Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has admitted to investors that the launch lineup for the Nintendo 3DS wasn’t strong enough to drive hardware sales. This has resulted in Nintendo thinking much more carefully about launch software when it launches Wii U next year. What was your opinion of the 3DS launch lineup, could it have been better?
“We also must reflect on the fact that we were not able to launch Nintendo 3DS at a time when a sufficient number of strong software titles were ready.”
“In order to avoid the same thing from happening to the Wii U, we are considering details, such as what software is suitable for the launch, more carefully than ever before.”
I honestly didnt care about the lineup. As long as this system keeps pumping out good games and isn’t considered a secondary Nintendo system, but is actually compared to the Wii then ill be happy. Keep up the good work Nintendo.
If they can get a good Mario 6 in 2d on it with the optional mii crap or possible other stand in characters from other companies with the koopa kids in it. Then that will signal hey this is hardcore.
They should also include a wiiu play 2 with all of the games up graded in a hardcore fashion and let them be customizable. You could call it wiiu play mod addition. They should let players draw their home screen also.
Picotchat should make it’s way over. Also they can have a staggered release.
Mario6 and wii u play with limited mOd support
Then the drawing app and chat app.
Then full mod support. Wii play sports 2 for free then bring out wii resort bird island.
Demo push should come next.
So that’s like 3 free games Mario gets you 20 million consoles in 2d. 3-6 in 3d.
A wii play that is more like ataris war with tons of levEls is hardcore. Yet it has to have wiiu show off game play that is cool.
Mario 6, wiiu play, sports and resort along with the core apps drawing mod support and video chat will make a lot of people bite and they are easier to make.
We are expecting deep games with the options on default for casual gamers. The hardcore love customizing their own games.
The 3DS had a horrible launch. I remember comparing it to all other consoles I bought at launch and the 3DS had the worst one of the lot. But this is just my opinion.
I agree it wasn’t a strong launch but it looks like there is also alot of titles to be excited for that are supposed to come out by the end of year….never having a ds b4 a 3ds though has given me the chance to go back and play some great ds games I missed
It’s because of the games…
i dnt know why they fail in such…simple silly things
Yes it was poor launch software being of my personal interest just SSFIV3DE… You must really think launching more known franchises for the Wii U
Mr. Iwata, I will kindly state that is one of the biggest understatements I’ve heard in a while.
…Still didn’t stop me from buying a 3DS on day one. :)
I pretty much expect lousy launches from handhelds. The only exception I can think of is the original Game Boy. It’s the consoles that you can’t screw up the launch line-up for.
launch was awful. no red 3DS, no games. boooo
the launch games weren’t particularly great, but it’s not the end of the world for the 3DS. hopefully, it will improve over the year.
The only good launch title was SSFIV IMO. I tried Pilotwings and Ridge Racer but couldn’t get into either of them. Yes it was a horrible launch, but you gotta give it to him for actually admitting it. A company like Sony would just act like total jerks even when their hardware sells the worst.
samuria warriors was pretty good and street fighter sucked it was terrible IN MY OPINION!!! same as how kid icarus and starfox and loz oot will probably be the best games the 3DS sees but im usually wrong about what nintendo will pull off
Thought about getting Warriors but heard it was repetitive. This is just the first few months of the 3DS, it will see MANY great games.
What’s done is done. Just move on and things will get better.
I thought the launch line up was ok, besides I couldn’t afford lots of games when I brought the console. Hes going on about the launch line up yet there’s still not many games out for it. At least of had a Mario ready even a month after launch not end of year. There’s no excuse for poor launch line ups, it’s not as if it’s the first console ever and they don’t no how it will go. Every console maker should learn from previous launches of consoles.
The laugh titles (except for SF IV) was certainly weak. Although I bought it on opening day with four games (SET IV, Super Monkey Ball, Star Wars, & Ridge Racer) and have enjoyed them, Nintendo should have waited until Zelda 3D and the eShop was ready. Because of the high price tags, Nintendo should have included Pilot Wings as a demo of what the 3DS can do much like the Wii included Wii Sports. Once the premier titles (Kid Icarus, Star Fox, Mario, and 3rdthe party titles) start rolling out, the hardware sales will pickup tremendously.
Atleast Nintendo is admitting it. For all the fanboys still in denial of the weak lineup, grow up. I was glad to read Nintendo is trying to avoid the same mistake when Wii u launches.
Hasnt everyone whos been on this site multiple times been in this arguement over the launch… i distinctly remember like 8 other pages with the same argument over the launch
Big Nintendo fan, but this is why I havent bought one yet. Glad they won’t make the same mistake for the Wii U.
It amazes me how a company like Nintendo who is so smart when it comes to game design and creativity can make some of the most bone-headed and flatout stupid decisions. The 3DS absolutely launched prematurely. The eshop wasn’t ready and neither where the games that would drive sales (which have always been 1st party Nintendo titles). It should’ve launched last month (June) with the Legend of Zelda:Ocarina of Time 3D as it’s premiere launch title and the eshop ready to go right out of the gate and at a msrp of $199.99. As a result of how Nintendo decided to go about things, I feel very strongly that no matter how good the games may be that lay in wait (Super Mario 3DS, Luigi’s Mansion 2 etc.), the decisions Nintendo decided to make with this system launch may lead to the end of their handhold dominance and supremacy.
They say that every launch. There was no need to release the 3ds so early
Well, they did admit it; now they should release Mario and some others by the end of the year.
I agree that the launch wasn’t as great as expected, but I still bought one at launch. Fortunately, my DS games and Nintendo 3DS Sound kept me busy until May/June. :D
Let’s hope they don’t do the same mistake for Wii U.
eShop Mirrored the 3DS launch. Shitty Selection of 3D games / Software. 3DS is “a category of one”, as is Excitebike 3D.
I was under the impression we’d have Netflix, 3D Video recording and some flavor of chat or IM by now.
*sigh*
If only every president of current game publishers in the video game industry could even say half of all the apologizes Iwata adressed…