BestBuy currently has the 3DS XL marked down by $30.00 and there are a good number of games out for it. On top of that there are a bunch of games slated for the system in the coming months. So I ask, is now a good time to buy a 3DS?

now is the best time to buy a 3DS! Seriously though. Fire Emblem on Tuesday, and it sounds like you're aware of what else has been announced. Pull that trigger!

Yeah, it's a great time. I'm just about to do that right now in fact, hope that Best Buy deal stays once I get paid.

How much is it? Here in Canada I see it for $40 off which makes it $159. My 3DS is damaged and I am considering it...

Absolutely. I bought mine back in November for about the same price. It was one of the best purchases I made in 2012, hands down. I was on the fence about it too, but I am so glad I went for it. It's a great little system.

This is a great time to own a 3DS. I just bought one last week for Fire Emblem and for the future games coming out.

Yes.

I really want to get one, but I refuse until they release the 3DS XL in that nice purple color.

You have Fire Emblem: Awakening, a new Brain Age, Sonic All-Stars Racing Transformed, and Etrian Odyssey IV next month.

Castlevania: Mirrors of Fate, Luigi's Mansion 2, and Pokemon Mystery Dungeon in March.

At least two of those games have to interest you. Combine that with the games already released and now is a great time.

Sure.

So if I get one, I'm getting Fire Emblem (it will be my first). Then I want to get Mario 3D Land. Any other suggestions?

I got one for my son for Christmas, and I plan on getting one for myself now after playing Ocarina of Time in 3D. I haven't enjoyed a handheld system since the Gameboy color, and that was the one that didn't have a backlit screen. I bought and traded in 2 PSPs, but I really like the 3DS much better for some reason. I just have to wait for my tax refund. :-P

@jozzy said:

How much is it? Here in Canada I see it for $40 off which makes it $159. My 3DS is damaged and I am considering it...

Yeah, I live near Toronto and was already considering getting a 3DS XL for Fire Emblem. Walked into a Best Buy, saw it was $40 off (normally $200), so I just impulse bought it on the spot.

It's worth noting that the regular 3DS also appears to be $40 off (or something like that - it's $130 right now, I think).

Every time is a good time to own a 3DS.

I'm trying to sell my 3DS to put it towards buying a 3DSXL. I bought one literally a week or two before they announced they were making a god dam XL. Was so pissed off about that. Anyway, I just want it for this Fire Emblem game and for Pokemon later this year. The thing for me however is that I hate the colours. They just put out a sexy purple 3DS but not in XL form. Personally I'm going to wait until E3 and hope that by then they ether do a price drop or at least offer a different selection of colours.

@Video_Game_King said:

Seconded.

Not that I'm complaining but why do you think BestBuy dropped the price? Is it possible there's going to be a new 3DS at E3 and BB wants to get rid of stock?

@Baltimore said:

Not that I'm complaining but why do you think BestBuy dropped the price? Is it possible there's going to be a new 3DS at E3 and BB wants to get rid of stock?

Sales happen. It's not a permanent price drop at Best Buy - beside the price, it still says "Regular $199.99". Maybe something will be announced at E3, but I doubt it because they can't go around announcing 3DS refreshes every year. The DS was released in 2004, and had 3 refreshes spread across 6 years, and it got away with that because it was very popular. The 3DS is doing well, but it's not at original DS popularity quite yet, so I really don't think the 3DS can afford to pull a release-in-2011 XL-in-2012 another-redesign-in-2013. That's just way too fast.

@Baltimore said:

Not that I'm complaining but why do you think BestBuy dropped the price? Is it possible there's going to be a new 3DS at E3 and BB wants to get rid of stock?

I highly doubt that Best Buy would know of a forthcoming 3DS iteration to be announced at E3 this far ahead of E3. I also don't think they'll be announcing any new versions of the 3DS anytime soon.

@Video_Game_King said:

Wait- this this box art actually make it to the States? That's so cool.

It certainly does have some really good games on it, best of all it has full backwards compatibility with DS games. I certainly recommend buying one if you are interested in it.

Me personally I don't like the 3D effect, it bothers me but I have sensitive eyes so that might be just me. I also don't like the lack of second analog stick, big mistake Nintendo.

Not in Europe, still a lot of games not getting releases and the same goes for the vita

So I ended up pick up what you see here. Go the system from BestBuy (for around $50.00 thanks to a bunch of gift cards) and then got the games at TRU since that particular BestBuy had nothing on the shelves for DS or 3DS.

I've got Fire Emblem and Pokemon X/Y on pre-order at Amazon. Not sure what else to pick up but I'm sure I'll find something through Gamefly.

Thanks Duders!

Yup. The 3DS is fucking awesome.

@Video_Game_King said:

is it wrong that i licked the screen? :\

Man.

Might have to go on a business trip for a week for the first time ever. It's really dumb. I will have so much time to kill that I will either do something like get a 3DS or perhaps drink alone.

I feel like I'm too young to drink alone at a bar like that. And I do want Fire Emblem.

DECISIONS.

@ripelivejam:

It'd be wrong if you didn't.

Just picked mine up about a month ago for about the same price and I think it was totally worth it. I borrowed Zelda:OoT (a game I had yet to beat despite owning it for almost 13 years) and Super Mario 3D Land. Both of them are !@#$ing awesome and I'd recommend playing them if you haven't.

@buft said:

Not in Europe, still a lot of games not getting releases and the same goes for the vita

I couldn't agree more, I live in the UK and I plan to hang on a while longer for a 3DS. Fire Emblem Awakening isn't released until the 31 of May. A while away yet.

@Baltimore said:

So I ended up pick up what you see here. Go the system from BestBuy (for around $50.00 thanks to a bunch of gift cards) and then got the games at TRU since that particular BestBuy had nothing on the shelves for DS or 3DS.

I've got Fire Emblem and Pokemon X/Y on pre-order at Amazon. Not sure what else to pick up but I'm sure I'll find something through Gamefly.

Thanks Duders!

Awesome. Enjoy it; it's a hell of a little device.

If u so much have just a little japanese talent, u should save ur money and get the japanese version 3ds, why? cuz they have a huge library than in here. Also, major games takes about a year or more to release over here (except pokemon). But if u are uncomfortable with japanese, get the 3dsxl us version right now, so many japanese games that was released last year is going to be available here this year.

anyway, the games i'm having right now is MH3G, FireEmblem, animal crossing (the jpn version is still very hard to get right now) and also those:

Gallery

In my opinion it won't be a good time until the Circle Pad Pro XL is released in the west.

If you live in Europe, don't even bother

i just got one and havnt opened it yet, its a flame red one with mario 3d land included, i might return it today, not sure if i should keep it, and spend money on some pc games

Don't forget Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon. Really excited for that one.

@Soapy86 said:

I really want to get one, but I refuse until they release the 3DS XL in that nice purple color.

I'm right there with you.

@Baltimore said:

Pokemon X/Y on pre-order at Amazon.

Glad I'm not the only one getting that.