I used to play 3DS/Vita in public all the time and I'm a grown man in his late 30's.
Wanna hear a story? I carry my 3DS and Vita to work with me all the time. Last game I bought was Final Fantasy X. I intend to play them all of the time. Anyway, I worked on Monday and my little case that I carry my 3DS/Vita in fell out of my backpack in the parking lot. I didn't notice they were even missing until Thursday! Somebody sent a company email and returned them to me yesterday.
When I realized they were gone, I was like "Oh well. I don't play them, anyway." Of course, after I got them back, I engaged in a session of Street Fighter X Tekken on Vita and Super Street Fighter IV on 3DS. I don't think the problem is that people are ashamed to play them. I think people just don't care, anymore. Even the "Pokemon Girl" on my job just plays on her tablet/phone, now.
End of an era.
