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Soundwave on 12 September 2014
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Vena said:
Soundwave said:

That's I think only one part of it. Even last year when it had a lot of games the sales weren't that great. Pokemon X/Y, Animal Crossing, Fire Emblem, Luigi's Mansion 2, etc. couldn't save them from having a dissapointing holiday season (even Iwata said so). This year is just worse. 

This is more than a game problem I think, 3DS has a plenty mature library of tons of games by now that it shouldn't be that dependant on month to month releases. 

It's not like there's nothing been released this year either. Bravely Default, Kirby Triple Deluxe, Tomodachi Life, Yoshi's New Island is ok. 


I wouldn't say the software side is good, particularly from the western perspective. How many western devs are even producing for handhelds? Majority seem to have entirely written off handhelds this generation in their pursuit of spectacle and more moneyhatting deals on consoles. Right now, the software environment for both the 3DS and Vita is almost entirely eastern in origin, and even then the Vita is seeing many releases from developers chasing niche titles. There's very little western aligned for audiences, is definitely a problem. (Oddly, 3DS and WiiU are becoming highly profitable platforms for indie what with other devs not producing anything.)

On the other hand, the 3DS is just bogged down with a lot of other issues. For one, Nintendo is/was focused on moving the WiiU to profitability and churning out some games for it (as they are the sole supporters at this point). The overall specs of the system are not exactly phenomenal and the 3D tech, while impressive, has been holding it back in many other aspects. Its possible, though unlikely, that the more refined n3DS will see better everything but that's to be seen.

The Smash/MH releases will likely jump start the system, this year, to vault over the PSP during the holidays. The N3DS launch in Japan may help out long term and the eventual state side release should also keep the slip from slipping further for a year or two more. Nintendo really does need to move towards unification, though, because while they can produce and produce well, they just can't keep two systems up at once seperately.

The 3DS will/should still finish above the PSP and still have done, overall and given its disastrous start, well.

At this point, Nintendo may have lucked out on getting their identity crisis right after the phenomenal success of the Wii because they have (and have been spending) that capitol to rebuild and restructure for the times ahead. I am not nearly as confidant about the other two...

Western devs have never really supported Nintendo handhelds and Nintendo has never really done much to alter that. 

I think their philosophy is Mario + Pokemon + various other Nintendo IP = big sales, but with the 3DS even that formula seems to be fizzling out. 

Smartphones/tablets have changed things too much and Nintendo was short sighted in not investing in more Western studios during the Wii/DS boom phase. Now they're kinda stuck with what they have.