Gnizmo said:
Darth Tigris said:
mai said:
It's been said numerous times...
Platform (US release) MSRP in Japan/US: actual JPY/USD exchange rate -> exchange rate based on comparison of prices (plus percentage that Nintendo adds to price of US dollar in yens):
DS Lite (Jun 2006) ¥16800/$130: ¥114.63 -> ¥129.23 (plus 12.7%)
DSi (Apr 2009) ¥18900/$170: ¥98.89 -> ¥111.18 (plus 12.4%)
DSi XL (Mar 2010) ¥20000/$190: ¥90.68 -> ¥105.26 (plus 16.1%)
Based on current exchange rate of ¥84.47 plus 16% that'd translate price of ¥25000 into $255. It's up to debate how much will exchange rates fluctuate in Oct 2010 - Mar 2011, it they won't you'll get 3DS in US for $250, if dollar will fall (it actually didn't fall that mach in Oct 2009 - Mar 2010), then expect $270 price tag plus some bundled game or a movie to make 3DS more attractive.
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Thanks for one of the most reasonable and USEFUL posts here.
We've read about the yen being so strong right now that Japan is worried and actively trying to make the situation better for exports. As someone that has a very limited understanding of exchange rates and exports (but I learn fast; thank you internet), I found this simplified explanation:
"The way changes in the exchange rate affect exports and imports can be briefly explained as follows. When the U.S. dollar appreciates, foreign goods (expressed in U.S. dollars) become cheaper and U.S. goods (expressed in foreign currencies) become more expensive. Assume, for example, that one U.S. dollar was equal to 100 Japanese yen and a Sony television is priced at 15,000 yen in Japan—implying that the television is worth $150 in the United States. Now, assume that the U.S. dollar appreciates so that one dollar equals to 150 yen. The stronger dollar implies that the Sony television set will now cost only $100 in the United States. The lower price of the television set (in terms of the U.S. dollar) leads to increased sales of Sony television sets in the United States—that is, an increase in imports into the United States."
That being said, I would think its a bit hard to know for sure how much this will cost in the US. The dollar is weak against the yen right now; much weaker than during previous game console launches. Considering demand will be relatively high and Nintendo has stated repeatedly that it WILL NOT lose money on the 3DS when it launches, I think there is a definite possibility that it will release at $299 in the US. Regardless it definitely WON'T be less than $249. Those that state that are just speaking out of pure ignorance.
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This is not even remotely close to a useful post. Considering exchange rates is terrible for a number of reasons, but I will deal with the most obvious here.
Historically Nintendo home consoles have launched at $200 and 20k yen. The Wii was the first to buck this trend with the 25k yen price. This was matched with a $250 pricetag despite the exchange rate putting it at $219. This was also with an extra pack in game in the USA region in order to further entice people to buy it increasing the effective value a lot.
The other recent one to buck the trend was the DS line. The DS launched at the predictable 15k/150 rates you would expect from the standard 100:1 ratio Nintendo favors using. The DSi, however, bucked that trend in a significant way. It launched at 18.9k yen or $216 in Japan. The USA got it at $170 which is lower than expected based on their history, and much much lower based on exchange rates. The DSi XL operated similarly with a 20k yen price-tag and a $190 MSRP in USA.
The above demonstrates pretty conclusively that Nintendo does not even remotely rely on current exchange rates when pricing. The 100:1 ratio previously held seem to act as a maximum, and there is a willingness to lower the price for the US market most likely because hand-helds are not held in the same high regard. The price of $250 is a good guess, and likely represents the maximum amount they would conceivably charge. It is realistic to expect the price to slip as low a $230 though, and $200 (while mostly wishful thinking) is not completely out of the realm of possibility.
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There is an important point that you're missing, though, so I'll paste it again:
http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/21/iwata-3ds-likely-wont-sell-below-production-cost/
The 3DS is a Gamecube (almost a Wii) as a handheld with a revolutionary screen technology that currently does not exist in any other consumer device. In that sense, it CANNOT be compared to any other Nintendo handheld that's been released. Its cutting edge, not just in concept but in technology too. History, unfortunately, is not as useful as a guide in this case.
