3DS Catch-all

SommerMatt wrote:
Certis wrote:

I think $249.99 US is going to be likely. You don't launch new handhelds in March for kids whose parents will still be buying them regular DS systems for some time to come. You nail all the hardcore fans on opening day than drop the price for Christmas depending on sales and availability. If there's going to be shortages (and there may be) then there's no reason to start at a low price. It'll take a while to burn through the early adopters.

The Kindle, iPhone, etc. all speak to the trend of soaking early adopters and phasing into the mainstream slowly. If you have a big, trusted brand like Apple, Amazon or Nintendo backing your product up ... why not?

The PSP launched in 2005 at $249.99. In March, too, if I remember right. As Certis says, there's precedent out there for devices of this type selling for this price point.

Not quite sure if the PSP is the model you want to emulate, though.

Hey, the Virtual Boy flopped and I picked mine up cheap- $50 with 5 games included, so... if all goes according to plan.. 3DS will go the same way.

The PSP also had a fairly terrible starting lineup of games, or had games that just didn't ship in time(GTPSP was a launch title). Nintendo looks like they've gotten that issue mostly solved here. Also, Sony refused to drop the price for at least a year and a half after release.

The main question is how quickly will Nintendo get their production ramped up and smoothed out, which will let them reduce the price? I'd wager Christmas next year as the first drop.

Parallax Abstraction wrote:

They're out of their minds if they think people will pay the same for a handheld as an Xbox 360 Slim.

Worked for Sony. (No i'm not being sarcastic the PSP sold relatively well!)

Damnit! Tannhausered.... Well played, SommerMatt... Well played...

ccesarano wrote:

Which pisses me off because it's one big self-fulfilling prophecy. The Wii had NOTHING at launch because all the third parties were like "Psh. Nintendo. They never sell". Then in 2006 they're all like "WHOA THIS IS AWESOME!", but two years down the line when stuff FINALLY COMES OUT the gamers are all "Psh, only good games on Nintendo are first party. Nothing on there but Wii Fit" and so nothing sells. There are no hardcore games because they don't sell, but they don't sell because gamers ignore any hardcore game on the damn system.

Most hardcore gamers had the 360 or PS3 as well as a Wii so they were probably interested in the system for the 'waggle' games. Casual gamers are primarily interested in the 'waggle' games but not the hardcore 'bloodfest' type games (though there will be a few).... however, if you look at the marketing for the hardcore 'bloodfest' games on the Wii it is terrible. Either misdirected or is completely out of place in comparison to the 'family friendly' message Nintendo put across throughout the Wii's lifespan.

The reason i don't yet have a Wii is because i am primarily interested in hardcore style games but corridor/lightgun shooters aren't really my thing and there aren't enough games on the system to warrant me getting one yet (though i do own a few games). I think that these positions can explain why 'hardcore' games don't sell well...

I'm going to wait for the inevitable Slim model too. Hopefully by that time the design will be refined, the price lower, and the library bigger.

cube wrote:

The PSP also had a fairly terrible starting lineup of games, or had games that just didn't ship in time(GTPSP was a launch title). Nintendo looks like they've gotten that issue mostly solved here. Also, Sony refused to drop the price for at least a year and a half after release.

The main question is how quickly will Nintendo get their production ramped up and smoothed out, which will let them reduce the price? I'd wager Christmas next year as the first drop.

You do realize you are discussing a price drop for an item that has been given neither a release date or price in North America and the leading region relase is still 5 months out?

Rexneron wrote:

Not quite sure if the PSP is the model you want to emulate, though.

Being the second best selling handheld console in the history of videogames isn't that bad.

I suspect that I'll harrumph at the price at launch, but will end up buying one shortly before taking a trip somewhere.

SommerMatt wrote:
Rexneron wrote:

Not quite sure if the PSP is the model you want to emulate, though.

Being the second best selling handheld console in the history of videogames isn't that bad.

Duoae wrote:
Parallax Abstraction wrote:

They're out of their minds if they think people will pay the same for a handheld as an Xbox 360 Slim.

Worked for Sony. (No i'm not being sarcastic the PSP sold relatively well!)

Damnit! Tannhausered.... Well played, SommerMatt... Well played...

Ah, good points then. I was under the impression that it didn't do too hot for Sony.

Still, I'm personally still happy with my DSi and can't see myself upgrading for at least another year. It will all come down to what the killer apps are and how well the technology works in real world situations.

Parallax Abstraction wrote:

They're out of their minds if they think people will pay the same for a handheld as an Xbox 360 Slim.

How much was the iPhone at launch? I honestly don't remember, but I want to say around $200.

As for the 3DS, if money wasn't a concern right now, I'd be lining up for launch day for this thing. However, I don't have that luxury anymore so I'll have to wait until demand slows down, more games are out, and I can get the 3DS and some games cheaper.

SommerMatt wrote:
Rexneron wrote:

Not quite sure if the PSP is the model you want to emulate, though.

Being the second best selling handheld console in the history of videogames isn't that bad.

It's sold more than the GBA or the original GB?

EDIT: It's the 4th best selling handheld. It's sold 62 million, the GBA has sold 81 million, the original GB over 118 million and the DS is the tops.

Farscry wrote:
Parallax Abstraction wrote:

They're out of their minds if they think people will pay the same for a handheld as an Xbox 360 Slim.

How much was the iPhone at launch? I honestly don't remember, but I want to say around $200.

As for the 3DS, if money wasn't a concern right now, I'd be lining up for launch day for this thing. However, I don't have that luxury anymore so I'll have to wait until demand slows down, more games are out, and I can get the 3DS and some games cheaper.

The iPhone was $500 and $600 at launch and got a price drop shortly after launch. I think launching at $250 in the states in March isn't bad at all. If the game stay around $40 or $30, I'll more than make up that cost with cheaper product.

SommerMatt wrote:
Rexneron wrote:

Not quite sure if the PSP is the model you want to emulate, though.

Being the second best selling handheld console in the history of videogames isn't that bad.

When there have only been two real contenders in the race for the last five years all it really means is, "better than N-Gage." I can do that with some duct tape and a couple of pine cones.

EDIT: Also no, it didn't out-sell the original Gameboy. It sold 62 million across all models, compared with 118 million across the Gameboy, Gameboy Color and Gameboy Pocket. Gameboy Advance sold 81 million across all versions. So basically it's only the second best-selling handheld in gaming history if you lump all Nintendo products together.

Thant's what I get for not researching. Point is still valid, though.

LobsterMobster wrote:
SommerMatt wrote:
Rexneron wrote:

Not quite sure if the PSP is the model you want to emulate, though.

Being the second best selling handheld console in the history of videogames isn't that bad.

When there have only been two real contenders in the race for the last five years all it really means is, "better than N-Gage." I can do that with some duct tape and a couple of pine cones.

EDIT: Also no, it didn't out-sell the original Gameboy. It sold 62 million across all models, compared with 118 million across the Gameboy, Gameboy Color and Gameboy Pocket. Gameboy Advance sold 81 million across all versions.

Dismissing 62 million console sales as "just has to be better than the n-gage" seems ridiculous. There was plenty of competition for Nintendo over the years, and none of them gained any kind of traction. If the DS didn't exist, the PSP numbers would be hailed as an incredible feat. As it stands, Sony is Kobe Bryant to Nintendo's Michael Jordan.

Long story short= who cares? Nintendo would be plenty happy to have the 3DS sell in those numbers.

Let's put it this way.... I'd buy one at £190. I know it's crazy but there just isn't this sort of technological leap/change very often. I think the 3D effect will wow people into buying one. Demo kiosks will be instrumental in selling this to the general public. Gamestop and other physical stores prove their worth once again

mrtomaytohead wrote:
cube wrote:

The PSP also had a fairly terrible starting lineup of games, or had games that just didn't ship in time(GTPSP was a launch title). Nintendo looks like they've gotten that issue mostly solved here. Also, Sony refused to drop the price for at least a year and a half after release.

The main question is how quickly will Nintendo get their production ramped up and smoothed out, which will let them reduce the price? I'd wager Christmas next year as the first drop.

You do realize you are discussing a price drop for an item that has been given neither a release date or price in North America and the leading region relase is still 5 months out?

It's still a very valid question, considering Nintendo's pricing practices.

They don't sell consoles for a loss. Unlike Sony or MS, their price is determined by the actual cost of the unit more than the nebulous "what will people pay". It comes down to how efficient their supply chain is, and how well they can ramp up production and suppliers to meet the demand. If they're able to do this quickly, they can reduce the price. If they have supply problems through all of 2011, there won't be a drop.

So the question about a price drop is something that we CAN think about. Since they're releasing early 2011, the production has to be in full swing within the next few months. If sales are good, and they can match demand, I'm pretty sure that they're going to be in a position to drop the price relatively early, which works better for them, considering that they're directly competing with the PS3, 360, and iOS devices(both iPhone and iPod touch) at a $250 price point.

cube wrote:

So the question about a price drop is something that we CAN think about. Since they're releasing early 2011, the production has to be in full swing within the next few months. If sales are good, and they can match demand, I'm pretty sure that they're going to be in a position to drop the price relatively early, which works better for them, considering that they're directly competing with the PS3, 360, and iOS devices(both iPhone and iPod touch) at a $250 price point.

I do wonder whether the price is intentionally set high to dampen down demand in the launch window so they avoid chronic shortages a la Wii?

On reflection, I think I'll take the tin-foil hat off.

You might be right, Jonman. Non-holiday release date, high price? Says more that they want to get it out, but don't want it to get out to that many people, for now....

All I have to say is that the person who said there's no way advance games could come to the 3DS... HA! (Okay, that aside.)
I might actually get this, but since i never got a chance to touch one at PAX, I would have to go store demo one when it comes out.

cube wrote:

You might be right, Jonman. Non-holiday release date, high price? Says more that they want to get it out, but don't want it to get out to that many people, for now....

Works for Intel and AMD. They rush out half-completed processors all the time just so they can say that they meet or exceed the competition, even if those units are so expensive no one in their right mind would buy one (and those that do are disappointed with their glitchy, overheating hardware).

If I can cobble the cash together between now and March, I'm getting one. Even if it's $250.

I totally understand everyone's points about the high price, the fact that there'll be an updated model soon, and the initial library is, while not horrendous, certainly not awe-inspiring. All the same, I'm giddy as a schoolgirl.

Though I think it's rare that 3D actually adds anything to a movie, gaming is one place I see it working particularly well. Add the download functionality, motion tracker, the fact that I'm actually excited about pilotwings and super monkey ball (as well as replaying Ocarina), and this may actually be the first console I'll be picking up on release day or soon after. I know that, like my DS lite, it'll soon be relegated to coaster duty on my nightstand except for the rare occasions when I find something compelling, but at the moment at least I'm actually swept up in the hype and excitement of a new console release that seems to really offer something new. I'm not even sure it has anything to do with the actual games I'll be playing -- I just want to be first in line and act smug because I have something shiny (helloooooo ladies). In a nutshell, the 3DS has me really excited about gaming for the first time in a very long while.

IMAGE(http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/7618/dsitprintsmoney490.jpg)

If I was still using my DS regularly, I could see upgrading, but it's just collecting dust these days. If I start travelling regularly, or I get back into a subway/commuter rail commute, I could see grabbing one of these.

Sony tested the waters with a $250 handheld that had content problems and still managed to sell a few.

Nintendo may feel there is a hardcore audience that will be early adopters at that pricepoint. I dont remember reading that the content is coming on a different format of media, so the 3DS will launch with a deep back catalog of titles, unlike the previously mentioned PSP Go.

If the PSP Go launched at 250, it makes you wonder what a PSP 2 launch at? 3DS may sound expensive now, but when Sony finally talks more PSP 2 details, we may find out that even priced at 250 it may be the cheaper 'latest' handheld option. Only time will tell.

I was thinking of getting a DSi XL for myself, but I may hold off and see what the 3DS has to offer at launch. TBH though, 250 is too rich for my blood.

I keep thinking though - even if it is $250, that will only be for the US.

It'll probably be $265 in Canada (as a rough guess), plus the HST (15% in Ontario) which means it'll be $300 or more with tax in Canada.

No thanks.

Lard wrote:

I'm not paying $300 for a handheld. Period.

There's been news floating around that Megaman Legends 3 was announced, but I can't find any sources.

Edit - found one

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/29/me...

There will also be a Virtual console for GB and GBA games.

Spoiler:

I shall refrain from comments about DLC.

Lard wrote:

I'll wait for the inevitable Lite/Slim version

Edit - if it's on par, ($299) and you factor in the (Canadian) tax, it'll be $330-340.

Too rich for my blood.

Lard wrote:

Bahahahahaha

Nintendo are far too much like Apple.

If they think they can get away with overcharging people for something, they will willingly do it.

$299 for sure.

Lard wrote:

I keep thinking though - even if it is $250, that will only be for the US.

It'll probably be $265 in Canada (as a rough guess), plus the HST (15% in Ontario) which means it'll be $300 or more with tax in Canada.

No thanks.

We gotcha.

There's also the possibility that the 3DS is only meant for the hardcore tech crowd while the DS is meant for your average consumer, a la Smart Phones vs. Regular Cell Phones.

However, what came to my mind actually was...how much will the games cost? One of the benefits of DS games is that on average they are $30 a pop so it's not so bad hunkering down cash for them. But if their graphics are more bad ass and there is 3-D tech involved, are we going to be seeing handheld games for a premium $50?

How much do PSP games cost on average on release?

Nooooooooooooooo! Damn you Nintendo! Foul temptress!

http://www.destructoid.com/professor...

Still around the $30-$40 mark if I remember right.