Why do people think the 3ds is doomed?

[dairugger]

seems i cant go to any game news site without a article declaring the 3ds dead, that there are no games and the launch sucked. people seem to forget that its always been this way, the n64, ps1, saturn, ps2, psp, and ds all had this problem.

I almost always buy the systems when they come out, and all the above had the same problems, no games for almost a year. so why are people acting like this is new? that nintendo dropped the ball with this launch?

[Bojay1997]

seems i cant go to any game news site without a article declaring the 3ds dead, that there are no games and the launch sucked. people seem to forget that its always been this way, the n64, ps1, saturn, ps2, psp, and ds all had this problem.

I almost always buy the systems when they come out, and all the above had the same problems, no games for almost a year. so why are people acting like this is new? that nintendo dropped the ball with this launch?

It's not really about the weakness of the launch titles or the first year titles. Nintendo, the media, retailers and frankly many of us here and elsewhere expected the 3DS to sell out at launch and continue to sell strong, even at $249 and even with no must have titles. It didn't sell out, it continued to sell slowly after launch and ultimately, Nintendo had to cut the price significantly. Almost every title is now or has been available for significantly less than MSRP, including Nintendo's own first party titles. That's pretty unprecedented for a Nintendo console, at least in recent years. Now I believe this holiday and the price cut may turn things around, but it was undoubtedly a weak launch regardless of the cause.

[Aussie2B]

Well, the price was unprecedented for the launch of a Nintendo handheld too. I mean, it was $100 more than the price that the DS launched at. That's why it didn't sell strongly.

Not to mention that the DS was a huge success and a lot of people are still content with it. Not everybody was ready to move on to the 3DS, especially not at $250.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Doomspeak, wishful thinking, both? The price correction, I would term a relaunch. Needs more time, and they easily have it.

[substantial_snake]

seems i cant go to any game news site without a article declaring the 3ds dead, that there are no games and the launch sucked. people seem to forget that its always been this way, the n64, ps1, saturn, ps2, psp, and ds all had this problem.

I almost always buy the systems when they come out, and all the above had the same problems, no games for almost a year. so why are people acting like this is new? that nintendo dropped the ball with this launch?

Yes they did drop the ball with this launch.

Its really a combination of underperforming in sales numbers coupled with several developers seemingly pulling out of stated products for the system. I will agree that the media has been hard on both the 3DS and the Vita lately but even outside of that the system really was not selling well and even the release of Ocarina of Time did little to increase sales. The media was overexagerating but it certainty has been a weak first half year for the console.

I can't say I'm surprised either Nintendo thought they could overcharge for the system because of the success of the DS and it bit them in the ass with a very weak first six months. A prt of the problem is marketing as well, a buddie of mine thought the machine was literally another new DS with 3D capability instead of its own console. I still think that even after the price cut 160 is too much for the device because their still is little outside of Nintendo's own titles on the way.

That being said the price drop and ambassador program did drive up sales significantly and more games are on the way within the second half of this year. I really like the console it was just released too expensive with not enough to justify its costs.

[kupomogli]

seems i cant go to any game news site without a article declaring the 3ds dead, that there are no games and the launch sucked. people seem to forget that its always been this way, the n64, ps1, saturn, ps2, psp, and ds all had this problem.

I really don't know why the PS2 is on your list of poor launch line ups. Some of my favorite PS2 games are launch titles. Evergrace, Dead or Alive 2, Eternal Ring, Armored Core 2, Kessen, and TimeSplitters were released on or before the day the PS2 was released. The PS2 has had the best launch line up out of any console as far as I'm concerned.

However, the PS2 did take awhile to pick up after the initial launch. Other than the great launch line up, it had less than 10 games that are really worth owning that released during the first year. So like the PS2, the 3DS is sure to pick up. I don't think it's doomed, just hardly anyone is supporting the system.

For those interested, 3DS, DSi, and DSi XL are getting a free download of Zelda Four Swords, so while it's not exclusively to the 3DS, it's still something worth getting, especially since it's free.

[dairugger]

I really don't know why the PS2 is on your list of poor launch line ups. Some of my favorite PS2 games are launch titles. Evergrace, Dead or Alive 2, Eternal Ring, Armored Core 2, Kessen, and TimeSplitters were released on or before the day the PS2 was released. The PS2 has had the best launch line up out of any console as far as I'm concerned.

However, the PS2 did take awhile to pick up after the initial launch. Other than the great launch line up, it had less than 10 games that are really worth owning that released during the first year. So like the PS2, the 3DS is sure to pick up. I don't think it's doomed, just hardly anyone is supporting the system.

For those interested, 3DS, DSi, and DSi XL are getting a free download of Zelda Four Swords, so while it's not exclusively to the 3DS, it's still something worth getting, especially since it's free.

for me, the ps2 felt like a painful wait. it was my most expensive console id purchased myself. i was one of the lucky ones to get one when it just came out, by accident mind you. id just gotten paid and was at electronic botique when i was browsing games the manager who knew me said she had just gotten a couple in and i wanted one right? i said yes out of reflex and was pretty excited.

it seemed like forever for my type of games (rpg/platformers/adv) to come out. lets just say i watched alot of movies on my new game system. i kinda regreted it to be honest. now that i think of it, thats my story for the ps3 too!

[dairugger]

Well, the price was unprecedented for the launch of a Nintendo handheld too. I mean, it was $100 more than the price that the DS launched at. That's why it didn't sell strongly.

Not to mention that the DS was a huge success and a lot of people are still content with it. Not everybody was ready to move on to the 3DS, especially not at $250.

the price didnt help. i remember reading somewhere that nintendo priced the 3ds that way due to the major positive feedback they got at e3. i remember that e3, people were blown away by it and said theyd buy one day one. what a difference 6 months makes apparently.. but nintendo pricing it by reaction to a show was just bad. as was the design of the system itself, alot of people/parents think its a ds with 3d tacked on. the package designs for the game dont help either as i always see 3ds games with the ds games.

[Zing]

Is it any surprise? The price difference between a DS Lite and the 3DS is absurd. It was priced for only the absolutely devoted day-one folks. If it wasn't for Ocarnia of Time, I suspect even those buyers would have bailed out by now. I fully expect Nintendo to pull the plug on the DS Lite either before or after the holidays to make their 3DS numbers look good (like Microsoft did with Vista).

[RPG_Fanatic]

And not everyone (including me) is sold or likes the 3D aspect of the system.

[heybtbm]

The 3DS isn't doomed. It's just the last of a proud line of dedicated handheld gaming systems. Here are the reasons I see this as the end (nothing new here)...

1.) Soccer Moms/Grandparents (etc) see this as a DS that does 3D games. Essentially no different from what their kid already has. Stores still have way more DS titles on the shelf, so why buy a new system for their kid?

2.) 3D as a whole has failed as a consumer product. Retailers are claiming the term "3-D" has become consumer poison. Industry article after industry article shows this. The added expense + a poor economy + the fact that most people just bought a new HDTV (non-3D) = a few of the reasons why people are shunning anything with "3-D" in it's name.

3.) Lack of games, blah blah blah. This isn't really a problem for most people. Right now it is THE reason I haven't bought one. With all the AAA titles coming out, this issue pretty much goes away in the next few months.

4.) BIGGEST REASON: Smartphones. The 3DS and Vita will deliver a superior gaming experience no doubt, but that's not what consumers are asking for anymore. The ease of use, $0.99 quality games, and the "everything in one" aspect of smartphones just make these devices so much more desirable to the average person. On that long car trip, it's so much easier to give a kid your smartphone (or their own if they're old enough) and let them play a few games, watch a video, listen to music, etc. than it is to buy a dedicated handheld with $40 games. That whole concept is dead.

[Zing]

I just checked out Nintendo's 3DS website for the first time and had a laugh at how they have these generic entries for Super Mario Land and Mario Kart right on the front page. They are pretty damn desperate for people to not bail on them.

"Hey, we have some good games coming someday! We swear! Here, have yet another N64 remake while you wait."

[swlovinist]

The 3DS will not be a failed item. It will not be as successful as the DS, but should clean up well for the holidays. Price drop plus finally good games should make up. That being said, they system has to be one of the bigger blundered launches for Nintendo.

Dont ever count out Nintendo. They have been around over a hundred years, and are very savy at business. I expect them to bounce back and be okay. The growth of the portable market will continue to trend in smartphones and tablets, and stray away from portable game systems. It is not game over for Nintendo

[eskobar]

Nintendo abused of his costumers with the DS brand products .... It was too fast to switch from the NDS Lite to DSi to DSiXL.... to N3DS.

The gimmick of the 3D display is a double edge weapon, being kids a huge share of the target market and with too many people reporting dizzyness and another negative effects after playing with the console .... no need to purchase a system like that.

I particularly don't hate the console but it is inferior to the NDS line ... hope more games come out soon, and not remakes, the console needs games that take full advantage of the system..

[joshnickerson]

"Why do people think the 3ds is doomed?"

Pretty simple answer really.

Because people are idiots.

[bangtango]

Sure, the 3DS is doomed. Just like the Playstation 3 was once doomed. Wasn't it EGM widely claiming Sony's goose was cooked as far as the PS3 was concerned?

[Icarus Moonsight]

Nintendo abused of his costumers with the DS brand products .... I was too fast to switch from the NDS Lite to DSi to DSiXL.... to N3DS.

Um, that's all you man. Stop hitting yourself! LOL

[eskobar]

Um, that's all you man. Stop hitting yourself! LOL

LOL fuck

fixed :puppydogeyes:

[bangtango]

Um, that's all you man. Stop hitting yourself! LOL

And if Nintendo suggests you jump off a bridge, wear your uncle's old leisure suit to your next job interview or shave your ball sack right before you go to the beach, don't do it because Nintendo won't be responsible for the consequences of the resulting abuse.

[Rickstilwell1]

The funny thing is, there are only a couple actual remakes for the system. Zelda and Star Fox.

Everything else isn't a remake, it's a sequel - including Pilotwings. aka a brand new game in each popular series. The idea that the system is full of nothing but remakes is dumb.

Wouldn't it have been stupid if Super Mario World came out and everyone said ah it's just a rehash of Super Mario Bros. Everyone would have missed out on one of the best games of all time. Look how wonderful New Super Mario Bros. Wii was. It was definitely not a mere remake of New Super Mario Bros. for the DS.

[Robocop2]

I do think they dropped the ball at launch with the price of the system and the lackluster software offering. There's nothing wrong with the hardware though, and I think that once the system hits its stride it will be successful. I almost bought one at launch but the above mentioned problems held me back. I did buy after the drop (along with some extra trade incentive) and I've been pleased so far. Now nothing stellar in my library as of yet but I know that its coming and I'm looking forward to that day. It does still play DS games in the meantime and contrary to some opinions I think they look just fine on the system. I'm still not happy about the battery life but so far that hasn't been a problem and if it becomes one; there are several options out there that counter that problem. All in all; I think it stumbled out of the gate but in the end I doubt it will stay that way.

[Fatalstar64]

It's all crap like articles saying smartphone gaming just eliminates the need for a portable gaming system. They have the price right now and once Mario hits and the new IP's it will fly off the shelves. I myself am waiting out the drought of games once they come out the sales will pick up. Zelda and Starfox are just a taste of what's to come.

[badinsults]

The 3DS is a neat system, the only problem is that all the games are rehash or crap. Though I bought Ocarina of Time, let's face it, I have beat that game several times and there is nothing strikingly different from the N64 version except the 3D (which is neat). I wish they had maybe changed the level design to freshen things up. I also bought Pilotwings, which doesn't seem to grab you the way that the original and PW64 did. I'll fully admit I bought it only because they are making a sequel to Paper Mario (the same reason I bought a Gamecube).

[Swamperon]

Like people of said, combination of pricing, lack of games, flaws in the marketing, Nintendo been greedy and 3D being a turn off for many people.

Releasing Pokemon Black/White, their biggest portable asset, a month before the 3DS probably didn't help either.

Just wait until the next big Pokemon game hits the 3DS. As long as Pokemon remains popular, Nintendo will never leave the handheld market.

[duffmanth]

seems i cant go to any game news site without a article declaring the 3ds dead, that there are no games and the launch sucked. people seem to forget that its always been this way, the n64, ps1, saturn, ps2, psp, and ds all had this problem.

I almost always buy the systems when they come out, and all the above had the same problems, no games for almost a year. so why are people acting like this is new? that nintendo dropped the ball with this launch?

I think the slow sales of the 3DS can also be attributed to the fact that Nintendo has released something like 8 handhelds in the last 10 years including the 3DS. People who just upgraded to the DSXL or the DSI in the last few years are probably not going to be inclined to run out and drop $250 on a system that has no games.

[Snapple]

I'm not going to let the TC get away with saying the PS1 and PS2 had a slow launch. Both of those systems had incredibly successful first years. Same might be true for the original DS but I don't feel like looking it up.

And dropping the price so sharply, just a couple months after the 3DS came out, is unprecedented even compared to the biggest failure systems.

[Vlcice]

It's all crap like articles saying smartphone gaming just eliminates the need for a portable gaming system. They have the price right now and once Mario hits and the new IP's it will fly off the shelves. I myself am waiting out the drought of games once they come out the sales will pick up. Zelda and Starfox are just a taste of what's to come.

Well, the thing is part of why the DS was so successful is because Nintendo did an amazing job of getting people who didn't usually play video games to buy the system and $30 games for it. Those are exactly the sort of people who will play $1 smartphone games instead of DS games, and I don't think Nintendo's getting most of those back for the 3DS. I'd rather play games on a "real" portable, like pretty much everyone here, but I think Nintendo's going to have to accept that the 3DS's market is going to be smaller than the DS's was.

[Jimmy Yakapucci]

I am surprised that nobody has mention the short battery life when talking about the reasons that the 3DS has not done well.

JY

[Vlcice]

That too. While I wasn't planning on picking up a first-gen one anyway, I was appalled to hear what people had to say about the battery.

[Patney]

Nintendo 3DS sales increase by 727%. (http://www.vgchartz.com/article/87634/weekly-sales-analysis-13-august-2011-3ds-sales-increase-seven-fold/) Good news, all it needed was a price drop apparantly :) It still remains to see if the good sales will continue... But I'm rooting for the system, DS had one of the best libraries ever so I want the 3DS to succeed too.

[jcalder8]

1. The price
2. The games
3. IT'S 3D!

That's why this person thinks it's doomed

[Nature Boy]

The stuff I've read hasn't said it's dead, or that it's doomed. I think people just read that into what is actually said, which is that the launch has been a failure and Nintendo has to have a plan.

And the launch is a failure, in that there is 3DS stock everywhere and it's underselling.

If I were Nintendo (they'd probably be broke), I'd've tried to push some new titles with the price drop to market it all at once, but I can see not waiting for the titles to drop the price and to try to move some units.

In the end I'm sure it'll be fine, but I like to see this type of thing happen. It's interesting to see how they and their competitors respond to how the market is behaving.

[Icarus Moonsight]

They also artificially limited supply of games available in the launch window by intentionally holding back first party titles to give thirds the lead. Even if someone didn't see this news, it's effect is evident by the state of the software shelf. They put the launch support in the hands of the thirds... Attempt a stage dive and everyone moves away. Meet the floor! *ouch*

If iOS/Android remain platforms with the lowest barrier to entry, they will certainly win out over time through the supply curve. They will have more crap than the PS2, Wii and DS ever did, but they will also have more top tier high quality creations and those will be insanely cheap vs a $40 MSRP.

[WCP]

I was at Target the other day, and I saw a big wall of 3DS games and the system. The system being at $169.99 is "kinda" tempting to me, because supposedly Nintendo is actually losing money on the hardware, although I'm not really believing that. I bet they can bring it to market for about $120, so I don't think they are necessarily "losing" money on it. Still, it does make it seem like a decent value.

So, I was actually legitimately interested in possibly buying one, but then I looked at the wall of games. Almost every game was priced at $39.99. Target did have about 5 games that were on sale at $19.99, but all those games looked like crap. In this modern day and age of 99 cent iPhone games, the idea of paying $40 plus tax is just asinine. A fool and his money will soon part...

Until I can get every single game for $24.99 or less, with tons of games for $9.99 or less, I'm not going to be even remotely interested in owning it, no matter how cheap the actual hardware gets. In fact, I'd much rather they keep the price $249.99, and instead chop the price of the games in half from $40 to $20.

[j_factor]

The 3DS has already sold too many units to really be a doomed platform.

Besides, even if it continues to sell less than Nintendo would like, what are they going to do about it? Discontinue it in favor of going back to the DS? Dump it and get out of the handheld business? Can the 3DS and quickly release a new portable? All three of those seem very unlikely. The 3DS is here to stay.

[dgdgagdae]

Nintendo 3DS sales increase by 727%. (http://www.vgchartz.com/article/87634/weekly-sales-analysis-13-august-2011-3ds-sales-increase-seven-fold/) Good news, all it needed was a price drop apparantly :) It still remains to see if the good sales will continue... But I'm rooting for the system, DS had one of the best libraries ever so I want the 3DS to succeed too.

It worked for the Touchpad, too.

[Richter Belmount]

Cause people are stupid thats why , every console needs to get its legs before it sells gangbusters just look at the ps3.

[Patney]

It worked for the Touchpad, too.
The HP Touchpad won't get any support in the future though since HP has essentially given up on the system, while more people owning the 3DS means more demand for games, so this isn't exactly the same thing.

[Tokimemofan]

Priced too high at launch, not enough good releases early on, 3D gimmicks, eye strain. I think it will fail but it is hard to say, there are good releases on the horizon.

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

seems i cant go to any game news site without a article declaring the 3ds dead, that there are no games and the launch sucked. people seem to forget that its always been this way, the n64, ps1, saturn, ps2, psp, and ds all had this problem.

I almost always buy the systems when they come out, and all the above had the same problems, no games for almost a year. so why are people acting like this is new? that nintendo dropped the ball with this launch?

Is anyone actually saying it's "new" to have a slow launch? My guess is that they are just stating the obvious, the 3DS is having a slow start. If they are declaring it dead, then they might be getting ahead of themselves. I personally haven't seen any article declaring it dead.

I kind've get a sense that Nintendo fans are mad about the slow start of the 3DS, and they want to take it out on something, like the gaming press. I wouldn't worry though. Even if they canceled the system tomorrow, it's still was a nice piece of hardware.

[MachineGex]

Well, once a few Mario games come out,(I'm counting Luigi also), it will take off. I know my son is getting one for Xmas because he wants to play Luigi's Mansion 2. The Price dropping and some "A" titles from Nintendo has changed my mind on the system.

[Duke.Togo]

All the doomed talk is a bit much. For me the reason I've steered clear is the battery life and lack of interesting titles. I still have a DS backlog and have more games I'd like to pick up. I imagine that many customers are like me and still very happy with the DS until the 3DS library is better rounded and the inevitable new model is released that solves the problems of the original.

3DS will do well this holiday season at the new price point. I for one am happy, let the platform mature and then I am in.