Topic: 3DS Sales Have Slowed Down in North America

[NWR_pap64]

Analysts weigh in on the system's first month sales.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/26011

Since its release on March 27, sales of the 3DS have slowed down in North America, according to Lazard Capital Markets. This is despite the system seeing one of the best first-day sales in any handheld release to date.

Colin Sebastian, the group's senior analyst, explained that, "Based on our recent checks, we believe that sales of the 3DS have slowed considerably since the initial launch window."

Sebastian, however, believes that the Easter holiday will provide a sales boost for the system. He concludes stating that "the impact of new hardware platforms on software sales is more meaningful after they reach a larger installed base."

The 3DS has also experienced a sales slump in Japan, where the system was recently beaten in weekly sales by Sony's PlayStation Portable, causing Nintendo's stock to drop.

[stevey]

In other news, Analysts discover that water is wet! What you need to know about these breaking events...

[xcwarrior]

I'm amazed about the Japan stat with PSP beating 3DS. Clearly they need the software over there, namely some Monster Hunter, Persona and Inyunama or whatever its called. Software makes the system sell.

[Retro Deckades]

I'm amazed about the Japan stat with PSP beating 3DS. Clearly they need the software over there, namely some Monster Hunter, Persona and Inyunama or whatever its called. Software makes the system sell.

Yes sir, the software just isn't there. I remember when brand new DS games -- good DS games, mind you, like Kirby's Canvas Curse -- were selling at Toys R Us for like $10 because the system wasn't selling all that well earlier in its life. All people need to know is that better games will come, and sales will pick up.

[leahsdad]

Okay, it's something that everyone in the room is thinking, so I'm just going to say it, to clear the air.

Virtual Boy.

There.

In all seriousness, I hope this is more like the DS Phat's slow start that the Virtual Boy's quick demise.  In one case, the console will pick up in a year or two and I'll get great games month after month.  In the other, I'm going to go out and buy another 3DS, never open it, stuff it in my closet, and sell it for 2 grand in 10 years on ebay.

[KDR_11k]

All analyst statements ever: "the current trends will continue"

[UncleBob]

Okay, it's something that everyone in the room is thinking, so I'm just going to say it, to clear the air.

Virtual Boy.

There.

No one with half a brain is seriously thinking that.  The Virtual Boy had a pathetic start while the 3DS has broken several sales records.  Come Christmas time, I'd place money on there being, at least in some areas, supply issues on the 3DS.

[leahsdad]

Quote from: leahsdad

Okay, it's something that everyone in the room is thinking, so I'm just going to say it, to clear the air.

Virtual Boy.

There.



No one with half a brain is seriously thinking that.  The Virtual Boy had a pathetic start while the 3DS has broken several sales records.  Come Christmas time, I'd place money on there being, at least in some areas, supply issues on the 3DS.

In case my poor writing skills got in the way of getting my intentions across, neither was I.  :-)    I was just trying to be funny.

I have to admit, though, I love my 3DS so far, Crackwings--- er, I mean, Pilotwings Resort is responsible for a fine layer of dust settling over my Wii, and my DSi XL.  And my DS Lite.  And my Iphone.  And my gaming PC rig with an overclocked 5850 which alone cost me more money than my 3DS, and I am kicking myself for that let me tell you.  Everytime I start up my computer, Steam pops up and whines "Hey, you haven't touched Black ops for 3 months.  Don't you even care?  You paid money for this, you know."  And Starcraft II, don't even get me started on how much I've ignored that game.  I'Ve barely put 3 or 4 hours into that game.  And I'm Korean!

I am, however, a tiny bit afraid and would be greatly comforted by seeing really awesome launch numbers.  I am a Nintendo Fan, admittedly, but I want to see those numbers (really big numbers) not for cheerleading purposes, but to be confident that I'm going to see awesome games on my 3DS for years to come.   Nintendo sells a lot of 3DS's and makes a lot of money, 3rd parties jump aboard with great games, EAD makes lots of even better games, I give them all my disposable income, and everyone walks away happy.    I think I heard that they would release official numbers later this week.

[Discostew]

Maybe once people actually understand that it isn't just a small upgrade like the multiple revisions the DS has had and that it is the true next generation Nintendo handheld, it'll sell more. But of course, the software also needs to be appealing too.

[NintendoFanboy]

There are a number of factors that go into this slow sells.
in the U.S. people look at the cost and say, wow. its more then the Wii.
 i'll wait for a price drop or newer verion.
i'm enjoying my DSIXL and can wait till some games i want come out.
i hear that 3D thing is bad for ur eyes.(yes a person asked a school teacher who
mistakenly confirmed the 3ds would hurt their  eyes.)
its a DS. whats the big deal.
As for japan, well PSP is like 129 and 3ds like 250 (us prices, but still u see the difference)
and with the tragity people in japan are like i'll play monster hunter on the psp and do the 3ds
thin g later.

[Ceric]

You are right.  The Virtual Boy could save the 3DS.  I would straight up re-buy all the games I own on Virtual Boy on 3DS, which I have almost all the US releases at one point.  The games where really quiet good the system was not.

[ShyGuy]

I hope Nintendo goes third party so I can play Zelda on my 360, and they give him huge guns and make it all bloody and stuff.

[Stogi]

With Nintendo out, I could see Sega jumping back in. heh

[Ian Sane]

The biggest problem with the Virtual Boy was that no one wanted it.  Who the hell in 1995 wanted some "virtual reality" machine that had 2D red-and-black graphics?  This was the year the Playstation and Saturn debuted if you want a frame of reference.  Nintendo was basically hawking a 3D Game Boy only it wasn't portable and the graphics were red instead of spinach green.

But even without the 3D effect I think people wanted a new DS with Gamecube-esque specs.  But why buy a 3DS if you're not a diehard?  It just doesn't have the games yet.  The DS was the same way.  It launched with nothing and no one but the most hardcore Nintendo nut gave a **** about it until it got the games.

I'm glad this is happening because Nintendo needed to learn.  They had some pretty shitty launches for both the DS and Wii and seemed to get off scot-free.  Well they lucked out on those and it was foolish to assume that shitty launches were somehow a key to success.  So it's good for them to have it backfire a bit so that maybe in the future they'll try a little harder and not coast.

It isn't like the 3DS is doomed or anything.  But it's a good wake-up call that Nintendo can't just release a product and everyone will buy it.  They have to work to get those sales like everyone else.

[Mop it up]

With the high price and relative lack of games, I'm not surprised the 3DS hasn't sold out. Like the DS, I don't see it selling exceptionally well until it builds a solid lineup of worthwhile games, or receives a price cut, whichever happens first. It'll probably be about a year from now, or maybe it'll happen sooner because of the holidays.

[NWR_pap64]

I think it will take a price drop AND a re-design for sales to pick up. Remember when New Super Mario Bros. was released alongside the DS Lite. That was the time the DS was finally beginning to get noticed. Note it was also a pretty standard Mario release. No gimmicks or anything. I also predict that the 3DS seller will be a game along those lines. No gimmicky use of 3D or even touch screen or tilting, just solid gameplay and an appealing franchise to go with it.

[oohhboy]

Speaking of poor sales from over pricing, here in New Zealand the normal price is $479 NZD or $376 USD. Even with sales tax which is inclusive, it shouldn't cost more than $320-350NZD. The lowest in retail it's going for is $439 NZD. It isn't shipping since America is not much further away from Japan or China, it isn't tariffs.

$250 USD is already a little steep, but NZ pricing has just turned me off altogether until I can find a much better deal.

My sister already has a 3DS thanks to her boyfriend, but she still hasn't gotten any games for it. There is nothing she wants.

This is the 21th century Nintendo. Old school price discrimination don't fly no more. Make your prices fair for everybody and you find far more sales.

[Ceric]

With the high price and relative lack of games, I'm not surprised the 3DS hasn't sold out. Like the DS, I don't see it selling exceptionally well until it builds a solid lineup of worthwhile games, or receives a price cut, whichever happens first. It'll probably be about a year from now, or maybe it'll happen sooner because of the holidays.

I agree that will will probably see a DS style upswing over time.  Unfortunately I disagree with the timeframe.  The DS is to the 3DS what the GBA was to the DS except the compelling gameplay features are shared between the DS and 3DS.  Though I be stoke if there was a form of Tilt control for Starfox64 3D.

We need a Nintendo game that was made with the system in mind.  I don't know why Nintendo doesn't build on there first party strength and release an IP specfically designed to show off the new system.  If an existing one doesn't fit introduce a new one.
 
Also retrofitting some DS games,  Pokemon Black and White, to work with the 3DS like Gameboy Color games did for the Gameboy would help as well.