(NOTE: Originally posted 04/2011 for MyIGN Blogs)
Over the past few weeks it would appear that I have been rather disdainful of Nintendo what with my last two posts titled “2011: a Disastrous Year For Nintendo” and “3DS Sales a Bad Sign for Nintendo.” But that is not the case. I’m just disappointed with them. After all, I loved the NES, SNES, and N64 consoles. Those were good systems with a lot of great games.
However I’ve grown tired of Nintendo relying on re-releases of classic games and stale franchises to carry them through the recent years. I’ve stated my reasons for why the 3DS might not do well; disinterest in 3D, rising interest in tablets and smartphones, lackluster launch titles, the price for the handheld, and price for handheld games compared to social/ios games. Yet despite my reasons for why the 3DS might not do well Satoru Iwata, President of Nintendo, thinks there is an altogether different reason for why Nintendo’s new handheld is not doing well.
In regards to sales Iwata said:
“Nintendo 3DS has not been selling as expected since the second week, and this is not just in the Japanese market but also in the United States and Europe, where no direct impact from the great earthquake has occurred.”
Honestly, I was taken aback when I read this statement from Kotaku’s article. I knew the 3DS wasn’t doing so well in Japan but I thought that it was doing alright, but below predictions, here in the States. It’s rather interesting to hear that the 3DS isn’t selling as well as Nintendo hoped in three major markets.
But what really bewildered me was Iwata’s statement on why he thought the 3DS wasn’t selling well:
“It is now clear that the combination of these new features (3D, streetpass, Mii Maker, Augmented Reality Gaming) is not necessarily easy-to-understand by just saying one word to those without experience. There seems to be more than a few consumers who have Nintendo 3DS hardware but don’t know about this software and possibly haven’t had a chance to get interested in it.
After all, pre-installing a feature which we would like many people to enjoy is not sufficient to make it actually popular among users.”
So Iwata is telling me that I don’t understand these features and, because of that, it is why I’m not buying a 3DS? Or, if I owned one, that I don’t realize its full potential? I guess it doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that, for under $250, I can purchase an ipod touch and have access to all kinds of fun, cheap games? Or, for $250 I can buy a Nook Color which is an e-reader doubling as a decent tablet which now has access to apps and games?
Let’s face it, 3D isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and that is the 3DS’s main selling point. It is something that is being pushed on us, the consumer, by big corporations who are hoping to finally make 3D popular and make more money on selling new hardware even though people are still getting used to HD.
Frankly, in regard to Iwata’s statement, I think this is one of the stupidest things I’ve heard of for a theory on why the 3DS isn’t doing as well as market strategists and Nintendo had predicted. I think Nintendo, at this point, doesn’t know who they want their products to appeal to and have lost touch with their consumers. Hell, Iwata’s statement might even turn people off from the 3DS altogether. After all, he essentially just called his consumers stupid.
But I guess we will just have to wait and see if things change when a highly anticipated game is finally released for the 3DS. Yet how will Nintendo react if such a game doesn’t help boost 3DS sales?
What do you think of Iwata’s statement? Do you think that it has some merit?
Off-topic:
I added all the songs, which qualified, into yesterday’s growing list of video game music you think should be nominated for a Grammy. There have been some great selections but I have been surprised at some of the games which have not even been mentioned. Games such as Mass Effect 2, re-released for the PS3 and qualifies for a nomination, and Alan Wake are perfect examples of video games which have been snubbed by the gaming community.
http://www.ign.com/blogs/seandknight/2011/04/25/what-video-game-music-would-you-nominate
I guess you all just don’t pay particular attention to the music being played throughout your favorites games?
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