I’ve enjoyed the recent discussions of 3DS here, pros and cons…even the criticisms from people who haven’t purchased it or even played the dang thing to any real extent yet. There are a few key points I’d like to make here about Nintendo’s new little wonderbox. Just let me take a second to brush some recently-thrown rotten tomatoes off its poor little shell…there we go!
Seriously, sometimes I wonder if other folks and I are discussing the same device. I hear words like “failure” and “disappointment” and all I can say is that I’ve been having a blast with an amazing little game machine that’s offered truly new experiences and an astonishing amount of fun.
It’s no secret that I LOVE my 3DS. Through its built-in magic (no additional purchase required), dragons pop out of my coffee table and my least favorite celebrities become hilarious aliens I can bop with tennis balls. Excitebikes race to the beat of my music and a canary chats about how cameras were invented. Seriously, that last part really happens if you hang around long enough.
3DS offers unique, wondrous experiences, such as glasses-free 3D that not only works, but works really, really well. AR games that turn your screen into a real-time window into an alternate reality. Don’t be jaded, folks. Take another look. These are groundbreaking, historic innovations we’re witnessing, here.
For me, the built-ins justify the price. People’s tastes vary, however, and if you’re not the type to spend hours creating Miis and then taking 3D photos of your creations running riot around your kitchen table, then you might not get your full money’s worth right out of the gate.
The launch titles? There are at least 7 excellent games available, four of which I’d call superb. Personally, I think it’s a far better group than DS offered in its first two months. Have we all forgotten that, in its first months, DS took a heap of criticism for its small initial crop of decent games?
And, about that rights agreement that’s caused such a ruckus lately…There’s an important factor that a lot of people commenting on the issue have ignored. The 3DS camera is not a normal camera–not even a normal 3D camera. It’s a camera chock full of Nintendo copyrighted material. With the touch of a stylus and the press of a button, AR Marios, Links, Kirbys and Miis frollic around your shots. The camera resolution isn’t good enough for serious photography. It’s not meant to replace your regular camera. It’s a super-cool Nintendo toy, mainly intended as an important tool for AR fun, and Nintendo needs to be able to yank offensive use of their copyrighted characters to the best of their ability.
So, just to be clear. The 3DS is a Nintendo game machine, not a PDA or laptop. If your want to keep things private, or retain all copyrights to your works, keep ’em off 3DS. Okay? Crisis averted?
One final point. Everyone realizes 3DS isn’t going away, right? Nintendo’s not going to suddenly pull another handheld out of their hat. Wii’s in its sunset days and DS is retiring. Until Project Cafe launches, if you want new Nintendo software, it’s pretty much going to be found on 3DS.
And the 3DS, as is, provides an amazing experience. What’s next for the controversial little gizmo? The eshop’s about to launch. E3’s nearly here. Our favorite game company’s armed with the most potential-packed handheld they’ve ever created.
Come on, Nintendo, amaze us; it’s what you do best. That’s why we’re gathered here.
actually i find streetpass and the build in streetpass games the most fun of the buildin / launch games.
Streetpass is very innovative its weird infendo doens't mention much about it at all.
withs is weird to me.
I have fun picking up random strangers on the street , mall or Public transport to try and complete the build in games in my 3ds.
somehow its very satisfying to me to see the green led on my 3ds turned on and know that someone i just walked by also had his / her 3ds with him / her.
Great read Richard… nice to hear some positivity coming out of Infendo! 🙂
I just posted this comment on the "glass half full" discussion and would like to hear your feedback (and others):
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Wii Sports was great at showing Wii owners the benefits of motion control but Nintendo failed to repeat the formula for the 3DS: the built-in games, while good in their own right, show off everything else (cameras, gyroscopic sensors, StreetPass etc) apart from what some would say is the “main drawâ€: 3D.
…
As this is a “glass half full†discussion I'd like to finish by saying that this can all be fixed (or at least improved) by including a pack-in title (or demo) that really shows off the use of a 3D screen, preferably before Christmas. The game/demo could be Pilotwings or any other title that enhances gameplay, say like the new Mario game for example; games that still function perfectly fine in 2D but are greatly enhanced by the use of 3D.
Any thoughts? Assuming I'm not alone here (or maybe I am)?
you have no idea how much of a security factor this post was. Honestly I've been on the fence whether I should get it or not, but this sealed the deal. Honestly even the people that I know IRL don't bash it, they just say something like "It just needs more titles." E3 IS almost here, and Nintendo always has something big up their sleeve; so I guess we'll just have to wait for that little peak into the future. Isn't Zelda:OoT coming out soon too?
@l0cky
They probably aren't mentioning it much because unless you are a student at a very rich college, or in Japan, the feature isn't used enough to comment on. I've had the thing since launch, with me EVERYWHERE I go, and I've gotten two hits so far.
Thank you, THANK YOU for being the one to finally say something positive about Nintendo and the 3DS. Nice to see a different air at Infendo
@mlove99:
Great points! While I actually think Face Raiders and AR Games show off the 3D beautifully, I'd agree that it's not their main draw. 3DS would benefit from a mass-appeal game that, as you say, is playable in 2D but really shows off how 3D can "plus" the experience.
*Any* pack-in cartridge would help. As you say, a included new Mario game would send 3DS flying off shelves in a heartbeat. But Nintendo would never stomach that lost potential revenue…unless 3DS still isn't selling well enough by the holidays. If that scenario unfolds, I'd say the company will do whatever it takes to get their user base where they want it, and such a dream bundle could then occur.
As Blake mentioned in an earlier post, it's no surprise that sales have slowed for now. The people who bought the 3DS are the diehard Nintendo fans, Streetfighter fans, and ones who did the research and decided they liked the built-in software. Now they need to give everyone else a reason to cough up $250.
Would a demo cartridge help? Maybe, but the eshop will probably cover the same ground.
Assuming Nintendo won't bundle in a big title unless they have no choice, I'd say what this system needs (in addition to more games) is some effective advertising. Face Raiders is a work of genius. Why hasn't Nintendo saturated the market with commercials that make it clear how you can photograph any person, animal or portrait and turn them into fully-animated video game enemies who attack you in your own house in 3D? I think they're finding out that their slick, Wii-like ads–while clever–aren't doing the trick.
@Locky and monkat:
Actually, David did a couple of posts about his fun experiences with Streetpass. So far, I've had three encounters: One at a grocery store, one at a farmer's market and one at Target. Not good news for my imprisoned King. 🙂
@Richard:
Equally great points!
I really love all the built-in stuff and have showed it to many people. The problem? 3D is turned off because the constant moving takes it out of that infamous sweet spot! I can happily play Face Raiders / AR with 3D on because I'm fully aware of said sweet spot and it's issues etc but trying to explain that to a non-gamer? It only serves to put them off the console! That goes back to my original point – the 3DS in my opinion, needs built-in (or packed-in) software that really shows off the 3D effect.
I get what you're saying about the eShop covering any need for a demo cartridge but let's not forget the impact Wii Sports had partly because of how stupidly simple it was:
– here's a Wii and here's a game; pop this in and start playing!
eShop alternative goes something like this:
– here's a 3DS, configure wifi, download latest software update, go to eShop, navigate to free demo, download and start playing!
Will I do that? Of course. Am I reflective of the mass audience Nintendo wants to appeal to? No. Demo cartridges work and failing that, why not include a "soft-demo" in the next update sitting there pretty on your home-screen waiting to be played? That way people can see what the 3D fuss is all about immediately.
Advertising would definitely help sell more 3DS's I'm sure, but what I'm proposing would keep people interested once it's in their hands. Also, let's not forget the power of word-of-mouth advertising: "Wii Sports" effectively was the Wii when it debuted and everyone was talking about it. The 3DS is lacking THAT game that says "this is what 3D can do!"
Certainly in my experience when showing off the 3DS to anyone, just a few levels of Pilotwings gets them very excited. It wouldn't harm Nintendo to stick a demo-version of that in their next update so all prospective buyers can play something (that *properly* shows off the 3D effect) out of the box.
I love my 3DS and I'm sure it will succeed… I have little doubt about that but I just want Nintendo to show it off some more! They need only follow their own example of success: the Wii! 🙂
Thank you for posting something positive today! It is muchly appreciated. o_e
ANYWHO, I'm still waiting for my 3DS to come through the mail. It could get here today, at the earliest, or over the weekend. I think I got it at the right time. All the apps sound enjoyable, and the future games alone are worth buying it. However, I'm still on the fence as to whether I should buy OoT 3D or not…maybe if there was some swag pre-order deal like there was in Nintendo Greece (Canister of Deku Tree Seeds, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D Nintendo 3DS Case, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D Actual Ocarina!, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D Branded Baseball Cap, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D Keyring, anybody?) But pre-orders here in the U.S. tend to suck…most of the time the only thing a pre-order gets you here is a guaranteed copy of the game. :/
The 3 DS has three main issues, two of which Nintendo can solve very easily
1) Lack of AAA titles: Street Fighter IV and Pilotwings are very good games, but people want the really big guns. However, Zelda OoT and Resident Evil are coming very soon. At the end of the year, we will see probably at least two of the following titles: Mario 3DS, Mario Kart 3DS and Kid Icarus. So really amazing software will arrive within months.
2) Price: at 250 US, the system is too expensive. But estimated manufacturing cost for this thing is around 100 US. So Nintendo could easily drop the price to 200 US, and still make decent profit on every unit sold and increase sales. For a lot of people 200 is the magical price point.
3) Design issues, mainly low battery life:
Nintendo went with a cheap 4 US dollar battery for its handheld. It could have used a slightly bigger one for 10US, which would have increased playttime by 50%, that is another two hours or so. There are other design issues, like the joints (hinges) between the screens are a little bit weak and I also dislike the start, select and home buttons, which should have been traditional plastic buttons. All these changes would have increased very slighty the thickness of the system and added 10 US to the manufacturing process, but it would have been worth it. These design issues are more difficult for Nintendo to solve, but Nintendo could also always produce an updated version of the system, like has done with previous handhelds. One design flaw however can not be solved with a new iteration of hardware without creating serious back wards compatibility issues: the lack of a second circle pad.
All considered, I'm very optimistic overall about the 3ds's future: the killersoftware is coming, and Nintendo could slash riht now easily 50 to 70 dollars of the 3ds's retail price and still mkae a profion each system: this is all what is needed to turn it into a huge success, small hardware issues aside.
I see a bright future is out, when all the great Nintendo games come out. The first few will be in June, the next few by the end of the year, and by next year or so the consoles will have plenty of great games that will make people want to buy the console.
As for a pack in game… not sure. They need one, but what? A Mario game would always help, but something with more of a different appeal like a 3DS equivalent to Wii Sports might be even better.
@Mlove99:
Including a demo of a game like Pilotwings as pre-loaded software (or included in an update) would be a great move! I love that idea.
A 3Ds equivalent of Wii Sports would be great, but I'm afraid that Wii's launch was a case of right-product with the right promo at the exact right time in history, and I'm not sure Nintendo can fully capture that lightning strike again, since the market has changed so much. We'll see what E3 reveals. I'm thinking it's going to be more of a long haul situation, as they give all those millions of DS owners a reason to upgrade.
I grant this post 10 internets.
Thank you Richard!!! It's about time i read something positive about the 3ds. Personally Ive loved everything about it since ive gotten it. I have 4 games for it and i absolutely love playing them especially when the Street Pass has activity going on. =]
FINALLY SOME 3DS LOVE!
I tried a 3DS the other day. Love the graphics but the 3D does *not* work on me. I'll just have to get one for the eshop, hack wards compatibility, and awesome new games.
Very recently I have been getting back into the AR games, and those are plane fun for like 5 minutes, but a a unique departure from the norm.
The 3D feature is optional, but it's great. 3D gets time to get use to it, because it makes our eyes work differently than they are used to. Once they get the hang of it, they improve your (the next part is just for fun is not real, so don't take it for REAL) sight. I use the 3D everyday and the other day I traveled in time. I went to sleep than I woke up tired. On my clock it was 7:00 a.m.. I went to take a shower and I felt a force. That's when I came out of the shower. Outside it was dark. I went to dress up and the time was 12:15 a.m.. I traveled back in time, because I was tired and I requested it in the shower. All this is possible with a daily 3D gameplay time. Dream Trigger 3D is the best for your eyesight practice by the way. Really intense.