| RolStoppable said: There isn't much confusion about the 3DS at all. People know that it isn't just another DS model with 3D output, they just think it's too expensive for the games it currently offers. Your second point doesn't mean much. I have no doubts that the first one to two million hardware units will be sold within a few weeks of launch, but there's going to be a struggle after the typical early adopters got their system, because it's not like Sony and third parties will be able to release all their announced games in the launch window. Third, Nintendo has the benefit of a headstart. They have room for error that Sony has not. It's quite similar to the 360 that had no games in its first year, but that was quickly forgotten once the PS3 showed up and had no games either. Suddenly the 360 looked like a good deal. Gamers didn't see much value in the PS3 compared to the 360 early on, despite Sony's system having more features. You see, the problems Sony is going to run into with the NGP will be similar to their problems with the PS3. If you can't list concrete announcements of third parties, then I have to assume that we are mostly talking about quick ports of PS3/360 games (especially from Western third parties). Remember, all the PS2 ports didn't really help the PSP either and most of those games didn't require a second analog stick anyway. And suddenly the initial NGP lineup won't look all too different to the currently available 3DS games: many of the good games being more or less ports. Sony's strength in first party studios is laughable. Take a look at Sony's PSP first party games, they didn't do anything at all to move hardware. With the NGP, just like with the PSP, you got Sony's second string developers working on the games (even the big ones) and they have repeatedly proven that they can't put out games that sell three million or more over their lifetime. This certainly doesn't scream must have games will be available at launch. Sure, Nintendo won't have a Super Mario Bros. out by the time the NGP launches, but at least they are going to have several games out that are poised to sell more than Sony's biggest PSP hits (Nintendogs and Cats, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Mario Kart 3DS and possibly Super Mario 3DS). Remember, the NGP won't compete against the 3DS of today, but the 3DS at the time of the NGP's launch. The rocky start of the 3DS will be forgotten quickly. |
No confusion? I don't believe that for one sec. There are plenty of people that believe that on this very site, Nintendo supporters at that. Nintendo hasn't really done too much to show it's more than a 3D revision of the DS, yet. I'm sure in the future they will change that, but to date most of the commercials have just shown people looking at the 3D, with little to no gameplay shown. Maybe informed gamers like us know the difference, but your average shopper sure wouldn't.
I think you are overrating the importance of a headstart. This gen the 360 got a year head start, yet the Wii will win. Last gen, the Dreamcast got a 1 1/2 years headstart, yet the PS2 won. Two gens ago, the Saturn got a month or so headstart, yet the PS1 won. The gen before that, the Genesis got a whopping 2 years headstart, yet the SNES won. So headstarts really mean little, especially one that will only be ~ 7-9 months. It all depends on price, HW appeal, and games.
So far, I don't think the NGP is getting many ports. Most, if not all, the games announced from familiar franchises are going to be original games in the series. The same goes for a lot the games that came to the PSP. I hope you aren't going to knock those, while at the same time praising of those types of games coming to the 3DS. That would be rather foolish. Especially considering the 3DS arleady has a few ports of its own announced, and I believe Iwata said that 3DS gamers can expect a few more 3D ports.
As far as the price vs. percieved value, you are comparing the PS3, a system that launched at $499 or a full $200 more than the 360, to the NGP, a system that will probably launch for $299 or a mere $50 more than what the 3DS goes for. There's a big difference there. And with the added controls, power, and features, I think many aren't going to mind the extra $50 dollars. That is if the games are there.
