This pretty much stems from the assumption that "what's good for the goose, is good for the gander" when this is not always the case. Yes, the early $70 price drop for the 3DS was huge (to the point where it probably should have pissed off more "ambassadors" than it did), but it really needs to be pointed out that the price drop was paired with a couple of major software releases for the holiday season. Chopping a chunk off the MSRP of the PSV won't have the same effect without being correctly timed with the release of more than one major software title, which as of yet would be an unannounced title (GoW PSV or GT PSV for example). 

Comparatively speaking, the 3G model is already pretty reasonably priced if one were to compare the only existing business model in the iPad. Apple charges an extra $130 for 3G/4G network access (extra hardware cost). $50 seems extremely reasonable by comparison and yet the majority of the vocal internet still sees the 3G addition as "worthless" or "overpriced."

Personally, I really don't see the point of the additional costs associated with the 3G model and AT&T's 3G network service. I'm speaking as a PSV 3G owner and current AT&T 3G network user. As an AT&T iPhone user I would really like to know why I should bother even renewing the 3G service when the only uses I can see are for Near updates and non-WiFi internet access (which I already have with the iPhone). I've used less than 20MB on the 250MB minimum plan after just short of 1 month. Is that worth $15? Hell no. 

It's still way too early to be making bold predictions on where the PSV platform is moving, although that won't stop a lot of individuals from doing so anyway, even if for nothing more than generating controversy and the hits. 

About the only thing I'd venture to suggest is that the major complaint non-consumers (those who pretend to be interested in the platform, but really aren't) have that should be addressed, could easily be met by simply including an 8GB memory card with every SKU and just drop the 4GB card altogether since they're almost useless. No price drop required. If SCE wants to include a decent DD game off the PSN Store as well; all the better. 

You're missing the point. 

People don't need to buy dedicated handheld gadgets to play games. 

The niche market for those who want to play mobile games that replicate the console experience is a small portion of the overall market. The market for $40 mobile games in general is being squeezed by the simple reason that there are now cheaper options. It's irrelevant whether games distributed on chips and sold at retail have higher production values; for the most part, that's something that only the core gaming audience cares about. Who do you think bought all those low budget DS games?

Even titles that sold tens of millions of copies and millions of DS consoles like Brain Age can be and are easily replicated on other mobile platforms. You don't need to buy a 3DS for that. 

And it still costs more to develop and publish for the 3DS, the DS, PSP, PSV, etc. 

You don't have to like it, but more kids who are being introduced to games for the first time aren't playing on dedicated gaming systems, portable or home console. They're playing on iOS devices because they're simple to use, the software is essentially a throwaway purchase for the parents buying the games, and their parents already own the devices with no need to buy dedicated gadgets.

I have a 2 and a 4 year old niece and nephew; both play games on the iPad. I can tell you right now if I bought either of them a 3DS with a copy of Team Umizoomi, Bubble Guppies or whatever children's show game they're watching, the novelty would wear off fast, the 3DS would end up in the toy bin, the parents wouldn't buy any more games for it and the kids would go back to playing on the iPad. Cheap games or no, to the kids, a $30-40 3DS game would have the same replay value as a $.99 game they particularly liked. 

Really kid?  the 3DS is selling at record pace and you're telling me that more are being introduced to IOS devices.  Like I said before, Nintendo is no competing with Apple.  You can try to make it sound like they are because apple brags about how many games they have but fact is the majority of those games suck because they have no buttons.  This thread is not about apple.  it's not even about 3DS vs the Vita.  It's about everybody making contests out of nothing just like you.  Give companies a little  time before shouting doom.

Yes really "kid." 

I would be entirely unsurprised if the 3DS platform turned out to be Nintendo's last handheld platform if they don't find a way to adapt to the rapidly changing mobile space.

They'll always have an audience for their own internally developed games, and so long as those games are only published for hardware platforms they design and sell themselves, there will be a market for those platforms, but it will be a reduced market relative to what they've had in the past. 

I don't feel the need to argue here; just wait and see what happens. Time will tell. 

I would be entirely unsurprised if the 3DS platform turned out to be Nintendo's last handheld platform if they don't find a way to adapt to the rapidly changing mobile space.

They'll always have an audience for their own internally developed games, and so long as those games are only published for hardware platforms they design and sell themselves, there will be a market for those platforms, but it will be a reduced market relative to what they've had in the past. 

I don't feel the need to argue here; just wait and see what happens. Time will tell. 

LMAO as of now the 3DS has been unaffected.  The sells of last generation hasnt went down, Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario Land 3D has sold over 5 million each, etc etc.  Like i Said success rate on IOS devices are extremely small.  You might want to learn what you are talking about before talking like you know anything.  The only way I will reply to you again is if you bring forth successful games on IOS devices besides Angry Birds, the new drawing game, doodle jump, and Inifinity Blade.  That's four out of a million.  Pretty low number, but yeah actually talk about successful games.  In the mean time Nintendo is sitting out tons, and same goes to sony

But ... but your 2 and a 4 year old niece and nephew only play games on iOS, so the 3DS MUST be doomed, right? The high sales of the Nintendo Handheld and his games are not relevant at all.

Calm down. 

Total revenue generated. Growth rates in revenue. Growth in volume of developer support. You're comparing an ecosystem that Nintendo's been maintaining for over 20 years in the portable space with one Apple just invented less than 4 years ago. 

You understand it was the sheer volume of games on the DS that played a large part in its success, right? Much of which was hey; crappy games. Kind of like the ones that go for $.99 these days. It wasn't just Mario Kart, Super Mario Land, etc. even though those titles will always sell in the millions. 

And for the record, there are no mobile IPs like Nintendo's. I wouldn't have even bothered to bring up Angry Birds since it was the rare exception among mobile games that Roxio turned into one of the most exposed, but none of that matters. As long as the games are "good enough" whether that's to kill 15 minutes at a time, or keep children placated while eating out, that's all that matters to most. 

You pretty much called it yourself by saying "only four out of a million" while focusing on the four when the million is the number that really counts. 

You're probably not as smart as you think you are that's probably because you're thinking with your heart, not your head. 

You're looking in the present. I'm looking 5-10 years down the line post 3DS when kids who are just being introduced to gaming now start buying their own games/entertainment.