The Gentle Decline of the Nintendo 3DS

[n64coder]

The DS Lite is really great for battery life and form factor but my favorite is the DSi XL. I'll get the 3DS XL when it comes out and there are enough good games out there.

[XerdoPwerko]

I bought my 3DS because my original Phat DS has found a new home as my girl's gaming machine (so I needed a DS anyway), and well, because I love the Virtual Boy and 3D stuff (so I was really interested).

The first time I actually saw a 3DS work was when I first used mine. So far, impressed, but quite bored of the lack of 3DS software. I didn't know Pop-Up 3D, like that Negative Parallax explained above by Mqark, was possible on the 3DS.

That being said, I can make an observation about the 3DS.

It doesn't move because it's too expensive, and also because it's impossible to see the hype of it until you play it yourself.

My aunt played with it for a few minutes and now she's wildly in love with videogames (she had never been very keen on them) And well, she's 68 years old. My mom is 70, and when she first experienced the 3DS, she was quite impressed. We spent a whole afternoon seeing all that the system comes with (Face raiders, 3D Camera, AR games, that video with the dogs) - and well, they really, really liked it.

They both would get their own units if they had the chance. Younger gamers are a bit jaded, but older new users really are impressed by the 3DS.

That being said, I've been playing Chrono Trigger and Front Mission on mine much more than the only actual 3DS game I have (Street Fighter).

That june update cannot come soon enough.

[Shadowlayer]

The VirtualBoy was nintendo's 32X, whats funny is that the SegaCD went down in part 'cause it was $299, even though it was a console, while the 3DS is just $50 less and its supposed to be a portable targeted mostly at kids and teenagers.

As I say, price it at $150 and it sells, people love cheap stuff

No money, high prices, no software that appeals to me.

Since Wii 'high prices' is not an excuse, and that one didn't have that many games either so in you case I'm going with just money:lol:

[jp.]

Heh, I almost want to say that if Nintendo is smart they won't make a revision of the 3DS, just so people will stop anticipating revisions. :nod:

[Shakey_Jake33]

I'm not sure the MegaCD really fits well into this discussion. The MegaCD failed because addons, by definition, already have a very limited potential audience - those who already owned a MegaDrive. In retrospect, it's shocking that companies didn't realise this at the time. In the meantime, the MegaDrive continued to be Sega's main format getting the main releases, and the Snes continued to impress.

The 3DS's problems are very different. There is a real consumer apathy towards the device, and this can only be solved by Nintendo putting some weight behind software and showing people what the machine can do.

As far as revisions go, I know more than a few people who half-jokingly said they will wait until Nintendo release a 3DS Lite. People forget that the original DS was actually struggling in many markets until Nintendo released the DS Lite. I'm not quite sure where Nintendo thought they were going with the DSi though, many of us just stuck with our Lites.

[Playgeneration]

Its not just the hardware itself that looks too familiar to the DS, its the software too. If the biggest upcoming title they have is another N64 remake, thats not good. Nintendo rely way too much on re-releases. Sure they still may be great games, but re-releases should be in addition to new titles, Nintendo release them (at full price) instead of new games.

Surely at this point we should expect Gamecube ports rather than N64 ones, the original DS could do N64 games after all.

[Barc0de]

The VirtualBoy was nintendo's 32X, whats funny is that the SegaCD went down in part 'cause it was $299, even though it was a console, while the 3DS is just $50 less and its supposed to be a portable targeted mostly at kids and teenagers.

As I say, price it at $150 and it sells, people love cheap stuff



Since Wii 'high prices' is not an excuse, and that one didn't have that many games either so in you case I'm going with just money:lol:

what? no games? Well sorry if I enjoy nintendo games, didn't know it wasn't hip enough for you.

I love my wii and play it more than my other two home consoles. It's a good place to concentrate a vast amount of old and new nintendo related software, in a sexy small packaging.

[shuma]

i really dont even wanna touch mine anymore till the social networking apps and netflix etc are working on it...i got mine on japanese launch with SSIV. i love the system and all but like its lacking the features i bought it for to begin with.

[Shadowlayer]

I dont know if a revision would help, its already cheap to produce so I doubt it will bring the price down, and adding stuff like a multitouch screen would be a dick move, and a big fuck-you to all early adopters.

what? no games?

We're talking about launch games, and no it didnt have that much, and still doesnt when compared to previous nintendo consoles.

[la-li-lu-le-lo]

I disagree with whoever said OoT isn't a system mover. The original was wildly popular, and even if people who are new to gaming aren't aware of it (they're probably at least aware of Twilight Princess), there's a buttload of people who played the original and either already have a 3DS or will get one when OoT 3D comes out.

Retro gaming has become somewhat more mainstream as of late, so I think a game like this really will convince a lot of people to get a 3DS. It didn't convince me, but I might buy it anyway.

[Barc0de]

Its not just the hardware itself that looks too familiar to the DS, its the software too. If the biggest upcoming title they have is another N64 remake, thats not good. Nintendo rely way too much on re-releases. Sure they still may be great games, but re-releases should be in addition to new titles, Nintendo release them (at full price) instead of new games.

Surely at this point we should expect Gamecube ports rather than N64 ones, the original DS could do N64 games after all.

"the original DS could do N64 games" is very vague and uninformed.. I suggest you do your research before misleading the less experienced.

the DS could never do a Conker's Bad Fur Day. Please do keep in mind that there are vast hardware differences between the DS and the N64. Just the FPU difference should give you an understanding that the DS is not as well geared for 3D as the N64 was.

[Barc0de]

I dont know if a revision would help, its already cheap to produce so I doubt it will bring the price down, and adding stuff like a multitouch screen would be a dick move, and a big fuck-you to all early adopters.



We're talking about launch games, and no it didnt have that much, and still doesnt when compared to previous nintendo consoles.

you're kidding right? It had Zelda, one of the most beloved franchises of all time. That's the game most people bought on launch. There's nothing of that magnitude on launch day for the 3DS. Even the GameCube got Luigi and the DS got a Mario title.

[Tatsujin]

Good thing I've waited to buy one :)

[XerdoPwerko]

Also, there was a huge pause for all japanese developers and distributors because of the earthquake/Tsunami/nuclear disaster.

That pause, and the economic consequences of it also count as causes for the lack of software and the lack of overall sales - at least in Japan.

Still, quite a weak launch, yeah. The delay of the May update is quite fucking stupid. Many cool features should come with it that should have come with the system in the first place.

[Taucias]

Perhaps people are waiting to see what the NGP is going to deliver.

[Shakey_Jake33]

The Wii is (to be frank) a bad example if we're talking about launch games. Nintendo launched with Wii Sports - that game might not mean much to the likes of you an I, but Nintendo managed to sell the Wii for years based on just that one game. The problem with the 3DS is it has nothing like that right now.

[Barc0de]

Perhaps people are waiting to see what the NGP is going to deliver.

NGP just got its RAM sliced in half apparently, tough luck :lol:

[Shakey_Jake33]

^I'm actually really confused about that. Apparently, only the base non-3g model has had it's RAM sliced, which makes you wonder what the hell they intend to use the extra RAM for in the more expensive model.

Later versions of the original PSP (the 2000, 3000 and Go) had 2x the RAM of the launch version, but it was only utilised by the web browser and homebrew.

[Shadowlayer]

you're kidding right? It had Zelda

You're shitting me right? that was a GC game, like if the N64 had gotten SMW2 instead of Mario64.

But then again you were saying the Wii's hw didn't had anything to do with GC's for 4 years so I guess you believe what you want to believe.

And given that PSP's sales are higher than the 3DS I too think some people might be waiting for the NGP.

[Barc0de]

You're shitting me right? that was a GC game, like if the N64 had gotten SMW2 instead of Mario64.

But then again you were saying the Wii's hw didn't had anything to do with GC's for 4 years so I guess you believe what you want to believe.

And given that PSP's sales are higher than the 3DS I too think some people might be waiting for the NGP.

..

whatever man, if you say so.. can't be bothered arguing over the reality of how big of a name Zelda is, whatever you slap it on.

And if you weren't such a troll you'd know and admit that the GC version is much rarer, hence why its primarily a Wii release, regardless of its initial GC development. Most people who have played TP have done so on a Wii, so..I guess they bought a Wii, no? :)

The Wii brand and the GC brand and completely different brands and opposite in terms of success. Many lay-people know what a Wii is, they don't know what a GC is. Fact.

Calling the Wii a GC 1.5 is stupid though, and you should know that by now. They may share (some) similar hardware but everything from its SDK to Marketing have been made from scratch. And most importantly they are distinguished from each other in many many ways, including the Wii's selling point, the motion controls.

If it helps, my nokia n900 and the iphone 3GS share mostly similar internal parts..that doesn't make my phone an iPhone or the iPhone a pocket linux computer. End of story.