| Mr Khan said: Given inflation and exchange rates, $250 is easily what we paid for the DS as far as the Yen is concerned |
The DS launched at ¥16,800. That's significantly less than the 3DS' 25,000 even if you take into account inflation. Inflation doesn't go up almost 50% in 6-7 years. The 3DS is a pretty expensive piece of tech and I don't think Nintendo is overcharging for it. But I think it would have been wiser for Nintendo to have delayed the release until when the 3D tech got a lot cheaper. It's never a good time to launch a ¥25,000 gaming handheld, let alone during a global economic recession. Nintendo is forgetting what brought them to the dance (focusing more on innovation and affordable pricing than graphical prowess). The 3DS is going to outsell NGP easily but I don't see it recreating the success of the DS. If Nintendo tries to pull the same stunts with Wii 2/Wii HD (launching it earlier than it should be, building an expensive powerhouse with a high price tag), it won't have the success of the Wii. Nintendo doesn't know their audience. Soccer moms aren't going to be forking down $250 US on a handheld for their kid unless that kid is really spoiled. And I'd imagine that Wii 2/Wii HD would piss off a lot of people that bought a $200 Wii recently as well. If the Wii was like $150 for awhile, then yeah you can see it coming.
