| the-pi-guy said: I think the Nintendo 2DS is more like a response to Pokemon. They are marketing it to kids and guess what Pokemon X/Y(The first 3DS only pokemon games) and the new Nintendo 2DS is coming out on the same day. |
That's definitely a factor of course. Nintendo probably found out through focus group research and/or surveys that parents feel that the Nintendo 3DS is too expensive. And maybe parents are not too keen on their kids playing in 3D on a regular basis for safety/health reasons (watching a 2-hour 3D movie once a month in theatres for eg. is not the same as playing 3D video games almost every day). These concerns with the 3DS are likely to push a parent towards buying an iPod Touch or cheap/mid-tier tablet for their kid instead (even if these devices aren't cheap either, it does more than play games and it's more portable than a bulky 3DS). The strategy of Nintendo 2DS + Pokemon (killer app) is to sway parents back to the Nintendo fold.
When I first heard about the Nintendo 2DS rumours, my immediate reaction was that Nintendo was "backtracking" and having regrets/second thoughts about going the 3D route. Sean Malstrom is probably throwing a party on his blog right now. And my second reaction was "how are you supposed to fit that in your pocket?" The 2DS looks like a tablet. Historically, portable gaming consoles have been pocketable. So the loss of pocketability for a portable gaming console is a step backwards IMO.
Male teens/adults are a lost cause for console handheld gaming no matter what because most guys carry a wallet and keys in one pocket and their cell phone in their other pocket. Our jeans have more than 2 pockets. But if we put anything else in our pockets, it's going to get to the point of being ridiculous. In terms of being weighed down and feeling uncomfortable. And you can't bring your jacket with you in the summer (it's bad enough that I don't have a place to put my glasses when I don't have a jacket with me. I don't like wearing my glasses all the time). The man-purse isn't in. Women have purses so it's not a big deal for them to carry a 3DS/2DS or a tablet. But I still think they'd prefer to carry a 3DS over a 2DS and an iPad Mini over an iPad in their purse.
For those of us who still play with a handheld gaming console and are of the male persuasion, how many of you guys actually play with your handheld console outside the home? I rarely get the opportunity anymore. Only when I have a bag with me. And the man-purse isn't in. So on the go, I mostly play games on my smartphone if I'm taking the subway or streetcar (basically a tram or a poor man's LRT) and not driving. And even then I don't game on my smartphone that often because I live in the suburbs so I only ever get the opportunity to take the subway or streetcar when I'm in the city. That's another thing too: most adults in North America drive to get around. So it's hard for handheld gaming to take off with our age group.
