Nintendo's sudden announcement of a planned successor to its DS portable system -- one with the ability to play 3D games without glasses -- came at an odd time. One would have expected the company to save such a reveal for E3 2010, and major announcements hardly ever surface this early in the post-GDC spring lead-up to the event.
It's especially odd considering the announcement's proximity to the launch of the DSI XL in North America. Nintendo had hoped to entice consumers with the enlarged system's larger screens, a task no doubt made more difficult by news that an even newer portable is in the works.
The tentatively-titled Nintendo 3DS will feature not only naked-eye 3D and backwards compatibility, but Japanese business reports also suggest it will sport force feedback, better battery life and possibly even a tilt-sensitive accelerometer. It's slated to launch in Nintendo's coming fiscal year, which ends March 2011.
New media reports suggest press leaks in Japan, where the DSI XL has already been out for some time, forced Nintendo's hand even at the expense of Nintendo of America.
"Apparently, the Japanese press was all over it and talked with suppliers there and Nintendo just wanted to get out ahead by breaking the news to prevent a leak," M2 Research senior analyst Billy Pigeon told CNBC. "Does it clash with the DSi XL? Yes, it does."
The analyst suggested that the DSi XL, however, still sees consumer demand, and that it could also create space for a DS price cut "from a position of strength" rather than because of competitive pressures from devices like iPhone -- although those surely exist.
To me the only reason not to get a DSlite is because of the downloadable content on the newer editions of the DS. But with the fact none of those DL titles transfer devices I will never take a gamble on said platforms. The fact the DSi XL hasn't even really sold to America yet and they have had to say we have yet another incarnation of the DS coming should send up warning flags to everyone to just avoid the XL outright...
The bottom line is price. What's the difference in price between the XL and the 3DS, because that is ultimately the deciding factor for a lot of parents. Even with DSi out during the holiday season, most consumers (from my perspective as a sales associate) still bought the DS light instead because it was 60 dollars cheaper than the DSi. If 3DS is going to be around 200, it won't sell as well as the XL if the latter gets a price cut. Besides, at this time of year, handhelds don't get strong sales like they do during holidays.. It's out early to pick up momentum for the holiday season, where, even with the 3DS coming out shortly after, will still sell very well because it will be another hot Xmas item.
I don't think, that the time of the announcement is a real problem. Sure, it was close to the release of the DSi XL, but this device is something like a special interest DS. The are many more potential 3DS customers out there that own a DS/Light/DSi, than ever will be DSi XL customers.
With the early release Nintendo managed to start a hype, that will be growing towards the E3, the speculation what the device can do will fuel this hype for 3 months, which isn't really a long time. If Nintendo manages it to deliver, what people expect, they will get the attention of the mainstream media covering the E3.
It's a little bit risky, if the 3DS has even slight faults, they will be punished by the same media for releasing a Virtua Boy 2, a device most journalists will have to look up in Wikipedia, but will mention nonetheless.
For me the main question is, has the 3DS something else to offer despite 3D grahpics? I certainly hope so, cause the first press release for the DS back in 2005 (wasn't it in march too?) only mentioned 2 screens and didn't said a word about the touchscreen functionality.
With the early release Nintendo managed to start a hype, that will be growing towards the E3, the speculation what the device can do will fuel this hype for 3 months, which isn't really a long time. If Nintendo manages it to deliver, what people expect, they will get the attention of the mainstream media covering the E3.
It's a little bit risky, if the 3DS has even slight faults, they will be punished by the same media for releasing a Virtua Boy 2, a device most journalists will have to look up in Wikipedia, but will mention nonetheless.
For me the main question is, has the 3DS something else to offer despite 3D grahpics? I certainly hope so, cause the first press release for the DS back in 2005 (wasn't it in march too?) only mentioned 2 screens and didn't said a word about the touchscreen functionality.