Dcubed Posted January 18, 2014 Posted January 18, 2014 (edited) Thought that was a great post @Dcubed! Thanks On a lighter note, they look to be set for another great year of 3DS software - with the first half of the year looking to be stacked already with quality software like Kirby Triple Deluxe, Yoshi's New Island, Super Smash Bros 3DS, Etrian Odyssey TMG, Mario Golf World Tour, Layton VS Ace Attorney, SMT4, Sayonara Umihara Kawase & Nintendo Pocket Football Club; and those are just the ones they've already announced! There's still plenty of scope for more tentpole releases and localisations to come this year. So their Wii U woes don't seem to be really slowing down their 3DS schedule; and there shouldn't be a significant drought of 3DS software that they need to worry too much about... Edited January 18, 2014 by Dcubed
khilafah Posted January 18, 2014 Posted January 18, 2014 No. The man power that is going into the Wii U's lineup hasn't prevented Nintendo from having an absolutely banner year for 3DS software. Their issues with the 3DS unfortunately appear to be more fundamental than that. Even with one of the best yearly lineups that any console has ever had AND a new cost cutted hardware revision, they still ended up being down YoY for 3DS hardware - a sign that saturation is reading its ugly head Sadly I get the feeling that the issue comes mainly down to software pricing and that the industry-wide downwards pricing trend is taking its toll on Nintendo (who based their entire business on premium prices, for premium quality of course). Tablets/smartphones, Steam Sales, ludicrous price slashing at retail; they're all taking their toll on the industry as a whole - and it's especially bad for handhelds, with iOS & Android being the leaders of the downward charge. Shibata/NOE's numerous crazy promotions (So Many Games, free Monster Hunter, free Super Mario 3D Land etc) are a sign that they can see the problem; but it doesn't look to be enough. People are extremely tight these days and clearly are not comfortable with the idea of buying specialist hardware and high priced software I can't see them being able to continue on much longer like this. Even if they manage to get the Wii U's costs down and eke out a profit from it, they can't continue to live off scraps forever. The problem is that they're caught between a rock and a hard place though. Taking themselves further upmarket would be suicide (and trying to compete directly against Sony & Microsoft over an ever shrinking pie is a fool's errand that they could never hope to win anyway), while putting out their own games onto existing mobile platforms would be tantamount to destroying themselves. Their entire business model thrives on the premium value of their software and giving up that margin would kill them (their skill set and development philosophy is also completely incompatible with the existing iOS/Android/F2P market - where quality means nothing and entertainment value is secondary to sleazy, money grubbing whaling tactics). 3DS software sales should show nintendo that price is the problem. I think there is room for £20 -25 on most games. £30 for the premium stuff. Parents are balking at the prices thats for sure. They buy the 3DS and 1 - 2 games for kids and then nothing else. Nintendo needs to be pro-active about this.
Serebii Posted January 18, 2014 Posted January 18, 2014 3DS software sales should show nintendo that price is the problem. I think there is room for £20 -25 on most games. £30 for the premium stuff. Parents are balking at the prices thats for sure. They buy the 3DS and 1 - 2 games for kids and then nothing else. Nintendo needs to be pro-active about this. They are Iwata said as much. When he was talking about a new business structure, he was specifically mentioning about the having to pay 4800 yen after spending 20,000 yen on a system. Thinking we'll see discounted prices, subscription style things and so forth.
Dcubed Posted January 18, 2014 Posted January 18, 2014 They are Iwata said as much. When he was talking about a new business structure, he was specifically mentioning about the having to pay 4800 yen after spending 20,000 yen on a system. Thinking we'll see discounted prices, subscription style things and so forth. The latter point especially is something that Iwata has been pushing for lately. That's why they're looking to things like Pokemon Bank, Jam with the Band P's Tomato music purchasing system and Wii Sports Club's day passes as a way of eeking out more of a margin from their games. Shall be interesting to see how they handle Steel Diver Subwars...
liger05 Posted January 18, 2014 Posted January 18, 2014 (edited) Not sure how much the 3DS is hurting Wii U but I defiantly feel parents have a no brained decision to make when looking at purchasing a Nintendo console. Why get the wii u when you can get a 3DS. It's a whole lot cheaper and has the better library now and going forward. As for 3DS software sales I really hope Iwata looks at reducing the rrp of games. Initiate discounting on old games and start to be more aggressive on eshop. Flash 2 or 3 day sales and by that I mean heavy discounts not things like £2 pound off. Edited January 18, 2014 by liger05
Miharin Posted January 18, 2014 Posted January 18, 2014 The 3DS is hurting Wii U sales - I don't see why I would buy a Wii U when I have a 3DS already. Dual screens done easier, off-TV play, much better and bigger library of games... Maybe Nintendo should just release a TV dongle for 3DS so that you can have the upper screen on a big screen, and bottom screen still in your hands, if you want to game on a TV.
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