE LOVER’S PACKAGE

Nintendo New 3DS XL Special Edition

A $200 Gift Certificate to the Store of Your Choice

What an awesome offer! - This would also make a really cool contest, say have the kiddo write a short story (say 3 paragraphs) and submit it as the entry...

One of the very best books I have ever read on writing was this one by Stephen King it was informative and humorous all at the same time.

__
Thank you so much for being an awesome Santa. You are the reason this place works and so many special memories are made. This is what Christmas is really all about.

We would sure appreciate it if you would report these gifts HERE

You'll be automatically entered in our grand prize drawing on Christmas Day.

This Year’s Grand Prize is a Choice Between:


Inspiron 14 3000 Non-Touch Laptop


THE COFFEE LOVER’S PACKAGE


Nintendo New 3DS XL Special Edition

A $200 Gift Certificate to the Store of Your Choice

I bought these and they arrived today; this is the newer version of the product that you purchased. I had no issues getting them on my analog slider; they may not seem to fit at first glance and first touch, as it does take a bit of pressure and force to get them to fit properly, but after applying a fair bit of pressure onto them they will go on and stay on, and they work excellently (I have an original 3DS by the way (not XL nor new). I don't know if the newer 3DS versions have bigger sliders or not, but these seem to be made for the New 3DS yet fit fine on my old, non-XL version. They are fantastic; I use the grip with the various dots on it, and it really allows me to grip the slider extremely well. I don't have to worry about my thumb sliding off of the slider as I had to do before; using these also has greatly increased the precision with which I can use the slider stick. I can now make very subtle moves of the stick very easily with the grip. All in all, I would recommend the newer version of these grips, as they have done an excellent job of increasing the control and precision I have over my slider stick and have completely eliminated the previous soreness that my thumb would have after a 3DS playing session. I think that they are a necessity for any hardcore 3DS player who plays often.

Hope I'm not too late, but as someone who enjoys fantasy games and shooters, I'd recommend the following:

• Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (a mature soldier-spy type game - thematically similar to Battlefield/Call of Duty)
  
• Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (b/c he likes Dragon Age)
  
• Fire Emblem Awakening (b/c he is interested in Persona Q and League of Legends)
  
• Shin Megami Tensei IV (b/c he is interested in Persona Q - Persona and SMT use the same battle system in different storylines/settings)
  
  ____
  Recommendations for no particular reason
  
  
• Mario Kart 7 - the quintessential 3DS game for all ages, every 3ds should have one.
  
• Super Mario 3D Land - difficult at times, but always fun, I always thought "Mario games are for kids" until I played this game.
  
• Rune Factory 4 - If he likes RPGs, he'll love this.
  
• Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan - Persona Q was modeled after this game, but I'm listing it down here because he may feel more at home in the world of Shin Megami Tensei IV listed above.
  
  __
  PS. I see a lot of people mentioning Pokemon, but if he hasn't shown interest in Pokemon by now he may not like it. It seemed like the perfect game for me but I just couldn't enjoy it half as much as everyone else does.

I thought it was slow selling because it virtually had no games in its library. There was no games to sell the console like Odyssey and BotW did for the Switch or Halo for Xbox. While you guys aren't wrong, the reasons stated aren't necessarily the right reasons. 3DS had a pretty good console design, sure it was weak but I don't think many people complained once the ball got rolling for this line of products and 3DS was a relatively easy piece of hardware (meaning it didn't have too much problems AFAIK unless you frequently dropped it). Games like Fantasy Life, Monster Hunter games, Monster Hunter stories, etc all played beautifully. Mario Kart, Smash, Mario Maker. That was their problem.

​

Once major IP games started to come out, 3DS started to sell well. I heard Reggie had a lot to do with how they pushed back on that oversight with 3DS by giving a lot of release-date owners free games and lowering the price of the handheld.

​

>According to Iwata, though, this isn't too surprising: "The current situation resulted from the fact that the delay of developing Nintendo 3DS software and launching online services, like Nintendo eShop, 3D video services and so forth, occurred simultaneously, so we could not meet people's high expectations that they had before its launch, and we did not see momentum after the launch."
>
>However, in spite of the slower sales, Iwata doesn't seem too worried. He thinks sales will pick up once more heavily-anticipated games - like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D - are released, as well as when the Nintendo eShop and 3D video services come online.

From the article you linked there is another reference to which they talk about the reasons for it not doing too well. The fact that it had good initial sales could just mean loyal Nintendo fans or it could also mean that there is genuine interest in the handheld and they just needed to capitalize better. After those IP's came out, 3DS began to do better. 3DS sold like nearly 6 times as much as Wii U did.

I know it's been asked a million times, and I have done some searches on it. But i'd like to ask myself. If I could buy 2 games right now, which ones should I get? A XL is on it's way as we speak and I plan on getting mostly long and/or replayable games for it as PC is my 'Buy lots of cheap games and play a little of all of then' and consoles for me are more 'Buy a few really good games and play them a lot'.

Ones i'm looking at, as they're on sale at Amazon:

Zelda: Ocarina of Time. I've never played a Zelda game, but a friend has said good things about this.

Super Mario 3D Land: I haven't played a Mario game since the late 90s on a NES, plus i've heard good things about this game.

Mario Kart 7 Another of the games i've hearing 'Must have' from.

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate I've heard good things about this game, but not so much the way it controls on the 3DS, so I want it but I don't want to invest in the CPP right off, so I might have to wait on it.

And finally, Super Street Fighter IV It's at a better sale than the others, but i've heard mixed things about the game itself. Some say it's alright for a casual experience (which is what I am with fighting games anyway) others say it's 'meh'.

Of course, any suggestions are welcome. I know I passed over the RPG games that people love, but I didn't see any on sale.

hey man, that really sucks, i have the Persona Q Limited Edition, and if i paint started chipping i'd be sad lol, but yeah, i recommend you look into getting a replacement shell for your 3DS, if its not too bad and you can put up with it then just cover it up with a case for now, if it gets worse just swap the shell, but it really shouldn't be chipping, unless you dropped it, but i doubt you did since you didn't mention that, if you decide to swap shells then i do recommend you protect it with a nice case, i use a clear case on mine, this is the one i use and lots of people like it :) http://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-3DS-XL-Duraflexi-Protector-Clear/dp/B00GX330XW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418450426&sr=8-1&keywords=nintendo+3ds+xl+clear+case&pebp=1418450430522 that case offers great protection, its TPU, so if you drop it then it should be able to take the impact, i won't lie though, it does make it look a little foggy, so you wont be able to see the paint job very clearly, before that case i had a cheap one i got from gamestop, it was a clear plastic case, they sell it for 9 dollars, i actually really liked that one, since it doesn't mess with the clarity or anything.

oh and sorry for the long reply.

https://www.amazon.com/Gadget-Coating-Nintendo-New-3DS-LL/dp/B013JDH8J0

The cyber gadget one is great. The original Hori X one is pretty cool too, and I have used both (my friend got it when first released, and far less expensive).

This one has a very comfortable rubber finish, and fits big hands well. It’s keeps your wrists pointed out at more of a 45 degree angle than the Hori one does, and helps prevent scratching your system (my poor regular 3DS XL got ABUSED by the circle pad pro). Also, features a pocket to hold two cartridges, or use to hold up the system! Very comfy, seats the system well, is excellent and what I use and love.

Drawbacks- no buttons as part of the grip. There are ridges on the back that take getting used to, but still, I said this is a comfy grip. You basically just put your middle fingers across these lower grips. I would LOVE if it had L/R/ZL/ZR buttons, but simply gives you access to comfy access to the actual buttons on the system. This is definitely where the Hori one does better, by providing big triggers on the grip, but this definitely works.

————————-

As someone who just recently bought a grip, specifically for playing 4U, this is the one to go with, and is cost efficient and of great quality

These screen protectors and this hand grip work reasonably well as replacement accessories, as the only one made for the GPD XD (that I've found) is the soft case (which is pretty nice). They are not perfect fits, but get the job done.

Also, if you use your HDMI-out (mini-HDMI, not micro-HDMI) you'll want to power the device down, then plug in the cables, then power it back up or you'll have sync issues. You can also close the device while streaming video or games - it won't go to sleep but will turn the device's screen off.

Finally, the apps loaded on the system are all free versions of stuff on Google Play and the preloaded ROM/ISO selection leaves a bit to be desired but is a nice bonus. Anything more powerful than a Dreamcast isn't viable (and even that has performance issues on some titles). Pretty much every Android game I've thrown at it runs well too.

-edit- One last thing - there is no Bluetooth functionality, so have a microUSB adapter (and maybe 4-port hub) handy if you plan to do any multiplayer.

I am a paraplegic and get the exact same pain with handhelds. Grips have been a lifesaver! I tried skull & co.'s kickstarter grip and a cheap rubber one off Amazon before sticking with Satisfye's Switch grip. I have big hands and it was the only one large enough to comfortably play with. Edit: They JUST launched all new products but I have their OG Switch grip.

I have other branded grips for my N3DS XL and Vita, but forget what they are (I think they're Japanese brands I found on Amazon), and they're comfortable and work great.

I suggest buying a handful off Amazon to try out and then keep the one that works. They're all made slightly differently so you wont really know until you have them in your "grip" :-) .

Good luck!

Edit: I found the exact grips in my Amazon purchase history (all from Amazon and I live in the states).

Vita

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G9X4YRM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

N3DS XL (I alternate between the two)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013JDH8J0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OTEN5V4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Switch (This still looks like my OG one)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FNJJG5V/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

1. This AC:NL Guide, Legend of Zelda: OoT, Harvest Moon, and these wheels for my husband, add up to $102.
   
   
2. My husband is the love of my life. He's my best friend and my enemy. He has a horrible and demented sense of humor like me which is awesome cause it would suck if he didnt get any of my gross jokes. I honestly think he's my soul mate. We've been through drug addictions, sickness, 4 kids and pretty much anything else you can think, but we're still going strong. We've been married for almost 4 years, together for 6 and we still love each other just like the beginning. I <3 him even though he's a punk.
   
   3)I am NOT an artist. I am so sorry for this. I really tried.......
   
   
3. 128
   
   
4. I've had a really good day today! :D
   
   Thanks for the contest!

Can't decide, so here are my options! Any of those will be great!

• PS3: I'd like little big planet 2. I have a young cousin who sometimes comes over and likes to play with me, but I only have "adult" games, so we have to play the demo over and over until she's tired(a.k.a. never).
  
  
• 3DS: Animal Crossing! I keep everyone saying how cool it is, but the only game I got is pokémon.
  
  
• And last but not least... I've been dying to get the Borderlands 2 season pass! I have the physical media for ps3 but Brazilian banks blocked PSN purchases, so my option is the digital code from Amazon. I can't add it to my wishlist because it's a digital code, but there's it ^^^wink ^^^wink
  
  And my favorite game is... good ol' Shadow of the Colussus! I used to play it like there was no tomorrow on my ps2
  
  That's a nice contest OP, thanks for doing it!
  
  EDIT: added the links, and formatted a bit

My big dream is a 3DS XL, but I feel that may be too much. And the only real reason I want it is Animal Crossing and Pokemon, so it'd probably be best to gift someone else.

For gift two, I'd like if you could gift me this Cardfight starter deck, a lot of my friends are getting into it, but I don't have a deck. Plus the art is fantastic.

I feel weird saying this but... C'mon...gimme.

• Interests - Journals and pens (since I write a lot,) coloring books (stress reliever!) board games, video games, nail polish, loose leaf tea, figurine collecting!
  
• Simple pleasures - I live in Arizona, so my perfect summer day is when the monsoons hit. To wake up to a cloudy day only for rain to burst and that sweet petrichor smell fills the air. To hear the sound of rain as we drop twenty degrees in an hour, and best of all, to have the day off to sit in my living and relax with my dog while I do some reading and just catch up on myself and my thoughts :)
  
• Well, two things from my wishlist would be awesome for a rainy day. Either this if I'm alone since I can play that on my 3DS for hours at a time, or this if I have friends over, since I can set up a rather dark setting with the sound of rain and thunder (and if we're lucky, the power goes out :P)
  
  I'm completely alright with divulging my address if I happen to win this contest :)
  
  And my phrase: Pandora's Mystery Summer Box of Goodies :D

1: I've been trying to save up for more games for the new 3ds that my bf and I just bought to share, namely this game.

2: We don't have a lot of extra income so getting the 3ds was something we worked towards for a long time, and just because games are pretty expensive we don't have many. But we both love to play and it's something we love to share together. :)
Saving Private Ryan!

Thanks for the great contest! <3

Hello! I think you're looking for Animal Crossing: New Leaf or its updated packaging Animal Crossing: New Leaf Welcome amiibo – "Welcome amiibo" is a free downloadable update for the original, so in either case you'll get access to the same game. There are some spin-off titles and some older entries in the main series, but New Leaf is the game AC fans spend most time in.

The game's built-in tutorials are the best way to get started, and you have to play through them to progress anyway so you might as well go through them without spoiling anything by reading too much about it first!

When you get bored or confused or find a particular goal you want to accomplish, you might want to check out this subreddit's FAQ or simply search past posts for advice, but when starting out you'll almost certainly have more fun just wandering around, interacting with animals and objects and discovering things for yourself.

1. Watching Tv
   
2. Because I'm bored and I want to
   
3. Go do errands with my family
   
4. Become a Profiler
   
5. Nothing, I have no desk
   
6. "May I borrow one?"
   
7. Horus Rising, by Dan Abnett
   
8. Chicken Wraps
   
9. A Game of Thrones, Yes.
   
10. I haven't read any books this year :C
    
11. Animal Crossing: New Leaf It hasn't come out yet, but a gift card would help very much! :)
    THANKS FOR THE CONTEST BUDDEH!
    
    Zweihander Zweihander Zweihander Zweihander are AWESOME!

https://www.amazon.com/Circle-Pad-Pro-Nintendo-Accessory-Included/dp/B009LGO88E

Not sure where you're located if Amazon/Gamestop/Ebay are good choices for you? I've found that using the lock on/button to center on the monster is immensely helpful, both for making sure I know where it is and for maintaining the critical distance.

I think practice is really the best thing! Sometimes I've taken quite a long time to take down a monster simply because I took time to watch its moves and dodged around until I felt comfortable with its attacks. I picked up adept style for a few fights because the dodge is much more forgiving once you know where to dodge (With a great free charge rank up/power shot!).

If you're having trouble with the weapon itself there are really great videos up on youtube and guides online (and here) for different approaches. Again, it really depends on your playstyle. At a glance and a quick search, this page seemed helpful! http://laxgg.blogspot.com/p/mhgen-bow-mechanics.html

It also might help to have a protection/healer palico that has taunt and some heals for you if you're struggling with item management or aggro from the monster. As someone that plays LS offline and LBG/bow online, sometimes its harder when you don't have other hunters keeping it busy lol. You do have a pretty large chunk of time to complete your hunts so don't feel rushed that you can't watch the monster.

I use the Hori monster hunter one, but it is massive and pricey. Comfortable though, and sweats better than my other plastic grips.

I'm gonna take a chance on this $8 one from eBay, looks to be one of the slimmer profiles: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Game-controller-Case-Plastic-Hand-Grip-Handle-Stand-for-Nintendo-3DS-LL-XL-EM/292150547574?hash=item4405879476:g:Ti0AAOSw9~5ZQSS9

Otherwise, the Cyber Gadget Grip for $25 is supposed to be great. https://www.amazon.com/Gadget-Coating-Nintendo-New-3DS-LL/dp/B013JDH8J0

I've used cheap trigger grips on my Old XL that worked amazing. Just got my New 3ds XL and its been tougher to find a good set.

Gimme some Tech Daddi!

My friend recently got a New 3DS XL after working hard as an animator. She's really excited to play with me now that she has a 3DS but the thing is she wants to play a game I don't have yet. So yeah it would really help me and my friend if I get Animal Crossing: New Leaf :')

You can find the game in this wishlist :D

Also thank you so much for another round of Techmas!!!

Don't buy a new controller, clean/ fix your existing one. It will cost a lot less (~15$) and you will be able to clean/fix all of your other controllers as well. May sound weird because I'm telling you to fix your existing one but don't buy replacement joysticks... the rubber will just fall off on those too... =[ Ive wasted some $ on shitty "replacement" joysticks that don't even last a day. Buy 1 pack of these [ **.com/Cyber-%E3%83%BBPremium-Slide-Cover-Clear-Black/dp/B00UURTXK6/ref=sr_1_1?s=instant-video&ie=UTF8&qid=1479033751&sr=8-1&keywords=3ds+circle+pad+cover ] and glue it to your joystick. I used an epoxy resin because i figured it would do the best gluing plastic on plastic but super glue would probably work too. You should still buy a tri-wing screwdriver [ ***.com/Gen-Lite-Tri-Wing-Triwing-Screwdriver-Tool/dp/B000VPBYS6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479034061&sr=8-1&keywords=triwing+screwdriver ] and some wet-wipes to get inside the controller and clean up a bit. Mine works like brand new but even better because the joystick will never wear down. I'll never part with my original orange GC controller >.<

I guess the moderators dont want people posting links so they deleted my original post... lol anyways just replace "****" with "https://www.amazon" if you want to see those items

I'm not 100% sure if they are still compatible with the 3DS, but regardless I would recommend against it if you can help it. The AR codes floating around for these are a little wonky and not well documented/tested. There's one that unlocks all quests, but in the process unlocks the unfinished quests that while not in the main game are still on the cartridge. These quests are buggy and can crash the game. The best part? If you do unlock these glitched quests and you play multiplayer with someone, they'll unlock them too, potentially rendering their game unplayable as well. In short it's like an unintentional game virus. As for the other two aspects of the DLC, they're less dramatic, but I'm still unsure which codes you'd need.

Considering the price would be the same if not cheaper, I highly recommend you go the savefile editing way. It's safe and easy; guaranteed. :)

copy and pasting my old comment. I currently have this one http://www.amazon.com/CYBER-grip-rubber-coating-3DS-LL/dp/B008ZXBYJU/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411403059&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=cybergrip
This is an amazing starter grip. The rubber coating is amazing and the texture is awesome, it's also very secure. My only complaint was the first time I held this, I held it like a controller, so both my index fingers were on the shoulder rests thinking I was pressing L or R buttons. To prevent from confusing myself, I put my middle finger onto the rest and my index finger onto the actual L button (i did not do this for my right hand) and thats how I would hold it. Now, I recently stumbled across THIS beauty. http://www.ebay.com/itm/171469999857 I'm waiting for it to come in but it looks absolutely amazing. It looks like the perfect grip for smash and I suggest anyone to buy one as well. PS: It's out of stock atm but if they're out of stock, just message them and they'll relist the item up. Thats what I did. GRAB THESE QUICK, THEY SOLD OUT OF 10 UNDER 2 HOURS

I have been dying for Animal Crossing. Everyone I know how has a 3DS has it and talks about visiting neighborhoods, designing things and fishing and farming and all the things ! The game looks too freakin' cute. I need it in my life.

My favorite game is... (gonna answer this) probably Halo: Combat Evolved or Viva Pinata, lol. Halo was the very first game I ever really played and my best gaming memories are of me and friends crowded around the TV playing that came split-screen or co-op. And Viva Pinata is just an awesome game. It's so involved and intricate with all the things you can do in it, yet so relaxing to just sit back, chill and enjoy.

Edit: New is preferred for this one.

I have the Cyber Grip in the video and I agree. It's great for games where the L and R buttons aren't used all that often but the way it's formed, it forces my index and middle fingers into odd positions. Would not recommend it for Smash.

The DreamGear Comfort Grip, on the other hand, is probably the best one out there. It's comfortable and gives good access to all buttons and ports. Mine very slightly obstructs the gamecard slot and charging port but because it's silicone, others may fit differently.

I've been going overboard with accessories. Here's what I picked up so far:

Glass screen protector - Just in case.

128GB microSD card - I rarely buy physical games

Pro Controller - I love it. So comfortable.

PowerA Hybrid Case - I basically use this as a stand for my Switch when I'm on the go.

JDeal portable dock - It works. Make sure to follow the instructions. Works with my Nexus5x 5v 3A portable charger.

[Retractable HDMI cable] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019J96PSI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

Hestia case - The Switch with the PowerA Hybrid Case, portable dock, portable USB-C charger, and retractable HDMI cable all fit in this.

USB 3.0 LAN Adapter - Faster speeds when on the official dock.


Gooseneck tablet holder - Ultimate comfort. Play while in bed.

Magic NS Wireless Adapter - I had originally bought this so I could use my PS4 controller. This was before I picked up the Pro Controller. It works. There was a recent firmware update that gives gyro support for PS4 controllers and it works well with Splatoon 2.

On the way:


Mumba case - For better comfort/protection while playing in handheld mode.

Do you need one? Probably not. It's more down to how much peace of mind you think it'll give you.

I'm usually pretty careful with my devices, but I got a scratch on the top screen from what must have been a grit of something stuck on the microfiber cloth I normally use. The experience made me conscious of how often I wipe down the bottom screen from using the bottom screen with my fingers, and I definitely didn't want to scratch up the bottom one like I did with top screen.

I got the Hori one for N3DS XL, and I like it. It's not noticeable unless you actively look for it, plus it gives me enough peace of mind. Also while I don't plan on doing so, it is removable though you have to do it carefully.

ok that is a good thing to know lol

so I will pick 80$ and you pick 20$ :D

3DS Game

Book

Card game

that should be about 80$

Thank you for the super gift chance! :D you are the best!

Those cheap Chinese ones are terrible. The two I bought were barely being held together by the dozen screws in it. Cyber gadget makes a pretty decent grip, but it's quite a bit more expensive. I find that it is much more comfortable than the cheaper versions and has some game storage in the back as well. Amazon

As far as cases... If you want a case to hold the 3ds with the grip installed, the NES classic case is awesome. Just trim out the thin strip of foam in the middle and the gripped console drops right in. Even has room for a charger too! Amazon

Hope that helps!

I hadn't played since gen 2 and jumped back into it by buying myself a 3DS XL and pokemon X. The amount of new pokemon was a bit overwhelming but I just went through the in game stuff for fun and used pokemon I liked. I saved all of the other stuff (breeding, completing the national dex, etc) for post game.

As for what type of DS you should get, you have 3 options. A regular sized 3DS , a 3DS XL or a 2DS . Now I wanted to keep things as cheap as I could, but I also did not like the look of the 2ds... But the 2ds functions exactly the same as the 3DS just lacking 3D. A 2 DS is the cheapest option if you don't mind the set up of it. The clam shell design of the 3ds/3ds xl were a must for me even though I knew I wouldn't really use the 3d, so that left me to choose between the two. I decided to go for the 3DS XL because it was only about 20 bucks (maybe 30) more than the regular 3DS and I preferred the larger screen and the overall feel of the XL. So while I was looking on spending as little as possible I ended up buying the most expensive option but I am very happy with it :) You could always try to buy a used 3DS or 3DS XL.

We are RAOA. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.

Ok, that is cool, how did this implant happen? Was it a medical thing or a did you just have it done for the awesomeness of it? Nevermind, I scrolled down and read your explanation that you posted to someone else's question. How do I get this done myself? I would have to say that that is definitely something I would answer in response to your question.

But as far as more unlikely super powers go, I would like to have the power to communicate with animals. As if we were speaking (or telepathically thinking) english to each other. It could come in handy in many ways. Including learning secrets about other humans because how often do you think of hiding your secrets from your pets or wild animals? And it would have a nice Dr. Doolittle effect and make it really easy to become a veterinarian!

This game would be fun to have, it's playing a game where I would have that power, lol.

I don't have a ruler, but my hands are about 1 inch loner than the 3DS XL is long. The 3DS XL is 6.3 inches, so my hand is about 7.3 inches. My Palm size is the width of the 3DS XL, so my palm is about 3.7 inches wide.

None of this really matters in my opinion, because neither of them are comfortable. I tried the 3DS in a store, got cramps. I bought the XL, got cramps. It wasn't until I got a controller style grip for the system that I am able to play it comfortably. My suggestion is that you try them both in stores, see which one is better for you. If they're both bad, get a grip like this. I know there is one out for the N3DS LL now, I'm not sure about the standard size. Other companies make good ones too, but the one I linked is the one I have and trust and it works really really well.

I just finished playing through all of the Zelda games for the gameboy, which are on the 3DS Eshop. Oracle of seasons, Oracle of ages and Link's Awakening are some of the best zelda games I've played, and are great games overall. If you like zelda or action RPGs at all you should play those games, they are perhaps the best handheld zelda games ever, if not the best 2D zelda games ever (after a Link to the Past, of course). Here's the game I would like! (what else would it be?)

As a fellow 3DS owner I highly recommend getting a grip accessory of some kind. I have a n3DSxl and got the official, Japan only monster Hunter grip and it's simply amazing. It's almost as good as any console controller, hopefully there's a good one for n2DSxl (I hate these acronyms). Also, I really like these circle pad covers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UURTXK6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_WLs1CbSHQJ76G

Also also, I recommend installing cfw. It's easy to do and you get a lot of benefits that aren't just piracy like custom themes that can cycle, increasing the CPU clock speed which makes games like MGS3 3D much more playable, and installing game mods that even work with carts. No, you won't actually get banned from online unless you try to play a game online that hasn't officially been released yet (and it's still circumventable regardless)

https://3ds.hacks.guide/

dreamGEAR Comfort Grip for your Old Nintendo 3DS XL https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008XHCLFO?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Here’s the one I had gotten; it’s two parts, but I found myself only using the bottom/grip half. And while it definitely helped, I almost feel like a 3D printed grip would be better.

I can’t think of the name of the product right now, but there’s this cool two-part rubber agent that’s moldable momentarily but then eventually hardens. I put some on a wiimote and nunchuck grips and basically molded my hand, which made gameplay super comfy.

Hori TPU case for sure, they are great and wont scratch up the 3ds like other cases. This is the hori tpu case i have, the previously linked case is a harder tpu plastic.

skins you can get lots of places, depends on what you like. I have the zelda 3ds XL and it looks great through the clear hori tpu case, decals/ skins also come though great.

as for flash carts on the 3ds, read this thread from this subreddit

edit for cases

I have the same 3DS but currently have no grips for it. This CYBER one is 25 dollars but I've heard great things about it. I don't personally own it but have been thinking about getting it for Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate as it would just make everything more comfortable. However, the system itself works just fine and is way more comfortable than the standard o3DS with its boxy design poking into your palms. The way the N3DS is rounded out helps a lot with playing for extended periods of time. I do have small hands though.




i lolled
>SM3DLN3DSB

dreamGEAR Comfort Grip

I just bought this one, and it's great for my giant hands. I haven't tested it with Smash Bros yet, but it's awesome for Mario Kart 7 and Kingdom Hearts. Hope this helps!

It's a cheat device that hooks to a computer by USB. If I put the Animal Crossing cartridge in and open the software, I can back up the game on the computer, so I can have unlimited numbers of saved versions of the game. The device also has some poorly executed item downloads (I had to reset Narnia because I tried to download the King Tut mask, and it got stuck in inventory forever, so I stopped experimenting).

For Narnia, I have a weedy version for letting people weed, a rare item version, which has all the unorderable items and hybrids, and a version for my daughter's best friend, who sometimes likes to play and wants to make sure that the same villagers are always there. If someone visits and weeds, I can just hook the cartridge back up the computer and restore the weeds. Or, if someone takes a bunch of items, I can just restore the version with the rare items. So, if someone steals anything from Ennuia, I can just bring over items then restore Narnia.

Just FYI, a guy was doing adoptions on AdoptMyVillager with a powersaves. He had TT'd every single villager in the game into boxes and saved all the versions so that he could give away any villager.

I know this won't help now but in the future I'd use one of these.

http://www.amazon.com/Action-Replay-PowerSaves-Pro-Nintendo-3DS/dp/B00IVJ1M7M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458522874&sr=8-1&keywords=power+saves

This lets you hookup the cart to your pc and create backups of the game save. Unlike protected saves between digital games, the power saves can switch the saves between carts or transfer to different ones. I personally have used one to move a save to a new cart.

I strongly recommend backing up saves for any game really since these types of things happen and backups are there to at least get you within a few days worth of lost stuff

ALWAYS go for the Hori ones now for all my potables. I used to buy cheap no-name ones but decided to pay the extra one time and I'll never go back.

Fit perfectly, it's very easy to apply them bubble-free because of a smart design and the overall quality is great. They're worth the premium price.

https://www.amazon.com/HORI-Screen-Protective-Filter-Nintendo-NEW/dp/B00RZ7T8TK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479020292&sr=8-1&keywords=hori+3ds+xl

Removing them is not easy, but that is the case for all screen protectors.

I take my 3DS XL everywhere I go, mainly for the StreetPasses (I try to hit up Home Depot parking lots or go in a Barnes & Noble for those) and the Play Coins.

I did have it in my back pocket, but I didn't realize how much more the XL stuck out of my pocket and I scraped it up a good bit just by sitting in chairs. Fortunately I managed to get a good replacement, and not only do I have the Hori Duraflexi clear protective case on it, but I use this thing as a waist pouch to carry all my stuff in. I've never liked carrying purses, but a waist pouch seems like an acceptable compromise as it's basically a big external pocket. And sitting down is suddenly a lot more comfortable without all the stuff in my back pockets -- I never realized how uncomfortable it actually was until I stopped.

I like Hori products. Get a soft case like this one to help prevent scratches. Please note, it is soft plastic, and if you keep stretching when you put it on/off, the back piece may get loose.

https://www.amazon.com/HORI-Duraflexi-Clear-Protector-Nintendo-NEW/dp/B00RZ7TC6Y

Screen protectors are a must! Do NOT get matte/anti-glare ones, get HD clear. The anti-glare ones (just like anti-glare phone ones), have a lot of little dots to help block light. This can sometimes mess with the 3d, or otherwise make the screen look grainy. I used the ones that came with this butterfox kit, but I'm sure there are better ones out there. Better cases out there, but very good price for what came with it.

https://www.amazon.com/ButterFox-Accessory-Case-Nintendo-Console/dp/B008NA9F6O

1. There is a 4GB included with the system and it fills up almost instantly. If you want to go digital then you will need to get a bigger MicroSD. NOTE: Anything larger than 32GB must be formatted to FAT32 before use. You can find a How-To guide in this Subreddits Wiki page.
   
   
   
2. Yes, it will be on the MicroSD; You can however create a Nintendo Network ID and link the game to it and then when you insert a new SD card you will be able to just download the game again.
   
   
   
3. I am unsure if you will be able to buy it now without a NNID
   
   
   
4. You have to create an online Nintendo account and then Link your Nintendo Network ID to that account in order to purchase games online. Yes you create the NNID on the console itself and then link the NNID to the online account.
   
   
5. I recommend Screen Protectors as the stylus that came with my N3DSXL scratched my bottom screen. But it might be different for you. I recommend either a Hori TPU clear case that will protect the 3DS from scratches. Or you can get a Hard Cover that just clips onto the system. I got this Gudetama one for my Black N3DSXL. There are many other designs on amazon, play-asia.com etc.
   
   You can also look into decals that you stick on your 3DS from Decalgirl.com as these also protect the system from scratches.
   
   So it is really up to personal preference
   

I really want Animal Crossing for the 3DS. I have AC for every platform it was made for (its my favorite game) and I would really love it for the 3DS. It sounds like it is going to be a really fun game and if I got it, it would keep me busy all summer break because I would play it 24/7. Which my family would like since I usually am bored since all my friends ditched me

Yeah, having a good grip for your 3ds can really help cramping issues. If you need one for the XL, I reccomend this: http://www.amazon.com/CYBER-grip-rubber-coating-3DS-LL/dp/B008ZXBYJU

I've been using it for months, it's great! Though the price seems to have gone up a bit since I last saw it. You may wanna look around and see if it's a little cheaper anywhere else(just search for "cyber grip 3ds")

Aside from this, I don't know what else you should do. I hope you find a way to to play comfortably!