And Nintendo's on the attack! 3DS price drop!

[Kyanbu The Legend]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Nintendo-3DS-Price-Drops-to-bw-160208348.html?x=0&.v=1



REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nintendo of America today announced plans to drop the suggested retail price of its portable Nintendo 3DS™ system to $169.99 in the United States, as new games based on some of the world’s most beloved video game franchises head to the system. The new price, down from the suggested launch price of $249.99 and effective Aug. 12, makes an outstanding value even better and sets up a strong holiday season for the system.

“For anyone who was on the fence about buying a Nintendo 3DS, this is a huge motivation to buy now,” said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “We are giving shoppers every incentive to pick up a Nintendo 3DS, from an amazing new price to a rapid-fire succession of great games.”

Nintendo 3DS has the strongest software lineup of any video game system this holiday season and the new price now opens up the glasses-free 3D experience to many more consumers. Building on the popularity of The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ 3D, which launched June 19, the upcoming game calendar is a Who’s Who of iconic video game franchises. Star Fox 64™ 3D arrives on Sept. 9, followed by Super Mario™ 3D Land in November, Mario Kart™ 7 in December and Kid Icarus™: Uprising during the holiday season.

In addition to great games, Nintendo 3DS has a host of attractive features* that make it the must-have video game system this season:

* The new Nintendo Video™ service automatically delivers short 3D videos from the worlds of music, comedy, animation and Hollywood.
* A free application allows Netflix members with unlimited streaming plans to instantly watch TV episodes and movies streaming from Netflix.
* The Nintendo eShop is a digital store for Nintendo 3DS owners that provides access to a wide variety of downloadable content, such as original 3D software, classic games that have been re-mastered in 3D called 3D Classics, Game Boy™ and Game Boy Color “Virtual Console” games in their original 2D glory, and more than 350 Nintendo DSiWare™ games. Visitors can also view video game trailers, screen shots and product information for games, including those available at retail locations.

Since Nintendo 3DS launched in the United States on March 27, more than 830,000 people in the U.S. alone have purchased one to enjoy 3D visuals without the need for special glasses. These Nintendo 3DS owners represent some of Nintendo’s most loyal customers, and Nintendo is rewarding them for getting in on the action early with 20 free downloadable games from the Nintendo eShop.

These free games are available to anyone who owns a Nintendo 3DS system and uses a wireless broadband Internet signal to connect to the Nintendo eShop at least once before 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Aug. 11. These users will automatically be registered in the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador program. The program contains two elements:

1. Starting Sept. 1, Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors will be able to download 10 NES™ Virtual Console™ games at no charge and before they are available in the Nintendo eShop to the general public. These games, including Super Mario Bros.™, Donkey Kong Jr.™, Balloon Fight™, Ice Climber™ and The Legend of Zelda™, are slated to become paid downloadable games, but Ambassadors get them early for free. Once the paid versions of the games are posted to the Nintendo eShop later in the year, the updated versions will be available to Ambassadors for download at no cost.
2. By the end of 2011, Nintendo will provide Ambassadors with 10 Game Boy Advance Virtual Console games. These include games like Yoshi’s Island™: Super Mario™ Advance 3, Mario Kart™: Super Circuit, Metroid™ Fusion, WarioWare™, Inc.: Mega Microgame$ and Mario vs. Donkey Kong™. These games will be available exclusively to Ambassadors, and Nintendo currently has no plans to make these 10 games available to the general public on the Nintendo 3DS in the future.

More details about this program will be announced in the future.

Remember that Nintendo 3DS features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/3ds.

*Some features require a broadband Internet connection.


Well... go Nintendo. O_o

Okay seriously Capcom, you now have very little reason to let MML3 stay dead now.

[Kerensky287]

.....Wow. That's pretty hardcore.

Still don't plan to get one until they release something good that isn't a remake, but wow.

[Jagos]

It's going on sale already?

There must be a new one coming out...

[rpgdemon]

They're also giving early adopters 10 free NES and 10 free GBA games, so they're actually not shafting the early adopters this time. :o

[Astral Harmony]

I had heard that the 3DS wasn't selling very well (no source, just hearsay 'n' stuff). I attribute it to the rather unimpressive opening lineup. I just can't see many people buying a new handheld just to play Street Fighter and stuff like that.

As for me, I've owned one for a couple months and I still don't have a 3DS game. Devil Survivor: Overclocked is pretty much the only game I see on the horizon that I'd even want so far.

[Toastburner B]

It looks to be what AB is saying. According to this article (http://www.giantbomb.com/news/perhaps-unsurprisingly-nintendos-first-quarter-financials-are-less-than-stellar/3531/), Nintendo has lost almost $500 million in the fiscal quarter. The 3DS sold 710,000 units, compared to the DS that sold 1.44 million.

So, it appears not to be so much "attack" as it is "oh hey we're losing money, we might want to do something about that. How 'bout cutting the price on that hardware that is underperforming?"

[PCD]

Yeah that is... pretty damn sweet. But I stand by my rule of not touching it until they agree to bring Layton vs. Wright over here.

[Jagos]

Damn... How many games is Big N NOT bringing to the US?

Do they hate money?

[Ecks]

I was about to get mad, but then I'm getting free games, so whatevs.

[Azisien]

Hahaha, "attack," that's funny!

[Fifthfiend]

Well, it at least certainly qualifies as an aggressive response.

[Doc ock rokc]

Yay now I have enough budgeted to get this and possibly the psv next year!

[EVILNess]

You know what would make me go out and buy a 3DS right now?

Mother, Earthbound, and Mother 3 on one cart.

So since that will never happen, even though the 3DS is nothing but remakes and ports, I think I can wait a while to purchase one.

[Magus]

Well this is certainly a much more tantalizing price point! I don't even begrudge them the extra 20 dollars on the price since it's probably the absolute lowest it can be right now without costing them money. They are probably going to try and make the profit on the games?

[akaSM]

Free games? Not stupidly expensive anymore? do want. Well, now I have a reason to get one. My mom will want one someday so, I can get the upgrade that will come some day and give her the old one ^_^.

[rpgdemon]

The free games are for preexisting owners, I believe.

[Loyal]

Correct. Those who buy the 3DS and connect online before the 11th will get the games. It's up to you to decide whether you believe 10 NES and GBA games that you may or may not already have are worth the 80 dollars.

[akaSM]

I just noticed the price drop will come 1 day after the last day you can get free games >_>. well, maybe I can get one for my birthday...unless the price drop isn't that big here :/

[Aerozord]

Correct. Those who buy the 3DS and connect online before the 11th will get the games. It's up to you to decide whether you believe 10 NES and GBA games that you may or may not already have are worth the 80 dollars.

to be fair they could have easily said "screw you", but seems they are trying to avoid discouraging people from buying launch day

[rpgdemon]

Alright, correct me if I'm wrong. Bestbuy has a policy that if the price drops after you buy something, they'll give you the difference back?

Or is that only on certain things? Since if they do, low price, AND free games!

[Aerozord]

I think thats only on phones/computers, but for 80 bucks I'd definitely ask

[Fifthfiend]

They would probably treat this package 3ds+games deal as separate from a regularly purchased 3DS.

[rpgdemon]

The games are offered by Nintendo, not the retailer though.

[Loyal]

I imagine they'd make an exception to the policy if they were aware (and they almost certainly would be) of the bonus.

[Jagos]

And in other news, Nintendo has started to stab themselves in the foot, by not taking consumer's money (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.303433-Nintendo-Slashes-Profit-Forecast-by-Four-Fifths)

[EVILNess]

That link Jagos just put had the best post, that accurately described the whole problem with the 3DS so far.

They built a shiny, new money-printer (3DS) to replace the old one (DS)...

And forgot to put ink (games) in it.

[Magus]

Nintendo should immediately announce its new Wii U game "Mario v. Samus: The Battle for Hyrule" to save its company.

[Aerozord]

Nintendo should immediately announce its new Wii U game "Mario v. Samus: The Battle for Hyrule" to save its company.

they already made that game (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A0DcI25QPQ)

[Jagos]

Damn, Iwata's pay got cut... (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/111963-Nintendo-CEO-Takes-50-Pay-Cut)

Wonder what this means for Fils Aim? I hope they fire him!

[Azisien]

Nintendo should immediately announce its new Wii U game "Mario v. Samus: The Battle for Hyrule" to save its company.

they already made that game (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A0DcI25QPQ)

Well really, given the decent wi-fi capabilities of the 3DS, a portable SSB would be pretty good.

[P-Sleazy]

I would just like to point out, that I am happy to see upper management getting a pay cut in Nintendo first instead of them cutting jobs from less income earning people...you know, like how U.S. company's first cut jobs and executive pay last.

[Ecks]

http://digthatbox.com/nintendo_3ds_secret_price_drop_strategy.html

Read and prepare for MINDSCREW!

[Aerozord]

http://digthatbox.com/nintendo_3ds_secret_price_drop_strategy.html

Read and prepare for MINDSCREW!

while not impossible, if that was their plan they failed, didn't sell well. Normally you keep the price artificially inflated for about a year before you drop it.

Even if it was their intention this price drop was motivated more by poor sales

[Jagos]

The writing on that page makes my eyes cry...

[Marc v4.0]

The writing on that page makes my eyes cry...

As garish as it is, You can't ignore some of the valid possabilities it underlines

[Jagos]

As garish as it is, You can't ignore some of the valid possabilities it underlines

It seems more speculative to me...

Nintendo has already been a juggernaut in the hand held market. Nintendo and Sony know who the weaker challenger is. If anything, Sony doesn't have anything to back up the Vita and is paying for its hacker attacks, rather than focusing on actually competing with the 3DS giant.

Sony's entire problem with the Vita stems more from having nothing to really move the Vita. Hell, they've had no games to move the PSP in a while. The marketing for the PSP has been damn near non-existant. They went to a damn phone... When the market for phones is horrid... Instead of promoting the Vita.

I'll agree that Nintendo has the market. They owned Sony the first time, and Sony doesn't really learn from its mistakes. They're coming into the handheld market (again) ill prepared and I think it's going to cost them. If anything, Sony needs to figure out how to compete against Nintendo, and leave the iPhone market to Steve Jobs.

[Kim]

I'll probably wait till Kingdom Hearts 3D comes out before I get one of these, unless something awesome gets announced in the meanwhile.

[Marc v4.0]

It seems more speculative to me...

Speculation is a great way to raise valid points and concerns.

[Aerozord]

Speculation is a great way to raise valid points and concerns.

not when its impossible to prove or disprove. Its all circumstantial, I could use the same information to make an equally valid argument that the price drop was because Nintendo got a warning from the future

[Marc v4.0]

not when its impossible to prove or disprove. Its all circumstantial, I could use the same information to make an equally valid argument that the price drop was because Nintendo got a warning from the future

That doesn't invalidate speculation being a great way to bring up valid points and concerns. If you had proof to begin with, then speculation would be pointless because you -know-. All science and medicine is built upon experimentation and speculation! You can't begin to know until you start to wonder about it.

And 'impossible to prove or disprove' is just as much speculation then anything else. What is to say someone won't come out and spill the beans all over the table? What is to say they will? Both questions are just valid and both of the same potential.

[Ecks]

For the record, I posted that as a thought provoking link, not a Bible-esque "you can't prove it's not the truth so it must be true!" sort of thing.

For all we know, they dropped the price for the lulz. Though evidence tends to point in the "3DS not selling well" direction.

I would like to point out that the truly good games for the Wii didn't come out until a ways after launch, and it's still a fairly successful platform. In fact, Wii was stated to have sales problems early on DUE to lack of Nintendo staples being available at launch.

[Nikose Tyris]

Wal-mart is dropping the price of the 3DS early, like Wal-Mart is wont to do.

This means you can get a 3DS, and get the 20 free ambassador games too.

[Doc ock rokc]

Holy shit i would jump on that if i still had my job...and didn't buy the quake pack and two new tires for my car (fucking Rich jackasses with glass bottles in benzs)

[RickZarber]

Crap. I just bought one at Target yesterday. (Had a gift card, so it was only $190. Figured $20 was worth the 20 games.)

You mean I coulda spent less than that and still saved my gift card? Poop.

Oh well. I'll just play some more Ocarina of Time to cheer myself up.

[rpgdemon]

Maybe return it, and pick it up at Walmart?

[RickZarber]

No time. Leaving town for a week in about ten minutes.

It's not a bid deal, really. Just sort of an "oh, of course" thing...