You guys remember that french site, 01net?..they´re the ones that leaked the news on project Cafe (WiiU) first.

Anyway, on this link: http://www.01net.com/editorial/537862/nintendo-l-and-039-envers-du-decor-confidences-d-and-039-un-employe-de-big-n/...there´s some interesting information..it´s all in french, but on this link from neogaf: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=441994...it´s translated to english.

Among other things, here´s the part that got my attention:

According to our source, Nintendo is well aware that it has so far failed to convince the public that its 3D display technology was harmless. Many parents are refraining from buying the console for fear of adverse effects to their children’s eyesight. This innovative “glasses-free” 3D display technology, the console’s main selling point, could well prove a major stumbling block. The advertising issue, despite a vast deployment of demo units at the point of sale level, remains: how do you sell something you can’t show? In the wake of the early price-slashing and “3DS ambassadors” (20 free VC games) program announcements, Iwata’s welcoming of 2D (totally free of 3D content) games on the platform smells like capitulation.

This information corroborates several elements we obtained very recently from various sources. According to them, Nintendo is currently preparing a new 3DS for a 2012 release. This new version would radically tone down the whole “3D“ angle, with a new design and even probably a different name. In that perspective, the radical price-slashing, touted as a measure to boost sales, would also be a way to liquidate current stocks to make way for the sucessor…

This news is from the 22nd of August.

But anyway, I hope the rumors are false.

I just don't know what Nintendo are thinking. They haven't given their console a chance, it hasn't had a holiday season yet!! I mean, seriously, once they cut the price, just throw some great games at it and it'll sell well.

What an overreaction.

this is old and we don't have that long before we know what will happen. next week we shall see

01Net seems to always have this inside information. But from what I can tell they do often also strike out. They mentioned a new 3DS model with a second analog stick. Turns out its not a new model but the second analog stick is reality. I think they probably have a medium level employee leaking them news. This employee knows abit more then the average employee but is not high enough to actually give 100% accurate news.

Honestly crap like "Iwata near firing" and this article and even the latest one about WiiU dev kits. Why is it 01Net is the only website reporting this stuff? If their stories held alot of water I'm sure other news outlets would be very quick to post similiar stories. If developers were really having such a hard time with WiiU why is it they haven't told any other news agency?

Like I said I think 01Net has an inside man at Nintendo, probably medium rank not to high up the chain but not too low. He tells them every little thing he hears. Thus you get stories that are partially true, some are true and others turn out entirely false.

I bet the whole Iwata near firing thing was just him over hearing some of his higher ups complain about Iwata and that they disagree with him or something. Then the employee tells 01Net and they blow the story out of purportion.

I hope Nintendo catches 01Net's mole and that he gets his butt fired.

As for a new 3D free model, not going to happen. With a new name, also doubtfull. 3DS sales are climbing now that the price cut occured and the holiday's look like they will be very profitable I don't think Nintendo is going to ditch the 3DS altogether. Also keep in mind the backlash from the price cut, Nintendo would piss off all those who bought 3DS far more by dropping the platform.

I think Nintendo had a new 3D free model in development. Don't doubt it and it was their back up plan incase the 3DS failed to sell after the price cut. Nintendo always has back up plans and always has new hardware in development I don't doubt for a second that such a platform existed. But I do doubt that Nintendo will release that new platform in 2012. Also with WiiU launching in 2012 and all of Nintendo's first party titles. I can't see them launching yet another handheld in 2012 or any earlier then four years!

Actually, the original 01net rumor about the second analogue stick said there would be a peripheral for older models as well, which turned out to be true of course.

Poor Iwata. He's been fired and there's been absolutely no coverage of it.

To the bolded:

I'm not a doomdz-caller, but they certainly can't be very profitable over the holidays with the 3DS line?

Since the price cut 3DS is actually sold at a loss, and I doubt that severely cost-cutting measures in fabrication can be taken in the next month or so before shipments for the holiday season are readied. With a current tie ratio of 1.58 on $40 software I doubt the increased marketbase would turn that loss into firm black in the short term, unless they're selling a lot of downloadable content...

I still don't believe Nintendo are about to launch a redesigned system. The only solid proof of what the second circle pad peripheral is so far, is that it's an optional add-on for Monster Hunter Tri G, desgined to replicate the Classic Controller Pro layout from Tri on the Wii. We'll only know for sure what it is on the 13th, but I firmly believe the peripheral is a concession to Capcom to get Monster Hunter Tri up and running on 3DS as quickly as possible.

Nintendo won't drop the 3DS because it's under-performing--the signs say anything but that, however, because the 3DS's rocky launch was Nintendo's first major misstep since the launch of the original DS, the vast majority of gaming sites and journalists (and even some more mainstream sources) are insisting that the 3DS is going to be written off by Nintendo.

Take a good look at what Nintendo are doing: They have a renewed focus on 3DS, and are taking aggressive actions to ensure the device doesn't die on the market. They've cut the price massively to entice new buyers, completely retooled and relaunched the promotional campaign for the system, launched a scheme to placate early adopters by giving them 20 (free) classic Nintendo titles, and are bringing their biggest mascot to the system globally in two big blockbusters in the crucial end of year sales season. Most impressively, they've gained a big new title in Monster Hunter Tri, which will cement the 3DS's momentum even as Vita's imminent launch appeared ready to disrupt it. They've also solidified their partnership with Capcom, with two of Capcom's biggest properties (Resident Evil and Monster Hunter) acting as two of 3DS's hottest upcoming titles.

And if even half the rumours spilling out of Japan are true, in-house software development has been ramped up, and Nintendo are about to unveil anything from a new Yoshi platformer to a Mach Rider reboot, or anything from WarioWare to a new Baiten Kaitos. Again--even if only half the rumours are true, significant Japanese publishers will announce new titles for 3DS at the conference--anything from Ace Attorney to Etrian Oddysey are rumoured announcements.

Does all of this paint the picture of a company ready to throw in the towel on 3DS?? It doesn't to me. To me, Nintendo look like they're putting all the weight they can behind the 3DS, to turn it from an underwhelming console to a successful console. They aren't just relying on their in-house software and price cuts, either, they seem to be reaching out to their third party partners. We'll only know for sure what the rest of Nintendo's rescue plan looks like after the 13th, but I don't believe for one second it'll involve a revised 3DS, let alone a system that ditches the name and downgrades the 3D capabilities of the console.

Nintendo are going to push 3DS as far as they can--if all that fails, and third party support and Nintendo's IP's don't sell the system, then they'll go back to the drawing board, but that would be the absolute, last resort.