The errors of the 3DS

Over the past month Nintendos latest handheld the 3DS has gained lots of attention. However the attention the device has seen isn’t the good kind, with the majority of press lashing out at the device, and questions raised about the direction Nintendo went with.

I think the downfall of the 3DS, started long ago, the first issue would have been the original DS. The now nicknamed “phat” version of the original device had a list of issues. Design wise it wasn’t anything to write home about (honestly, I prefer the prelaunch E3 DS) and it was also riddled with screens with a very low range backlight, I also believe not including WPA (even at the time was a much recommended WiFi standard) would also shoot the console in the foot.

While it was successful at the time, and paved the way for the DS Lite, a much nicer and well regarded handheld. Some might say- what should have been released originally for the most part. Despite my WPA complaint (which I will explain why shortly while it should have been included) the system was the peak of the DS rain. A console which drove the sales of the system and the games at the time allowed it to enter the realm of the “casual” to be a highly successful device there as well. Yes it was successful, but the small mistakes after the DS Lite will lead the 3DS to be a misguided handheld- a lost sheep with no shepherd.

Nintendo will then go onto to make their biggest mistake leading up to the 3DS. The mistake is simple, yet at the time- possibly thought as the best thing they could do. What was it? It was the creation of the DSi line of systems. While Nintendo could possibility have done with a revision at the time, the “1.5” appearance of the system will end up destroying many of the chances the 3DS will have at gaining traction- especially in the early years.

The first major issue I feel was removing the DSi range from the original DS firmware, Nintendo should of issued an update for the older devices which made the firmware just a little bit more appealing while gearing the DSi one as a “plus” version of the firmware, especially if the device was going to have the same specifications it ended up generating.

The WPA functionality should have been included in the systems for games by removing the Wifi settings from the game cart instead of keeping limited to each game cart. Nintendo drilled themselves into a hole for people who are progressive and use current technology not stuff from the 50s by not giving the system the control of the settings until it was too late and a generation later.

One thing I do believe which was one right with the DSi range, was at the time- the marketing. The ideal that the device was to be a more entertainment eccentric DS would do wonders for its sales, I still see the devices around today- especially over the earlier DS models such as the Lite and the Phat.

However the second major issue with the DSi Line, and one which isn’t just simple nit picking was something Nintendo did much more recently with it. For the most part, the DSi Line is still a functioning profitable arm for Nintendo, so what did they do? Nintendo instead of discontinuing the line straight away, decreased production and ended up slashing the price- with the price slash been so meniscal and pointless.

While the DSi Line was still on sale far after the 3DS launch, I feel as if this did the worst impact to the 3DS from a sales perspective. You look at the system alongside the original DS and the Lite, it is quite obvious they are completely different devices. However if you look at the 3DS alongside the DSi range, I can see how it’s possible for market confusion- with both devices been almost identical in style, and pushing much of the simular features, bar 3D.

I feel as if the marketing of the 3DS was far the worst idea possible, especially from a sales perspective. The idea was clearly to show some hip people enjoying the device, but what people saw were creepy strangers playing with a device which looked exactly like the one they already had. When considering what the 3D was to enhance the experience, even early adopters questioned what it had to offer, so what does that leave the rest of the world who are not nerds with? The end result is clearly a console which makes the 3D seem like an add-on, an extended DSi- regardless at how hard Nintendo will try, that stigma shall remain for quite some time on the 3DS. Even worse is when a similar stigma is suddenly attached to the Wii U after its unveiling in public eyes.

If we continue the discussion about 3D, for me it is horrible, half the time it hurts my eyes plus gives me headaches and the other half of the time the games 3D ghosts. The 3D seems horrible inclusion, remember last time Nintendo did a 3D handheld? The Virtual Boy? It failed- and so will this, for the simple fact no one wants 3D, and when they do want it- it’s just a fad, a fashion fad with horrible repercussions. I would have much rather Nintendo tried to give us better graphics- for the simple fact it is going to be what people want from their handhelds now. HD graphics, buttons not touch and full console games, are going to be the selling points for handhelds, especially with phones and other smaller devices catching the market.

In the end 3D gave us that little bit of enhancement, which was so meniscal and pointless rather than the big guns explosion to everyday gaming Nintendo was hoping for.

Another issue with the 3DS, was its high price tag. Especially with the next Playstation Portable- the Vita having a similar price tag when it launches, it comes with the question “Does this really give the value for the asking price”, the answer for most was no. With the price cut putting the device at the prices it should have been from day one, it begs the question why didn’t the fat cats cut their bank accounts for successful launch beforehand.

With the majority of system sellers poised for 2012 not 2011, and the current line-up of games riddled with holes Nintendo has a major battle ahead for them to get this puppy back on track. A new marketing campaign, discontinuation of the previous handheld devices and a majority of its games could be what the system needs to stand on its own.