The 3DS has been nothing but a series of disasters so far...

Okay, before we proceed, let me just set the record straight: in case you didn't know already, I'm one of the few 'true' sheep on this forum. I love Nintendo, and I got the 3DS within a month of its launch. Nintendo has never had a failed handheld yet, and I trust(ed) that that won't change anytime soon now.

Having said that, let's have a look at the gross mishandling the 3DS has received so far:

• The battery life sucks. I can eek out 4-5 hours on average, but considering that we were promised DSi levels of battery life (which would be about 8-9 hours), and that battery life has been a traditional strength of Nintendo handhelds, this is just plain inexcusable.
• The price: why price it at $250? Especially considering that the cost of manufacturing is roughly $110? The 3DS's price seems even more inexcusable considering the much more technologically endowed Vita costs exactly the same.
• The launch: seriously, barring maybe the PS3, this was probably the most botched launch of any game system in history. The 3DS launched with most of its functionality disabled, which was only added in later via firmware updates, and is in fact still being added in. This gave the entire system the impression of being rushed to launch. And let's not forget about the games. Which brings me to...
• The launch lineup. Nintendo promised us 'the best launch lineup' for the 3DS. We were promised top tier titles like Animal Crossing, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Star Fox 64 3D, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Super Street Fighter IV, Resident Evil: Mercenaries and Nintendogs+Cats for the launch lineup. Of these, only two were actually released with the system, and while both of them sold in excess of a million units each, none of them were must haves.
• Games: Okay, so the 3DS is getting an incredible upcoming lineup. We know this. However, third parties increasingly seem to be losing confidence in the system. Games for the 3DS which have been cancelled so far include, but are not limited to, Crush 3D, Megaman Legends 3, Assassin's Creed: Lost Legacy, Saint's Row Drive By, My Garden and DJ Hero 3. This displays a worrying lack of confidence by third parties in the system- something that was never an issue with the original DS, even at the time of that system's similarly rocky launch.
• Marketing and perception: Seriously, this is perhaps the biggest blunder on Nintendo's part. The marketing for the 3DS fails on so many levels, it's not even funny. The adds fail to convey the simple message that the 3DS is an altogether new system, not an upgrade to the existing DS line. They focus too much on the 3D, as opposed to the other functionality the 3DS includes, including its persistent online, it's power boost, it's analog slider, it's 3D camera, it's multimedia capabilties, and more. The outcome of this is that the 3DS is seen by almost everybody as a DS 3D, or a 3D DS- just another new iteration, which definitely does not warrant a $250 dollar purchase.

Seriously, I love Nintendo, and I love their handhelds. I've owned every single one of their handhelds starting the Gamebiy Color, and so far, they have never disppointed me. So far, I have managed to convince myself that the problems with the DS echo some similar problems that the DS faced about the time of its launch, but there is simply too much that is going wrong, and I'm beginning to panic now, and wonder if I spent those $250 a bit too soon.

I still think the situation can be salvaged- the upcoming lineup for the system this year is nothing short of awesome, with Mario Kart, Super Mario, Shinobi, Rayman Origins, Sonic Generations, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Paper Mario, Star Fox 64 3D, Tales of the Abyss, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor and Metal Gear Solid 3D. Along with new colors, a price drop and some bundles, as well as some increased marketing, the 3DS can be yet saved, and consolidated before the Vita's launch.

But it seriously makes me think, just WTF is Nintendo doing right now?

I honestly think you're letting SWs get to your head.

The 3DS will do fine.

even with holiday seasons their is a pleuthora of big name titles coming out and with the ps vita also launching, i'm not going to say it probably won't be a hit this holiday season i'm just saying its got alot of competition

Nintendo will turn things around eventually -

1. redesign
2. pricedrop
3. Mario / Pokemon
4. kill the DS with fire

I honestly think you're letting SWs get to your head.

The 3DS will do fine.

Wasdie

You can't quite deny it has been off to a much rockier start than anyone expected. Consider how the PS1 and PS2 sold 100+ plus and the PS3 can't come anywhere close. Nintendo had to switch to gimmicks with the Wii since every console after the NES sold less and less.

Nothing is guranteed and set in stone. I have a 3DS, and I'm worried about where it is going. Nintendo promised about 5 or 6 bit titles for the holidays, but if they do somehow all come out then, all it means is that there will be a drought after that. How many times has a platform come out, and you hear about several games being canceled because developers are not confident of its numbers?

I don't think it will end up being a failure, it isn't like the PS3 is a failure because it can't match PS1 and PS2 numbers, but it will be more of a black sheep than any previous nintendo handhelds.

I honestly think you're letting SWs get to your head.

The 3DS will do fine.

Wasdie

Really the 3ds's primary issue is the price.

There's a reason I purchased two ds's, one for my niece and myself, they're fairly cheap.

If nintendo stopped being so stupid and decided to make do with only 25-50$ profit per unit instead of 100, they'd get a lot more sales.

[QUOTE="Wasdie"]

I honestly think you're letting SWs get to your head.

The 3DS will do fine.

ShuichiChamp24

*looks at TC* *looks at OP* *repeats* THE WORLD IS GOING CRAZY!!!!! *runs*khoofia_pika

I had to read the title twice as well. :P

[QUOTE="khoofia_pika"]*looks at TC* *looks at OP* *repeats* THE WORLD IS GOING CRAZY!!!!! *runs*DSmon

I had to read the title twice as well. :P

I was really hyped for the 3DS.

I'm gonna wait to buy one until Nintendo announces a lite version or something like that.

[QUOTE="Wasdie"]

I honestly think you're letting SWs get to your head.

The 3DS will do fine.

110million

You can't quite deny it has been off to a much rockier start than anyone expected. Consider how the PS1 and PS2 sold 100+ plus and the PS3 can't come anywhere close. Nintendo had to switch to gimmicks with the Wii since every console after the NES sold less and less.

Nothing is guranteed and set in stone. I have a 3DS, and I'm worried about where it is going. Nintendo promised about 5 or 6 bit titles for the holidays, but if they do somehow all come out then, all it means is that there will be a drought after that. How many times has a platform come out, and you hear about several games being canceled because developers are not confident of its numbers?

I don't think it will end up being a failure, it isn't like the PS3 is a failure because it can't match PS1 and PS2 numbers, but it will be more of a black sheep than any previous nintendo handhelds.

Doesn't really bother me that much to see Nintendovation fail.

3DS is having one of the strongest 1st year lineups I've ever encountered.

The sales are on par with DS sales within the same time frame.

Get a Nyko battery pack, you'd get 2.5X 3DS battery life.

3rd parties? Wii is my favoite home console since SNES, 3 gens ago. 3rd Parties apparently mean nothing to me.

?????

Success.

Doesn't really bother me that much to see Nintendovation fail.

SkyWard20

I'm gonna wait to buy one until Nintendo announces a lite version or something like that.

Lto_thaG

[QUOTE="Lto_thaG"]

I'm gonna wait to buy one until Nintendo announces a lite version or something like that.

nintendoboy16

[QUOTE="Lto_thaG"]

I'm gonna wait to buy one until Nintendo announces a lite version or something like that.

nintendoboy16

I honestly think you're letting SWs get to your head.

The 3DS will do fine.

Wasdie

Capcom and Ubisoft are pretty big 3rd Party Developers.

With those cancelations it makes you wonder if they'll actually go through with any game announcement.

Capcom could just Cancel Revelations if they wanted to and Ubisoft could just say no to WiiU.

[QUOTE="nintendoboy16"][QUOTE="Lto_thaG"]

I'm gonna wait to buy one until Nintendo announces a lite version or something like that.

charizard1605

[QUOTE="nintendoboy16"][QUOTE="Lto_thaG"]

I'm gonna wait to buy one until Nintendo announces a lite version or something like that.

Lto_thaG

[QUOTE="nintendoboy16"][QUOTE="Lto_thaG"]

I'm gonna wait to buy one until Nintendo announces a lite version or something like that.

charizard1605

I just want Paper Mario. :[

[QUOTE="Wasdie"]

I honestly think you're letting SWs get to your head.

The 3DS will do fine.

LegatoSkyheart

Capcom and Ubisoft are pretty big 3rd Party Developers.

With those cancelations it makes you wonder if they'll actually go through with any game announcement.

Capcom could just Cancel Revelations if they wanted to and Ubisoft could just say no to WiiU.

[QUOTE="SkyWard20"]

Doesn't really bother me that much to see Nintendovation fail.

charizard1605

I just wouldn't mind. Why would I be rooting for the success of a product I consider to be inferior?

If Nintendo's new products don't manage to be commercially successful, we might get to see the company following a new business direction that appeals more to us ( third-party support for core games, less crappy gimmicks, etc. ), and less to the 'virtual reality' kiddies.

I certainly don't want to see them influencing more developeres to follow trend because Nintendo's strategies would prove to be increasingly more successful.

If it's just a black sheep like the ps3 is in relation to the ps2, I'm alright with that.Shinobishyguy

Yeah, other than MML3, which was Capcom's stupidty as they didn't even give the 3DS fanbase a chance. Crush was cool, but eh. The rest were likely to be dumbed down versions of console games, so it isn't a big loss.

I'm more worried other publishers just see that there are canceled games and might take scare to it. It's too bad nintendo does not have much until the holidays, but it should push 3DS sales up with their first party and bring third parties back.

[QUOTE="Shinobishyguy"]If it's just a black sheep like the ps3 is in relation to the ps2, I'm alright with that.110million

Yeah, other than MML3, which was Capcom's stupidty as they didn't even give the 3DS fanbase a chance. Crush was cool, but eh. The rest were likely to be dumbed down versions of console games, so it isn't a big loss.

I'm more worried other publishers just see that there are canceled games and might take scare to it. It's too bad nintendo does not have much until the holidays, but it should push 3DS sales up with their first party and bring third parties back.

I honestly think you're letting SWs get to your head.

The 3DS will do fine.

Wasdie

I honestly think you're letting SWs get to your head.

The 3DS will do fine.

Wasdie

[QUOTE="charizard1605"][QUOTE="SkyWard20"]

Doesn't really bother me that much to see Nintendovation fail.

SkyWard20

I just wouldn't mind. Why would I be rooting for the success of a product I consider to be inferior?

If Nintendo's new products don't manage to be commercially successful, we might get to see the company following a new business direction that appeals more to us ( third-party support for core games, less crappy gimmicks, etc. ), and less to the 'virtual reality' kiddies.

I certainly don't want to see them influencing more developeres to follow trend because Nintendo's strategies would prove to be increasingly more successful.

Hey you stole my thread! :P jk

But honestly I think the biggest problem is that the 3D was just a complete bust. It made the system a bit more expensive, it ruined the battery and limits the hardware capabilities severly because a lot has to be dedicated to the 3D effect, even if its turned off you have to make it work seemlessly with the 3D so you aren't able to maximize the hardware as much as you would if you didn't have to worry about it

and all of these troubles for a feature that NOBODY likes. Ok, I enjoy it, but it doesn't really add that much at all.. It goes out of focus too easily and makes it difficult to just get in a comfortable position and play in, the system basically forces you to sit and hold your system a certain way in order to enjoy it to the fullest which shouldn't be the case.

In the end I think Nintendo will regret adding 3D to this as much as sony should regret adding bluray. It caused more trouble then it was worth and while it did eventually pay off and the system rebounded it could have hit the ground running if they hadn't bothered with it and the system would have been much more successful in the long run.

Even the most hardcore of haters cant possibly think the device will "fail".

Give it time... pokemon, random FF game, Monster hunter and a lineup of casual mario games will make the venture profitable... of that, I have no doubt.

Like what Wasdie said, I think System Wars is getting to your head. The 3DS will do fine during its lifespan. The reason it's doing so poorly right now is the lack of software and bad timing (spring is not a good time to release a platform, especially one releasing close to the IPad 2). By the holidays games will start coming out and sales will pick up. The Vita will not release in the US and Europe until 2012 so the 3DS would have no competition.

Just remember: System Wars is all about preparing for the best and hoping for the worst.

Okay, before we proceed, let me just set the record straight: in case you didn't know already, I'm one of the few 'true' sheep on this forum. I love Nintendo, and I got the 3DS within a month of its launch. Nintendo has never had a failed handheld yet, and I trust(ed) that that won't change anytime soon now.

Having said that, let's have a look at the gross mishandling the 3DS has received so far:

• The battery life sucks. I can eek out 4-5 hours on average, but considering that we were promised DSi levels of battery life (which would be about 8-9 hours), and that battery life has been a traditional strength of Nintendo handhelds, this is just plain inexcusable.
• The price: why price it at $250? Especially considering that the cost of manufacturing is roughly $110? The 3DS's price seems even more inexcusable considering the much more technologically endowed Vita costs exactly the same.
• The launch: seriously, barring maybe the PS3, this was probably the most botched launch of any game system in history. The 3DS launched with most of its functionality disabled, which was only added in later via firmware updates, and is in fact still being added in. This gave the entire system the impression of being rushed to launch. And let's not forget about the games. Which brings me to...
• The launch lineup. Nintendo promised us 'the best launch lineup' for the 3DS. We were promised top tier titles like Animal Crossing, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Star Fox 64 3D, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Super Street Fighter IV, Resident Evil: Mercenaries and Nintendogs+Cats for the launch lineup. Of these, only two were actually released with the system, and while both of them sold in excess of a million units each, none of them were must haves.
• Games: Okay, so the 3DS is getting an incredible upcoming lineup. We know this. However, third parties increasingly seem to be losing confidence in the system. Games for the 3DS which have been cancelled so far include, but are not limited to, Crush 3D, Megaman Legends 3, Assassin's Creed: Lost Legacy, Saint's Row Drive By, My Garden and DJ Hero 3. This displays a worrying lack of confidence by third parties in the system- something that was never an issue with the original DS, even at the time of that system's similarly rocky launch.
• Marketing and perception: Seriously, this is perhaps the biggest blunder on Nintendo's part. The marketing for the 3DS fails on so many levels, it's not even funny. The adds fail to convey the simple message that the 3DS is an altogether new system, not an upgrade to the existing DS line. They focus too much on the 3D, as opposed to the other functionality the 3DS includes, including its persistent online, it's power boost, it's analog slider, it's 3D camera, it's multimedia capabilties, and more. The outcome of this is that the 3DS is seen by almost everybody as a DS 3D, or a 3D DS- just another new iteration, which definitely does not warrant a $250 dollar purchase.

Seriously, I love Nintendo, and I love their handhelds. I've owned every single one of their handhelds starting the Gamebiy Color, and so far, they have never disppointed me. So far, I have managed to convince myself that the problems with the DS echo some similar problems that the DS faced about the time of its launch, but there is simply too much that is going wrong, and I'm beginning to panic now, and wonder if I spent those $250 a bit too soon.

I still think the situation can be salvaged- the upcoming lineup for the system this year is nothing short of awesome, with Mario Kart, Super Mario, Shinobi, Rayman Origins, Sonic Generations, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Paper Mario, Star Fox 64 3D, Tales of the Abyss, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor and Metal Gear Solid 3D. Along with new colors, a price drop and some bundles, as well as some increased marketing, the 3DS can be yet saved, and consolidated before the Vita's launch.

But it seriously makes me think, just WTF is Nintendo doing right now?

charizard1605

However.

I do agree that the battery life sucks, but I rarely use any handheld out of the house.

Price is $250 because they can... and hype early on was high, I think even Nintendo expected a crapload of people to buy it, though it has sold pretty well so far.

The launch was rushed, Nintendo clearly just wanted to get the system out there. THe lineup was crap but rarely is any launch line up good.

Games will be fine. Right now it's meh which is why I haven't got one, but future games are looking good. I agree 3rd parties is not looking good, but we shall see.

The marketing failed. After so many normal DS iterations, I wonder how many people honestly know this is a new system, i.e. successor? They better not make the same mistake with Wii U.

The system will be fine. It has sold what? 5+ million by now, the influx of games will come this holiday, hopefully 3rd parties follow suit :D

Like what Wasdie said, I think System Wars is getting to your head. The 3DS will do fine during its lifespan. The reason it's doing so poorly right now is the lack of software and bad timing (spring is not a good time to release a platform, especially one releasing close to the IPad 2). By the holidays games will start coming out and sales will pick up. The Vita will not release in the US and Europe until 2012 so the 3DS would have no competition.

Just remember: System Wars is all about preparing for the best and hoping for the worst.

blizzvalve

That is a HUGE mistake on Sony's part. They should do everything in their power to get it out in november. All they would need is like, uncharted wipe out and a few other things like hot shots golf and thats all they would need for it to be massive this holiday. People notice a systems flaws a lot less during the holidays and just buy it because its something to buy.. It is going to be the same price as the 3DS unless Nintendo does something about that, which will be a MASSIVE advantage to sony.

[QUOTE="blizzvalve"]

Like what Wasdie said, I think System Wars is getting to your head. The 3DS will do fine during its lifespan. The reason it's doing so poorly right now is the lack of software and bad timing (spring is not a good time to release a platform, especially one releasing close to the IPad 2). By the holidays games will start coming out and sales will pick up. The Vita will not release in the US and Europe until 2012 so the 3DS would have no competition.

Just remember: System Wars is all about preparing for the best and hoping for the worst.

VendettaRed07

That is a HUGE mistake on Sony's part. They should do everything in their power to get it out in november. All they would need is like, uncharted wipe out and a few other things like hot shots golf and thats all they would need for it to be massive this holiday. People notice a systems flaws a lot less during the holidays and just buy it because its something to buy.. It is going to be the same price as the 3DS unless Nintendo does something about that, which will be a MASSIVE advantage to sony.

I think that it will do fairly well but Nintendo's handling of the device is just awful

lol the 3ds has been outselling psp for quite some time now and thats a disaster wow, and i didnt know a handheld that just got some awsome games is still a disaster sorry you fail

I honestly think you're letting SWs get to your head.

The 3DS will do fine.

Wasdie

1 and only thing that let it down is. autostereoscpic 3d...there no autostereoscopic tvs on the market for consumers yet. they are all in testing stages. so half an hour of gametime and a massive headache is not worth it...