| NoirSon said: The 3DS needs a original blockbuster. Like any system, a blockbuster helps identify the system and right now, outside of being able to play a few very ports/remakes in 3D and being a much better media hub thanks to Netflix and Nintendo Video, the system has nothing over the DS, except price. That is the reason why so many are slow to purchase the system compared to the DS and why developers are acting funny. Some would prefer to develop on the Vita and then there are others that are play caution. Once a game that the 3DS can exclusively call its own and isn't hindered out the gate from being rushed to market like RE: Merc 3D was or some of Nintendo's own launch titles, then the system will be fine. Don't know if Kid Icarus: Uprising is that title but it will be better then nothing. |
Kid Icarus has been a long, long absent (20 years absent has to be some sort of record) NIntendo IP, but even if it turns out to be the first gold standard 3DS title critically, it's just not big enough to be a significant hardware mover.
It would take another Pokemon sized franchise to really push sales to previous DS customers or the extremely significant children's market, or a new Brain Age type app to push sales to the extended market. Unfortunately, Brain Age type games are now better off on iOS or Android devices as lower cost downloadable apps.
Personally, I really like the recently added features like Netflix access and Nintendo video (Hulu Plus would be another good addition), but like Street Pass (one of the other better features), neither is really cause to buy a 3DS at $250. The vast majority of consumers will be buying them to play 3DS games if at all.
It really is shaping up to the be PS3 at launch of portables; decent initial set of features, more usable features (like the Nintendo eShop and web browser which were absent at launch) added on a so far consistent basis, but hobbled by a fairly high price relative to the software library.
Whether the platform can stay relevant the way the DS had in the 2 or so years from launch until it has a truly solid back catalog of quality games really remains to be seen. The 3DS probably won't have the same luxury that the DS had in biding its time as it slowly built up its software catalog along with hardware sales.
An original blockbuster/killer app new IP would sell hardware, but based on what's been announced, I'm really not sure what sort of title could be developed that catered specifically to the unique features of the 3DS. Street Pass integration in some form of social networking games, maybe with an AR type interface, but as for 3D, I don't see how any developer could come up with something that either required 3D mode to be active, or was extremely enhanced over 2D mode, seeing as how a not so insignificant chunk of consumers either can't see the 3D effect, it "makes them sick" or just insist it's a gimmick and refuse to even use 3D mode.
