Why 3DS Isn't Selling???

Japanese Survey Lists Top Reasons Why 3DS Isn't Selling
3DS was released too early, it suffers the same problem that Sony did when they released the PS3. They should have waited until they had some good release titles i.e Legend of Zelda, a Mario game, Star Fox. Then released it, they would have made a lot more sales at launch had that been the case. In any case, I am still getting one ( from amazon or volumerates etc) and I will still keep my old DS Lite to play game boy games on.
Why haven't you bought a 3DS yet, and what would it take to get you to purchase?

apples and oranges. ps3 waited like 2 years for the good games to be released. 3ds only a few months. there will be some good titles coming out from now until the holiday season. also ps3 was way too expensive when it was first released and all the other consoles were much cheaper.

and who says the 3ds isn't selling.

The 3ds seems to be signfying death of the gaming centric portable gadget. ever since the ipad and iphone came along to (accidentally) take the crown of portable gaming, companies are suddenly finding it hard to justify selling a £30 game when I could buy 60 games that
A) are great for gaming on the move (e.g. a quick game of angry birds in the waiting room).
B) doesn't mean that you have to lug around a whole other gadget just to play a game

I think right now it's just because of lack of titles. I believe that it will fix itself eventually.

In any case, I am still getting one ( from amazon or volumerates etc) and I will still keep my old DS Lite to play game boy games on.
Why haven't you bought a 3DS yet, and what would it take to get you to purchase?

paladinqueen

I haven't bought a 3DS because, like a friend said, there will invariably be a special edition for the new Zelda Ocarina of Time game. So both of us are waiting for it. That and the lack of interesting games. Ocarina of Time and Cave Story are the only ones that seem to be interesting for me.

[QUOTE="paladinqueen"]

In any case, I am still getting one ( from amazon or volumerates etc) and I will still keep my old DS Lite to play game boy games on.
Why haven't you bought a 3DS yet, and what would it take to get you to purchase?

Brittany5

I haven't bought a 3DS because, like a friend said, there will invariably be a special edition for the new Zelda Ocarina of Time game. So both of us are waiting for it. That and the lack of interesting games. Ocarina of Time and Cave Story are the only ones that seem to be interesting for me.

[QUOTE="paladinqueen"]

In any case, I am still getting one ( from amazon or volumerates etc) and I will still keep my old DS Lite to play game boy games on.
Why haven't you bought a 3DS yet, and what would it take to get you to purchase?

Brittany5

I haven't bought a 3DS because, like a friend said, there will invariably be a special edition for the new Zelda Ocarina of Time game. So both of us are waiting for it. That and the lack of interesting games. Ocarina of Time and Cave Story are the only ones that seem to be interesting for me.

''Why haven't you bought a 3DS yet, and what would it take to get you to purchase?'' why would I want a 3DS NGP or cafe when I got a ipad why would I want a machine that can only do games when I have a ipag that can do games has a MP3 player Internet browser app store book store etc etc etc honestly I'm quite stumped on why Sony and Nintendo thinks we as gamers want this when we have a tablet that can do everything the portable console can and more...at least that is my reason why I don't get a 3DS/NGP/cafe.

''Why haven't you bought a 3DS yet, and what would it take to get you to purchase?'' why would I want a 3DS NGP or cafe when I got a ipad why would I want a machine that can only do games when I have a ipag that can do games has a MP3 player Internet browser app store book store etc etc etc honestly I'm quite stumped on why Sony and Nintendo thinks we as gamers want this when we have a tablet that can do everything the portable console can and more...at least that is my reason why I don't get a 3DS/NGP/cafe.

monica622

Hardly any games, and Japan really love the PSP

Yeah, I'm waiting for the games myself. Hopefully lots of people do the same. Let's look at the sales again after Zelda and Mario..

Again, we gamers shouldnt really care about how the system is selling, unless we work for Nintendo. How many units sold does not change the way that the games are played.

And besides, the games are coming. I cant wait for E3.

Again, we gamers shouldnt really care about how the system is selling, unless we work for Nintendo. How many units sold does not change the way that the games are played.

And besides, the games are coming. I cant wait for E3.

Gamingclone

[QUOTE="Gamingclone"]

Again, we gamers shouldnt really care about how the system is selling, unless we work for Nintendo. How many units sold does not change the way that the games are played.

And besides, the games are coming. I cant wait for E3.

Litchie

Yes it does, but what I meant is that we shouldnt care to such an extent to where we are at the point of worrying. The games are coming. If the 3DS still fails to sell well enough for Nintendo, then they are going to re-avaluate their marketing plan and make changes so that it will sell. The holiday season looks great for the 3DS if you ask me.

A few reasons IMO...

1) No games, no must by titles right now....there are a few fun ones, but nothing special.

2) I think the 3d is getting old to some people...I liked it at firs and I still do like it, but sometimes I turn it off because of the 'been there done that'. I would have rather Nintendo made the system more powerful but ditch the 3d effect. But hey thats not gonna happen so I am happy with what we got....

Lack of advertising. Do the causals know it exists?

No killer apps. OoT isn't that and we will likely have to wait until November

''Why haven't you bought a 3DS yet, and what would it take to get you to purchase?'' why would I want a 3DS NGP or cafe when I got a ipad why would I want a machine that can only do games when I have a ipag that can do games has a MP3 player Internet browser app store book store etc etc etc honestly I'm quite stumped on why Sony and Nintendo thinks we as gamers want this when we have a tablet that can do everything the portable console can and more...at least that is my reason why I don't get a 3DS/NGP/cafe.

monica622

The 3ds seems to be signfying death of the gaming centric portable gadget. ever since the ipad and iphone came along to (accidentally) take the crown of portable gaming, companies are suddenly finding it hard to justify selling a £30 game when I could buy 60 games that
A) are great for gaming on the move (e.g. a quick game of angry birds in the waiting room).
B) doesn't mean that you have to lug around a whole other gadget just to play a game

andrewjuly

I wont buy one yet because i just bought an XL so im still enjoying my ds right now. I would like to see more colours available and a price drop before i buy one anyway. Im not in any hurry but once animal crossing comes out there will be no stopping me.

The 3ds seems to be signfying death of the gaming centric portable gadget. ever since the ipad and iphone came along to (accidentally) take the crown of portable gaming, companies are suddenly finding it hard to justify selling a £30 game when I could buy 60 games that
A) are great for gaming on the move (e.g. a quick game of angry birds in the waiting room).
B) doesn't mean that you have to lug around a whole other gadget just to play a game

andrewjuly

I don't think the iPad or smartphones have taken the crown of anything. The original DS has a large user base, withgames that were marketed as premium content, justifying their value at that price point.

Mass appeal titles like Mario and Pokemon give any Nintendo handheld a much needed boost, so I think you'll definitely see that happening with the new iterations of both.Smartphones are great for some titles like Infinity Blade and Angry Birds, but that kind of content to me is different than more meatier experiences found on handhelds.

The main issue that's hurting the 3DS is that there's no content to justify putting down $250 on one. Once it has some more content out, it'll start selling well. Also we haven't seen the 3DS in a holiday season yet and I'm willing to bet that's when Nintendo will go full out with their marketing blitz.

1. Lack of "good" games. I'm sure there's a number of people that enjoying the likes of SSFIV, Pilotwings or Ghost Recon. The thing is that these games don't necessarily count as must-haves for most people. It's the reason why I haven't gotten around to getting my 3DS yet and i'm sure others are in the same boat. By the end of the year when we have games like Ocarina of Time, Kid Icarus, Starfox, Metal Gear, Mario Kart, etc. we'll definitely be seeing much better sales.

2. Price. I'm fine with paying $250 for this thing especially once all those above games come out. Not everyone is willing to spend the money though. There's already people here that talk of waiting for a revised 3DS or a price drop before picking one up. I don't think they'll drop the price anytime soon but I think releasing some new colors and bundles for the holiday season would be a good idea.

3. Marketing. Believe it or not, I wouldn't be surprised if some people out there still don't know what a 3DS is. The 3D aspect I think is a big draw for people; while some gamers might think it's a gimmick, I think the 3D is what's going to get a lot of the casuals to buy this thing. I also have the feeling that a number of people are still under the impression that the 3DS is just a DS with 3D. Combine that with the higher price tag and something like the DS Lite (which was just announced to drop to $100) seems much more inticing for these consumers.

The good games are coming. For the casuals out there, I think better marketing would go a long way. Those booths that they had in malls and stores was a good idea imo. Not just the demo with the 3DS and game there but with actual representatives on hand to answer questions. I definitely think they should continue do that, especially during the holiday season. Doing this at launch was a good start but someone who might have been wowed by the 3DS itself could've easily been turned away by the lackluster lineup. Try this again during the holiday season when all these great games are out and more people are gonna be wanting to pick a 3DS.

Maybe I'm the oddball here, but I view something like a 3DS or NGP as any other console, just handheld, not necessarily portable and typically play more at home on my couch than on the go. Maybe that is just my weird self though. :P

Simple: its the DS just with better graphics about the same as PS3 vs. Xbox but if you had never owned a DS i wouldve probably gone with 3DS

Because most people are smart like me and save their money.

- Poor economy

- High price (especially in a poor economy)

- Lack of games

- Poor marketing and no hype generated

- Casual games now on iPad and Android phones (beleive it or not, this will steal away the casual consumer)

Maybe I'm the oddball here, but I view something like a 3DS or NGP as any other console, just handheld, not necessarily portable and typically play more at home on my couch than on the go. Maybe that is just my weird self though. :P

DarkGamer007

maybe because the games suck and maybe when they make better game it should sell more but maybe

The 3ds seems to be signfying death of the gaming centric portable gadget. ever since the ipad and iphone came along to (accidentally) take the crown of portable gaming, companies are suddenly finding it hard to justify selling a £30 game when I could buy 60 games that
A) are great for gaming on the move (e.g. a quick game of angry birds in the waiting room).
B) doesn't mean that you have to lug around a whole other gadget just to play a game

andrewjuly

Honestly, I think it's pretty simple. There aren't enough good games to justify the high price. Hopefully Nintendo will throw it's support behind it at E3 and get people excited for it and upcoming games.Amnesiac23

''Why haven't you bought a 3DS yet, and what would it take to get you to purchase?'' why would I want a 3DS NGP or cafe when I got a ipad why would I want a machine that can only do games when I have a ipag that can do games has a MP3 player Internet browser app store book store etc etc etc honestly I'm quite stumped on why Sony and Nintendo thinks we as gamers want this when we have a tablet that can do everything the portable console can and more...at least that is my reason why I don't get a 3DS/NGP/cafe.

monica622

I would have rather Nintendo made the system more powerful but ditch the 3d effect.

SRTtoZ

-Not even games to go out and buy one right now

-Other games have my attention (Which is pretty much the same as above.)

oh my lovely lovely 3ds why arent thoust selleth moar? oh yeah maybe because you lack games and pokemon didnt do the console generation shift! ... 3DS will eventually find its wind however it is going to be greatly challenged. with the smartphone industry and by the ngp ...

Once a 3ds pokemon title and a super mario come out everyone will want to buy a 3ds, it's more the lack of titles than anything. besides a dsi xl is just 50 bucks cheaper than the 3ds you might as well buy the 3ds since it is backwards compatible. As for anyone who mentioned ipad and iphone games....come on they are cheaper but stripped down and crappier than the worst 3ds game title from launch. sure i can buy 30 games instead of ocarina of time but i'd rather have a remake of a masterpiece rather than 30 games that will last me maximum 30 minutes each to finish. i have an Ipad and an Ipad 2 and love them but they are simply not gaming devices maybe someday they will be who knows for now apple should leave gaming to the pros!

High Price Point and lack of engaging software

I mean look at the eShop line up. Nothing really good.

We'll see after the holidays how it sells, but Nintendo wouldn't be releasing Zelda, Star Fox, Kid Icarus, Super Mario, Mario Kart all before the end of 2011 if they didn't know the 3DS sales were a problem.

Also, a $30-$50 price drop would help too. They haven't marketed it enough to distiguish it as a new gen to the casual customer, and they keep shipping the darn DS Lite (which is $99 now)

They should ship only the $169 DSi XL and the 3DS. Two models to choose from, two gens to choose from. Most people will go with the $99-$149 option if they can, even if they don't understand which hardware is superior.

High Price Point and lack of engaging software

I mean look at the eShop line up. Nothing really good.

We'll see after the holidays how it sells, but Nintendo wouldn't be releasing Zelda, Star Fox, Kid Icarus, Super Mario, Mario Kart all before the end of 2011 if they didn'tknow the 3DS sales = a problem.

Also, a $30-$50 price drop would help too. They haven't marketed it enough to distiguish it as a new gen to the casual customer, and they keep shipping the darn DS Lite (which is $99 now)

They should ship only the $169 DSi XL and the 3DS. Two models to choose from, two gens to choose from. Most people will go with the $99-$149 option if they can, even if they don't understand which hardware is superior.

darth-pyschosis

[QUOTE="darth-pyschosis"]

High Price Point and lack of engaging software

I mean look at the eShop line up. Nothing really good.

We'll see after the holidays how it sells, but Nintendo wouldn't be releasing Zelda, Star Fox, Kid Icarus, Super Mario, Mario Kart all before the end of 2011 if they didn'tknow the 3DS sales = a problem.

Also, a $30-$50 price drop would help too. They haven't marketed it enough to distiguish it as a new gen to the casual customer, and they keep shipping the darn DS Lite (which is $99 now)

They should ship only the $169 DSi XL and the 3DS. Two models to choose from, two gens to choose from. Most people will go with the $99-$149 option if they can, even if they don't understand which hardware is superior.

Coolyfett

Tell me what software is selling really well on the 3DS aside from Street Fighter? Tell me how many AA games there are on the platform right now? Can you count them on your hand?

Yea, its only been 2 months. But it has no real killer app arriving until fall in Mario Kart that isn't a remake/port. It didn't even have some of its coolest features implemented at launch. There is no sense of urgency to buy it among consumers with all the DSs sold recently and no must have game for the 3DS.

Honestly, the device is wonderful but it seems like it shouldn't have even come out until this month with the eShop, RE:Mercs, Ocarina 3D.

Its in PSP territory hitting just around 200k a month in the USA. Sure, its not a bad start for a console with little in the way of amazing software. But it's certainly no where near the heights Nintendo has seen recently with the Wii and DS.

I don't think anything I said was unreasonable. It isn't a runaway success, sure it might be selling better than other consoles that had slow starts as well in different times that had different markets than the one we live in now, but it isn't flying off shelves.

Again, they wouldn't be releasing so many big nintendo IPs in 6 months if they didn't want it to start selling, its reasonable. It's their hardware afterall.

[QUOTE="Coolyfett"]

[QUOTE="darth-pyschosis"]

High Price Point and lack of engaging software

I mean look at the eShop line up. Nothing really good.

We'll see after the holidays how it sells, but Nintendo wouldn't be releasing Zelda, Star Fox, Kid Icarus, Super Mario, Mario Kart all before the end of 2011 if they didn'tknow the 3DS sales = a problem.

Also, a $30-$50 price drop would help too. They haven't marketed it enough to distiguish it as a new gen to the casual customer, and they keep shipping the darn DS Lite (which is $99 now)

They should ship only the $169 DSi XL and the 3DS. Two models to choose from, two gens to choose from. Most people will go with the $99-$149 option if they can, even if they don't understand which hardware is superior.

darth-pyschosis

Tell me what software is selling really well on the 3DS aside from Street Fighter? Tell me how many AA games there are on the platform right now? Can you count them on your hand?

Yea, its only been 2 months. But it has no real killer app arriving until fall in Mario Kart that isn't a remake/port. It didn't even have some of its coolest features implemented at launch. There is no sense of urgency to buy it among consumers with all the DSs sold recently and no must have game for the 3DS.

Honestly, the device is wonderful but it seems like it shouldn't have even come out until this month with the eShop, RE:Mercs, Ocarina 3D.

Its in PSP territory hitting just around 200k a month in the USA. Sure, its not a bad start for a console with little in the way of amazing software. But it's certainly no where near the heights Nintendo has seen recently with the Wii and DS.

I don't think anything I said was unreasonable. It isn't a runaway success, sure it might be selling better than other consoles that had slow starts as well in different times that had different markets than the one we live in now, but it isn't flying off shelves.

Again, they wouldn't be releasing so many big nintendo IPs in 6 months if they didn't want it to start selling, its reasonable. It's their hardware afterall.

The Nintendo DS launched on November 21st, 2004 in North America and December 2nd 2004 in Japan.

Nintendo DS by the end of December 2004 (Worldwide): 2.8 Million.

The Nintendo 3DS launched on Feburary 26th, 2011 in Japan and March 27th, 2011 in North America.

Nintendo 3DS sales by March 31st the Nintendo 3DS sold 3.61 Million units.

The 3DS is selling better at launch than the origonal Nintendo DS was and was faced with similar reception of "Oh there aren't enough good games to justify the price..." or "The Nintendo DS doesn't have enough games..." etc. Now look at the Nintnedo DS, it is regarded as one of the greatest handhelds with a massive selection of phenominal games to chose from and has lasted for seven years. The Nintendo DS was weaker than the PSP and many people thought the PSP was going to crush the DS; similar to how people feel the NGP is going to crush the 3DS. Now go back and look at how the "DS vs PSP" debate turned out, in the end the DS ended up beat the PSP and selling phenominally.

yeah like everyone said.. ther are really currently no games. so the people who done bleed video games (the general population) dont have one....even many who do bleed video games dont have one

The 3ds seems to be signfying death of the gaming centric portable gadget. ever since the ipad and iphone came along to (accidentally) take the crown of portable gaming, companies are suddenly finding it hard to justify selling a £30 game when I could buy 60 games that
A) are great for gaming on the move (e.g. a quick game of angry birds in the waiting room).
B) doesn't mean that you have to lug around a whole other gadget just to play a game

andrewjuly

I'd take a good game over 60 crappy ones any day.