
The 3DS launched without a Mario or Zelda game, and it's fair to say the machine's sales so far haven't been stunning. Satoru Iwata was recently asked about this matter during a shareholder Q&A, and acknowledged the machine's software line-up wasn't impressive.
If we had have launched the Nintendo 3DS after we had prepared more software by which the users felt "I want the Nintendo 3DS right away!," the transition of the sales of the Nintendo 3DS would have been better. You pointed out that our preparation was lacking in that regard, and we ourselves understand that is a point we have to reflect on.
In order to avoid the same situation happening with next year's Wii U launch, Iwata is quick to stress the company will be much more well-prepared:
We also must reflect on the fact that we were not able to launch Nintendo 3DS at a time when a sufficient number of strong software titles were ready. In order to avoid the same thing from happening to the Wii U, we are considering details, such as what software is suitable for the launch, more carefully than ever before.
Most crucially of course is the fact that Nintendo alone cannot be the sole software sales force behind the Wii U, which is why it's good news that Nintendo is collaborating with third parties to make hits.
You can start inventing your ideal Wii U launch line-up now, if you like.
[source nintendo.co.jp]
Comments 38
Can't wait for last quarter of 2011 like most people!
I bought a 3DS on launch day, and I'm very happy I did. That said, it was an awful marketing decision not to release that thing with at least one Mario, Zelda or Pokemon title. What is shocking is that, apart from Ocarina of Time, we're three and a half months into the system's life and we STILL haven't seen any other major titles. I can't see Wii U surviving such a drought, especially if it's priced above $300.
Last quarter of 2011 can´t come soon enough. But it´s still summer and warm out there so it´s OK. But by the time when the long cold winter arrives I´m more than happy to play Mario 3DS out... inside.
A better idea would have been to wait until the last quarter of 2011, get all the good titles produced, then release the system with them. Maybe the people who wanted to buy the 3DS would have been disappointed to wait that long, but still. I'm not sure why the only decent titles we get were Pilotwings and SSFIV, (which I didn't even like that much) because they could have put so much more potential into the release.
Monster Hunter 4, and I'll buy it at midnight whether it costs one dollar or a million. Bribe Capcom, Nintendo... Bribe them.
The Wii U has to have more recognizable 1st-party games at launch, no excuse.
hmmm he knew that it was lackluster. i wouldn't exactly say that it was. it launched with some okay titles, nothing too much to blow u away, but a good amount nonetheless. well now titles are picking up steam and im actually seeing a commercial for the new re game, lets hope they keep advertising more titles so they can sell well
No Kidding. That's why i got my 3DS when OoT3D came out. Like @Dragoon said, The Wi U needs more recognizable 1st party games at launch.
Nintendo can not afford to make the same mistake with the U. But I bet that the 3DS sales will boom before and under the American holidays. And also in the rest of the world.
I myself will wait until the 3DS Lite are released. I have big hopes for it. And I hope it will be bundled with Majoras Mask 3D
I would like to see a quality Lucas Arts game and a quality Sonic game avaliable at launch.
I don't think it matters that a Zelda, Mario etc game wasn't released with the system there just needed to be a good game.
I'm glad that Nintendo keeps admitting its failures as much as the next guy; I just wish we would hear less about them saying they're learning from their mistakes and actually see them learn from their mistakes. They said they failed with Wii and DS online but the eShop is still very flawed, for example.
mario kart arcade dual pack both games at budget price at launch, i would buy 100%, i want to play these at home... pac-man labyrinth!!!
It's nice that they realize it but it certainly was a big mistake to underestimate launch games. Those games are supposed to show you how the system will work and what 3d and future software is going to look like..thats how i see it. I am one of those people who are interested in gaming and know what things are gonna be released but the others that dont may regret getting and end up selling their 3ds just because SteelDiver wasn't appealing enough.. Be prepared next time Nintendo
@Pandalicious: Well eShop is certainly taking steps in the right direction anyway
Expected launch lineup for Wii U:
Super Mario
Darksiders II
Metroid
Batman: Arkham City
F-Zero
Metro: Last Lights
Animal Crossing: U're World
Grand Theft Auto V
I guarantee I'd buy all eight of those.
To be fair, most launch line-ups are lackluster. Good to see Nintendo was aware of it, though, which hopefully means good things for the WiiU.
yea they should never had released something with out the proper content...
Makes me sick reading only OoT were a major title so far. Really? A remaster of a game 13 years old?
What about Ghost Reckon? DoA, Street Fighter, Ridge Racer, Mercs 3D? Those are great games.
Pilotwings, PES, SMB, and if you like those things, even Nintendogs, and some other games, whilst not being that great, help keep a good overall quality.
Sure, many of those had some content issues, especially if you count in the high price point of those games, but they were by no means horrorble or bad.
Well, they promised a better online store, and we got the eshop, which was leages better than what we had to deal with before (It's not as good as the app store but that was kind of expected). Now Nintendo is promising to fix many of it's other mistakes and I hope we get similar results.
Zelda should have been out
Who cares about the 3rd parties sales when most don't put out much effort?
I was looking forward to Sims 3 but it's pretty sad that the DS version is superior to the 3DS version (which lacks key features). Besides Nintendogs and (partially) Pilotwings, Nintendo didn't really excel with their launch games. I'm not going to judge SteelDiver considering I don't have it and it seems to be decent. Dinosaurs 3D looks fun.
But Splinter Cell Chaos Theory? Good thing Ubisoft brought out Ghost Recon and the decent port of Rayman 3D.
Yet, they released Rayman DS and Chaos Theory on the original DS near after it's launch. WTF?
Never rely on UbiSoft for a launch line up.
Argh. There's more to gaming than Mario and Zelda. For as much as people moan about Nintendo milking the cows and not releasing new IPs...
How many '3rd party support for Wii U' articles does nintendolife need?
Nintendo Co. Ltd., if you have any of your employees reading, & scanning these kinds of sites, know this:
I am saving up money for a WiiU, or the next console from your competitors. You, Nintendo, have to earn my desire to buy your next console, as you did w/ the DS over the PSP years ago. This includes a decent launch line-up for said machine.
Whats so good about animal crossing
Come on Nintendo, we all know the formula:
New System + Mario = Success!
What sucks more is the fact that they're releasing a lot of awesome games at once, which hurts my wallet very much...
I'm not remotely interested in 3D versions of Ocarina or any other previously released title. So far, that leaves out 99% of the downloadable games, and the retail side isn;t picking up the slack. Nintendo, get your act together and give me some original 3DS games. Love the system but the software just isn't wowing me yet. That said, I believe in you. Rock on.
Whats so bad about the launch games of the 3DS? I got SSFIV, Ridge Racer, and Ghost Recon. They were great games. Sure I'm dissappointed no MAJOR 1st party games came out, and sure the games out now don't make you crap your pants when you play them, but it gives people more anticipation and incentive to buy quality 1st party games later. If they released all the major games at launch, there would be many fewer quality games later in the consoles life! So, for the Wii U, release more major titles for launch, but not too many, to make certain that the Wii U has a good life.
P.S. eShop is a whole lot better than the Wii's and DS's online shop so far...
Nintendo has a notorious track record for 3rd party failure. I want 3rd parties on my system, but no 3rd party is going to slow down for Nintendo.
Hmm... Iwata GETS it, but I... don't recall hearing the same words from Reggie. I'm starting to notice a lot more of Reggie "appearing" to not work in tandem with Nintendo as a whole.
Jeez give Nintendo a break, name one system that had a so called "amazing" launch since everyone acts like it's so common but it's very good though that Nintendo is realizing their mistakes......FINALLY!! I still love them though
If they released Layton MOM 3D on launch day like Japan, it would've sold bucket loads even more in EU.
Anyway, since when have we had a really good launch line up? Wasn't the DS' library slow going intially?
They already have a name for Animal Crossing? Cool! I'm waiting til' that game comes out so I can buy my 3ds. I'm not interested in it for any other reasons xD
I'd be fine with Dragon Quest X, Darksiders 2 and a really good racing game for the Wii U launch i guess.
@2 couldn't agree more, I did the same.
(Ok fine. I bought it 3 days before launch because I couldn't go to the store at the time.)
I hope the Wii U's launch won't be lackluster.
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