Nintendo responds to why regular "New" 3DS is skipping North America

piratepwnsninja said:
That last post is really it. I totally get that here there are a number of people that would prefer the normal one. But within their target demographic, which isn't really us, it's not a financially feasible move since most kids honestly think bigger is better, regardless of comfort or what it does to the resolution, etc. So from a business standpoint, and honestly from a "who are our general consumers" standpoint, it makes sense. Still doesn't suck less for those wanting the normal one, but I see why they're doing it.
Click to expand...

If that was the plan, they should not have limited faceplates to the smaller version. One of the most interesting things about the entire new 3ds as a platform was the ability to customize it. If this was the plan from the beginning, whoever made that call did not have their head on straight.
 
I hope they at least offer some units over mail order or something. The things already exist, they just need the region locking set to North America, basically.
 
jholmes said:
I hope they at least offer some units over mail order or something. The things already exist, they just need the region locking set to North America, basically.
Click to expand...
It would not be that hard to do customizable production based on orders. Motorola did that with their X series and it seems to have worked just fine. I understand the logic of not shipping that many units, but to say you have no choice is a bit terrible. Imagine if you could only get one type of Xbox 360 or PS3 when redesigns occurred.

Wolfgunblood Garopa said:
It's America's fault for not being a big enough market. Buy more Nintendo products and maybe they'll take you seriously.
Click to expand...
Nintendo products have not been selling like they used to. The highest selling 3DS game has not broken 10 million units. Heck, the worst CoD still outsells many Nintendo games. They should try harder or customers will move on.
 
I was looking forward to getting the new 3ds due to the faceplates. I think there is room to make the device look a bit more sophisticated and less like a toy when using a nice faceplate. But now that they've made up their mind about the US market and decided to go with the far less visually interesting XL I'm a bit disappointed, It's makes sense since they have so many more regular XL's and 2ds' to move out.

Color me pissed regardless, and even more so due to the whole Zelda New 3ds XL. Talk about an opportunity wasted.
 
The only way to compare 3DS to XL sales accurately is to look at the sales over the same year besides the XL launch. But that data is probably not available to the public
 
BeardyChan said:
Color me pissed regardless, and even more so due to the whole Zelda New 3ds XL. Talk about an opportunity wasted.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I am pretty sure if the LE's didn't exist, I would not bother getting the new XL. People should just go buy the ones they are trying to get rid of. Get a cheap portable and still enjoy Nintendo games.

Also for clarity I thought the DSi XL was a dumb choice, but I could still buy a DSi at the time.
 
I'm honestly mad. I wanted the smaller one, I can't even get it from Japan because it's not region-free and I can't read Japanese.
 
BinaryPork2737 said:
Well, at least the new 3DS doesn't have any exclusives I care about right now. Maybe I'll get it in a couple of years, I guess.
Click to expand...

I'll probably just skip it since the successor to the 3DS is likely to be out in 2 years.

Besides, I have a feeling Nintendo won't take advantage of the extra horsepower in the N3DS in more than a handful of cases if the DSi is any indicator.
 
I wanted Iwata gone with the poor showing and launch of Wii U back in 2012. And he's the ceo of NoA, not Reggie. This was his idea. He needs to go.
 
TheSlySoul said:
Yeah, I am pretty sure if the LE's didn't exist, I would not bother getting the new XL. People should just go buy the ones they are trying to get rid of. Get a cheap portable and still enjoy Nintendo games.
Click to expand...
Hell, the fact the LEs seem to be messy to get from GameStop is kind of putting me off to upgrading ASAP in the end anyway. If there were more colors I wanted, the regular sized one, and/or easier to get the LEs I'd go in sooner than later, but no blue, no white, no small, and may have to pay shipping and not be able to put my XL in for $100 to the Monter Hunter 4 LE... Man, even with my kind of screwed up screens I wonder if it's really worth it in the short term.
 
TheSlySoul said:
Ok, so we know NoA is completely responsible then.
People were quick to blame NoJ. NoA is ran by complete dummies.
Click to expand...

From the answer they gave their reply is logical because it seems the XL is much loved than the normal 3DS is USA. So, numbers don't lie for them.
 
Eusis said:
Man, even with my kind of screwed up screens I wonder if it's really worth it in the short term.
Click to expand...
Probably not. This is DSi 2.0. I never upgraded from that and I missed absolutely nothing.
I thought Nintendo learned from the Wii/DS era but I guess not.
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_3DS_sales

Assuming this numbers are close to correct. It shows that since 2011 Japan has been buying the most 3ds...not the US. By a million+ units...not a small number.

I bought a JPN 3ds and have noticed that the ll (xl in jpn) disappeared while the new sized smaller ones (they do have a larger display than the original) seemed to be available. So no numbers but it seems the larger unit way out sold the smaller unit.

Guess by what they learned from JPN their largest market and since distribution costs are probably higher in the US (size of the country) and not sure what the effect of a strong dollar has on this but I think all these things contributed.

Yeah on GAF and other sites like it there will be a very vocal group but for most buyers? Not so much. Who buys a smaller anything when for a little more you get a much larger screen?

Also how much shelf space were they going to get for all those covers and the Amiibos they are already fighting to get space for?

Saying all this the smaller 3ds is very nice and the covers are fantastic. Really sorry it was not part of today's announcements.
 
Aaronrules380 said:
Did you consider that the OG 3DS was phased out because nobody bought any after the XL was released? And face plates are probably a hard sell to retailers, who have limited shelf space. It sucks, but it's absolutely fucking stupid to think you know better than the corporation when they have shit loads of sales data and marketing research, and you have literally none
Click to expand...

I don't need data to know that you can't expect a product to perform a certain way based on the performance of its predecessor. The New 3DS is a new product. You can't say that "THE MARKET HAS SPOKEN" based on the popularity of another product. And like I said, other factors, such as timing, were also taken into account. Maybe the people who bought the XL were unsatisfied with the build quality. Maybe they were unsatisfied with the fact that it can barely fit in your pocket. Maybe they were unsatisfied with the cheap 240p resolution screens which look worse when they're bigger. Maybe they prefer the ergonomics of the OG model. Maybe they like the fact that you can change faceplates. Or maybe they even like the colored buttons. It doesn't matter, because consumers aren't even being given a choice.

TheSlySoul said:
I totally agree with you, but NoA is doing something completely odd in that the 2DS has sold less than the regular 3DS overall, but they continue to support it despite the sales record. If you look at stats alone, the 2DS should be phased out for the new regular 3DS.
Click to expand...

They make more money off of the 2DS. Just like how they make more money off of the New 3DS XL than the OG model, which is why it's not coming. This reminds me when McDonald's US discontinued their Angus Burgers because of supposed low popularity, when in actuality it was due to rising beef prices. Nintendo is a corporation. They don't care about you. They care about making money. And they believe that bringing over the New 3DS XL only will be more profitable than bringing over both. Why? Because of inductive reasoning.

For the record, it's a pain in the ass to discuss this subject because there are so many variations of "3DS" to type out. 3DS, 3DS XL, 2DS, New 3DS, New 3DS XL... urgh.
 
I'm in for the new XL myself, but I still think it was a really shitty choice to limit the NA market to XL-only. The XL isn't the most portable thing around, and those faceplates are damn cool.

New XL should have swappable faceplates damn it! But then again how else will Nintendo get us suckers to double dip on their hardware when a really sweet limited edition new XL comes out?
 
Less choices = More choices!
large.jpg
 
Gonzo The Great said:
I don't need data to know that you can't expect a product to perform a certain way based on the performance of its predecessor. The New 3DS is a new product. You can't say that "THE MARKET HAS SPOKEN" based on the popularity of another product. And like I said, other factors, such as timing, were also taken into account. Maybe the people who bought the XL were unsatisfied with the build quality. Maybe they were unsatisfied with the fact that it can barely fit in your pocket. Maybe they were unsatisfied with the cheap 240p resolution screens which look worse when they're bigger. Maybe they prefer the ergonomics of the OG model. Maybe they like the fact that you can change faceplates. Or maybe they even like the colored buttons. It doesn't matter, because consumers aren't even being given a choice.



They make more money off of the 2DS. Just like how they make more money off of the New 3DS XL than the OG model, which is why it's not coming. This reminds me when McDonald's US discontinued their Angus Burgers because of supposed low popularity, when in actuality it was due to rising beef prices. Nintendo is a corporation. They don't care about you. They care about making money. And they believe that bringing over the New 3DS XL only will be more profitable than bringing over both. Why? Because of inductive reasoning.

For the record, it's a pain in the ass to discuss this subject because there are so many variations of "3DS" to type out. 3DS, 3DS XL, 2DS, New 3DS, New 3DS XL... urgh.
Click to expand...
Except you can bet your ass Nintendo is using Market research as well as sales data. ANd here's the honest truth: MOst people don't give a shit about the things you listed. They simply don't. And while a few thousand people complaining like the internet looks like a lot, t's pretty insignificant and many will buy the new xl anyways
 
Fuck you, Nintendo (of America). Fuck you.

I knew being a PAL land user that only buys NTSC-U stuff would backfire on me someday. I don't want to play my games on a pixellated XL.

I can see why this happened though. Nintendo clearly hasn't been doing so hot in America for a while, and the normal n3DS comes with faceplate baggage (shelf space). NoA decided against it.

Now I really hope a region free hack is released soon, so those of us that want to can use a PAL/JP n3DS. NoA's lack of release should be enough ammo for the Gateway team, they could get a lot of business their way.
 
The regular 3DS wouldn't make sense in the Na market. Handhelds are already going extinct, Nintendo isn't doing too well, and they already have too many 3DS/DS variants in the marker. They need to release one new product and focus on that not complicated the issue and create more confusion.

You people have no business sense.
 
Goddamnit. I undestand that 'Murica loves everything big, but why screw over those of us who want the smaller model?

Geez...
 
TheSlySoul said:
Probably not. This is DSi 2.0. I never upgraded from that and I missed absolutely nothing.
I thought Nintendo learned from the Wii/DS era but I guess not.
Click to expand...
I actually was pretty satisfied with the DSi upgrade, partially because I did get subtly larger screens out of it. I think the DSi size might actually be the sweet spot, rather than the XL.

Which of course is part of why this is exasperating, though it's the LE situation that's annoying me most of all. Feels like after a string of minor disappointments they offer something good, but then go and screw that up in more ways than one anyway.
 
Nintendo makes different systems at different price points for a whole range of consumers, and New Nintendo 3DS XL simply expands those choices even further.
Click to expand...

'Except for the North American market. Y'all are screwed.' - not a real quote
 
Baus said:
Ughhh. I was planning on getting the regular new 3DS for those beautiful buttons.
Click to expand...

You and me both, I was waiting for that one. I don't want a big handheld and the white Reminded me of my dreamcast, Xbox 360 and DS Lite. My all time favorite gaming devices.
 
I hate to be that guy but Nintendo lost my money. I was so ready to purchase the regualr new3DS. I like the size and covers. Heart aches.
 
TheSlySoul said:
I am not really bitter, but honestly I don't like seeing NoA dig their own grave.
The future is 2DS is going to be phased out for not selling and then new 3DS XL is your only choice.


Would be nice. Supporting 2DS is going to bite them in the future.
Click to expand...
How is it digging their own grave if the vast, vast majority either don't give a shit, or prefer the XL anyways? It's to Nintendo's every benefit to limit consumer options if consumers will buy the system anyways. Even of the tiny vocal minority complaining, I'm willing to bet a sizable chunk will buy the new XL anyways. Nintendo is a business. They are not your friend. The same is true for Sony and Microsoft. Saying you're disappointed about a decision is good, it's advocating for yourself. But there are better ways to do that then whining like a child, or pretending they made a decision that will ruin them. Nobody cares if you whine.
 
Aaronrules380 said:
But there are better ways to do that then whining like a child, or pretending they made a decision that will ruin them. Nobody cares if you whine.
Click to expand...
So you agree with Apple's philosophy?
Ok then, guess you can ignore Android (Sony) being the majority of the VG market then.

Oh wait, Apple realized they should give customers more choice and made the iPad and iPad mini. Nevermind. I will ignore your silly attempts to say limiting choices is good.
 
I assumed it was a completely NoA decision, and often these business decisions are not being made lightly. My assumption (knowing nothing about the actual numbers), is that after the 2DS came out in the US, the regular 3DS numbers began to dip but the 3DS XL numbers stayed strong. The 2DS is a lower-cost system and probably cheaper to produce than the standard 3DS. So the 2DS has become the value model, and the 3DS XL the higher-end model, with no room in the middle for the regular 3DS.

We've seen the standard 3DS model slowly fading from retail, which makes me think NoA is no longer producing the standard 3DS, and is more interested in keeping the low-cost, seemingly successful 2DS as the value model, and the 3DS XL/New 3DS XL as the higher-tier product.

Speaking from personal experience, I know a few of my friends bought 3DS XLs in the past few years, and my siblings have gotten 2DS's for their kids. I haven't personally known anyone to buy a new standard 3DS at retail for some time.

If the regular 3DS is not selling as well as the 2DS or 3DS XL, when it comes to releasing a new model, why bother following up on that model?

It's all a business decision, nothing to personally slight those of you who may have wanted a standard new 3DS XL. It's cheaper to produce and ship one model of a more recently successful product, and the same or similar number of units overall will probably sell, whether or not there is a standard new 3DS model available on the market.
 
Nintendo makes different systems at different price points for a whole range of consumers, and New Nintendo 3DS XL simply expands those choices even further.
Click to expand...
Until they discontinue the old regular 3DS and 3DS XL. Leaving us with one less choice.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Nintendo of America President responds to Mario Kart World $80 price: “What you see right there is variable pricing”
2 3 4
160
8K
Goalus replied
Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Cards Information from Nintendo [Not regular games]
2 3 4 5
243
11K
Heimdall_Xtreme replied
[IGN] Our Big Nintendo San Francisco Interview with Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser
18
416
Astray replied
  • Poll
I just found out skipping tutorials is common in gaming. Do you? Why or why not?
2
62
2K
Cyberpunkd replied
Doug Bowser, the Useless President of Nintendo of America
2
86
6K
Smasher89 replied
Top Bottom