Nintendo 3DS

[Neon Ignition]

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=283161

Not sure if it's a typo but CVG's header suggests ?230 as the price point. ?230 is still too high for a handheld to launch at but brand strength or not ?300 is commercial suicide, especially during a recession. To launch a handheld at the equivalent of a lunch price for a full fledged console potentially opens the door for the PSP2 to cause some damage... well, if it weren't for Sony's track record with launch prices.

[Daragon]

No surprises there with the estimated pricing. Let's see if I was right all along (again) in a few days time!

[Wil]

Well, the Japanese prices equates to around £190 so I don't think even Ninty could pop another hundred on top just for us. I reckon around £220 but I'd like to think £200.

[gizmo1990]

It'll still sell at £300 but I agree it's way too much and will certainly put off a lot of potential buyers. I couldn't justify one at that price for example.

£200-£230 seems much more realistic but who'd second guess Nintendo..

[arcnas]

Whats the point in pricing an item until its official, at ?200 ill have one, any more and im going to have to look at it and see if its as stunning as developers are saying, they would be crazy to price at ?300, surley no one would pay that much for a handheld.

[sj33]

Some people in the Eurogamer comments section point out that the above retailers get their stock from the same wholesaler, so it could be a placeholder price from the wholesaler.

I'm not expecting the machine to be below £200 either way.

[speedlolita]

?300! Bahaha. Count me out.

[Family Fry]

Launch at 300, drop price just in time for Xmas all this whilst shafting the early adopters (who generally have more money than sense)
Genius Nintendo!
Reckon it will be 249.99.

[Neon Ignition]

It's amusing that ultimately it's a handheld Wii which will cost more than the console despite the fall in the tech's cost... which in itself is based on the Gamecube with all the years of tech cost drops... which itself originally launched for ?130 and was profitable from the get go.

And to think, some peeps used to think Nintendo leaving the hardware business was going to happen. From a business stand point they're the masters at profiting from systems, lol

[gizmo1990]

I'll be very interested to see how the psp2 does out of all of this. The rumored show and tell at the end of the month will be fascinating. I simply can't see Sony hitting anywhere near the £250-£300 mark without taking crazy losses, the things a beast. But would be very interesting if they did!

[Neon Ignition]

In light of the 3DS I'd hope Sony would reign in the graphical power of the PSP2 so it's not an expensive tech heavy monster like the PSP was at launch. The PSP, PSPGo and PS3 have shown that the approach doesn't work anymore. If it has proper online structuring, trophies, 2 true analogue sticks etc I'd prefer that

[sj33]

I think Sony will do the contrary. Ironically, the sheer power of the console could prove to be the main differenciation point for Sony in the face of competition that is already doing touchscreen, 3D etc. Sony will still have to be conscious of the price of the competion though.

[Dogg Thang]

From a business stand point they're the masters at profiting from systems, lol

Absolutely. And they are a master at selling them too. We're all talking about the games line-up but both the DS and Wii were sold on the hardware, the systems themselves. Not the software. Nintendo knew this so could advertise the DS with Nintendogs years after it came out. Or NSMB. The focus of most of their advertising, even ones that highlight games, is the actual system.

And, regardless of the line-up, for a huge amount of people this is going to sell on one thing - 3D.

Not necessarily a good thing for us gamers though. But hopefully, if it sells large numbers, good developers will want to get good games out for it.

[gizmo1990]

It's a powerhouse. Sony know their target audience now I think. Regardless of the world domination of the ds the psp still did very nicely (eventually) for them. Especially Japan. They'll chase that same demographic while trying to pull a few others in too.
The main problem will once again be the battery and price, I think.

[Papercut]

There isn't much stopping them using a similar 3D screen themselves is there. Get the feeling they are waiting to see what the response to the 3DS is.