Never really thought about it until now, but what makes a new console?  Most of the time I would think, better hardware and exclusive games that doesnt run on the previous console........So why is the New 3DS not considered a new console?  Doesnt it do both?  Not a big enough leap or because it shares the same name?

So if we made a New PS4 and it had exclusive games that PS4 couldnt play, would it be a new console, or still same line?

I'd say its the name myself, but im curious what everybody thinks.  What makes a new console?

I think it depends on what the console maker wants to do with it. If it's like the N3DS and the console maker only wants to give it a couple of exclusives which can only be played on it then it's not a new console but if the console maker wants to literally outphase the previous console and there will be a ton of games exclusive coming to it then yeah it's a new console.

It needs to be next-gen. New 3DS is current gen, and it's still a 3DS which is current gen console. DSi had 5 games that could only work on DSi and not DS, techinically. I don't see a few exclusive games as big as XC 3D making it a completely new console. The New 3DS is just the last hardware revison for the 3DS console. (unless they make New 2DS lol.)

Next gen has a official big launch and stuff and new games for it and plenty of major changes/improvements.

The extent matters just as much as the qualities. The New 3DS has one exclusive game, and it is a port. Even if it had many exclusive games (see: GB/GBC) it wouldn't be considered a new console unless the overwhelming majority of new games were released on the platform. I think in this case, intentions of the platform-manufacturer are important. If they intend for the device to be a successor then it would have the traits and be considered such, if they intend for it to be an upgraded version with some exclusive games, then it is considered that. 

Well, the n3ds isn't really a giant leap over the original 3ds and in terms of exclusives, the only exclusives that I seem to be hearing about are ports of wii games which isn't something to be zomfged about unless you really want to play a wii game.

I think the main reason why the n3ds isn't considered a new console is cause that when a "new console" comes out, you expect the old console to die out and have little to no support at all from the parent company. Like if you look at the wii vs wiiU or DS vs 3ds, when the wiiU/3ds came out, Nintendo didn't make shit all for the wii/DS after those came out. But in the case of the n3ds, there are plenty of games coming out for the original 3ds that can be played on both the n3ds and 3ds like the new Fire Emblem, Puzzles and Dragons and Project Steam and honestly, if you look at the directs and everything else, its pretty obvious that it is not a "new console." Cause thats like calling the DSi a new console cause it was exclusive camera games and some other games

I do think that all the n3ds is, is an "enhanced" version of the 3ds whoes sole purpose is to provide a better "3ds" experience and nothing else apart from little amounts of exclusives since there has not been a single game announced yet that would be a system seller for the n3ds cause all games work on the 3ds with the exception of Xenoblade which is a wii port

That was more on the digital side though.  This is retail, so wont New 3DS games have to have its own section in stores to make it less confusing to consumers?

The new 3DS is no different than the GBA SP or the DSi. Same system, new version of said system.

An old console.

It will probably be in the 3ds section cause I am pretty sure it won't be getting that many exclusives to warrent its own section. It will just have "new" in the title and looking at Nintendo's history, I don't think they care whether or not it confuses consumers

I mean come on, which "new console" launch, launches with one exclusive that is a port?

In the case of the new 3DS, it will become a "new" console rather than an upgrade if Nintendo stops supporting the old 3DS. Think of what happened with the Game Boy/Color. The Color started as a mere upgrade, but became in effect a new console by 2000, since Pokemon Gold/Silver was perhaps the last crossover game, and very few were made.

What the new 3DS looks like, to me, is a vehicle for Nintendo to port Wii games and *maybe* down-port some less ambitious Wii U projects, which in the West is all about reaching those core gamers who buy Nintendo handhelds but not Nintendo consoles, and in Japan about reaching the general gamer populace who buy handhelds and not consoles altogether.