Well… I’ve been on the fence about buying a 3DS, but there’s really no “must-have” titles yet. But while waiting, I noticed they’re dropping the price to $169.99 (in the US, and I think all regions are getting some drop) – http://www.nintendo.com/corp/nintendo3ds/news/ .

I hope this doesn’t mean it’s “failing”… I hope they’re just trying to promote sales a little bit. IMO, the system price isn’t holding me back… it’s the lack of games that I want. As soon as something good (and original) comes out, I’ll likely buy it. Something like the Super Mario 3D Land or Mario Kart 7 should do it. While Zelda OOT and Starfox 64 are good games, I can’t see buying the system and spending much on games I’ve played a ton of already on the N64.

BTW, for those of you that already have a 3DS, you’ll be getting a bunch of free Virtual Console games, which is pretty cool. It looks like the GBA ones may even be exclusive (probably just for a while). I don’t think it’s worth paying $80 more for them, but it’s cool that Nintendo is taking care not to anger existing customers. Now if I can just figure out a way to buy a system on the 11th, then price match it on the 12th. 😉

DogP

I paid $250, twice. At launch and after my launch one got stolen, bought another. The 3DS is a perfectly capable device, but your asking people to carry it along with a phone. Its that shakey 3rd device territory (PC/laptop, phone, and device 3). In order to win someone there, you have to have quality at extreme value. I try not to compare the 3DS to smartphones, and instead think its direct competition is the tablet market, because tablets are also 3rd devices geared toward entertainment. No one entertains better than Nintendo (even the system settings menu on the 3DS has delightful music and entertains). The 3DS has the entire DS catalog of games you can play, new blockbuster exclusive content, 300+ DSiWare games for download, a Virtual Console that grows weekly, 3D Classics, and original 3D downloadable games that just hit the eShop starting with Let’s Gold 3D. That’s a pretty heavy-hitting line-up. With great value titles like Photo Dojo at only $1.99, its only a matter of time before the sales pick up, and this price cut will pique interest. Netflix, OoT 3D, Game & Watch Gallery and all of the other useful apps (3DS Sound, Camera, Nintendo Video) in my pocket. I don’t know why its such a hard sell for people.

The one thing so far I hold in great disdain about some of the games available for purchase on the 3DS is that the Super Game Boy features were stripped from games such as Game & Watch Gallery, Donkey Kong ’94, et al. Why is a brand new *3D*, *COLOR*, state-of-the-art system relegating these games which shipped originally with superior color palettes and audio to a dismal monochrome existence.

It just bums me that I can’t fully _replace_ my old games with these downloads because they are technologically inferior. I guess that isn’t going to be a problem for anyone who didn’t play those games originally on an SGB, but…I did…so…it bugs me.

*sigh* Okay, I’ll get off my soapbox now. Thanks for letting me inject a tiny bit of angst into this thread. 🙂

I wonder if those at Nintendo have been following the 3DS sales on Ebay, and that’s what they used to determine the price drop. I have seen that many people are willing to pay $180.00 for a 3DS on Ebay. In fact, that’s usually the lowest that a Like New one or a New one goes for. Imagine, then, how many people would be willing to buy new ones for even $10.00 less than that.

I was all gungho about getting a Vita until I read about the price drop. I still doubt I’m going to get one just for Mario Kart and Super Mario 3D Land.

BTW, just in case anyone hasn’t seen the previews for those games, here’s Mario Kart 7: http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/news/a331989/mario-kart-7-preview.html , and Mario 3D: http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/news/a323767/super-mario-3d-preview-e3-2011.html .

DogP

Man, DogP, why’d you have to go and do that? 😉 Here I was, perfectly content with NOT owning a 3DS, and then you had to go and tempt my addiction with those 2 amazing videos, of which I was previously unaware.

Benjamin Stevens wrote:
Man, DogP, why’d you have to go and do that? 😉 Here I was, perfectly content with NOT owning a 3DS, and then you had to go and tempt my addiction with those 2 amazing videos, of which I was previously unaware.

You should see the 3D videos from e3 that you could download onto the 3DS via the eShop for awhile. Look even better with that extra D.

As if Mario Kart and Super Mario weren’t enough to tempt my addiction, I had to take a look at the trailer for Zelda: Skyward Sword.

http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/news/a323712/zelda-skyward-sword-trailer-released-out-2011-e3-2011.html

It is settled. I will be getting a 3DS a short time after the price drop.

By the way, the fact that it seems that Mario will be jumping on a flagpole again at the end of each level in his new 3-D world strongly reminds me of what would have been implemented in the VB Mario Land that just wasn’t meant to be. I really like that.

Isn’t Zelda: Skyward Sword coming out for the Wii, not the 3DS, or did I miss something about a 3DS version?

DogP

Oops… The way that the site had the links listed made it look like it was among the 3DS titles. It would be awesome if they would release it for 3DS, too.

Just a heads up in case anyone’s looking to pick one up… Wal*Mart has dropped their price already, which gives Ambassador status to anyone who buys it before the 12th, at the new lower price without having to deal with price matching or anything.

I went and grabbed one up this evening… while my initial impression of the system was a little “meh”, after messing around with it a little bit, I’m pretty impressed. Hopefully when the good games start rolling out I’ll be hooked.

DogP

Congrats on your recent purchase. Just wait until you have your first StreetPass encounter, it’s quite exciting. We’ll all have to exchange friend codes and get our Mario Kart 7 on later this year.

Just a quick update… those in the ambassador program can download their NES games… and I just saw they’ve added LoZ: Four Swords as a free download (I believe for everyone).

DogP

it’s free for everyone, I didn’t get in on the ambassador program just yet and I just grabbed 4 swords.

Now that you’ve had it for a bit DogP..what do you think ? I picked my wife up one of the Galaxy S 2 phones..and she wants to know what to get me 😛 After seeing Mario..I was thinking maybe a 3DS..but I hear they might come out with a new one with another stick added ? hrms not sure

Where did your hear that? Being on VB forum I wouldn’t get that one if I were you.
Just trying to help you make a decision without actually saying anything concrete.

Went ahead and picked it up. Got the red one (of coarse), the extended battery/dock..red starter kit..mario and mario kart. Never had a wii..so trying to figure out Nintendo all over again.

I got Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 as well… they’re both really good games. I’m really impressed by the smoothness of the 3D in Mario Kart. In Mario Land, the 3D is noticable, maybe even too much at times… Mario Kart just seems very natural.

I still struggle with the correct distance and angle every now and then though… kinda annoying when I’m at an intense moment and the 3D gets all messed up!

DogP