Back in 1995, Nintendo released a system that would propel the company into new heights---of utterly miserable failure. The Virtual Boy was a mess right out of the gate, up until the very end. The launch was poor, the marketing was awful, the system was a mess, there wasn’t enough software, the potential was not utilized, and it was losing money---without any competition whatsoever. They say the suicide rate during the years of 1995 and 1996 were the highest in the 90s (that may or may not be a lie). Nintendo didn’t give it much of a chance because they didn’t see light at the end of the tunnel—therefore eliminating it immediately in terms of shelf life. One year after its release, Nintendo cancelled the system, denounced the system, and pretty much all but butchered the reputation of its creator, Gunpei Yokoi (Who invented the Nintendo Game Boy mind you).
In one of the greatest cases of history repeating itself (up there with the 27 Club and the Chicago Cubs), the Nintendo 3DS stumbled right out of the gate. Because of a poor launch, poorer marketing, lack of software (have they released games yet?), and an inability to separate itself from the shadow of the Nintendo DS, the 3DS has been an utter mess with weak sales, weaker reception, and very little hope in the future. Ironically, the 3-D aspect of the system became more of a turn-off then a selling point as our love for 3-D is depleting rapidly. The Virtual Boy suffered a similar fate when we gamers in the 90s realized that virtual reality gaming is a technological advancement that we just don’t actually want. Ever.
The Nintendo 3DS was inches away from becoming the new millennium’s Virtual Boy. While nothing will ever top the failures of the Game Gear and the Neo-Geo (*insert maniacal laughter*), the 3DS was on a path of quick destruction with the PS Vita on its heels. The PS Vita was offering ITouch-style gaming with the Sony touch—pun totally intended. And with the similar $250 price tag, Sony was ready to deliver a heavy blow and potentially even take over the handheld market. The last time Nintendo did not own the handheld market: 1988. Let’s put this in perspective: Derek Jeter was 15. Little Mermaid and Lion King had not come out yet. The Sega Genesis has not even come out yet.
Nintendo was inches away from losing, and losing big.
And then came the price cut.
Nintendo announces that the 3DS took a price cut, and not just a tiny-usually-$50. Instead of $250, the Nintendo 3DS will sell for $170. And not only that, but those whom already bought the 3DS for the ridiculous original price get an astounding 20 free video games. Check that, 20 free video games. Can I repeat it one more time? 20 free games. I don’t think in the history of gaming has either of the Big 3 offered such a delicious prize for getting a system early. 10 free NES games and 10 free GBA games. Just look at part of the GBA lineup:
Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Metroid Fusion
WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Four of those five were among the greatest handheld games in the history of Nintendo. This price cut does more than just save the 3DS—but it allows for a new way to market the product, gives Nintendo a chance to slowly release their exclusive titles without panic, and makes the PS Vita seem much more expensive by becoming 80 bucks cheaper. All the momentum Nintendo had lost has suddenly gained a bit as Star Fox, Mario Kart, Super Mario 3D, Kid Icarus, and more are headed towards the holiday season with a much cheaper system. But the price cut has also shown the gaming world a baffling conclusion: Nintendo is losing faith in their new handheld.
The 3DS has potential of being something special, but it really hasn’t utilized its abilities. The 3-D aspect is an extremely overrated and overstated aspect of the system. Before the price cut I was going to write about how unless Nintendo changed its marketing or perhaps even changed the name of its new system (Nintendo DSX? Nintendo DS2? Nintendo DDD? Nintendo This-Will-Be-Better-Than-PS-Vita?) it was heading down the Virtual Boy road. And just ask SNK, Sega, Nokia, and Bandai, Nintendo doesn’t want to go down that path….again.
This handheld has the potential of nearly PS3-like graphics. This new system can connect online much quicker, can download old-school Game Boy games, and is backwards-compatible. It is practically a super-powerful version of arguably the most successful system in the history of gaming. Nintendo needs to adopt this angle because the 3-D angle is not working, will not work, and will never work again. In two years, 3-D movies will be a mere thing of the past, as we hit our peak during the Avatar phenomenon.
Bottom Line: The 3DS was on the path towards failure (Virtual Boy II jokes were ready to arrive from bloggers and columnists everywhere) before Nintendo threw it a lifeline with a heck of a price cut immediately after its launch and right before the holiday season---and the upcoming competition’s arrival. The decision to reward the current owners while providing a far cheaper price to a system in need of help came at the right moment, the exact right time, and under the perfect circumstances. Moments like this prove why Nintendo is still #1, but moments like this also prove that not everything Nintendo touches turns into gold.
This system is extremely powerful and can really deliver wonderful hours of gaming for years to come—but the software needs to start charging in and the 3-D feature needs to be downplayed down into a whisper. While most bug Nintendo for using their franchises too much, the brand actually has left many franchises in the dust and the 3DS is the perfect opportunity to revive them. The 3DS is the perfect opportunity to take all the elements that made the DS great and improve and expand upon it. And for a moment it looked like the chance was going to be lost, but the price cut is going to breathe new life into this handheld.
Nintendo, don’t drop the ball…again.
Bring me my 3-D Earthbound !!!!!!
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