endless_kid

Growing up with the 3DS and Wii U I really miss those times of the highly immersive systems. For me this was what made Nintendo so great.

I know that nowadays everything seems to be optimized for efficiency and practicality in this highly connected world where everyone has a smartphone and is seeking this quick pleasure.

But I'm craving these small things that made life so great. I miss these times so much of collecting StreetPass points, finding strangers Mii's in Mii Plaza when going to a mall or connecting with friends, having all these mini games like Camera, AR games and even the immersive Mii makers where I spend hours creating Mii's and watching them walking around. And of course, the customizable home menu with music and all these responsive animations.

It was like there was an entire world inside the 3DS and Wii U that could suck you in where you could spend your lifetime in without a sense of time and it was amazing. It gave you a home environment where you could feel comfortable, secure and relaxed. And I'm wondering where this went.

My thought is that Nintendo in a way might've intentionally made the Switch's UI so soulless and depressing to have a bigger differentiator with the Switch 2 since they can only do this much in terms of hardware. Cause they didn't even give us something as simple as an internet browser with some update which even the DSi had (and I think even the DS with some cartridge expansion. And not forgetting that the Wii U had YouTube and Netflix etc.). Because so far all we've seen is a slightly bigger Switch with magnet Joy Cons and a new Mario Kart.

I'm really hoping that they will go back in that direction cause this really was Nintendos DNA and I miss it so much. What are your thoughts on this?

Growing up with the 3DS and Wii U I really miss those times of the highly immersive systems. For me this was what made Nintendo so great.

I know that nowadays everything seems to be optimized for efficiency and practicality in this highly connected world where everyone has a smartphone and is seeking this quick pleasure.

But I'm craving these small things that made life so great. I miss these times so much of collecting StreetPass points, finding strangers Mii's in Mii Plaza when going to a mall or connecting with friends, having all these mini games like Camera, AR games and even the immersive Mii makers where I spend hours creating Mii's and watching them walking around. And of course, the customizable home menu with music and all these responsive animations.

It was like there was an entire world inside the 3DS and Wii U that could suck you in where you could spend your lifetime in without a sense of time and it was amazing. It gave you a home environment where you could feel comfortable, secure and relaxed. And I'm wondering where this went.

My thought is that Nintendo in a way might've intentionally made the Switch's UI so soulless and depressing to have a bigger differentiator with the Switch 2 since they can only do this much in terms of hardware. Cause they didn't even give us something as simple as an internet browser with some update which even the DSi had (and I think even the DS with some cartridge expansion. And not forgetting that the Wii U had YouTube and Netflix etc.). Because so far all we've seen is a slightly bigger Switch with magnet Joy Cons and a new Mario Kart.

I'm really hoping that they will go back in that direction cause this really was Nintendos DNA and I miss it so much. What are your thoughts on this?

Thinking back of growing up in the 2000's I can't stress how much I miss those times. I'm a guy born in 2003 and it feels like this was the core environment that shaped my identity and this is missing now.

I don't know how much this is just normal nostalgia that every generation will have about their childhood, but this feels special. If I could describe the times of my childhood in one word, I would call it "wholesome".

Growing up in a world that started to have modern tech but didn't have this hyperconnected depressing digital landscape of social media and phones that we are finding us in now, I'm thinking it might've been the optimal environment for experiencing joy and I miss it so much.

I miss the times of constantly spending time outside with other kids and even the tech where all we had was a Nintendo 3DS but the system was so immersive and detailed where I spend so much time just collecting coins in StreetPass by walking outside, connecting to friends and making Mii's and watching them walk through the Mii maker, sending virtual letters to friends etc. And of course, I also miss the shows such as Zoe 101, iCarly, Victorious and the movies, the creativity of crafting things.

Nowadays everything feels so cold and soulless. Everything seems to maximize on efficiency and is so fast paced. Kids nowadays grow up with hyperconnected phones watching brain rot short form TikToks without an end and without any meaning. It feels like there is no "character" and no "vibe" to the world anymore.

It's like this immergence of this hyper connected digital landscape removed and destroyed our souls and now we are all zombies.

I miss the joy, the glamor and it feeling like endless times as if I would stay a kid forever. But turns out this is not the case and now I'm finding myself in this cold and meaningless world searching for the depth, purpose, joy and meaning that I only remember from my childhood when I felt small and the world seemed so big and like a giant adventure. Now everything overwhelms me and it feels frustrating always being able to get everything and the temptation feels so strong that it seems impossible to distance myself from the modern distractions. I wish they would design products as playful, joyful and wholesome like they were when I was a kid again and that we could generally have such a culture back.

Anyone else feeling like this?