but thats the thing, is this really going to help?

IMHO, i dont think this is going to help. If someone wasnt interested in 3ds before extra ram and some ports of Wii games isnt going to change their mind. Especially with a handheld as that kind of stuff has NEVER been important before. I dont really know who Nintendo is trying to sell this too. Casuals who werent interested arent going to care all of a sudden, core gamers who have one already arent probably going to double dip. Hardcore ninty fans MIGHT buy this, but IMO i think Ninty is pushing the limit on this. You have to buy another version of something you already have to play the full library, its screwed either way, if they make a bunch of NEW 3ds games people are going to feel gyped. If they make a few then they are going ot wonder what the point was.

I wouldn't go that far. The difference between the original launch DS and the DSi is far greater than these two models lol

It has two things. One: It's to boost sales. Another 3 million helps Nintendo, like the 2DS. Two: the people that buy every version of Nintendo products.

Im surprised that many are surprised at all of this when it happened in the past. Also it will  be 4 years after the launch of 3DS (excluding Japan which is about 3 years and 9 months). I can understand if they did this in its 1st or 2nd year, but i do understand for those who recently bought one. At least they told us about it now jst in case if anybody wanted to buy a 3ds/xl/2ds this holiday O.o

Not sure about you, but we got our expansion pack for free in Donkey Kong 64 :)

Yeah that bundle was great. I would of never bought the EXP pack any other way. What's funny some games crashed when I used the enhanced pack functions. So it wasn't always good. And hoenstly, you only used it for two games: DK64 and MM. That's why I never like when Nintendo do these upgrades. They go on and on about the whole worth it. Then never use the stuff lol.

Just wait a month and see, looking at the decline of sales for the 3ds, we'll see if its a difference starting with Japan (oct).

Japan has sales around 1.25mil for the 3ds this year. Its expected to sell 2.4mil-2.7mil this year with the decline (last year it was around 5.10mil). So if it does over 3mil this year alone i think thats definitely a good sign. 

Its more than just some SW/Extra power (specs). There is a number of things. MH+SSB gamers might rther have this N3DS because it works extremely well for those games for example. Much Longer battery life which is a huge deal in japan.

many factors. We all expected declines for japan especially this year, then next year to follow. This definitely might change all of that.

For Japanese Reference...

2011: 4.31mil

2012: 5.50mil

2013: 5.10mil

2014: 1.25mil (estimate of around 2.5mil) but now it can be 3.0mil+

2015: 3.0mil???

3DS might not decline in 2015 which i would of guess did 1.5mil-2mil that year if N3DS wasnt coming out.

EDIT: Forgot to introduce myself, since this is my first post, if I remember well. Hello to the forum!!!

I am really pissed about Nintendo right now. I bought my new 3DS with A Link Between Worlds last year.

While the upgrade makes sense and is fine, I don't see it a good idea to split the user base and screw your customers that way. Upgrades are fine, but I don't have the option to buy an expansion pack, like for the N64, I need to buy a new handheld.

I wouldn't mind paying the upgrade if I can sell my 3DS XL for a good price but on the other hand I don't feel like selling my special edition handheld (golden and black for ALBW). Unless the new 3DS has some few exclusives I will think twice before buying one. Furthermore, Nintendo's new handheld could appear between 5 and 7 years from the upgrade, so, why should I upgrade when I can wait for the next gen handheld.

I don't mind Nintendo bringing a new revision of the hardware with better screen, more battery and even better 3D effect, but I don't like a little bit that they are fragmenting the user base.

I am a Nintendo fan (I have a WiiU and 3DS), but I don't find this nice at all. The revision is nice and needed: more buttons, NFC incorporated, better screen, better 3D effect, second joystick, etc. What I don't like is the fragmentation of the user base.

one: boost sales? isnt the 3ds down YOY? this is going to help? I doubt that very much two: that number isnt as big as some people hope it is. and what kind of message is that to send anyway?