Nintendo 3DS

[Dogg Thang]

Companies like this go through poor sales times all the time. It does all feel like a slight overreaction by Nintendo. It's like they didn't just have a problem, but they don't have a clue what's going on. Which is odd following the success of the DS and Wii. Although having said that, while they seemed completely confident with the Wii, I always felt the DS was a happy accident that they managed to cash in on very nicely. So maybe they're running on headless chicken mode, whether successful or not. I don't know but the reactions and Nintendo's own statements feel odd and certainly unlikely to inspire confidence.

[JSR]

Seems very drastic of Nintendo to even talk about the proposition of having their games on other consoles. Can't remember the last time that topic came up.

[abigsmurf]

Pre-empting the question prevents it coming up. Speculation could affect share prices then the inevitable denial would affect them more.

With regards to Nintendo's problems. I'm not sure it's a case of them being clueless. It's more of a case of them picking a bad strategy and then being stuck with the fallout because the choices had long term effects.

The main issues:

-Launched too soon. Another couple of months and they could've had more feature rich launch games that didn't feel like rush jobs.
-Hardware was priced at a premium but the specs didn't match (the 3D didn't compensate enough for the low specs and battery life)
-Poor branding. They've revised the DS 3 times and given it 3 different names. Why did they think it was a good idea to market it like another DS model?

[Neon Ignition]

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/313594/ocarina-of-time-is-first-3ds-million-seller/

Surely this can't be right? OoT 3DS has passed the 1m units sold marker which is fine but they say that Mario Kart Wii has sold 28.3m units?! Surely it'd be the biggest selling game ever? Even Halo, COD etc don't come close to that

[Sixty]

... while they seemed completely confident with the Wii, I always felt the DS was a happy accident that they managed to cash in on very nicely. So maybe they're running on headless chicken mode, whether successful or not. I don't know but the reactions and Nintendo's own statements feel odd and certainly unlikely to inspire confidence.

There was a comment before DS launched, I think from Iwata, who said if DS fails Nintendo will be "crushed." At the time we didn't know they were betting everything on the casual/non-gamer angle with Wii but it makes sense looking back on it. I think they had their expanded audience approach in mind soon after GameCube launched, and that's why those consoles did so well: Nintendo really knew what they were doing even when the whole world was predicting Sony taking over the handheld market and Wii finishing in third place. With 3DS and Wii U, on the other hand, they kinda seem to be offering something different for the sake of it rather than because they believe 3D and a controller with a huge screen can reinvent videogames or do something else specific. It is quite worrying.

I do think 3DS sales look a lot worse than they really are because the original DS was such a massive, unexpected success, though. That doesn't magic away these issues, of course, but if it didn't have such a huge act to follow it might seem a bit better off. Maybe it's just the awkward launch period, which every console goes through. Ocarina of Time 3D selling a million copies in under two weeks is extremely encouraging and shows if a top quality game is there people will buy it. It's only a matter of time before more decent games arrive.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...illion-seller/

Surely this can't be right? OoT 3DS has passed the 1m units sold marker which is fine but they say that Mario Kart Wii has sold 28.3m units?! Surely it'd be the biggest selling game ever? Even Halo, COD etc don't come close to that

Technically Wii Sports would be the biggest selling console game, but it was bundled so probably doesn't count to a lot of people. But you should have a look at this page. The numbers for the top selling Wii and DS titles are scary.

[PaTaito]

I dont think things at nintendo are too bad personally, while i find the ambassador sceme a bit confusing(but great for us "early adopters" lol), i dont see how slow sales for a few months = anything close to serious.

Nintendo are riding on the monumental success stories of both the DS and Wii....thats not to mention franchises like pokemon still being popular as ever. The way i see it is that nintendo seem to have a strategy of low risk hardware development, as in low spec, making no loss on hardware sales.......which negates the risk of failure to a degree. At least compared to the risk sony took with the ps3 for example.

While i absolutely think that the 3ds will pick up, i do however think they made a mistake making another dual screen machine. With that alone it failed to instantly distinguish itself from the DS to any degree. The graphics are psp level at best, and too much focus has been given to the 3D which i personally find myself playing without it even enabled 99% of the time. Nintendo got away with the negative approach to hardware spec with the Wii because the control idea at the time was totally revolutionary......for me 3d simply is not, and without this gimmick, whats left is a ds system which is slightly upgraded in visuals(but again only to around psp levels), but lacks in certain other areas, like the screen size and battery life.

Having said all that i dont see how even at ?149.99 ninty will be operating at a loss with the hardware of the 3ds, and its almost a given that the first party titles will sort things out come xmas. At the end of the day though ninty will have learned from this, and it makes you wonder about the Vita...however that has mind boggling visuals for a handheld, where the 3ds barely troubles the psp for visual prowess, and i feel that will be more of an initial selling point than 3d alone is/was.

Imo even if the 3ds fell flat on its face i wouldnt be too concerned about nintendo....as long as they get Wii-U right.

[Baseley09]

3DS was a balls up conceptuality, i've not actually seen one in the wild despite being an obvious gamer, just seems like another DS plus with tacked on 3D faddery. Probably the only console launch in my lifetime ive had 0% interest in....but that's just me....there must be others....plenty of others by the sounds of it.

[importaku]

Im finding it rather a suprise that Nintendo has only realised why the 3DS isn't selling. If you release a console with little to zero games worth playing, don't be suprised if nobody wants to buy one. I can't think of any other Nintendo console or handheld that has had a worse launch.

Since the Nes theres always been at least one game for any of the Nintendo consoles on launch to make me want one, but this is the first time ever where a new console was released & there was absolutely nothing in the launch lineup i wanted. People keep going "oh but the DS had a poor launch" Err nope it certainly did not, i remember quite happily importing mine on the Japanese launch with Daigasso band bros, Super Mario 64DS, Zoo keeper, Tendo doctor, Mr Driller, I will die for you.

People are predicting doom & gloom but the solution is simple, if they release some decent games sales will pick up. The DS wasn't a hit because of what it was. It became a hit because it eventually had an outstanding library of games, thats why people bought it. Theres some good stuff due this year for 3DS just Nintendo need to pull the stick out of their asses & get it released as people are not going to wait forever.

[SUMIRE]

To be honest, people would have bought it anyway with those release games, it was the price that was way too expensive plus it is a pretty bad time to launch a new handheld what with the state of the economy. I can't imagine many parents wanting to fork out over ?200 on another handheld for their brat.

[Matt]

I played on a 3DS recently. Pilot Wings. The 3D just hurt my eyes. I tried adjusting and at about 2/3 of max, I could cope for maybe 30 seconds. Ended up in 2D.

The specs are poor, and 3D adds either nothing or migraine, depending on your eyes. I know people think the DS and Wii are amazing concepts, but as ever with this "new ideas", no-one knows how they'll be received. I think Ninty got obscenely lucky with the sales of both. I've said before they were fads, they reached a cultural critical mass that you simply cannot market for. No-one can foresee these things with certainty, no-one knows what will capture the public (gaming or non-casual).

Right now, portable gaming has to compete with mobile phones, and I can't see how they realistically can. Portable gaming needs to be about simplicity, and with Android / iPhone people can get a quick gaming fix for pennies on a device they always carry around.

I'm not expecting great sales from the PSVita either, although I believe that will appeal to Gamers far more than the 3DS.

[huxley]

Tbh I think the cell phone games Market has cheapened handheld gaming.
The wow factor of handheld gaming is over.

[yesteryeargames]

I feel bad for people who dont enjoy or can cope with the 3d, really missing out on it The 3ds has had a better start than the original ds game wise imo and with some amazing looking games coming out much to look foward too. The psp vita i prob get but i dont get why they are making such a fuss that uncharted is coming on it, thats the sort of game you want to play at home not on the move, everybodys golf on the other hand

[koopatroopa90]

I'm with you on the 3D thing - perhaps I'm just lucky but aside from active glasses making me sleepy I have no problem with any type of 3D. Pilotwings in 3D is a beautiful game.

[KusoGaki]

Got my Zelda CD in the mail today \o/

Personally i've been quite happy with the games released so far, the drought of games for the next couple of months means i can catch up with some DS games i've been meaning to play as well, and the free 20 games is just icing on the cake.

I do wonder why they haven't released any new streetpass games yet though, finished the rpg and puzzle things quite a while ago now...

I think Mario Kart will be a big seller though, really looking forward to playing that properly.

[Matt]

I feel bad for people who dont enjoy or can cope with the 3d, really missing out on it The 3ds has had a better start than the original ds game wise imo and with some amazing looking games coming out much to look foward too. The psp vita i prob get but i dont get why they are making such a fuss that uncharted is coming on it, thats the sort of game you want to play at home not on the move, everybodys golf on the other hand

Agree there. Uncharted is a chill at home game, if I had a need for handheld it would be quick games On The Fly, or something strategic you can save and pick up later (Advance Wars being my favourite). I can see an RPG appealing to me in a handheld format.

3D is a funny thing. I can see it in the cinema, but tend to find it underwhelming, adding little to nothing to the experience, and I can get eye strain. I have a mate who can't see it at all. I don't see the point in selling a technology that many people don't like, and some can't even see. Strange.