US 3DS sales double Vita's total in July - analysts

[mike_intellivision]

RolStoppable said:

mike_intellivision said:
I think what is more telling is that the DS is predicted to outsell the Vita and PSP combined.
That is the DS -- not the 3DS.

Also, the DS is predicted to sell almost as many units as the 3DS. My guess is that the price cut on the older model may be (temporarily ?) cannibalizing the market.

Mike from Morgantown

The DS isn't cannibalizing the 3DS market, the 3DS simply doesn't offer enough reasons to be bought in larger numbers yet. The DS found itself in a similar situation at the same point in its life in America, it was neck to neck in monthly sales with the GBA or even getting outsold by it.

Software sells hardware and the most effective way to get people to buy a new video game system are exclusive hit games. I don't know how prevelant the myth (well, I think it's a myth) that consumers think that the 3DS is just a DS with 3D still is, but even that should die down as soon as it's clear that New Super Mario Bros. 2 cannot be played on any DS model.

I wasn't into handhelds -- or sales -- when the DS came out. I do remember it doing poorly at the start in the US as it was routinely outsold by the PSP (which was predicted to end Nintendo's stranglehold on the portable market). 

I do know the software has not been as strong as some would have liked it to be ... basically because Nintendo tried to help third parties and they just don't seem to want to be helped.  So I agree that a lack of software would limit sales. However, since it is backward compatable, it should not have been as much of an issue until the recent price drop made the DSi so much less expensive.

 

 

 

Mike from Morgantown