Iwata: people want 3DS, but are waiting

By Fred Dutton Published 26 April, 2011

Gamers holding out for more software.

Consumers know they want a 3DS but are delaying their purchase until a wider range of games is available, believes Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata.

Speaking during an investor call transcribed on Nintendo's official site, Iwata insisted that the new handheld was one of the most coveted machines the company had ever released, but many potential purchasers were biding their time before opening their wallets.

"It is clear from our market research that many people feel that they 'want' and 'want to buy' Nintendo 3DS, and the latest demand for this device is the largest in comparison with our previous new platforms at the time of their launches," he explained.

"But on the other hand, there is a big proposition that not that many people believe 'Now is the time to buy it!' The penetration will not gain speed without overcoming this challenge.

"After all, the way to solve this problem lies in how to communicate 'what kind of games can be played', as long as Nintendo 3DS is a gaming device.

"There might be consumers who are interested in Nintendo 3DS," he continued, "but they are unable to find software which they want to play, and they are in the 'wait-and-see mode'."

Iwata then went on to list off a formidable slate of titles due out in Japan before the end of 2011, including Dead or Alive: Dimensions, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D, Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Tales of the Abyss, Star Fox 3D, Kid Icarus: Uprising (due "after summer"), Super Mario 3DS and Mario Kart 3DS.

"Nintendo will be working with our full strength in order to spread Nintendo 3DS as a mainstream handheld device, along with the third party developers and with our sales partners," he concluded.

During the same event, Iwata revealed that the handheld, which launched last month in Europe and the US, had got off to a "smooth start" selling 3.6 million units.

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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Comments (43) Latest comment 1 year ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Spydy #1 1 year ago

    No shit.

    Show us the games.

  • kupocake #2 1 year ago

    ctrl+f

    battery

    0 results.

    INTROSPECTION ABSENT

  • ZizouFC #3 1 year ago

    He isn't lying.

  • ZeroAX #4 1 year ago

    or you know, they are just waiting for the vaaaaastly improved 3DSlite. It's one thing doing small upgrades like the DSi and the DSXL, but DSphat and DSlite was such a huge improvement, that you just felt you had to upgrade.

  • drumbaby #5 1 year ago

    People always seem to want to buy into the slightest upgrade to the DS form factor...but why is this guy expecting it to sell like a completely new console after so many slight upgrades?

  • Eraysor #6 1 year ago

    Maybe...just maybe...it's overpriced?!

  • levitate #7 1 year ago

    He's absolutely right about most people being in a "wait-and-see" mode, me included. But it's not a mainstream device as long as it costs £200 with next to no games for anyone above the age of 5.

  • scouserfuller9 #8 1 year ago

    When you look at the games set to be launched later in the year I believe there are many waiting with people saying this themselves in previous forums. Apart from the first couple of days I've rarely ever touched my 3DS.

  • FenderMaster #9 1 year ago

    I'm waiting for the price to hit ~ 180 Euros, and the games to drop in price. Nintendo will lower the price if consumers hold off, they dropped the GC price before launch and still made a healthy profit...

    I'm not really interested in ports though, so Zelda OoT and Starfox won't push me, nor will RE Mercenaries. Kid Icarus looks a bit shit tbh, and I can't get excited about Mario Kart anymore

    Ahnd yeah, I'm also waiting for the first hardware revision.

    so for me

    180 Euros + 3DS Lite + a great NEW game and I'll bite. I definitely want one, and will buy one, it's just not very good value for money right now...

    and Super Street Fighter 4 3DS can fuck right off, I'm not paying 15 Euros more than I paid for the home version!

  • imagonnawin #10 1 year ago

    Still too expensive in my book. Fortunately for Nintendo I'm a sucker for Zelda, Ocarina especially, so I'm just waiting it out in the hope some retailer drops it in order to make some space in their stock room.

  • coderkind #11 1 year ago

    Tried it pre-launch and wasn't bowled over by the console itself, the games (aside from SSFIV) and especially not the price.

    I want to buy one, but I'd want to buy almost any gadget if I had unlimited funds. At ~£200 I simply won't buy one.

    Hope Nintendo (a great games company) learns some lessons from the 3DS and the Wii's critics with what it's cooking up as the Wii HD/2. I want to love you Nintendo, but the Xbox ticks more of my boxes these days.

  • DrMGinius #12 1 year ago

    "More software", namely "mainly Mario and Zelda". Not saying that's bad.

  • WinterSnowblind #13 1 year ago

    I think the price over here was a bit high but most retailers had it knocked down to £170 before launch, which I thought was a fine price to pay. The only problem now is the utter lack of games, which I'm glad to see they recognise.

    It really just isn't worth owning one at the moment. Zelda's the only big title coming in the near future and I still wouldn't recommend buying one just to play an enhanced port (even if it is an amazing game). They need to get Mario 3DS and Kart out this year.

  • chasejamie #14 1 year ago

    If you don't have a 3DS, then you don't have a 3DS.

  • smelly #15 1 year ago

    @DrMGingis : For me as long as the "more software" isnt endless linear fps games - then im happy.

    Im so bloody bored of shooting games nowadays...

  • FenderMaster #16 1 year ago

    tbh, I think to a certain extent this is a result of Nintendo fans no longer trusting Nintendo implicitly to deliver on the games, and this lack of trust is well deserved at this stage, to the point that anybody who buys a Nintendo console should really know the score.

    The Wii has been out since 2006... almost five years later and we still haven't got a Wii exclusive Zelda (Twilight Princess was a GC port that was finished in 2005). Sure we had 2 brilliant Super Mario Galaxy titles, but Animal Crossing, Metroid Prime 3/Other M, Super Paper Mario didn't exactly deliver all we'd hoped did they? 5 years on and still no new Starfox, no new F Zero, new I.P.s like Sports Resort, Wii Music and Disaster Day of Crisis werent exactly stellar.

    Nintendo aren't delivering like they used to, and when the biggest games they're promising this year are 2 enhanced N64 ports, and content cut from from RE 4 and 5 bonus games, and another stellar mario title, it doesn't look like things are changing very much.

  • schoozzzmmii #17 1 year ago

    The trouble might be that there's not any one particular problem with the 3ds. The hardware is a bit over-priced, there's no killer app right now, the software is pretty expensive by home console standards and very expensive by iOS standards, the eshop isn't open yet, online still involves a certain amount of faff (even if it's better than Nintendo's done in the past), there is some negative press regarding the 3d and it's difficult to advertise as a feature.

    There's even maybe some confusion as to it being an entirely new and more powerful piece of hardware compared to the ds (i've seen it reported in the press as the Nintendo DS 3d and our local Tesco has the DS and 3DS games all combined as a single chart with only a small symbol denoting 3DS games).

    Currently it's death by a thousand little cuts. Yes it needs some big hitting games but that won't fix the other issues. Maybe kids just want iphones now.

  • Nuszka #18 1 year ago

    no shit? just last friday i gave my 3ds back for store credit in gamestop - recived 190£ + 20£ for ssf4 paid for that combo 212£ in asda so i only lost 2£ , going to wait how things will develop but all the games that should be out but are not makes me wonder , and it does not feel like it's worth the money, maybe ngp or wii2? hope after e3 things should clear up

  • darc #19 1 year ago

    "not any one particular problem with the 3ds"

    The lack of a killer app (or one that I personally care about, at any rate) is a big issue - but presumably a temporary one, and not a slight on the console itself, really. What I do see as a one particular problem to the 3DS is the finicky viewing angle. I find it detrimental to the alledgedly "immersive" effect of the 3D, that I have to constantly be so conscious of exactly how I'm holding the thing.

    (3DS games that feature tilt controls almost seem like self-parody.)

  • dingo75 #20 1 year ago

    Let's wait until the R4 or equivalent is out.

  • ballshock #21 1 year ago

    "He's absolutely right about most people being in a "wait-and-see" mode, me included. But it's not a mainstream device as long as it costs £200 with next to no games for anyone above the age of 5."

    Children under 5 cannot play the 3ds

  • joelstinton #22 1 year ago

    Its only just launched though, so its expected that it won;t have many games, still i'm happy with my purchase. Bring on the games, the DS has one of the best gaming libraries going, so i expect the 3DS to be no different.
    Edited by joelstinton at 26/04/11 @ 21:41

  • Gambit1977 #23 1 year ago

    I'm really glad I picked mine up. Can't stop playing Puzzle Bobble of all things, Ghost Recon tomorrow too! Big releases pah! ;)

  • retr0gamer #24 1 year ago

    I'm waiting to buy an american version so I don't miss out on Atlus games.

  • NewbieZilla #25 1 year ago

    It isn't that I want 3D necessarily, but I do want the games that are to be released, so I'll get the 3DS.

  • andy10 #26 1 year ago

    Dear Nintendo,

    Your games used to feel original, fresh and exciting. Your output in the 80s and 90s defined my childhood. But it's now 2011, and you're still mindlessly churning out Mario/Zelda/Starfox/Mario Kart without a second thought. I'm really sorry - you could sell the 3DS for £30 if you like - but I'm just not interested any more.

  • Centrifugal #27 1 year ago

    True enough.

    So why not put good software out at launch?!

  • Raiko101 #28 1 year ago

    @Andy10

    You've clearly not even played any recent Nintendo games. Nintendo may continue to depend on old gameplay elements and characters, but their games, for the most part, actually hold up really well and are some of the most enjoyable games out there. At least they're honest about any lack of originality they may have, rather than copying the competition, creating Prince of Persia, Gran Turismo and Call of Duty clones.

  • Pwnsweet #29 1 year ago

    Nothing to do with price. Not at all.

  • Deoden #30 1 year ago

    Ooh, Tales of the Abyss. Can't wait to see another great JRPG not getting an international release. Especially with 3DS' region locking. And the lack of any other games to buy at this point.

    ...

    And yet I know I'll get one anyway. Such is the life of a fanboy.

  • rivuzu #31 1 year ago

    Rename the title of this article.
    "Iwata admits the launch games were shit".
    Much more accurate.

  • Crovax20 #32 1 year ago

    I want a 3DS true enough, but not at its current price with its current line-up of games. There is absolutely not a single game in the line-up that interests me. From what I can gather only Street Fighter might be something for the less casual gamers, and i'm not into fighting games so that leaves 0 games I could possibly want as all the others are bad or too casual.

  • ISmoke #33 1 year ago

    He's not wrong.

  • technotica #34 1 year ago

    Well I bought a 3ds and I have four 3ds games and one DS game.

    And the game I play by far the most on the 3ds? Dragon Quest 9!

    Hmm...

  • AdamAsunder #35 1 year ago

    The most played online game on the 360 for the first year up until Gears launched was Halo 2 so I wouldn't write off the 3ds just yet.

    What I want to know is will the Wii Zelda actually come out before the 'Wii2' does and will they end up doing a TP, spreading out the release on two consoles?

  • Mr.Spo #36 1 year ago

    Damned if you do, damned if you don't--leave the release schedule relatively empty for third parties to pick up the slack, and there are no games for people to buy. Fill the release schedule with first party games, and it's the same old Mario/Zelda/Metroid/Random Nintendo Franchise and when will they get third party support?

    Nintendo should put more pressure on third parties--yes they want third party support, but they want serious third party support, not ports of games like Rayman.

  • Toothball #37 1 year ago

    I expect that most of us who already bought one would quite like some new games to buy too. I've spoken to plenty of people who are simply waiting for Zelda before they buy one. Begs the question of why they bothered releasing it without a stronger line up, but then it's the same every launch so clearly no-one thinks about that.

  • SG #38 1 year ago

    It may also have something to do with the fact that people were initially really excited, and then recoiled when Nintendo announced how much they expected to sell it for, even admitting that it was down to the previous massive positive response.

    So people are waiting... for a price drop. And I mean one that it would likely have been had there been no massive positive response, given the DS was £100, I think that £130 would be a fair price for the 3DS.
    Edited by SG at 27/04/11 @ 11:57

  • Pasco #39 1 year ago

    Yes Mr. Iwata, also slightly better versions of N64 games won't change my mind any time soon. I will buy it when a custom made Mario, Zelda and Metroid is in sight and 3rd parties start taking it seriously (meaning that they release games I don't already have). Seems like Nintendo resources are stretched thin making two generational transisions.

  • Z101 #40 1 year ago

    Yes no real "big" game at the moment. Ocarina will be a system seller for sure. Street Fighter is for nerds. Ridge Racer is one of the best handheld racing games, but this genre is not very popular on handhelds. Pilotwings, Shadow Wars and Rayman are good games and will get high sales in the next few month, but these are not Must-Have you would buy an expensive handheld for.

    I took the chance and test a game of a franchise I avoided until now: Samurai Warriors Chronicles. And I must confess this is a great game. I will even buy the Wii Samurai Warriors 3 now.

    By the way. The build-in games are great. Everyone I show Face Raiders and AR Games wants to buy an 3DS. I think these games will be the Wii Sport for the 3DS and a must have for many casuals.

    The core gamer will get a 3DS in the near future too, no doubt.

  • BonzoBanana #41 1 year ago

    I really want a 3DS but I know soon as I get one I will be quickly bored of it. I need about half a dozen great games to justify it which seems to be a long way off. So far there are 2 good games for me and thats just not enough. Its a very desirable product but its like a TV its not worth getting unless there is something to watch on it.

  • rickimalone #42 1 year ago

    I bought my 3DS as a day 1 purchase; furthermore, I am very happy with and launch game titles Pilotwings and Street fighter.

    However, I believe that Nintendo made 2 rather large mistakes.

    1. The majority of people I have spoken to about the 3DS seem to believe that it is no more than a DS with a 3D screen. They seem to not understand that it is a completely new console with greatly enhanced graphical and media capabilities.
    2. The next is the absolute mess of allowing shops to set their own price point. Again many people I’ve spoken to have told me that they will buy the 3DS when it comes down in price. When I’ve pressed this further people still seem to think it costs £230 (I blame GAME here), whereas £185 will get you one (delivered) from online retailers such as shop to.

    I don’t accept that the launch line up is poor.

    Nintendo need to roll out some AAA IP’s, as they are doing with Zelda, Star fox and Mario Kart, to get the joe blogs public gamers talking and also get the eshop up and running.

    However, they also need to release games, such as resident evil, to show that the system is very much more than a ‘DS with a 3D screen’.

  • Gizzle #43 1 year ago

    Wait a minute, so you're now saying that your previous threat of "Buy now or else.." at launch was both proven to be pure scaremongery AND was also unheeded by the gaming public at large?? May God have mercy on us all.