What are some signs that you need a new console?

[GoldenKaraSus]

I recently (today)saw a thread that talked about having broken hinges on the old 3DSXL consoles. But before I read that I was wondering: What are some signs that your current gaming vehicle is on its way out?

While playing on my 3DS, I sometimes see green horizontal lines flash on my screen and sometimes it takes a good second to load content. I been thinking about getting a 2DSXL to replace it.

Did you ever have a console that was worn out? What was the problem? Did you replace it?

 

[Snowesque]

I think my 3DS has a graphical issue too sometimes, it's nothing I'm too worried about to be honest.
Usually I think I'd want to replace a console when there's a decent amount of dead pixels, the console just keeps turning off by itself, or the audio doesn't work.
I've never had anything happen like that fortunately, YET. (Knock on wood.)
I'm extremely suprised I've never had a console overheat, I play for a long while at a time.

 

[koopasta]

My 3DS is on its way out. Like yours and Snowesque's, mine has graphical glitches, except my top screen will sometimes grow fuzzy and I have to shake it or smack it to get it to clear up again. My games don't want to load. The sound is starting to muffle. One of the shoulder buttons gives a lot of resistance and refuses to work. I'm convinced that Nintendo will kill the 3DS soon, which is why I'm not rushing to get a new console. But I feel as if a console is on its way out when buttons or touch screen start to break down.

 

[xSuperMario64x]

My old 3DS had a god-awful crack in the right hinge, and at one point I actually almost broke it cause I wasn't being careful. I went and got a different 3DSXL and it's been doing well, but I hope it doesn't end up having the same issue.

Personally if it was just the screen that was messed up, then I would just have it replaced (my dad knows someone who works on electronics) but yeah I could see you just getting a new one instead. Luckily I haven't had any screen issues.

 

[MasterM64]

Due to the way electronics are by nature and how sensitive they are to environmental factors, there are a lot of possible indications that that you need to replace or repair a gaming device. Here are some indicators I can think off of the top of my head:

- Console freezes up randomly on a regular basis (be sure it is not being caused by overheating which could be solved just by cleaning the fan and internals).

- Graphics issues (needs new graphics card which typically requires replacing the whole motherboard [since they are typically integrated in gaming consoles])

- Lines going across the screen (could be caused by a screen going bad or the ribbon cable going to the screen from the motherboard is going bad)

- Not retaining system settings even if the CMOS battery is replaced (had a Gamecube go completely bad on me even if I replaced the CMOS battery with a working one).

- Not reading or playing games regardless of how clean the laser of the disc drive is or the cartridge slot.

- Data being corrupted even if the system internal memory is formatted.

Just some I can think off of the top of my head...

 

[Saga]

I once had a PS1 that stopped being able to read disks; that was definitely a sign that I needed a new one!

As for others, my current 3DS not only has a broken hinge, but also the same issues of lines across the screen (just once so far), stalling and taking a couple seconds to process things, and also a bizarre refusal to shut down even when I tell it to during a few select games. I actually have to manually push the power switch again after telling it to shut down when playing Story of Seasons and Fire Emblem. So, needless to say, I'm getting a New 3DS XL to replace my current 3DS XL ASAP!

 

[Midoriya]

Oddly enough, my New 3DS XL’s left hinge is not completely the way it’s supposed to be. I’ve had the system for several years, I think close to when the “New” systems were released. I’ve since fixed this problem by pushing the top half of my system back up, and it hasn’t gone back down to resting on the left shoulder button like it did. I don’t think I need a new console for this, however. I’ve already had several 3DSs before and at this point I’m more focused on getting a Switch than anything since that’s where the most games are being released and are going to be released in the future.

 

[Shellzilla_515]

I don't have any problems with my current consoles and handhelds fortunately, but my DSi XL in particular has stopped working. Before, it was randomly turning off by itself despite having full battery power. Not sure if it was because of me raging one time in Mario Kart DS but it was very odd for it to have that kind of problems. Perhaps the battery became loose? You see, I don't like fixing those problems myself because I feel like I could permanently damage my handheld even if I was being careful. And a bummer too because Nintendo stopped giving service on repairing the DS models years ago...

 

[duckykate]

my 3ds is cracked and scratched all over and the hinges barely work but I REFUSE TO GET A NEW ONE

 

[Damniel]

I always get warranty for my handheld consoles, cuz I have a tendency of breaking them in some way.

For consoles, I find they last longer because they usually just stay in the same place.

 

[Warrior]

My 3ds is still trucking, with no physical signs of wear or tear, BUT, she loads sooooo slowly lol! it really makes me not want to play.

I'm not going to buy a new 3ds because I don't play it enough anymore, but if I did still play it as much, I would probably start saving for a new console. I hope my switch is fairly long lived, but since it's a hybrid console I don't think it will have the longevity of other home consoles sadly.

 

[lars708]

I buy new systems for two main reasons:

1. There is at least one game available that I want to play with more games to follow. Switch would be an example of this because initially I only cared about Breath of the Wild but new games kept releasing and now I have a pretty big library of games I'd say. Maybe even bigger than my Wii U library

2. One of the systems has a defect or an indication that it will stop working soon. For example my aqua blue 3DS (og one) started shutting down randomly on its own after 3 years of intensive use so I bought a 3DS XL to replace it.

 

[Sweetley]

Probably when a console having problems which seems to appear more often and
not just once or twice. Or when the condition of said console is so terrible that it's
inpossible to play with it anymore. Luckily, I only had once a big problem with a New
3DS which needed to be replaced as the motherboard was defective and also didn't
turn on anymore.

 

[UglyMonsterFace]

My original 3DS XL's analog stick started acting weird and moving on it's own. It would make me accidentally run on flowers or move me when I was trying to put paths/plant stuff so that I'd put stuff in the wrong place. It was super frustrating. It made me not want to play AC anymore. However, I was gifted a New 3DS XL by an amazing person and I still play on that one and cherish it.

 

[Nickerous]

Wow....guess I?ve been lucky. My original 3ds that I got on launch day is still in good shape. If anything, the spacers I added to the top have worn down and it has started to get the scratching on the top screen from the bottom when closed. Guess so need to redo those, but not too worried about it. Games still load, play and sound fine. No issues with controls either.

The only problem I have had where I?ve replaced a handheld was my ds lite with a cracked hinge. Bought a new one but after a while, wanted to do something with the polar white ds lite since it still worked fine. Replaced the shell with a triforce one. Went pretty smooth.