Nintendo's biggest gamble...

[Lee]

Everyone knows I'm a Nintendo geek through and through, one thing Nintendo really do well on is handheld. Look at the figures:

Gameboy (Including lite and color) = 118.69million
Gameboy Advance (Including SP) = 81.5 Million
Nintendo DS = 128.89 Million (As of March 31)

That is a total of 329.08 Million units of hand helds sold by Nintendo of these. However Nintendo also technically had another handheld console, this was released in July of 1995 and by the March of the following year the hand held had been shelved. What was this hand held? Why was it shelved?

Firstly it was called the Virtual boy and was released at the same time as the PS1 and Saturn, well lets look at an image:

Spoiler

A 3D games console? Wow, but hang on, how are these 2D images going to take on the PSX? Well there was the severe lack of testing in which "Nintendo’s own admission that using the system could damage the eyesight of children under the age of 7 – did much to harm the public perception of the console, but hindsight has proven that the vast majority of owners could play their machines without experiencing any of these highly-publicised problems." It started at $180 on launch and by the march it was slashed to $99. This also lead to the gaming legend Gunpei Yokoi leaving Nintendo, the guy who brought us the Gameboy, Game and watch, Metroid and the man who decided to hire Miyamoto left Nintendo. Sadly he died in a car crash within a year of leaving.

Nintendo are now about to launch a 3D console, assumptions are that it will be released in 2011. So Nintendo are focusing on the 3D aspect after 15 years of last attempting that, so what are Nintendo's problems?

1) Nintendo's handheld rival is now the iPhone, the iPhone 4 sold 1.7million withing two days. Nintendo have a new rival on the scene, can they take apple on?

2) The 3D aspect, 1 out of 4 people feel sickness at some point during watching a 3D movie. Will the same happen on a console? Hopefully the depth gauge will eradicate these feelings of sickness.

3) Marketing for 3D is pretty darn easy to do, advertise it in cinema using 3D glasses? Konno (Nintendo designer in charge of the 3DS) sums it up best: “But our key point with 3DS is that you don’t need glasses, which you obviously need to use in cinemas. So we think regular marketing and promotional activities will be very tricky for us. I think that a lot of awareness about 3DS will be spread by word of mouth.”

So is this Nintendo's biggest gamble or are they pretty sorted?

 

[lenguy]

Honestly iv never heard of this virtual boy up until the present day, must of not been that popular. But Nintendo took a gamble back then with that which obviously was a fail. 3D wasent In then, it just wasent mainstream and I think people just didnt have much faith in the technology back then. Plus the heckling with those glasses probailly turned a lot of people off.

Fast forward to the present day, 3DS. Now the 3D has been more mainstream In todays market what with the Movies and tvs now in gaming. Now that its pretty much all around us I think its enough to spark a big interest in the public, and since you dont need those silly glasses could be a major tipping point in customer decisions. If it were up to me and It came with the glasses, hell id probailly pass. But iv also heard that the system itself requires a so called "sweet spot". You have to hold the systm in just the right spot to get the full 3D effect. Which might not sound like a big deal, But some people are really picky. Tho I didnt think it will really matter as long as you can experience the 3D without the glasses, which is the main selling point. Plus with the option to turn the 3D off or even just limit the effect, Nintendos really got something special here.

All In all I think it is a gamble, but I think it will pay off big for Nintendo. Plus not to mention the great line up of games they already have planned. Ocarina of time in 3D? oh hell yes! Im looking forward to it.

 

[ryanwwe]

I have come across the virtual boy on wiki several times over the last years or so and honestly i completely forgot it existed until that point. As a kid my best friend down the street owned one and it had a virtual reality helmet sort of thing you looked into and held a controller in your hand. The common misconception with the product was that it wasn't even true 3D, they used angeling and tricks to make a 3D like image. Luckily for Nintendo it wasn't produced in massive quantity before its launch so they didn't lose a huge bundle on it. Less then one million were shipped world wide and for good reason it was a dud. As far as it being their biggest gamble i would disagree. I to this day believe their biggest gamble was hanging on so long to the cartridge based system and missing out on the increasing disc based graphics enhancement. Then when they finally jumped on the boat they did so with a product that was far less superior then its competition. In fact imo opinion if not for the GBA and GBASP carrying Nintendo it may not have been here today.

 

[I Suck Ass]

I really don't think that comparing the Virtual Boy to the 3DS is fair. Back when the Virtual Boy came out, 3D was a fairly new concept in games, and not near as easy to do as it is now. The Virtual Boy was also handicapped by a VERY small selection of games, 22 in total, and only 14 in the US. I think that Nintendo can make it work, because 3D is starting to go mainstream in TV's and movies, and the next logical step is in video games. However, I think glasses should be used, just because there is a very small window of viewing for glasses-free 3D. Glasses give a much wider window, but if you lose them, you are screwed, and they would add on to the price tag. Overall, I think Nintendo is taking a huge risk, but if it works, and Sony and Microsoft follow with their own 3D games, Nintendo will once again be a huge innovator in video games, and the 3DS could become the SNES of handhelds.

 

[a0161613]

I'm certain, if just from the catalogue of games (which are freaking AWESOME!!!) this will be successful. Like you said Ninty know how to do handhelds. I can't help but have ultimate confidence in what they are attempting. The techology is sound as is the design and the games sound amazing.

I am certainly intent on buying one.

 

[Decarow]

Nintendo RARELY has a rare concept. RARELY. If anybody is to do 3D right first, it's Nintendo. Now Sony wants to do it, but I think Nintendo will be better because theirs is handheld and less expensive. I'm excited for the 3DS, I have it on reserve actually.

 

[Greyot]

I'd argue they're pretty sorted on the whole thing. As far as the 3D goes messing with people, there is a slider to adjust the 3D view. And I can't really see the iPhone as competition as far as handhelds go.

But to be fair, we don't know everything about the 3DS yet.

 

[harrythem]

That Virtual Boy gave me a fucking headache, as it did to many others, which is why it sucked ass so bad!

I think the 3DS will be great. I've tend to found I never doubt Nintendo in what they do as they always seem to come up trumps.

In Shigsey we trust!

 

[future admin]

I would not buy a 3DS and I do not think one would come out any time soon, They have made ( off the top of my head) 4 different styles of DS, original, Lite, DSI, and DSI XL, which was released this year. But anyway, I don't think they would make it, and even if they did, I don't think I would buy it either. But if anyone can make it, it's Nintendo.

 

[Lee]

I would not buy a 3DS and I do not think one would come out any time soon, They have made ( off the top of my head) 4 different styles of DS, original, Lite, DSI, and DSI XL, which was released this year. But anyway, I don't think they would make it, and even if they did, I don't think I would buy it either. But if anyone can make it, it's Nintendo.

Are you actually ******ed? Honest question here, a device that was announced at E3...why would Nintendo suddenly pull the plug on it? It's not in vein of the Gb/Color, GBA/SP, DS/lite/i/XL but it's a different console. I tis expected back end of this year early end 11 so to your logic is somewhat flawed on this. It's the first of the next gen handhelds so calm down mate!

 

[future admin]

I'm not angry, all I am saying is that I would like to play it, but I don't think 3D gaming really needs to be manufactured, that is all I am saying

 

[Prax]

Here's the thing with 3D... this technology isn't exactly new. It's been around for nearly 20 years. The reason why it's catching steam now is because both gaming companies and the movie industry have just figured out how to properly make money off it.

Sony is going to be the major first mover here, because they're integrated from movies, to TVs, to video games and technology. They're able to produce a 3D gaming system, a 3D TV and sell you 3D movies and games all the same time. Yes, it's annoying to wear those stupid glasses, but this what they want you to buy right now, and it's not going to go away.

Nintendo's tech? It's pretty neat. But most people get headaches from playing their regular DSs for too long. 30 minutes on the 3DS and kids will be complaining of headaches. You can't view it from any more than a regular angle because of the placement of the camera and how it tracks your moment, and people can't even watch you play. In that sense, this tech is severely limited and far from mastered.

Is Nintendo taking a risk? Sure. But they've clearly shown the ability to take a risk on things of this nature and recover in the past. Frankly,all they're doing is putting a camera on a DS. It's not that huge of a risk and they have enough revenue from their other handhelds and the Wii to recover if it fails after the fanboys and other first movies get their fill.

But it's going to be interesting to see how the market reacts to this, considering almost every other company is going a completely different direction with the 3D craze.

 

[Freddy4190]

It's a shot in the dark. Nintendo's been doing this shit forever though. It's strange to see them move out of their comfort zone, but like someone said; if anyone can do it, Nintendo can. I own a Sony Playstation 3 and I don't plan on getting a 3DTV or anything else of the sort. I don't think this "new" 3D shit is that impressive to be honest. It's not groundbreaking, and has been around forever. I don't think they've mastered this, I think it will do okay, but won't blow sales out the water. It just seems like they have some more tinkering to do to get it right.