Will it turn around once people get to see the device in person? Or could this mean there is a doubt that the 3DS could be the biggest thing since the DS?

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/30932/3DS_Seen_As_Expensive_Unknown_In_Japanese_Surveys.php

A recent survey shows widespread ignorance among the Japanese public about Nintendo's upcoming 3DS handheld, with a second survey showing many think the system's planned price as too high.

The first survey, conducted by online research firm Macromill for the Nikkei Shimbun newspaper (both surveys via 1up), found 55.9 percent of 1,000 online respondents hadn't heard of the Nintendo 3DS, despite the system's international unveiling at June's E3 conference and a press conference announcing the system's Japanese launch details just last month.

A further 36.9 percent of respondents knew "a little" about the 3DS, with only 7.2 percent saying they knew "all about" the system.

Respondents showed similar ignorance of The PlayStation 3's recently added stereoscopic 3D game offerings, with 57.8 percent saying they didn't know about the option.

A separate survey of anonymous web users published on Getnews.jp found only 16.4 percent of Japanese respondents found the 3DS' planned price of 25,000 yen to be "reasonable," with nearly 80 percent saying the system was either "a little expensive" "expensive" or "exceedingly expensive."

The Nintendo DS is the best-selling system in Japanese history, with over 30 million units of the DS, DS Lite, DSi and DSi XL combined selling in the country over the last six years.

"Or could this mean there is a doubt that the 3DS could be the biggest thing since the DS?"

Lol, I know it's just an expression, but these people honestly think that the 3DS being outsold by the DS is possible, much less the upper bound for the 3DS's success? Many lols

i dont know why there fronting like their not going to get one

There aren't any 3DS TV commercials yet. Once these start people will know about it. (It's still 4 months away and if you don't follow that stuff closely you just don't know about it until it's released.)

And although a survey may say it's too expensive I can already see (before my mind's eye) long lines forming before stores and "sold out" banners on storefronts across the country...

I hope I can get mine on day one.

probably trying to pretend they aren't hyped so Nintendo won't up the price lol.

I don't think people are putting this in perspective. 45% of the general public in Japan (not gamers, the general public) know about a console that is not releasing till next year. That is insanely high. This will often not even break into two digit numbers if you are just polling the general public about consoles.

Regarding many not having heard of the 3DS, that would explain at least part of the reason why DS is still selling so well in Japan

Regarding the price, could be, but a "... survey of anonymous web users" isn't really what I would base any conclusions on, one way or the other.

It's domed to print money.

If you do a survey of gamers buying a console and ask them if they heard of E3, i'm pretty certain that even less of them will repond yes. By this I mean that E3 is for core and informed gamers, general public will know of the 3DS from TV comemrcials and mouth to mouth... but you can bet it's gonna be the toy of the year when just one kid brings it at school...

It is very expensive. Even if it's only $250 in the states, that will still be very expensive. Hopefully Nintendo is only taking advantage of what early adopters will pay and doesn't expect to be able to charge that much for long. DS had a price cut early in it's life and I expect 3DS will get one too.