Was the 3DS (CiTRO) originaly meant to be 3D, or just a more powerful handheld?

I've seen a few images of what some say is the Nintendo 3DS prototype, nicknamed CiTRO.



Of course, there is no 3D slider, and it looks more like a DS with a Circle Pad, well... a messed up one

And, according to nintendo3dsblog.com, Nintendo themselves released this, but I consider this complete B.S

Here is a extract from the site:

You tell me, true or fake? I'd rather give up the glasses-free 3D gaming and go in the PlayStation Vita's approach and focus on mobility, battery life, graphics and memory

 

I remember seeing these images in a "Iwata Asks" feature on the official Nintendo website.

 

So are these real? And was the CiTRO meant to be 3D?

 

Forgive me if I'm being rude but I'm failing to see why this thread is in the marketplace section of the forums or what this topic has to do with either selling or trading.

- Mod edit -
Thread topic moved

 

The images are not BS from what I've seen. This isn't out of the norm for nintendo at all. They also love to reuse parts when in the early prototyping phase of making a new system.

What many don't know or realize is the DS it self was not originally a DS but a prototype new GB dubbed Iris. Once they went duel screen they changed the project to Nitro.

 

lolwut?

The only thing you listed that the Vita has over the 3DS is graphics, and even then, I think Kid Icarus Uprising is an incredible looking game.

But as for the other stuff, they're both equally mobile, they have virtually the same battery life, and the Vita forces you to buy memory cards whereas the 3DS uses run-of-the-mill SD cards.