A lot of people predicted that the 3DS would never sell as good as the DS, mainly because of competition from smartphones and tablets (iPhone, iPad, etc). Well, I guess that those predictions can finally be put to rest, because the 3DS is now the fastest selling handheld gaming system. Yes, the 3DS is selling faster than DS at launch. And I bet the the NGP will sell faster than the original PSP as well. Oh, lets not forget that the NGP can play phone-based games (it is compatible with PlayStation Suite games for Android devices).

As somebody who loves dedicated gaming handhelds, I am happy for this, I am happy that smartphones will not kill handhelds. I appreciate the competition from smartphones, but I certainly don't want handhelds to become extinct.

Your thoughts?

There's still 100s of millions of mobile phones about tho. locopatho

you guys are to easily impressed, most of the time when new hardware drops it sells and pull in great numbers, especially something new from nintendo

it's too early to call, sales haven't been that amazing in the UK with surplus stock everywhere.

it's too early to call, sales haven't been that amazing in the UK with surplus stock everywhere.

CwlHeddwyn

[QUOTE="CwlHeddwyn"]

it's too early to call, sales haven't been that amazing in the UK with surplus stock everywhere.

PandaBear86

which is exactly what nintendo did...they were ready this time

[QUOTE="CwlHeddwyn"]

it's too early to call, sales haven't been that amazing in the UK with surplus stock everywhere.

PandaBear86

it's too early to call, sales haven't been that amazing in the UK with surplus stock everywhere.

CwlHeddwyn

[QUOTE="CwlHeddwyn"]

it's too early to call, sales haven't been that amazing in the UK with surplus stock everywhere.

Vinegar_Strokes

I'm not saying that smartphones/iPads aren't having an effect of the handheld market, but I don't think we'll ever really exactly what effect it is. I also don't think it'll be nearly as large of an effect as some people think it will be.

To me those devices are like PCs. Sure they play games, but that's only one of multiple functions and not the primary function for most users. Sure gaming apps sell, but we don't really know how many people would have bought a 3DS to play games on if smartphones didn't exist.

It's like saying, "100 million people play Farmville. Look how much of the gaming market the PC has." All we really know is that 100 million people are playing a game therefor expanding the gaming population. We don't know that if Farmville didn't exist that those 100 million people would continue to play some other game. Some might, but most would probably find other nongaming alternatives.

Smartphones are not killing handheld consoles, they are simply expanding the handheld gaming market.

[QUOTE="locopatho"]There's still 100s of millions of mobile phones about tho. PandaBear86

what is the point of this thread then. they are obviously not in direct competition with each other

I'm not saying that smartphones/iPads aren't having an effect of the handheld market, but I don't think we'll ever really exactly what effect it is. I also don't think it'll be nearly as large of an effect as some people think it will be.

To me those devices are like PCs. Sure they play games, but that's only one of multiple functions and not the primary function for most users. Sure gaming apps sell, but we don't really know how many people would have bought a 3DS to play games on if smartphones didn't exist.

It's like saying, "100 million people play Farmville. Look how much of the gaming market the PC has." All we really know is that 100 million people are playing a game therefor expanding the gaming population. We don't know that if Farmville didn't exist that those 100 million people would continue to play some other game. Some might, but most would probably find other nongaming alternatives.

Smartphones are not killing handheld consoles, they are simply expanding the handheld gaming market.

shadowcat2576

headlines like this in rubbish news papers won't help the 3DS's sales

Nintendo 3D 'makes gamers dizzy & sick'

HUNDREDS of furious gamers have slammed Nintendo's new 3DS console - for making them feel ill.

Fans besieged gadget websites and Twitter to complain of dizziness, headaches and sickness after playing the hand-held device for just a few minutes.

Some even reported seeing web pages in 3D after switching from the console to a PC.

It is the first console to allow users to see action in 3D without special glasses.

Separate images are flashed into each eye, tricking the brain into creating a sense of depth.

One Twitter user said: "The 3D gave me a headache, so I hated it."

quote from the Sun newspaper in the UK.

this is selling boatloads and at the same time the iPad 2 sold boatloads and is supposidly totally out of stock in the UK right now :S strangely every iPhone iteration they probably manage to smash Ninty aswell.

Smartphones are becoming more prominent in gaming for many reasons, portability in the fact they are all i 1 box aswell as them being more disposable in terms of games along with developement costs that dont really cost all that much and have a higher profit margin aswell especially the Android platform being open and all that.

headlines like this in rubbish news papers won't help the 3DS's sales

Nintendo 3D 'makes gamers dizzy & sick'

HUNDREDS of furious gamers have slammed Nintendo's new 3DS console - for making them feel ill.

Fans besieged gadget websites and Twitter to complain of dizziness, headaches and sickness after playing the hand-held device for just a few minutes.

Some even reported seeing web pages in 3D after switching from the console to a PC.

It is the first console to allow users to see action in 3D without special glasses.

Separate images are flashed into each eye, tricking the brain into creating a sense of depth.

One Twitter user said: "The 3D gave me a headache, so I hated it."

quote from the Sun newspaper in the UK.

Vinegar_Strokes

smartphone games are a joke, and it is a sin to compare an Android/iPhone game to 3DS or NGP. just by having buttons, analog and d-pad alone puts it miles ahead of Android/iPhone. MightyMuna

[QUOTE="Vinegar_Strokes"]

headlines like this in rubbish news papers won't help the 3DS's sales

Nintendo 3D 'makes gamers dizzy & sick'

HUNDREDS of furious gamers have slammed Nintendo's new 3DS console - for making them feel ill.

Fans besieged gadget websites and Twitter to complain of dizziness, headaches and sickness after playing the hand-held device for just a few minutes.

Some even reported seeing web pages in 3D after switching from the console to a PC.

It is the first console to allow users to see action in 3D without special glasses.

Separate images are flashed into each eye, tricking the brain into creating a sense of depth.

One Twitter user said: "The 3D gave me a headache, so I hated it."

quote from the Sun newspaper in the UK.

locopatho

[QUOTE="shadowcat2576"]

I'm not saying that smartphones/iPads aren't having an effect of the handheld market, but I don't think we'll ever really exactly what effect it is. I also don't think it'll be nearly as large of an effect as some people think it will be.

To me those devices are like PCs. Sure they play games, but that's only one of multiple functions and not the primary function for most users. Sure gaming apps sell, but we don't really know how many people would have bought a 3DS to play games on if smartphones didn't exist.

It's like saying, "100 million people play Farmville. Look how much of the gaming market the PC has." All we really know is that 100 million people are playing a game therefor expanding the gaming population. We don't know that if Farmville didn't exist that those 100 million people would continue to play some other game. Some might, but most would probably find other nongaming alternatives.

Smartphones are not killing handheld consoles, they are simply expanding the handheld gaming market.

Vinegar_Strokes

[QUOTE="Vinegar_Strokes"][QUOTE="shadowcat2576"]

I'm not saying that smartphones/iPads aren't having an effect of the handheld market, but I don't think we'll ever really exactly what effect it is. I also don't think it'll be nearly as large of an effect as some people think it will be.

To me those devices are like PCs. Sure they play games, but that's only one of multiple functions and not the primary function for most users. Sure gaming apps sell, but we don't really know how many people would have bought a 3DS to play games on if smartphones didn't exist.

It's like saying, "100 million people play Farmville. Look how much of the gaming market the PC has." All we really know is that 100 million people are playing a game therefor expanding the gaming population. We don't know that if Farmville didn't exist that those 100 million people would continue to play some other game. Some might, but most would probably find other nongaming alternatives.

Smartphones are not killing handheld consoles, they are simply expanding the handheld gaming market.

Nobody was predicting a quick death for handhelds. More like a slow, gradual decline. Make this post in 10 years if we still have dedicated handhelds.

the GC also had record breaking sales at its launch and look what happened. osan0

Did you just make that up? GC did not have record breaking sales at launch. :|

Nobody was predicting a quick death for handhelds. More like a slow, gradual decline. Make this post in 10 years if we still have dedicated handhelds.

Juken7

[QUOTE="osan0"]the GC also had record breaking sales at its launch and look what happened. AvIdGaMeR444

Did you just make that up? GC did not have record breaking sales at launch. :|

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=26812104&postcount=179

3DS isn't breaking any records*, GBA crushed it at launch. Which went on to sell much less than DS. On topic dedicated handheld gaming beat smartphones any day for me.

*My bad, apparently they are in US

[QUOTE="locopatho"]There's still 100s of millions of mobile phones about tho. PandaBear86

And one cool feature about a smart phone you can use tethering to have online everywhere you go for the 3DS and NGP. This is even better for NGP, you can just get the default NGP and use tetheiring on your smartphone to have online without having to get the 3G version.

Smartphones will be the end of handhelds after this generation. plain and simple. The average consumer does not want to carry two devices, period.

They don't have multiple bags strapped around them like the average nerd in this forum.

They are not competing with one another. At least not in this generation. Handhelds like the 3DS or NGP are core gaming expiriences while smartphones offer a more casual gaming expirience. There is a market for both and both smartphones and handhelds will continue to sell.

Smartphones will be the end of handhelds after this generation. plain and simple. The average consumer does not want to carry two devices, period.

They don't have multiple bags strapped around them like the average nerd in this forum.

There's still 100s of millions of mobile phones about tho. locopatho

[QUOTE="locopatho"]There's still 100s of millions of mobile phones about tho. tomarlyn

This has proved nothing. I think we should return to this thread in 3 months(I won't, but you get the idea)and look at results than.

Smartphones will be the end of handhelds after this generation. plain and simple. The average consumer does not want to carry two devices, period.

They don't have multiple bags strapped around them like the average nerd in this forum.

DumbDubya

You had a great point right up to the needless insult, I do however agree with the initial point you made.

Only time will tell how long of a tail the 3DS has. It depends on the software and pricing of the software, which I think will become a major sticking point down the road.

As an example, how much is Angry Birds on iOS? Android?

The PSP has only 65 levels yet costs much more.....as opposed to the 100+ on mobile. How much are you willing to pay for that game on the 3DS?

I have a feeling Nintendo will try to stick to their traditional pricing model to their detriment. I'm sure it will have some measure of success, but the mobile space is growing exponentially with pricing that's much more attractive.

[QUOTE="PandaBear86"][QUOTE="CwlHeddwyn"]

it's too early to call, sales haven't been that amazing in the UK with surplus stock everywhere.

CDUB316

which is exactly what nintendo did...they were ready this time

And it's March.

No numbers yet right? Just claims from Nintendo that they broke some sort of sales record. Meanwhile plenty of 3DS on the shelves....Bread_or_Decide

It's March m8

Why is it so hard for people to believe that maybe Nintendo made sure to ship more than enough units to meet demand? The 3DS hate lately has been entertaining thus far.