29 million in two years is not great if year 2 is lower than year 1. Sales in the west are declining for the 3ds, despite a price cut. Japan keeps it afloat but the western handheld market will continue to shrink and shrink. It will see some spikes from pokemon and price cuts- but you can't change the inevitable fact that 3ds will likely be the last major dedicated handheld. 

I really do agree that Nintendo needs to do its own HW (for multiple reasons), but I'd just like to see the actual source people keep citing...

But that's like saying that xbox sold poorly if you exclude the US sales... And that's not how things work. You have to look globally. 3DS sold more units in 2012 than in 2011 even without big system sellers in the west for the holidays. 3DS is THE only system doing great right now.

At this point, the 3DS can be carried in Japan by 3rd parties alone...

I personally think that Nintendo's strategy of helping those exact 3rd parties to localize their games was pretty damn smart.

There's no need to rely on western devs (Who don't develop for it anyways) and can solve the software droughts that Nintendo is quite well known for in the west.

However, the downside to this strategy is that it has somewhat limited appeal. Which means that they're pretty much relying on Pokemon to be gigantic this time to reach that type of broad mainstream appeal.

Nintendo's strategy in Japan:Eh we can let 3rd parties carry it. Pokemon will do the rest.

Nintendo's strategy in the West:Pokemon or bust.

I agree with his price point stuff, but we already have it in place, just more publishers need to embrace it.

Except for the fact that Japan is small and increasingly out there market. A handheld that will only do well in Japan will never be a success. The west is a far bigger and more important market, and the western market is rejecting dedicated handhelds at every turn. 

It should, there next handheld should be an android tablet with exclusive nintendo games, but nintendo is probably too oblivious or unwilling to change to make that happen. And the vita will for sure be sony's last handheld- they clearly only made it because they felt they had to. Also see my above post as to why Japan can not keep a platform alive by itself. 

Do you believe that videogames are so entrenched in western culture that people see them as normal here, and not subject to the same 1980s think it is a fad?  I do.  I believe because of this, that you aren't going to see them risk dying off like what happened in the 1980s.  But, there is very serious concern of contraction.  Thing now is that people can still  play older stuff, if need be.  IP still hold something, even if there is a major shakedown.  I do think AAA level stuff is at risk, outside of a few franchises.  

I will also disagree with people not needing games, and other things.  People do like to play, and believe games are a viable part.  Games are actually one of the oldest forms of play out there really.  People want to be mentally engaged and games and puzzles do that.

I will also add though that tabletop gaming is growing as far as an interest spot goes.  People can do board and cardgames.  Mind you, it doesn't necessarily mean lots of money but they are there.

I think we can now see what happened to Cliffy B, and why he left Epic. Better to get out before you see the bottom fall out.

I still can't believe he just dropped out of the game only be on the side lines and say what needed to be done, instead of actually doing something about for the greater good, even though gamer will dislike it in first glance...

That's like saying I live my dream while it lasted, now I shall hide in a cave until you fix the problem so I come in and ride it again.
Wait, what?!

You said you enjoy playing games in your childhood, especially Nintendo games (and it came out of his mouth). And now that got the chance to do it, but only done it half way, instead of going all the way like Nintendo did in your child-eyes.