Nintendo slashes 3DS price - officially a fail?

[darthraidr]

i think the days of sonic selling a system passed long, long ago.

so i finally got to check out a 3ds... Dead or alive. it was neat but it didnt convince me that i should pick one up.

 

[Kemaiku]

i think the days of sonic selling a system passed long, long ago.

My decisions on what consoles to get are determind by the availability of Sonic games on it.

 

[TrekAlliance92]

I played one of these for about 10 minutes and it gave me a blistering headache. Also, I've heard a lot of parents are avoiding buying them for their kids because of concerns about the longterm impact on kids vision.

But, the 3D can be turned off--including being locked away with a parental system. So, if that becomes an issue, it can be easily resolved.

This price point has now sold the 3DS for me. There were a few upcoming games I wanted for the system--Starfox 64 3D, Mario Kart 7, Sonic Generations, Mario & Sonic Olympics, Super Mario 3D Land and the like--but the $250 price point said, "Not now." $169 says, "Yup! There you go!"

 

[Kelthaz]

It still surprises me that Nintendo created a 3D console. Typical Nintendo strategy is to stay far behind the technological curve to bring down costs and take advantage of perfected technology. I understand that they were trying to duplicate the Wii's success by innovating the industry, but adding a little depth to the screen is hardly innovation.

I doubt the 3DS is going to fail; Nintendo has far too much invested and enough AAA games to keep it afloat. I'll definitely pick one up when some decent games finally hit the system and I'm sure plenty of others will too. This just won't be another behemoth system like the NES, Wii, or DS.

 

[AlphaMan]

I knew the 3DS was doing badly, but this is pathetic. Even the semi-failed PSP is outselling the 3DS 2.5 to 1 in hardware and 3 to 2 in software. Yeah, it's definitely a failure.

http://psp.ign.com/articles/118/1184785p1.html

PSP semi-failed? There are over 66 million people who own PSPs to date. That's not so bad, IMHO.

The 3DS' problem is that there is no compelling games available for it other than a 13 year old game that most young gamers have little to no interest in and the few old gamers interested in it have already bought it.

I'm curious as to how these events will impact the launch if the PS Vita if at all. They've promised some compelling software in the way of Call of Duty, Bioshock and Uncharted... and it's such a beautiful piece of hardware. I hope it does well.

 

[CommodoreKong]

There's Sonic Generations. That'll probably boost 3DS sales, to some extent, when it's released.

You sure you didn't mean to post Super Mario 3D and Mario Kart 7?


The 3DS will do fine. The price drop and big Nintendo software finally coming out will move systems. As posted previously the 3DS is selling pretty similar to the original DS at this point in the DS's life, and the DS was $100 less at launch and was sold over the holidays.

 

[JoeZhang]

I had a play for about 30 minutes on one yesterday, the 3d is just distracting and I quickly turned it off. The kid who owned it said that he never uses the 3d either.

 

[Kemaiku]

Nintendo have announced a partial comprimise to everyone who already owns a 3DS over the new price drop, they'll be able to sign into the eShop and be given about £50 ($100) of free games. The games will then be available to everyone, but at full cost.

http://bulbanews.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Global_Nintendo_3DS_price_drop_announced

Nice of them to do this, I'll be logging in tomorrow to sign up to it.

 

[SPCTRE]

Nintendo have announced a partial comprimise to everyone who already owns a 3DS over the new price drop, they'll be able to sign into the eShop and be given about £50 ($100) of free games. The games will then be available to everyone, but at full cost.

http://bulbanews.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Global_Nintendo_3DS_price_drop_announced

Nice of them to do this, I'll be logging in tomorrow to sign up to it.

Yeah what a great gift, all those quality downloadable eShop titles such as MyNotebook (it has... several pages for your notes! And different types of virtual paper! Woah!) and Flashlight (it makes your screen turn all the way white so you can use it as a, you guessed it, flashlight! How handy and awesome is that! Well worth your money!)

I jest.

 

[TrekAlliance92]

Nintendo have announced a partial comprimise to everyone who already owns a 3DS over the new price drop, they'll be able to sign into the eShop and be given about £50 ($100) of free games. The games will then be available to everyone, but at full cost.

http://bulbanews.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Global_Nintendo_3DS_price_drop_announced

Nice of them to do this, I'll be logging in tomorrow to sign up to it.

Yeah what a great gift, all those quality downloadable eShop titles such as MyNotebook (it has... several pages for your notes! And different types of virtual paper! Woah!) and Flashlight (it makes your screen turn all the way white so you can use it as a, you guessed it, flashlight! How handy and awesome is that! Well worth your money!)

I jest.

Actually, these will be 10 NES titles (including Mario 1, Zelda, etc.) and 10 Game Boy Advance titles (including Wario Ware, Mario Advance 3, etc.). The NES titles will be available to BUY for the masses later.

 

[23skidoo]

I think part of the problem is that the 3DS is simply too small for the 3-D to really be worth it. Now if this was a 3-D PS3 system or Wii or something you can play on the 52-inch plasma, without the need for glasses, then that would be something. (Although I do find 3-D in gaming somewhat redundant, I will concede that it at least makes more sense in a gaming environment than in movies, though I'd rather see a push towards proper immersive VR myself; there's not much difference between 3-D glasses and wearing a 360 helmet and a groinal attachment. ).

Someone mentioned that the 3-D could be turned off. I'm glad to see that, so the option exists. If it's true that it can be put under a parental lock ... that's just weird. So are the makers admitting there's a problem, then?

Eh, pass. My mom has a DS and I've played it a fair amount. It's OK, but it's just like those old LED games you used to get at Radio Shack, just with better bells and whistles. For my gaming I prefer a bigger screen.

Alex

 

[Kelthaz]

I will concede that it at least makes more sense in a gaming environment than in movies, though I'd rather see a push towards proper immersive VR myself; there's not much difference between 3-D glasses and wearing a 360 helmet and a groinal attachment. ).

Really? I think 3D can be great for films, but I think it's a terrible idea for games. If you're lining up a difficult jump in a Mario game the last thing you want is for the platform to be playing tricks with your eyes.

 

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

Sorry but glasses-free 3D technology sucks. It's especially horrible how you have to angle the thing EXACTLY to see the effect. And many people are disoriented by it.

The ONLY place 3D is doing relatively well is in gigantic theater screens with big glasses.

It's flopping in video games, on phones, and on home TVs.

 

[SPCTRE]

Nintendo have announced a partial comprimise to everyone who already owns a 3DS over the new price drop, they'll be able to sign into the eShop and be given about £50 ($100) of free games. The games will then be available to everyone, but at full cost.

http://bulbanews.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Global_Nintendo_3DS_price_drop_announced

Nice of them to do this, I'll be logging in tomorrow to sign up to it.

Yeah what a great gift, all those quality downloadable eShop titles such as MyNotebook (it has... several pages for your notes! And different types of virtual paper! Woah!) and Flashlight (it makes your screen turn all the way white so you can use it as a, you guessed it, flashlight! How handy and awesome is that! Well worth your money!)

I jest.

Actually, these will be 10 NES titles (including Mario 1, Zelda, etc.) and 10 Game Boy Advance titles (including Wario Ware, Mario Advance 3, etc.). The NES titles will be available to BUY for the masses later.

That's actually not a bad lineup, at least for anyone who doesn't have these titles yet.

 

[JoeZhang]

I will concede that it at least makes more sense in a gaming environment than in movies, though I'd rather see a push towards proper immersive VR myself; there's not much difference between 3-D glasses and wearing a 360 helmet and a groinal attachment. ).

Really? I think 3D can be great for films, but I think it's a terrible idea for games. If you're lining up a difficult jump in a Mario game the last thing you want is for the platform to be playing tricks with your eyes.

I found Pilotwings unplayable for that very reason, I was missing the rings by miles...

 

[B.J.]

My biggest problem with the 3D (tried the in-store demo model at GameStop) is that the required viewing distance is *way* too close to your face. That's just at the edge of my focusing ability.

 

[Kadratis]

The 3DS is today's modern Virtual Boy.

 

[SPCTRE]

The 3DS is today's modern Virtual Boy.

Now that was uncalled for. What did the 3DS do to you? Meanie.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

The 3DS has way more colors than the Virtual Boy did.

 

[SPCTRE]

"Iwata issues apology letter over 3DS price drop"

Nintendo president Staoru Iwata has issued a personal letter of apology on the company's Japanese website.
The letter, translated by Giant Bomb, explains that while all hardware eventually drops in price, the degree and timing of the 3DS price-cut is "unprecedented" in the history of the company.
"We are all too keenly aware that those of you who supported us by purchasing the 3DS in the beginning may feel betrayed and criticise this decision," the letter reads.
"If the software creators and those on the retail side are not confident that the Nintendo 3DS is a worthy successor to the DS and will achieve a similarly broad base, it will be impossible for the 3DS to gain popularity, acquire a wide range of software, and eventually create the product cycle necessary for everyone to be satisfied with the system."
The price drop was prompted by disappointing sales of the system, and a drastic reduction in Nintendo's annual earnings forecast.
Iwata has already accepted responsibility for the company's declining performance, taking a 50 percent pay-cut. Nintendo's directors and executives also reduced their salaries by 20 to 30 percent.
"Those customers who purchased the 3DS at the very beginning are extremely important to us," the letter continues. "We know that there is nothing we can do to completely make up for the feeling that you are being punished for buying the system early."
In a concilliatory gesture, Nintendo has introduced the "Ambassador Programme", which gives 3DS owners 20 free downloadable games from the Nintendo eShop.

[ Source ]

Emphasis (bolded) mine. Hilarious.