| ktay95 said: Yeah we get it, the handheld market is fucking dying. Why do we need this conversation over and over and why do people keep trying to defend the 3DS' poor sales?? -__- |
It's a worthwhile topic because really its Nintendo's core business.
People make such a fuss about the Wii U on this board, but really I don't think Nintendo internally gives that much of a crap if the Wii U is selling 300k a quarter versus 450k (whoopity doo). Whereas 3DS sales are barely discussed on this board.
The 3DS I gauruntee it is the thing that's keeping Iwata awake at night, not the Wii U.
They can deal with low console sales, they have been really for the better part of 15-16 years now, since about the middle point of the N64 generation when people started getting fed up with a lack of software. Nintendo has been dealing with poor console sales with the exception of a 4-year boom period with the Wii which has long since passed away.
But handhelds? That has been thier bread & butter, if handheld yearly shipments start to sink to the 10 million range or even lower, Nintendo is in some trouble, yes the GBC/GBA saved Nintendo's bacon during the late 1990s and 2000s, but they were selling far better than the 3DS is now on a yearly basis.
The other worrying thing I see when looking at 3DS sales is virtually no hardware boost at for Smash Bros ... makes me think Nintendo has basically maxed out the appeal of their franchise IP with the 45 million or so who already own a 3DS. 3DS which once seemed like a lock for 100 million, now probably is in a fight to get to 70 mill.
