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3DS sells more in first 8 months than DS did in first year
I think Black Friday needs a new name. And after their sales success in November, I think Nintendo agrees with me. Long live Green (as in money) Friday!
The Big N sold over two million consoles and handhelds last month, of which almost 800,000 were 3DS systems. Since it’s launch in late March, nearly 2.5 million 3DS systems have been sold. That total pushes it past the DS, which sold 2.37 million systems in its first year. Pretty impressive for a “failed” launch.
Several other sales milestones were set during the month of Nintenovember…
- Super Mario 3D Land: 625,000 copies sold, making it the fastest-selling portable Super Mario title in U.S. history.
- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword: 600,000 copies sold in its first week.
- Wii System: 520,000 consoles sold on Black Friday, a new record for the five-year old console.
That’s right, it still prints money. Along with the rest of Nintendo’s 2011 lineup.
Posted in 3DS, DS, News, Wii
Tagged Super Mario 3D Land, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Rumor: Nintendo hosting a 3DS event in Japan on September 13
UPDATE: Nintendo has confirmed they will be holding a media event on September 13.
Andriasang is reporting that rumors in the Japanese press say Nintendo will hold a 3DS media event in September.
The event is supposedly scheduled for September 13, two days ahead of the Tokyo Game Show (which runs from September 15-18). Nintendo typically doesn’t attend the Tokyo Game Show, but will often schedule their own press events in the same week. The company held a September media event last year to showcase the 3DS launch lineup.
As for this year’s event, the juiciest rumor appears to be that Nintendo is planning to release a 3D-less 3DS with a second analog stick. The rumors come from 01net, which successfully provided leaked information on the Wii U prior to E3.
So while this second analog stick business has me going “Huh?,” it may just be real.
Sega delays Shinobi and Crush3D for 3DS
What’s up with all the 3DS release date changing today? I don’t know, but Sega has jumped into the fray. Both Shinobi and Crush 3D for the Nintendo 3DS are being delayed. Shinobi, which was supposed to come out in September, will see store shelves on November 15. Crush 3D, also supposed to be out in September, will instead come out on February 21 next year. GamesIndustry.biz claims a sales perspective drove the decision, with one developer stating, “We had to delay the release of [Crush 3D] because of the success of the platform.”
Iwata recently blamed the less-than-expected sales of the 3DS on a weak launch lineup and the witch hunts alleging health problems. Let’s hope no more anticipated titles suffer from the lack of excitement for the handheld.
Iwata admits to poor 3DS software lineup, blames health scares for lower sales
Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime said back in February, “the real test of any system is whether the games and applications draw you in and keep you engaged. Through the launch window and beyond, Nintendo 3DS delivers.” In a recent shareholder Q&A, Nintendo of everywhere President Satoru Iwata admits they were wrong about the whole “through the launch window” part.
When asked about the seemingly weak library during the famed “launch window,” Iwata replied “our preparation was lacking in that regard, and we ourselves understand that is a point we have to reflect on.”
Iwata also touched on the public perception that the 3DS can somehow be dangerous to your eyes, an opinion largely spread through smear campaigns by tabloids like The Sun.
Such comments as, ‘It’s bad for your eyes’ or ‘your eyes get tired’ have wings, so much so that some people appear to have the impression that viewing a 3D image is not good for their eyes…We have carefully taken the individual differences in a child’s maturation into consideration and, because nobody appears to have the information to declare that it is definitely safe to show 3D images to young children aged six and under, we decided to proactively encourage consumers to take care when children aged six and under are using the device.
Thankfully The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D just came out, with more of that trademark Nintendo magic coming via a slew of highly anticipated first party titles for the rest of the year and beyond.
Xbox COO doesn’t like the chances of PS Vita, 3DS
The PlayStation Vita has garnered a lot of enthusiasm from gamers with its promising software lineup, as has the 3DS with its innovative visuals and recently released The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3DS. But where many gamers see hope, Microsoft corporate executives see doom.
Xbox COO Dennis Durkin told Industry Gamers that while he respects Nintendo and Sony, he wouldn’t want to trade places with them, especially in the handheld space. “I’m not sure I would want to be launching a dedicated portable device right now into that market,” said Durkin. “If you look at the 3DS, certainly versus people’s expectation’s, it’s not been as successful as people would have thought. So that’s a very crowded market and a very, very red ocean right now with a lot of change happening. So I’m not sure it’s [a good idea].”
While I’m sure that mentality is what makes him very good at what he does, it makes me glad Microsoft isn’t involved in the dedicated gaming handheld space, given their attitude. When it comes to handheld gaming, I usually like to order a healthy heaping of gameplay with a side of innovation… hold the corporate bullsh*t.
Sonic leads Sega’s E3 lineup… again
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. It’s a popular phrase that goes back almost 200 years and Sega has certainly adopted it in their crusade to create another great Sonic the Hedgehog game on a console. The publisher will try again this year as Sonic Generations (3DS, PS3, Xbox 360) leads their E3 lineup. Sega is so sure they’ve got it right this time that they’re even giving the public a sneak peek at the game at the Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 8 at 6 PM (Pacific Time).
The remainder of Sega’s lineup is pretty diverse and seems to have a little bit of something for everyone:
- The long-gestating squad-based shooter Aliens: Colonial Marines
- Platinum Games’ latest brawler, Anarchy Reigns
- The Terminator-esque Binary Domain
- Movie-to-game adaptation Captain America: Super Soldier
- The reborn puzzler Crush 3D
- The XBLA debut of Treasure’s Guardian Heroes
- The brilliant light gun shooter House of the Dead: Overkill, on the PS3 for the first time.
- Downloadable action title Renegade Ops
- The first M-rated Kinect game, Rise of Nightmares
- The rally racer Sega Rally Online Arcade, which is available now
- And Shinobi emerging from the shadows on the 3DS
Sega also has a few surprises in store for the E3 Expo as they’ve promised “more than 13 new games across all major platforms,” but they only listed 12 games. Considering the company’s close relationship with Nintendo, I’d bet good money that we’ll get a Wii 2 announcement or two.
More information on Sega’a announced E3 slate can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in 3DS, DS, News, PC, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
Tagged Aliens: Colonial Marines, Anarchy Reigns, Binary Domain, Captain America: Super Soldier, Crush 3D, E3 2011, Guardian Heroes, Renegade Ops, Rise of Nightmares, Sega Rally Online Arcade, Shinobi, Sonic Generations, The House of the Dead: Overkill - Extended Cut
New Releases: 3DS, Crysis 2, Lego Star Wars III, More
The wait for Nintendo’s handheld is almost over as the Nintendo 3DS arrives in stores this week. Available in both Cosmo Black and the awesomely two-tone Aqua Blue, the system will be available on Sunday, March 27 along with a launch lineup of 18 titles.
However, if you prefer to do your gaming on a big screen, one of the biggest first person shooters of the year, Crysis 2, will be released for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. More aliens can be had in the latest Lego Star Wars, which is also available this week. Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars will be coming to the 3DS, DS, PC, PS3, PSP, Wii and Xbox 360.
Other new releases this week include Square Enix’s Dissidia 012: Final Fantasy (PSP), Sony’s Ratchet, Jak and Sly crossover PlayStation Move Heroes (PS3) and the medieval people management of The Sims Medieval (PC)
The full list of the rest of this week’s new releases can be found after the break. (more…)
Sega announces Japan Game Gear lineup for 3DS
Nintendo announced so many insane features for the 3DS yesterday that some of them couldn’t even make the headline. One of the bigger surprises was that Sega Game Gear games would make it to the 3DS’ virtual console. Back in the 1990’s, this would be like Microsoft Games Studio titles coming out on a Sony handheld. It may only be Japan, but Sega has announced what the launch games will be in the land of the rising sun, and hopefully it’ll shed some light on what games we can expect over here:
– Sonic and Tails 2
– Sonic Drift 2
– Columns
– The GG Shinobi
– Dragon Crystal: Shirani’s Maze
I don’t know about you, but Sonic, Shinobi, and Columns sound like enough on their own to keep you occupied on the go for a long time.