Last week we celebrated the two year anniversary of the 3DS by finding a picture of a cake based on the handheld. It's been a fascinating journey so far for the portable, enjoying a bumper launch weekend, before tanking to worrying levels, and then rising like a Phoenix — courtesy of excellent games and a price drop — to hit nearly 30 million unit sales worldwide at the close of 2012. It's the undisputed number one in Japan, and performing reasonably well in the West.
Naturally, Nintendo of America decided to celebrate with an infographic, producing the above timeline to chart the handheld's evolution. Trying to squeeze two years of a handheld's history into a small space isn't the easiest of tasks, so naturally there are some omissions to chew over. For example we have the Pearl Pink and Midnight Purple 3DS models, but no mention of Kid Icarus: Uprising, yet room was found for Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance.
Still, it can be fun to debate these things, and it's a nice infographic to gaze at. It also reminds us of some interesting statistics, showing that over eight million units have sold in North America, while there have been a thoroughly reasonable 80 "Digital" games. Check it out and let us know what you think.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 41
If I had the time, I'd create another infographic. There's loads missed off there.
Where's Super Mario 3d Land? I mean it IS one of Nintendo's big hitters. Maybe they didn't want to draw attention to the fact that there's so many Mario games.
Oh boy. You just had to mention no Kid Icarus didn't you. Lol here it comes. I'll start. After all the hype and long wait we had I can't believe its not on there. Still to this day the best 3ds game and I've played all the good to great ones this year!!!
Hmm Why isn't Kid Icarus uprising on that chart?
Its kinda strange that Super Mario 3D Land isn't there, being the top selling 3DS title, and the only one that showed 3D gaming can be good.
Kid icar....oh! That angel game that I hadn't finished yet.
Where is Pitty Pat?
Glad to see DDD! But they could have also fit Kid Icarus on the bottom.
WHERE'S DENT?!?
Also, where's Monster Hunter?!
@Jibberldd5 Its release date is probably too close to Luigi's Mansion for the timeline.
The 3DS has carved out a nice niche in the gaming world these last 2 years. From Doooooomed! to, well, not doomed, I won't leave the house without mine. The quality software is now more consistent and the eShop is growing stronger weekly. I think we'll be saying the same thing in 2 years about the U.
@x-mas_mii Pit from Kid Icarus is no angel.
Brain Training and Kingdom Hearts makes appearances,but no Kid Icarus or Resident Evil Revealtions
Where's KIU? Hm.
Anyway, those 2 years went by fast
So, uh - why isn't Animal Crossing here yet?
Yea I'm playing a different 'why isn't x here' game.
I'm surprised they didn't fit SML3D in there.
@Frapp LOL, quit dreaming, just drop it!
They forgot to put quite a few top games including Kid Icarus o.o
3D land was the deal for me to get one. Also, the eShop was overlooked. Not to be surprised...
Now, now, guys, now's not the time to get angry over an image.
Shouldn't the price cut be on here?
@InternetBowser [#2] So four is too much, but three is okay?
I would have included the date when the eShop was added to the 3DS. That was a game-changing event right there!
Where is that "x" game that Thomas was talking about? How dare they leave that game out!
Why isn't..... errm Virtue's Last Reward here!
I reckon they selected things to spread out the timeline as evenly as possible (doesn't check dates before making this assumption)
Kid Icarus Uprising was one of the best Nintendo games I have had the pleasure to play, and Kingdom Hearts (I am a big fan, so dont start) Dream Drop Distance was such an utter disappointment to me. I guess Nintendo just wanted to add a 3rd party to their fancy little list.
There were 3 games that made me buy my 3DS: super mario 3D land, kid icarus uprising and luigi's mansion 2. Only one of those is on this infographic... NSMB2 and street fighter iv got in though? They are decent games, but 3D Land and Uprising are lightyears better. I understand why SF4 was included though... Its nintendo trying to show that launch wasnt entirely devoid of decent software (just mostly).
I love the 3DS. Its already my favorite portable of all time and its just now turning 2. It has a better software library now than any previous portable's entire lineup in my opinion... And with more great stuff on the way in games like Animal Crossing New Leaf, Pokemon X and Y, Monster Hunter 4, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, Fantasy Life, Mario & Luigi Dream Team, and more... I think 3DS will stay strong for years to come. I hope the Wii U can have a similiar turnaround... I'm just upset that Nintendo didnt learn from the mistakes they made on 3DS like they claimed they did.
Where's the "3DS looses law suit" on there? No 3DLand or Kid Ic either?
No KI:U mention? Fail.
No Kid Icarus: Uprising or Mario 3D Land? No! Let's put the largely inferior New Super Mario Bros 3D and Kingdom Hearts 3D there! Come on...
NSMB2 is on the infographic because it was the first downloadable title on the 3DS. Kingdom Hearts is on this to show 3rd Party support . Street fighter was added to show, hey the launch wasn't a complete fail. No but seriously, why isnt 3D Land here? (IMO Kid Icarus wasn't that great).
ohey a thing.
It's a sad history to be honest: Ocarina of Time is a remake (of one of the best games ever created, I agree), Super Street Fighter IV 3D is a (great) port, Mario Kart 7 was so rushed, Super Mario 3D Land is quite empty and straightforward, New Super Mario Bros. 2 is rubbish (same as 90% of the eShop), Kingdom Hearts has camera issues, Kid Icarus is difficult to control and is not compatible with Circle Pad Pro (only for inverted controls)... And yes two years later we get some gems: Fire Emblem, Luigi's Mansion 2. And you Nintendo LIife forgot what might be the best 3DS new game: Resident Evil Revelations (exclusively for this console until this Summer).
And yes I like Nintendo and the Nintendo 3DS (I swapped the original one for an XL), I'm just being honest.
@Sun what.
They didn't put Steel Diver - AKA the most memorable 3DS game - on there?!
Glad to see KH:DDD on there. It's the best title on 3DS, and is the best entry in the series outside of the two main entries (IMO, of course).
Also, the reason it's probably on there, is because there wasn't much else released during that summer, and they needed something to fill that spot (the only other games of note from that time period were Heroes of Ruin & Theatrhythm, and KH probably outsold both those titles).
Yupp, they should at least have mentioned Revelations and Uprising, maybe even Pushmo.
IMO, the 3DS is doing great so far... some titles seemed rushed a bit (hi MK7) but overall it didnt make me NOT buy the game. Even on the pic.. so many games should have been added to that list..
9/9/99. launch day of sega dreamcast. coolest date timing launch ever.
@Pixelroy Ha, ha, good one.
No mention of the circle pad pro either?!!
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