Note: Trading in your 3DS as Gamestop requires the charger to be traded in too.

This is *honk*ing BS, and I speak as someone who has an extra 3DS adapter because of a lost system AND owns a USB->3DS charging cable.

They must think people just throw their old game systems in a toy box and forget about them. Any old handheld I sell or pass down to someone else, and with it, the charger. This is just a lame excuse to make people spend $10 seperatly to buy the charger. The first 3DS came with a charging cradle, then the 3DS XL didn't, now it doesn't even have a charger. Can someone check and make sure it comes with a stylus.

I could almost see them not including the SD card and saying cut cost so consumers can choose the size memory card they want. That at least would make a little sense

I don't really agree with this. If Nintendo wanted to make people spend $10, it could have included the charger and set the price of the unit $10 higher.

I still have my DSi so I have a charger. This works out for me (though I'd want another one just in case). Granted, I still think Nintendo should have included the charger, even if it charged more. I merely disagree with the notion that Nintendo is nickle and diming people. If it really wanted to force people to spend that money on a charger, it could have done so very easily.

We all know Nintendo is making a nice profit off of this system. ($200 for basically four year old tech? Yeah okay). To me, it makes them look pretty bad that they can't throw in a $10 (and there's no way it costs them $10 to make) charger when they are charging $200 for the system. Kinda embarrassing Nintendo. I don't intend on buying this system from you. I'll survive without 360 degree cameras in Majora's Mask, thanks.

I had to go through this bullshit twice, first when I upgraded to the LL, and then again to the New LL.
Nintendo expects you to keep your old system around...

I can totally see this being a future headline on NWR in about a month an a half:


"Nintendo Comments on shortage of AC Adapters for New Nintendo 3DS Systems in North America."

This price wouldn't be $210 with the charger.  It would still be $200 because that's a nice round number and can be set to $199.99 rather than the less attractive $209.99.  They're just going to increase their profit margin per system sold.

You're missing the point. Nintendo could have forced that $10 on everyone if it wanted. It could have found a way to get that money one way or another. If not the AC adapter, it could have done so by increasing the price or cutting something else. The AC adapter is just something tangible that people can latch onto. "I don't want to pay for something I need to use the system." Fair. At the same time, I could claim, as a DSi owner with a perfectly functional AC adapter, that I don't want to pay for something I already have.

I'm not even defending Nintendo's choice not to include the AC adapter. I think it should be included out of principle, but I don't really see the cost being the problem. That's specifically what I disagree with. These companies make a killing on all kinds of things that we openly accept. We've dealt with this stuff before. The vast majority of Gamecube games required a memory card (unless you didn't want to save or advance) yet nobody really complained that one wasn't included with the console.

And $209.99 would be an unorthodox MSRP, but is it really that different from some of the others we've seen? The original Gameboy launched at $89.95. That's a pretty arbitrary number. 2DS launched at $129.99.

When you buy a NEW Apple product it still comes with the damn charger and those have been the same for damn near a decade. They had one revision that I know of and even that isn't a big deal. This is an odd move that is all about gauging plain and simple. Its different that not including batteries in the old days. At least that was industry practice this is not this is a strange move there is no defending it, except Adrock who never sees any faults with Nintendo.

Small point: Apple changed its chargers to a completely different connector just two years ago. I do think this is kind of a dumb move by Nintendo, but I'm sure they've done research that makes them think it won't hurt sales enough to cancel out the lower costs. I've got like 12 of them sitting around the house, so I don't care that much, but it is a really weird decision.

YES, but they still sell the old ones and the new devices still use the new style its not a new style each revision it was revised ONCE and they still give you one each new device you buy. Everyone else uses universal chargers so apple and Nintendo are the only ones who benefit from their weird choice.

That's not even remotely true...

see what I mean, this guy.

This is something Nintendo Japan has been doing for a long time.  The N64 didn't come with AV cables because they used the same ones that the Super Famicom used. 
Obviously this is the first time that Nintendo of America has done this.  I do think it will help sales having the lower price point.
It's not unheard of in the industry.  Sony didn't include an HDMI cable in with the PS3 (still don't I believe) and Microsoft after first included one with the 360 Elite model but then stopped when the original Slim was released.

Adrock always has criticisms for Nintendo.  He just chooses to also see the silver lining in it as well.

those are not the same, those were optional to enhance the experience this is mandatory. Its like selling you a car but the keys are sold separately.

Some games on the PS3 and 360 could not be viewed properly without an HDMI cable.  I'd say it's relevant.

And this is using the same adapter that Nintendo handhelds have used all the way back to the DSi. They're probably not wrong to figure there's a good chance people already have one. Still, it doesn't seem like it's worth the bad PR.

Do that many people not hang on to their old systems? I thought a lot of us held onto systems throughout the years. I have all of my systems and have only sold off 2-3 games. Don't care if it is damaged, I still keep them for future use and nostalgia.

I used to trade them in then I realized I prefer playing that system's games on the system it was made for. I kept my DSi because I didn't like all the nothing on the 3DS' larger screens. When I go back and play DS games, I can play it on an actual DS. Also, I just think it's nicely designed.

I'll deal with a digital future when the time comes, but as long as my old hardware works, I'll keep using it.

Adrock, I was just giving you shit I wasn't trying to be mean.


I don't keep any old systems anymore, no space to store stuff. But I used to be a giant hoarder of crap and never sold anything. It won't be an issue for me as it turns out what I do keep is cords, I have every power adapter and video cable for nearly every type of device out there, despite not owning a single Nintendo handheld I do still have all their A/C cables so if I did buy one it wouldn't really be an issue for me either.

$8.50 for the charger on Amazon. Original Nintendo 3DS XL Power Adapter Charger WAP-002 - Bulk Packaging

Thanks for the support. I try to see both sides of a situation. There's often a distinct difference between what I want as a consumer and what I'm offered. If I can't reconcile the two, I know I don't have to accept it. I'll gladly stand my ground until I get what I want (on the retailer side if need be) even if I can at least see where a Nintendo is coming from.

And sometimes, I can't. There isn't always a silver lining. Wii U's launch was collectively not good. The way Nintendo handled Swapnote and Flipnote was downright hostile. Nintendo's (typically decent) customer service regarding the girl who gamed the Fire Emblem Awakening/Shin Megami Tensei promotion was exceptionally poor.

In this case, I'm the exact person Nintendo is targeting by not including the AC adapter. I LOVE saving money, and I still think it wasn't worth not including it. I mean, I get it. This does benefit some people so I don't believe it was strictly for profit margins. Even as one of the people that benefits, I wouldn't have balked at getting another AC adapter and I would have been none the wiser anyway.

No prob.

What is the story about the Shin Megami/Fire Emblem promotion?

Once upon a time, there was a girl who registered two Fire Emblem games and Shin Megami games on two separate Club Nintendo accounts. She broke the rules of Club Nintendo AND WAS MADE TO PAY!!!!!

The end.

Translation: "We're cheap." *Reggie shrug*

Wow. That story is a downer.

the guy at the video game store didn't even know this was a thing but he said good for him more A/C adapter sales.

This is a weird choice.  I don't think NA is like Japan where there are that many people (who don't post here) who own multiple systems.  Do they just not expect any new buyers?  Because I know some people who are looking for systems to supplement their Xbox/Playstation systems.  I usually recommend the 3DS, but not including the charger will definitely turn people off.

While I think they should include a charger with the system, isn't this the same problem that people complained about in the past with games, second controllers, and memory cards not being bundled with systems?


It is inconvenient, and mostly a negative for the consumer, but there is a bit of a precedent.

Memory cards would be the closest comparison, since those are definitely required and I can't remember anything ever coming with them, except, ironically, the 3DS.

the real question is, are the excluding it in all regions or is this just a North America thing? I haven't been following along that closely but New 3DS has been out in Japan for a few months and I don't remember hearing about this issue before. If it is world wide then their excuse makes sense, if it is isolated to NA then they are full of shit.

I'm pretty sure the regular XL didn't include it in Japan, so I'd imagine this one didn't as well.

From an informed gamer standpoint, this is a minor annoyance I can fix with a $3 purchase from Amazon.


But if I were an uninformed father whose son desperately wanted a "New" 3DS, I would buy the system for my son, we'd take it home to find it had no charger, and I would begrudgingly buy one new from Gamestop/Best Buy/Wherever at full list price because it would unfairly punish my son to make him wait an extra 3-5 days because Nintendo decided they had to eke out an extra few dollars in their profit margin.


Don't fool yourselves, that charger costs Nintendo $1-$3 tops to manufacture.

At the same time, the uninformed father's ignorance and/or refusal to read the box is on him. I can't empathize with people who pass the buck on others. Is this worth the trouble for Nintendo? Probably not initially, but like all things, it'll blow over.

I'd definitely be annoyed by this if New 3DS required a completely different AC adapter than older models (like DSi) and didn't include one on top of that.

Just out of curiosity, I tried to take a look at a picture of a current 3DS box.  Take a look at this and identify where it's marked that it doesn't come with a charger.


http://img.gamefaqs.net/box/2/0/9/156209_front.jpg


http://img.gamefaqs.net/box/2/0/9/156209_back.jpg


I can't see it, can you?


I usually agree with the notion that a person should be an "informed buyer", but other than Nintendo 3DS, I can't think of a single electronic device that doesn't come with the charging device needed.  There is an implicit expectations that if you buy an electronic device, it'll have a power cord. 


You gotta admit it's a bit deceptive, at least. 

Bottom left corner.

Even the humidifier I bought a couple months ago clearly labeled the contents on the box. I've stated my thoughts numerous times in this thread. So I wouldn't call it deceptive (particularly since the box tells you what's included), just odd.

The problem is a lot of stores keep them locked up, so you'd have to get the guy to get it out for you and then make him wait for you to read all that shit.

Honestly, at this point, they should just throw in a USB charger.  It would cost them pennies to produce and add virtually no additional size to the package.

Technically you didn't NEED a memory card.  I think you just needed it to save.  Of course I never tried playing a game without one but I figured you could just play the game but never be able to save your progress.  It is effectively a requirement but I don't think it technically is.  But this?  You get the system, you play it through its first charge, and then it becomes a paper weight unless you buy a charger.  Hell this even TRICKS you.  Something doesn't come with the HDMI cable?  Bummer, but you'll catch that as you're hooking it up to your TV.  With this you could buy it for your kid, he immediately starts playing it, it dies after a few hours and then, THUD, your kid starts crying because he can't play his game and you're stuck scrambling for an adapter.  There will be several hours where there is the illusion of everything working fine for a product where kids and unknowing parents are a big part of the target demo.

Plus not including memory cards was the industry standard at the time.  It was a lame and we didn't like it but at least everyone was doing it.  What mobile electronic device sold in North America does NOT come with a charger?  It is completely against consumer expectations.  I fully expect NOA to get considerable flack for this.

I am not sure how far it will go but knowing American's attitudes about this stuff I would see a class action lawsuit to come out of it, it will fail but someone will still try to sue.

I'm pretty sure no 3DS system comes already charged, so your scenario won't happen. It won't be usable at all without a charger.

Not charged 100%, but generally 25% to 50% charged when its first turned on.

The 3DS constantly reminds you to keep the system plugged in when it's updating. Good luck doing a system transfer with just one AC adapter.

Well said. I had this very issue!  :@


(shameless self promotion)

The fantastic thing with that is it'll just sit there waiting for you to acknowledge that it wants you to plug it in, so it basically insists on wasting as much of your battery life as possible unless it's unlimited, in which case it goes quickly.

Huh, my systems and such didn't come with any charge, I always had to plug them in before I could power them on. I wonder what the dealio is...