Nintendo blames lack of 'hit titles' for 3DS sales failure - agree?

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DrakeNathan

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#1 DrakeNathan
Member since 2011 • 25 Posts
Nintendo has told investors that a lack of hit titles other than Zelda 3D is the main reason for the poor sales of 3DS revealed recently: http://www.investoo.co.uk/nintendo-blames-lack-of-hit-titles-for-3ds-failure/ Do you guys think this is the main reason? I think it has a lot to do with iPhone too.
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Kenny789

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#2 Kenny789
Member since 2006 • 10434 Posts
Definitely, it's one reason why I haven't picked one up yet.
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pikaby

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#3 pikaby
Member since 2006 • 12720 Posts

It could be both, but software and lack of features at launch are the more pressing issue here.

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Litchie

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#5 Litchie
Member since 2003 • 36127 Posts

Well, yeah. A system without any games is obviously not something many wants. I'm glad people don't buy something that doesn't deserve to be bought.

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AlmightyDerek

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#6 AlmightyDerek
Member since 2002 • 4144 Posts

That's one of the reasons. The other reason is because they were asking way too much for it. By lowering the price and trying to make up for it, they are basically admitting that the 3DS isn't worth any more than $170 (probably less or else they wouldn't make any profit) and they've been ****ing over all the people who paid $250 for it.

Oh, and the irony here is that everyone said the 3DS would win the war against Sony because of all the "great games". :D

GAMESHARQ
Lets not get in a 3DS versus Vita war. They are both good handhelds. The 3DS does have great games they just released the system before the games were ready. Kid Icarus, Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart 7, Luigi's Mansion 2, Animal Crossing, and Paper Mario are really good games. Nintendo did overcharge for the system, it should have been $199 to begin with but I'm happy with getting 20 free games.
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XxshadowgamerxX

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#7 XxshadowgamerxX
Member since 2010 • 95 Posts

well, the thing is that the biggest problem they made is NO MARIO LAUNCH title, im not saying that ocarina of time is bad but they would have sold it much better to kids if they would pack in mario, also there is no starfox,pokemon,metroid etc... for me, the main reason why I bought my ds was for Mario and Pokemon, so until they have Mario on the 3DS, this game console is worth barely anyhting

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1PMrFister

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#8 1PMrFister
Member since 2010 • 3134 Posts
Well yeah, people buy video game systems to play the games. Not enough compelling games means nobody will buy your system. Hopefully, it's an issue they'll be able to overcome once their upcoming titles (Mario Kart, Kid Icarus) get released.
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elbert_b_23

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#9 elbert_b_23
Member since 2003 • 8247 Posts
of coarse it is nintendo rushed the release and is now learning from it
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Francision69

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#11 Francision69
Member since 2007 • 1763 Posts
I agree, it's the lack of AAA titles like Mario that the 3DS hasn't been selling well.
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rawsavon

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#12 rawsavon
Member since 2004 • 40001 Posts
Definitely, it's one reason why I haven't picked one up yet.Kenny789
It is the only reason I have not. There is not one game that I want atm (some coming), but there are no games I want to play = wait for the new model
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superbuuman

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#13 superbuuman
Member since 2010 • 6400 Posts

Price drop is coming to Aust in Aug 12th ...from SRP $349 AUD (insanely ridiculous) ..to SRP$249 AUD. Early adopters get free games :D

Combination of 2 things stupid price & no NEW 1st party titles ...Zelda OoT is rehash, people who already played this weren't really gonna be too excited about it. No one to blame but themself.

http://www.nintendo.com.au/index.php?action=news&nid=1098&pageID=6

..bahahaha...

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KnightSkull

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#14 KnightSkull
Member since 2011 • 1481 Posts

It was both the lack of games and the price. Now that there is going to be a price cut, a HUGE one, and more games comming out soon the 3DS should sell a lot more.

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nini200

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#15 nini200
Member since 2005 • 11484 Posts
Well I agree that the lack of titles was part of the reason. But then some of the titles themselves were garbage. I LOVED Pilotwings 64 but why in the world would I want to play Pilotwings with a Mii? GIVE ME KIWI AND THE ORIGINAL CAST BACK!!!
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helwa1988

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#16 helwa1988
Member since 2007 • 2157 Posts

that's 50% of the reason. the other 50% was due to the price and lack of advertisment.

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Epak_

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#17 Epak_
Member since 2004 • 11911 Posts

They are right. Glad they noticed.

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Articuno76

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#18 Articuno76
Member since 2004 • 19799 Posts
The DS also had a less than stellar launch but it wasn't priced in people's minds quite so highly. I think it's the combination of the starting price not hitting a consumer sweet-spot to begin with, as well as a rather lacklustre library so far. This price cut addresses the price issue, and we can count on good games coming down the line. Until those games down the line become more real I don't quite see the 3DS being as big as it could be.
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Gamingclone

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#19 Gamingclone
Member since 2009 • 5224 Posts

Yeah. I agree, the other reason for the failure was the high price tag, though Nintendo has fixed that. 170 for the 3DS? holy moly, thank god they are giving us early adoptors 20 free games or I would had been pissed.

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Gamingclone

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#20 Gamingclone
Member since 2009 • 5224 Posts

May the PS Vita win!

Spinnerweb

please keep system wars related comments to system wars.

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Aquat1cF1sh

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#21 Aquat1cF1sh
Member since 2006 • 11096 Posts
Yeah, I agree. I'd even argue that the lack of games has affected sales more than the price.
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DJ_Lae

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#22 DJ_Lae
Member since 2002 • 42748 Posts
Zelda shipments were pathetic. Stores here are still regularly sold out of copies, and it's not because the game is just selling like mad - the biggest stores in my city only received a couple dozen copies during the first week of release. The lack of games, the high price, confusion with it being just another DS that happens to do 3D (I expect the same confusion with the WiiU), and reports of hardware issues have been holding people off buying it.
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Guovssohas

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#23 Guovssohas
Member since 2010 • 330 Posts
Yes i agree, that's why i still haven't bought one, and won't until close to christmas.
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GAMESHARQ

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#24 GAMESHARQ
Member since 2008 • 5988 Posts
It kinda makes you wonder why they released it so early when they knew there was a lack of hit titles. As far as I can tell, the only hit title is Zelda OoT, and that's an old game that has been re-released a multitude of times already. If anyone really wanted OoT, I'm sure they would have owned it by now on another system.
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BrunoBRS

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#25 BrunoBRS
Member since 2005 • 74156 Posts
why get a system when the games you want will only be out in 8 months? nintendo themselves proved that this is the logic to follow by slashing the price halfway through the launch and the "hit titles" release
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GAMESHARQ

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#26 GAMESHARQ
Member since 2008 • 5988 Posts
Umm...if anything, Nintendo proved that is not the logic to follow. Their 3DS sales are horrible and their profits are wayyy down.
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Sepewrath

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#27 Sepewrath
Member since 2005 • 30712 Posts
Yeah, I agree. I'd even argue that the lack of games has affected sales more than the price.Aquat1cF1sh
I would agree, the lack of games is was allowed the price to become a topic of conversation. If people were too busy talking about the onslaught of games, price wouldn't have been much of an issue. The price wasn't so outrageous that it would override a large quantity of solid software.
Zelda shipments were pathetic. Stores here are still regularly sold out of copies, and it's not because the game is just selling like mad - the biggest stores in my city only received a couple dozen copies during the first week of release.DJ_Lae
That's on the retailers, when was the last time you heard of a game being sold out? Those retailers simply didn't take into account the demand of the area and didn't order enough.
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BrunoBRS

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#28 BrunoBRS
Member since 2005 • 74156 Posts
Umm...if anything, Nintendo proved that is not the logic to follow. Their 3DS sales are horrible and their profits are wayyy down.GAMESHARQ
i mean the consumer's logic to follow. "just wait for the price drop".
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GAMESHARQ

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#29 GAMESHARQ
Member since 2008 • 5988 Posts
Oh, my bad.
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cdragon_88

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#30 cdragon_88
Member since 2003 • 1848 Posts

Overpriced with no games and poor advertisement (this is DS in 3D). That's the failure of the 3DS. But the biggest one is no games--yes.

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DJ_Lae

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#31 DJ_Lae
Member since 2002 • 42748 Posts
That's on the retailers, when was the last time you heard of a game being sold out? Those retailers simply didn't take into account the demand of the area and didn't order enough. Sepewrath
Maybe, but I heard that Nintendo artificially constrained shipments when the game came out (it's why sales figures for Ocarina of Time 3D were relatively low, because only that many copies were actually made). I don't know what Nintendo expected to happen when that game released - obviously people are going to want to buy the first good game for the 3DS.
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foxfacer2d2

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#32 foxfacer2d2
Member since 2010 • 570 Posts

May the PS Vita win!

Spinnerweb

Are you kidding? Sony said that the psp vita won't be profitable for 3 years and it is as cheap as it is no price drops anytime soon. So it's best to buy it if you can.

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foxfacer2d2

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#33 foxfacer2d2
Member since 2010 • 570 Posts

Overpriced with no games and poor advertisement (this is DS in 3D). That's the failure of the 3DS. But the biggest one is no games--yes.

cdragon_88

the main reason that there were no great games is because the 3ds wasn't selling well. Game companies tend to have considerations throwing out there games if the system it self did not sell well, so yeah if the 3ds would sell well with the price drop, there would be an oppertunity to invite third party games.

This is a tide turner and a golden oppertunity for nintendo to stand on par with the market today and to balance there standing profit if the the 3ds tends to survive.

This reminds me of the ps3 back then when there the price was original, certain game companies consider not to make games because there are only few who have them.Therefore, this is a great move for nintendo.

But I could never escape the fact that I bought it at launch, makes me want to cry.

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Sepewrath

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#34 Sepewrath
Member since 2005 • 30712 Posts
[QUOTE="DJ_Lae"] Maybe, but I heard that Nintendo artificially constrained shipments when the game came out (it's why sales figures for Ocarina of Time 3D were relatively low, because only that many copies were actually made). I don't know what Nintendo expected to happen when that game released - obviously people are going to want to buy the first good game for the 3DS.

Exactly, doesn't exactly sound believable does it? That scheme that people were talking about, making it look like its in high demand doesn't work with software, especially in this situation where the hardware is starved for games. So in other words, its a pretty safe bet that isn't true.
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DGonlag

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#35 DGonlag
Member since 2009 • 834 Posts

Yeah. I agree, the other reason for the failure was the high price tag, though Nintendo has fixed that. 170 for the 3DS? holy moly, thank god they are giving us early adoptors 20 free games or I would had been pissed.

Gamingclone

I'm still pissed. None of these games really interest me. I would rather have had a coupon (or two) for a 3DS game. I have a 3DS to play 3DS games, sure it's fun to play snes and gbadvance, but that's not why i bought it.

I feel screwed by Nintendo. The only reason i still have to keep my 3DS (and buy new Nintendo consoles) is Pokemon.

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DJ_Lae

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#36 DJ_Lae
Member since 2002 • 42748 Posts
Exactly, doesn't exactly sound believable does it? That scheme that people were talking about, making it look like its in high demand doesn't work with software, especially in this situation where the hardware is starved for games. So in other words, its a pretty safe bet that isn't true. Sepewrath
Maybe the low shipments were a Canada only thing, then. I'm not really sure. But it does seem odd Nintendo would underestimate how many copies they would sell of the first good 3DS game.
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Sepewrath

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#37 Sepewrath
Member since 2005 • 30712 Posts
Well it doesn't matter how many Nintendo makes, what matters is how many retailers order. If say Gamestop around your house only sold 50 3DS since it launched and bought back 5. The company might decide to only order 20 copies or in some cases, for some games, stores will only order the number of pre orders they get, so as to not buy a bunch of extra games that they will never sell.
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Gamingclone

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#38 Gamingclone
Member since 2009 • 5224 Posts

[QUOTE="Gamingclone"]

Yeah. I agree, the other reason for the failure was the high price tag, though Nintendo has fixed that. 170 for the 3DS? holy moly, thank god they are giving us early adoptors 20 free games or I would had been pissed.

DGonlag

I'm still pissed. None of these games really interest me. I would rather have had a coupon (or two) for a 3DS game. I have a 3DS to play 3DS games, sure it's fun to play snes and gbadvance, but that's not why i bought it.

I feel screwed by Nintendo. The only reason i still have to keep my 3DS (and buy new Nintendo consoles) is Pokemon.

Well Nintendo hasnt revealed what all the games they will give away for free are. Also, cant please everyone. If you so please, just return your 3DS and buy another one for the lower price.

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mariokart64fan

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#39 mariokart64fan
Member since 2003 • 20828 Posts

well success dont happen overnight see ds ,

and where it is today, im suprised they dropped the price when it all it needed was a software line up which is coming soon ,

aka mariokart paper mario starfox resident evil driver pacman etc , the list grows , ,

yet some get canned oh well move on ,

and this price drop will boost this thing to a good rate , and it is good cause not only does it face palm all those who said oh im not buying 3ds its the same prices as so and so , ehhh wrong hah and us early adapters get 20 free games ,

will sony ever come close - i dont think so , they only offere 2 for psn , and microsoft only offered 1 , so what company beside nintendo that gives out

not 2 but 22 free games-counging excite bike , the upcoming free zelda and the newly announced 20 free games thing ,

so ya and being 169,99 on par with dsi , , and i hope yall didnt buy dsis lol , id feel so bad ,

hahah it will get its titles and more now lol

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lbjkurono23

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#40 lbjkurono23
Member since 2007 • 12544 Posts
A mix of both the smartphone industry taking sales away from the casual market and the lack of hit tittles.
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soulless4now

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#41 soulless4now
Member since 2003 • 41388 Posts

Sounds pretty accurate. I just don't see why Nintendo didn't make Pokemon Black and White a 3DS title from the beginning since they launched so close to each other. That would've been a good launch seller right there.

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Sepewrath

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#42 Sepewrath
Member since 2005 • 30712 Posts

Sounds pretty accurate. I just don't see why Nintendo didn't make Pokemon Black and White a 3DS title from the beginning since they launched so close to each other. That would've been a good launch seller right there.

soulless4now
Well the same way people complained about Nintendo just jumping to the Wii U at the expense of the Wii, they would have said the same if Black and White had jumped ship. Also keep in mind, it would take at least a year or so for the 3DS to get an install base large enough to cover the typical sales of Pokemon. Putting it on the 3DS would have slowed sales as its moving away from the huge potential audience on the DS.
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VendettaRed07

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#43 VendettaRed07
Member since 2007 • 14012 Posts

Its a couple of reasons

1) Lack of software

2) Too expensive

3) horrible advertising

Basically everything that was wrong with the ps3 at launch... While cutting the cost is great, and we know the games are going to come soon.. they really REALLY need a great ad campaign to complete the package and make this thing a success.

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jermz345

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#44 jermz345
Member since 2011 • 25 Posts
Definitely, it's one reason why I haven't picked one up yet.Kenny789
I completely agree
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blacktorn

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#45 blacktorn
Member since 2004 • 8299 Posts
Yes and the battery life of the 3ds needs to be improved,hoping for a hardware revision next year
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phantomblade220

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#46 phantomblade220
Member since 2010 • 958 Posts

In my opinion, I think the lack of software was just a minor problem. Of course here on the GS forums its the biggest deal to us. That because we are all gamers and take pride in that fact. However Nintendo's main reason for success is how the kids and the more casual people latched onto the DS. I honestly think it was because of its low price. If the 3DS launched at 170 from the start, there would be no sales failure.

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WSGRandomPerson

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#47 WSGRandomPerson
Member since 2007 • 13697 Posts
Yes, and the fact that the price was very high and not a lot of people, like myself, did not want to pay that much.
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boostud

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#48 boostud
Member since 2004 • 1242 Posts

IMO launching the system without a MAJOR Mario release is just stupid. People buy Nintendo for Zelda, Mario, etc. Nobody buys a new console for a port of Stree Fighter 4. I was excited to get my system at launch, but the titles were just dissapointing. This isn't Nintendo's first system launch without a major title, they seem to repeat this process and get worse ever since the Cube. Anybody old enough to remember the N64 launch? You couldn't find a console on the shelves if your life depended on it, and Mario 64 copies were almost as hard to find.

Anyway, my thoughts as to why its failed so far...

1. Software (lack of!)

2. Economy

3. Price was too high

4. Poor marketing (Plenty of ads, just wrong approach)

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dzimm

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#49 dzimm
Member since 2006 • 6615 Posts
o you guys think this is the main reason?DrakeNathan
Perceived lack of quality games was definitely a problem, even though I think it's more myth than reality as there have been a number of excellent games available for the 3DS since day one, but with the press eager to torpedo the 3DS, they didn't give the games a chance and fed into that false perception.
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haziqonfire

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#50 haziqonfire
Member since 2005 • 36392 Posts
Nintendo pointed out two areas that were a problem for the 3DS. Price and software. Both are true, so instead of just rushing out content Nintendo reduced the price and are waiting till their core titles are done. Come holiday 2011 we'll definitely see a surge of 3DS sales.