I'm with Soleron. Software-wise, the 3DS is looking more like a portable Gamecube, rather than a successor to the DS. (And we all remember how well the Gamecube performed last gen.)

As long as Nintendo makes games like 2D Mario or Pokemon for the system, they're golden.

More like a portable Wii competing against a portable PS3.

There's no double standards here.

On 1 side, you have a downgrade.

On the other, you have an upgrade.

Eh, way to box-in people who have a different perspective from you. Some of us are Nintendo fans and holding Nintendo up to their own standards.

For 3DS to be a failure, Nintendo would have to say "It will sell over a million units, even if it didn't have any games."

1.  You do realise that the 3DS is powering 2 LCD screens, right?  Technically, it's powering 3 if you include the parrelax screen.  All of which combined are a larger area than the PSP2's screen will be.  And this time with more power than the DS, explaining the decrease in battery life.  Like I said, Sony could see this as a way to better Nintendo and use low energy parts or use a larger capacity battery or both.  Of course, I'm not saying they definitely will.

2.  Here's where the clamshell design may hurt them.  Considering to pull off the effect of 3D there are 2 LCD screen on top of each other calibrated perfectly so that the eyes see seperate pixels at the same time.  Will the 3DS's screen become misaligned after repeated closing of the 3DS?  Or maybe even after being carried in pockets and backpacks.  Again, not saying this is fact, just a major concern I have.

3.  To my knowledge, there hasn't been a COD or Uncharted on a handheld.  Let alone people actually interested in them being on one.  And this is mainly because the controls don't carry over very well.  The PSP2 is going to change that.  Control is going to feel exactly like you're playing a console version, which would help appeal to the millions of people who buy games in those franchises and ones like them.

4.  Ok?  (Walks away slowly) 

It could fail if the U.S retail price is $599. Seriously.

You and Wagram make a good point.  Previously I said that if my concerns turn out to be moot, then the 3DS will see the same success of the DS.  But after thinking aobut it, I have changed my mind.  Yes it will still be successful, but I see it making numbers closer to the GBA, ~85 mil.  The DS's success is partly attributed to being able to bring in the casual market, something all Nintendo handhelds have been able to do.  This is again is partly because Nintendo has been able to release with a good price compared to the competition.  In the case of the DS, $149 wasn't too much for what the DS offered for casual gamers.  Now jump to 2011, and the 3DS is releasing for $249-$299 and games have gone up in price.  Will that same person pay $100-$150 more, when all they want is a similar gaming experience.

Then there is always the price of the PSP2.  If Sony can get release at the same price of the 3DS, or even within a $50 difference,  than the 3DS isn't going to be the "easy" choice the DS was, when you saw a $149 product next to a $249 one.  This will cause people to actually do some more research and find out which one they prefer, either 3D with stylus or more power with dual analogs.

It could release for 50 more dollars than the DS but have less features, have download only games, and not be compatible with anything older than it.