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It’s true that most gamers love technology as much as they love video games. They want to know what specs their new console is running, they want to know what features are being presented on a new device, and they want to know what kind of software the device is able to handle. They are always pleased to see that they are getting the best hardware that supports the best games, and sometimes they will even follow a few wild gimmicks if the gimmicks provide a great experience. However, the 3DS doesn’t seem to be capturing the love of gamers like the original Nintendo DS did. Are gamers rejecting the 3DS?

Nintendo went back to the drawing board on an old idea with the 3DS. This case is as simple as they warped back to the 90’s, took a good yet failed idea from the Nintendo Virtual Boy, and brought it back in a time where the technology present can do the 3D concept justice – with less eye-bleeding, horrible red and black retina rape. While Nintendo certainly wasn’t the first to bring up the idea of 3D gaming in this era, they were the first to bring the idea of 3D gaming to a handheld medium that didn’t require overpriced TVs and maxed out credit cards.

The real reason why the Virtual Boy failed is because it feeds on human souls. AVOID EYE CONTACT!

The idea of 3D is, essentially, a gimmick, but, as we have learned through the Nintendo Wii, gimmicks are often forgiven and even embraced if they change gameplay in an interesting, exciting, and entertaining manner. In this case, the juxtaposition of fad versus innovation is set aside to allow the two mortal enemies to create something that has never been seen before. That alone is exciting and arguably sells itself.

Gamers were unquestionably excited for the 3DS with such promised titles as Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D and Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition, and, from an outsider’s perspective, the launch went relatively well. The hype that built up the console’s launch didn’t lose steam, and there was a buzz in the air when the release date finally arrived. The 3DS had finally arrived, and its fans were ready to throw many crotch-busting hadoukens – in 3D!

Problems for the console began as reports of bad battery life, breaking hinges, and system crashing came out. Nintendo provided no solution for the battery life issue – other than turning the 3D effect down or off – but were swift to point out that system crashes and broken hinges were a minority issue. Any unlucky 3DS owner who experienced this problem could contact Nintendo and have their console swapped out for a working one(1). Fans were pleased with this resolution, but they were still hoping for a way to improve battery life other than turning down a driving reason to own the device and killing the magic faster than Disney’s Bambi.

If you ever needed an idea of what pissed off in material form looks like, here you go.

Good times weren’t rolling so fervently after Nintendo announced that the 3DS didn’t sell as well as they had expected it to sell. They had sold 3.6 million 3DS units by mid-April, but Nintendo insisted that they were expecting a much larger number in terms of sales. Critics and industry analysts were fairly unanimous with their idea on how to correct the low sales: lower the damned price or release better games. Nintendo decided that the best thing to do for the next couple of months was to do neither one – during a time where people would trust Alec Baldwin with their kids over the PS3.

E3 was where Nintendo announced some big titles that would hopefully bring the 3DS back into the big picture with Luigi’s Mansion 2 and the highly anticipated – and for the most part already spoiled– Super Mario 3D Land. Nintendo then introduced the world to the new Wii U and left one giant bomb of an announcement for fans to salivate over: the new Super Smash Bros would appear on both Wii U and 3DS. But when was this moment of wonder coming? Wouldn’t the E3 moment be a great opportunity to release a time frame and drive up hype for both platforms? No one from the Nintendo camp cared to touch the subject beyond waving the idea around like a shiny, new ball and then promptly taking it home.

Not even the amazing announcements at E3 could muster much give-a-damn from gamers who still weren’t buying the 3DS. Sales continued to drag along the ground, Nintendo executives vowed to take salary cuts in response to 3DS woes, and a price cut from $249.99 to $169.99 was eventually announced. The majority of comments I have read tend to agree that the new price is far more reasonable, but comments also contained a desire to obtain a 3DS only with a trade-in or if they could scheme a way to get the twenty free games that Nintendo is offering original 3DS customers along with the discounted unit. The motive for their desire to haggle and scheme seems to stem from a lack of noteworthy games for 3DS. I don’t find this surprising.

Meanwhile, Sony puts on the best poker face ever and attempts to hype the Vita to several PSN fraud victims. Enjoy!

The next chapter in the life and times of the 3DS came as a rumor that a new peripheral was being created for the handheld system. This peripheral was supposed to somehow attach to the system and give it a second analog stick. The rumor stated that this peripheral would be sold for $10 and would be part of a 3DS refocusing on games more than the 3D effect. The rumor turned out to be true, the peripheral was indeed real, and it turned out to be a full bay that the 3DS docks into. The Expansion Slide Pad makes the arguably thin 3DS much harder to fit into a pocket, the current price is expected to be twice as much as the rumor suggested, and it likely does nothing to enhance battery usage as it requires its own AAA battery to operate. (2)

It is only fair that I document the increase of 3DS sales after the price cut(3). 3DS sales have increased by 260 percent after the price cut, and Nintendo fans can now safely report that their investment’s return hasn’t diminished into the Twilight Zone. However, the 3DS is currently running unopposed. It is safe to say that most consumers who want a PSP have already picked one up. The PS Vita, however, has yet to be released. The 3DS was released with virtually no competition, and the price had to be dropped by 32 percent for interest and sales to increase. The handheld scene should be very interesting once solid competition has been established.

The verdict:
Insufficient Evidence

I find myself unable to confirm or deny that gamers are rejecting the 3DS with the current evidence. There is plenty of material to make a decent argument, but we need the Vita in the market to really get the fuck all douchebaggery known as debating on the Internet going in full fashion.

We are experiencing interesting times in the market of handheld gaming. The 3DS and PS Vita both offer interesting quirks besides the initial idea of being a gaming machine. In the end, it will come down to game library, performance, pricing, and value. Despite my belief that Nintendo’s console lacks drastically in two of those areas, only the future can determine what is correct.

Sources

Fletcher, JC. “Users Report 3DS Crashes, Loose Hinges.” Joystiq. 29 Mar. 2011.

Lawler, Richard. “Nintendo 3DS Slide Pad Add-On is Official, Ships December 10th in Japan.” Engadget. 13 Dec. 2011.

Reisinger, Don. “Price Cut Helps 3DS Sales Soar 260 Percent.” Cnet News. 9 Dec. 2011.