Drops to $169.99 on August 12th
Today, Nintendo announced a drastic price drop for its handheld 3DS system, effective in about two weeks’ time.
Beginning August 12th, the price point in North America will drop from $249.99 to $169.99. Those price cuts will ripple around the world, with Japan getting the largest percentage cut at 40%. The move was made on continued disappointing sales of the system. Global 3DS console sales missed a target of 4 million sold during FY 2011.
Those who bought or buy the 3DS before the 12th won’t be left out in the cold. According to Kotaku’s spin on the day’s news, gamers who bought or buy the system before the price drop are allowed 20 free downloads on the 3DS eShop–10 downloads a piece from a pending NES and Game Boy Advance Virtual Console selection. The former will launch in September, with GBA to follow after at a time undetermined.
Nintendo stock has tanked on the news, down over ten percent in trading on the pink sheets as of the time of this article’s publication. Nintendo’s domestic stock is down about 75 percent from its Wii-era highs in late 2007.
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Innovative absolutely. But innovation is different from revolutionizing. The Wii is arguably a revolutionary because it got people to copy it, to recognize the appeal of motion control (whether or not I agree with that appeal)… the DS, not so much. It sold well, but it’s dual screen feature has rarely been used well, and I don’t see developers scrambling to try and crank out more dual screened devices… the DS is a success, sure, but it’s gimmick didn’t revolutionize or change anything about the way people play (or want to play games). You don’t see consumers clamoring for dual screen content… they just kind of accept it because it comes with the territory. Also, the DS doesn’t really have a lot of great competition… if you want simple handheld gaming like the good ol’ days, your options are pretty limited. I would think a lot of people flocked to the DS not for it’s “revolutionary features” but for the fact that it was simply the most sensible option on the market.