Nintendo has heard your (and mine) cries and pleas for new game content on 3DS, that is if you believe what Mr. Iwata has said to investors in the company’s quarterly financial results briefing. Iwata even goes as far as to say that preparations are being made with third-party publishers to ensure that a ”˜continuous stream of Nintendo 3DS games will be released next year.’
Iwata tells investors that what has been missing from 3DS are new types of games that made the Nintendo DS so popular such as Brain Age and Nintendogs. That is set to change. Iwata said ”˜[We are] aiming for the next fiscal year, we are also working on new genres of software that may attract people who are not particularly interested in video games.’
Satoru Iwata also confirmed that with the firmware update the 3DS is scheduled to receive this November, a whole slew of new features will be available for the handheld, namely: game demos, the ability to download games while in sleep mode, in-game DLC, and perhaps most exciting, a web based interface for PC and smartphones to browse and download eShop items.
While the 3DS eShop interface is leaps and bounds better than what was previously available on the DSi and Wii, it has still been hindered by clunky interface which makes game discovery a chore. Having a smartphone app with with the ability to connect to your eShop account is very intriguing. While I don’t expect Nintendo to give gamers the option of actually playing eShop content via smartphone or PC, it should still help spur sales of eShop content simply because it will be easier to see what is available on the store.
As a lifelong fan of Nintendo products, I just hope that this the beginning of a fresh start for the Nintendo 3DS. I love my handheld, but in the last few months I must admit that I have turned to it rarely for my daily dose of gaming. With new games like Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 that is surely set to change, but lets keep those games coming all year long, shall we Nintendo/third-parties?
BEYOND!
But on a serious note, I'm glad to see a new Mario Tennis. I loved the gamecube one. If I ever got a 3DS I would buy it!
i'm loving the good cop/bad cop thing you guys have going on with 3DS posts
Downloadable new tracks for Mariokart 7 would be one of the most fan-pleasing moves they could make. I probably shouldn't say this out loud, but I'd happily pay ten bucks for a new cup's worth of tracks.
Curious about these "new genres" they're teasing; All I can say is, if I see any sign of a Vitality Sensor, I'm gonna scream! 🙂
lol @ deepthought
They're right, the 3DS is now on the right track for success, Mario Kart, Mario 3D Land and various other games will see to that. Pity it took them most of the year to get there, and that they decided to still not release many good games until about June (and then til about November).
Iwata's fall back on 'casual' games should be interesting though, if only because it gives them a clear look into what exactly is causing the 3DS to not sell as well as it should. If the games are now there, whether the console sells will be entirely dependant on what was holding it back, the lack of games or the basic console design. Is there something that the expanded audience/general market fundamentally don't like about 3D? Or was their reluctance to buy the console entirely down to the games? We can only wait and see…