Nintendo announced today that it sold more than 4 million 3DS hardware units in the U.S. in 2011, selling more than the Wii in its first nine months.
The company said fast-selling holiday titles such as Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land drove sales, but the initially slow-selling 3DS really started to turn the corner after a 20 percent price drop following its release last year.
Overall, 39 million Nintendo Wiis have now been sold in total in the U.S., while 51 million Nintendo DS handhelds have been sold nationwide.
Elsewhere, Nintendo noted that Mario Kart Wii has sold 11 million units, and New Super Mario Bros for the DS has sold 10 million. Both Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 for the 3DS have now sold over 1 million units in the U.S.
True, but kind of useless information, as the article itself states, that increased sales came after the price cut. It's not like anybody ever said otherwise.
The Wii was launched at a reasonable price, the 3DS was launched at an unreasonable price, Nintendo corrected the latter, the 3DS sold better, end of story.
it was dirt cheap during the holidays and there was little reason not pick one up with Super Mario3d Land and Mario Kart being released during the holidays as well.
Yeah, the ones that say "the dedicated portable market is dead" are definitely ahead of themselves...but, somewhat sadly, the ones that say its "doomed" are likely not far off.
I think the 3DS will sell OK in the end...nothing like its esteemed predecessor which, R4 and all, officially went gangbustas. It is a transitional time.
Four years out though (and likely sooner), I feel Nintendo will need to re-evaluate the value proposition offered by their "mobile" business.
Was this noted before? I only heard of japanese sales numbers, that both SM 3D and MK 7 have sold in million units in the US is news to me.
http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/24/technology/nintendo_wii_price_cut/index.htm
The Wii was launched at a reasonable price, the 3DS was launched at an unreasonable price, Nintendo corrected the latter, the 3DS sold better, end of story.
Or not.
it was dirt cheap during the holidays and there was little reason not pick one up with Super Mario3d Land and Mario Kart being released during the holidays as well.
Great games sell systems.
Super-tempting...but can't shake the fear new hardware is coming sooner rather than later, what with legit battery issues and control stick issues...
Hopefully Sony will learn something from them ( http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/39353/PS_Vita_Sales_Nosedive_As_3DS_Sees_Reco
rd_Week.php ).
I think the 3DS will sell OK in the end...nothing like its esteemed predecessor which, R4 and all, officially went gangbustas. It is a transitional time.
Four years out though (and likely sooner), I feel Nintendo will need to re-evaluate the value proposition offered by their "mobile" business.