@Haywired haven't you seen a kid playing with mom or dad's phone while waiting at the dentist, doctor, rec. center or wherever parents and kids are hanging out? smartphone gaming is taking a dent out of the portable market but it won't stop the 3DS or vita from being popular. The games that come out will determine that. I just wish more developers were moving away from IOS and android to 3DS and vita, instead of the reverse.

If you live near a Target store, they have the 3DS for $145 this week. So it's a better price buying the game and 3DS separately, then the Mario bundle at $199.

According to vgchartz it already has. PS2 is at 46 mil in USA.
http://www.vgchartz.com/article/88182/npd-totals-us-video-game-spending-for-september-2011-ds-gt50m/

I believe the DS had a price drop to $99 on June 5th. I'm sure that helped boost sales for the month.

@TanookiMike The picture quality is better on the 3DS vs ipod touch (2nd gen). But the Search function is slower on 3DS. The wireless range for both systems is almost identical in my house.

I think Nintendo has decided based on $$ and sales forecasts vs. considering what their fans want. Xenoblade won't break 250K in the US, so why bother. A thousand internet gamers outcry barely got a response from NOA. It's disappointing but not surprising to me.

Have to agree with @ether_breather - Software sells consoles, not price. No one here knows exactly every game that will be available at Wii U launch, so it's way too early to predict a phenomenal success or failure.

Mario Kart is "the" game to carry the 3DS this Christmas.

Competing in Wii Summer Games 2010 Finals in LA. Here's a link to a picture with me and Shawn Johnson. (I'm in the way back). http://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/2010/09/06/shawn-johnson-pulling-for-bristol-on-dancing/

In the family category, the six year old boy won the vs. mario kart race in the finals on Sunday.

Just signed up for the MN event. Will be teamed up with my three kids. Should be a great time.

I would like to see a lower price point then $249-299 for the 3DS.