Nintendo 3DS: The 3D is Not the Problem

Pretty much sums it up. I have been thinking about this on and off when I think of purchasing one just so I have it for the future. The thing is I know Nintendo will force their unlubricated jockey into the market's tight rear end once more when they do a hardware revision in about a year. Since we can pretty safely assume that a better version will be out next year and if not, a better version will be on the way and we already waited so long sowhat's a few more months, why the hell do I want this Nintendo?

Sounds like an issue similar to the WiiU, of course the WiiU does include something else, not ground-breaking, but it does include the processing power for better graphics. None of the exclusives from Nintendo convince, the last IP they introduced to the market were WiiSports, WiiFit on the Wii. For publishing they haven't even released some of their titles outside Japan, looking at you Last Story and Xeno.

I'm not one that has jumped on the Nintendo hate, I disliked Nintendo ever since the GameCube, I did play the SNES and N64 up until the PS2 Slim came out, I did not play PS1 games, look at all the fun I missed that I now get to play on my PSP.

I never bought a DS, and it has some titles I do want, based on that, yes I could very well get a 3DS, just not yet, I want to sit back and see if they actually work on a new handheld, not a variation of the two screen-stylus handheld.

When I had originally thought of this myself, I had only considered the available 3DS games being the main problem, but you bring a good point. It's such an obvious point that I didn't even consider it.

It certainly seems to be the case that Nintendo has over-saturated the dedicated gaming handheld market, but one also needs to consider that all smart phones these days are also now part gaming handhelds. The one problem here though, is I just don't see your average iPhone user who plays angry birds picking up a dedicating gaming device (like a Vita or 3DS). Nintendo has more recently tried to get their hands into the casual market, however, I just don't see the casual smart phone game playing consumer actually justifying the cost and dropping the cash to buy one of these "it only plays games" devices. It may be that Nintendo sees this wide market place of people playing mobile games and includes them in their target demographic when they really shouldn't.

Picture(s) Unrelated?

What exactly are these 20 free downloadable games? Virtual Console handheld games? DSiware games? Lame 3D MINIGAMES!?

When they release the pink version, I'll start to consider buying one, until then I'm saving my money for the PSvita.

Good article, I personally don't plan to get a 3DS because my iPhone is my handheld game of choice.

I'm just Glad it's under 200bucks, I don't think any hand Held should be more expensive then a Console. 170 is a more realistic Price for a Handheld.
It's a good Marketing Ploy too, If they lower the price in the middle of August, people won't have to wait so long for the Flag Ship Tittles that are coming out in September,October,November, December,and So on going into March.

I'd been holding back on getting a 3DS, mainly because of the price, but this could persuade me.

These were my thoughts exactly today. When I heard the $80 price drop, my first thought was "Hot damn! I should get one now!" but then I turned to look at my DSlite thats been sitting on my desk for over half a year (probably a year actually) without play.

I also recall moments in the past when I heard about a new iteration of the DS coming out and thinking "Another version of the DS? wtf?"

Its hard to sell a product that nearly everyone already has, and all you're going to say thats newly added is 3D. Yes the 3D is nice, I got to see it first hand. But after seeing 2 more DS come out after I bought my Lite (DS XL, and the DSi), I wasn't all that impressed.

Its like trying to convince me to go watch a regular movie apposed to the 3D version of it. Why bother?

grammar nazi here. you said "It’s simple market saturation though and though." instead of "through and through"

Disagree with saturation. Problem was price and poor marketing. Thing will sell like hotcakes now.

The people I know don't even know that the 3DS is a new system, they think that its just another variation on the DS. Ninty really messed up with the naming and marketing, hopefully this will help them get back on track. Hope it doesn't happen with the Wii U as well.

Personally, I think it is the software line-up that is causing alot of people to think twice about getting a 3DS. So far, not many good titles are currently out for the 3DS and 3DS only. The price drop could get a few more people interested, but I don't think it will cause a tidal wave of people to sudden buy one.

The Vita will probably suffer the same thing. I only see a couple of titles that I would get a Vita for.

More great games, plz!!!

I'm going to be honest. I haven't owned a Nintendo system since the N64. The most recent Nintendo product my household bought during the last decade was the Gameboy Advance.

I almost got a Gamecube, but the placement of the face-buttons put me off and their selection of first party titles didn't appeal to me at all, though I did play a significant amount at another family member's home. With the Wii, I played it a few times at a friends house; he insisted playing it drunk and broke a window because he forgot to leave the strap on his wrist.

In regards to the DS, the DSlite and the DSi, I just don't have time for a portable experience while on the go. I'm not a heavy traveler,and when I'm out of the house I'm either busy working, shopping or with friends. I just see little point in shelling out over $100 for something that I'm going to be sitting on my ass at home playing. The same issue with Nintendo's handheld translates over to the PSP & the Go for me as much of a Sony fanboy that I am. The Vita at least looked promising, I may have been sold if they had just gone the extra mile and included a standard cell phone package built in.

If gimmicks like motion controls and 3D don't appeal to someone like me, and nostalgia titles like DK, Zelda, Metroid, Mario and Kirby don't appeal to someone like me; then what does Nintendo have left to offer? Cell phone gaming makes portable systems less appealing for people who prefer utility to specialization. And as far as the WiiU is concerned... lets just say it isn't wise to sprint at the start of a marathon.

Yeah, the only thing that's making me think twice about getting a 3DS is "are there gonna be any good games".

Is it worth it to get a 3DS now or just get the DSi for cheaper?

I just hate 3D, too blurry, low frame-rate. I think i'll pass on this gimmick... maybe ill get a system with the next "must have feature" but not this one.

When it comes to 3D on anything in particular, I tend to just shrug it off - I'm of the group that dismisses "3D" as a novelty. It looks nice, but nothing so far takes advantage of the added depth perception, and I don't suspect there will be anything until holograms are able to be produced efficiently enough to be marketable. (Har har, 3DS is said to produce 3D holograms, hurr hurr).

That said, I think I will still invest in a 3DS out of necessity, especially now that the price has dropped significantly. The only DS I have now is a slowly deteriorating original silver brick - the kind with no Wi Fi and, by the time I do get a new DS, will only be useful for GBA games.

My reasoning? There is nothing on the 3DS I really want. Sure I have a whole back catalog of DS games I would love to have the chance to play but I would just go and buy a cheaper used DS instead.

The 3DS looks to be having a bad start. The fact that I heard people turning off the 3D because of framerate issuses seems that the technology isn't used to it's potential. Or is it that it wasn't as great as thought originally. I don't own a 3DS but thinking now, Nintendo might attempt to update the 3DS in the next few years.

Still not buying it.

Nintendo just assumes enough stupid people will throw their money at whatever handheld they make as long as they can play it up as being better than x, bigger than x, more powerful than x, or whatever usually convinces sheep.

But you can make a boob out of anything!!

Sure actually using the 3-d will make your eyes burn and feel like they're about to start bleeding and/or explode after 30 minutes, but eh.

The serious answer is terrible rehashed games that nobody is interested in. I'm sure they'll get by with some dumb pokemon or zelda game, but it's just pathetic..

Sooo many DS's, nothing besides the 3-D looks remotely appealing on it compared to a DS

I think I'll just play Tetris on my GameBoy...