It is a Nintendo system with good third party support.

Great library and a great preicepoint. 3D if you are a guy that likes flashy pretty graphics.
You can buy a 3DS for 120$ and a 2DS for 100$ second hand today.
If you wait a lil bi this number may go even downer.

This thread has been a megafail so far for you guys. Better do a bit better

You are pretty much the only one that gets it. Thank you

Why would I want to pay 40$ (Full retail price for a mobile game) what I can get on a smart phone for way less? Atleast the PSVita has reasonably priced Indies and the PSVita's full retail games are comparable the PS3/360 games.

40$

http://cdn.us.playstation.com/pscomauth/groups/public/documents/webasset/ps3-game-6469-ss3.jpg

40$

http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/screenshots/TheLegendofZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds/3DS_Zelda_scrn04_E3resized.jpg

*facepalm*

Okay, you should put that in your OP. That you've seen the games.

The HW isn't the best, I'll say that. Especially with the original 3DS. However, the 3DS XL is built much better and is way more comfortable to play. The first one was small and had pretty pointed edges. The OS has also gotten much better with time.

Not much if nintendo games are not your cup of tee and the third party games are often slim down version of their console counterpart, but I'm sure with the big library of games available on the 3ds there is at least 5-10 really good games for your taste, you just got to look a bit harder

I must be the only person who like the 3DS more than the XL. too bad I use my XL instead because I cant go without those screens

Thanks again, now we can get the thread going in the proper direction. The hardware is a joke in my opinion. I was playing games near 3DS quality in 2005 on my PSP!

The 3DS DOES NOT have the games of the PSP (yet)

EDIT: I think we can pretty much end this thread here. It appears as if there is no good reason to get a 3DS. I can name good advantages my PSVIta has over a 3DS. I understand and grant a 3DS does have the most games (not necessarily the best, remote play+indies>3DS games)

Pretty much what all of you are saying is that the 3DSs pricepoint is what it sells like hotcakes and why it has the most games. I understand a console is only as good as its games but nothing on the 3DS entices me as a gamer, it is more like "didnt I play this 5 years ago?"

Well, because pretty much ever retail 3DS game is bigger and better than any smartphone game. These arent generic time wasters, you have 50+ hour games like Pokemon and Fire Emblem and SMT and Bravely Default alongside other amazing games like Super Mario 3D Land, Luigi's Mansion and Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds.

On top of that, the 3DS eShop has a good selection of new titles and some old classics like Pushmo/Crashmo, Metroid 2, Super Mario Land, Sakura Samurai, EscapeVektor and more.

And on top of all of that, you have the entire MEGAHUGEANDAWESOME DS library that you can play in its entirety (for the most part) on the 3DS. That alone should make you run out and buy a 3DS this very second. 

Because smartphone games are garbage, they have ads, microstransactions, no buttons, and poor replay value. You can easily sink hundreds of hours into pokemon. If you don't care about 3d get a 2ds. if you want super mario 3d land to be amazing get a 3ds.