Nintendo slashes 3DS prices

The price cut tempts me to go for it, though the lack of games reminds me why I didn't in the first place :P

Still deciding between 3DS and Vita... 3D is getting old to me!

@Frame_Dragger it is must have been because they want to experience the 3ds 1st hand because it is new and the latest. that is all.

It's not enough, but I'm still hooking my 3DS to the eShop today so I don't miss out!

I'll still will not get one just not interested in the games it has

I live overseas, so, it means nothing to me this price cut : ( Here, we pay everything with taxes..! Damn!!

@deathblow3, I agree w/ you, too, partly. I mean, I DO believe the price played a large factor, but at the same time it's not the ONLY factor. Of course, they will no doubt pick up in sales due to the steep price drop; yet at the same time you may also still see a large majority of people still not rush to get w/ the lack of compelling titles that are currently out for it. Like you said, the system itself is only half of the equation....games are what make the experience whole.

@StingrayX5 Well it was a bit overprice, but most people specially on this forums are talking about overprice without having touched or played one. A $199.99 price is what it should have been priced since the beginning. lt sucks a bit for people like me who bought it at launch but after analyzing more the situation getting the free 20 games is not a bad deal. 10 of those will be awesome GBA titles plus wont be available to everyone. Oh and this will add more value to your 3DS. If you want to sell your 3DS you could easily sell it for almost $250 and people will buy it since it have 20 games inside. And not to mentioned we early adopter already received a free Ecitebike 3D game that makes 21 games.

Not bad at all.

Sucks for the people who actually fell for buying it for $250, when it clearly was too overpriced.

@jjmonster2006: It's just business, period. @dawnofhero: Good point, and from what I understand if you turn the 3D all the way down, the battery issue is gone too. It is unfair to pretend it's just a DS with a gimmick scren when it's the new DS line.

its funny every one says the price is why the 3ds is underperforming. though it may factor in i think the lack of games is the reason. when looking at what came out with launch and what is available the pickings are slim nintendo should have had some triple a titles at launch. a new mario, a better pilot wings, zelda heck even pokemon would have sold systems. look at the vita its list is thin as well but it has a least one confirmed steller triple a title in uncharted at launch lets see what else it brings at launch. its seems all the other interesting games are in the will be available soon section. either way games sell systems not prices.

wow. Nintendo must feel betrayed by a lot of people like publishers, fans that didn't go for the 3ds, ect... I'm an early 3ds buyer so i'll be getting this update. to exclude that many people despite sales... they really value loyalty.

@mrzero1982pt2 The 3DS isn't a DS with 3D slapped on you know. It's far superior to the DSi in terms of what it can do and graphics wise. I mean seriously, it's not all about the frickin' 3D for the last time!! Just like the Vita isn't all about the touch screen! I could say, "Oh, the PS Vita is just a PSP with a touch screen slapped on," when I know that there's more to it than that.

I think this is great. I've always felt Nintendo, or any other company, needed to experiment with the idea of releasing a console for a very meager price, to see how it works out in the long run. Profits are made from the games, anyway, right? And I'm really psyched for those free downloadable games, I would've bought them anyway!

HEY GUYS, I DISCOVER SOMETHING RIGHT NOW! I CAN SEE EVERYTHING IN 3D, WITHOUT GLASSES OR 3DS! [WOW WHAT A GRAPHICS!]

@foxfacer2d2 oh ok i can dig it

@ColdfireTrilogy that is what i said. it wasnt a flop in around about way regardless of the sales numbers it beat any and all competition.

I have to be honest, I'm really stunned by the rapid price drop, honestly did not see this coming...not a great sign from Nintendo...though the economy is kinda rough everywhere right now...

@im-a-roustabout: Intersting, that's not an angle I'd considered, but if it's worth the money to a person, no harm there. Thanks very much for the detailed answer! @mrzero1982pt2: Whoa, when did I say that the 3DS had any kind of launch, good, bad, or otherwise? I'm utterly against 3D as a gimmick in my games, and movies. True 3D isn't this layered **** we see now, and that's because 3D displays now are still relying on optical tricks to achieve a mediocre illusion. If 3D advances to the point where it allows for new gameplay options the way that advanced graphics and sound have, then I'll be interested. Anyway, I think somewhere along the line you got me confused with someone else, because your response has nothing to do with what I think or have ever posted.

This bad thing dropping there price already means that 3ds not selling. they need to bring fresh ideas and game cube remasted Like mario sunshine, zelda what was Gamecube and starfox and pikmin. If i was working with them put this games on 3D belive me and fresh ideas as well. If nindendo listen to this mg do it before too late.

The price cut the 3DS DESPERATELY needs. But Nintendo has so far only solved half the problem. All the recent 3DS game cancellations and games being delayed including most Metal Gear Solid 3D means that the 3DS will running without games for quite some time. Nintendo needs to do something about this problem and fast. Nobody's gonna buy a machine without games.

@Frame_Dragger @Viiper so the 3ds has the best launch eh? and since when has nintendo had a sucky launch besides the virtual boy? the NES, the super NES, the game boy, the game boy advance, nintendo ds, virtual boy, the n64. ALL of those consoles had ROCKIN launch lineups and support! nintendo supported every system and so did developers. only recently with the wii did nintendo begin just plopping out consoles because they can. who wanted a 3d enabled ds? who wanted 3d enabled games? who do you know went out and bought a console because it plays games in 3d? nintendo made a MISTAKE, and they are finally admitting it. so yeah, call me wrong, but analysts have said the same thing: it was too SOON to develop a console which plays games in 3d. that is why microsoft refused to make a 3d update for the 360. people like to play games with no gimmicks. give us a great system, we will buy it. dont give us the same thing and slap a new gimmick on it.

@ masi07 I agree,in fact I'm considering getting the Vita in addition to my 3DS. However being honest and refusing to hate one system or another will earn you lots of little red thumbs from childish fanboys and haters.But that's life.What do their thumbs matter anyhow?

Sweet! I was gunna say that's what I get for being impatient and for the first time ever in my life buying a console day one,but now I have access to a bunch of free games!And they're games that I wanna play! @ Flint247 All in all,it's a smart move,good for them,good for devs,and good for us.At a lower price,more units will sell,making it more attractive for 3rd parties to develop for,meaning we get more good games. Of course the haters are gunna hate,they complained when the price was $250,now they're slamming it because they dropped the price to $170.They cannot simply be happy that the most powerful handheld ever(Until the Vita launches) is available for the same price as its predecessor.Or they could simply not buy one.What's it to anyone if they do or don't buy it and/or use it? But anyway,happy days for all the people wishing they could afford one,and now they can.

No shock. It's poor. My little girl plays it with the 3d turned off all the time. Another nail in the coffin of 3d, just hope it stays dead this time.

I was really happy with the Dsi XL. But I thought I would trade up and get the 3DS. Immediately I went from having fun with the Dsi to losing the camera's Distortion lens, Color pad and Color lens. No flipnote studio. No estore for months, It actually started to gather dust. Sure the 3D camera is okay but it doesn't compare to the fun of the distortion lens. I love the PSP and can't wait for the PS Vita. Its more than games its comics, demos, internet radio, video rentals and tons of cool games. So to make up for this Nintendo thinks a bunch of games from the 80's game and watch and gameboy are going to make me happy. Doubtful. I want games in color with good graphics. Well, I've already made the investment into the 3ds and I guess I'll hang in there since the resell value is dropping before my very eyes.

nice one nintendo :)

@Frame_Dragger I'm not an early adopter but my field of work forces new technology into my hands just because we have to stay cutting edge. So while I don't pay for my gadgets I can give you an answer, though don't thinks it's the definitive answer. There could be more reasons, and admittedly mine may even be skewed. That being said let me tell you that I think people early adopt because some are futurists who simply crave new technology,and tire of the tech they have the second they see new and improved products. The allure of even the smallest innovation is simply too much for these people to wait till the price drops, especially if money is no issue (obviously) and they love third party feedback like gawking onlookers. "hey! Is that the new so-and-so??", In which the early adopter replies, "why yes mam, it is, let me show you how it works wink wink" etc. I love these kind of people, they are what create the second hand market since they are so quick to give up perfectly good gadgetry in place for the new and exciting.

I had just ran out of money for the summer and I was feeling depressed that I wasn't going to do anything fun for my birthday. Which is on the 14. But I brings joy to my heart to hear that I will get 20 games from Nintendo. I'm going to make room for them by deleting Nintendo Video :3

For those saying Nintendo is being desperate right now, I disagree. If they didn't lower the price, there would be no way it would sale well against the Vita and the sales would continue to be sluggish. If I were in their shoes, I would have done the same thing to keep the system rollin'. Can't really complain, though. A new low price for new buyers and 20 free games for the early adopters is a win-win. :)

I lost Yoshi Island on GBA, but now I will be getting it back. :)

Lol guess the early adopters get rewarded. Anyways this must have been a seriously underperforming launch to get such a big price cut 6 months after launching.

@icehearted TOO soon IMO. But whats done is done and I guess 20 free games is better than ZERO.

As a person who does not like portables even I have to admit this a sweet deal with the games scheduled to release. Poor Sony can't get a jump start on the market. First Xbox 360 and now Nintendo 3DS.

Goes to show it was overpriced, and now that people ddnt buy in to the rip off Nintendo had to come back to its senses

Why am I getting thumbs down for being honest? I praised both Vita and 3DS, I am no fanboy. I loved the DS like every other NInty handheld and so got the 3DS. The 3D isn't really impressive or add anything gameplay wise. Software is expensive especially for us outside USA. Importing is cheaper but guess what, 3DS is region locked. Ps Vita will be region free. PSP is outselling 3DS right now but 3DS will pickup because of price drop. I truly believe both the PS Vita and 3DS can both do well as they have different appeal. The success of one doesn't mean the failure of the other handheld.

@soulreaper-4 3DS cost around 103$ to make so even at 169$ they still make some profit. And also with a price cut like that they will most likely sell a lot more 3DS since i know lot of poeple didn't buy the 3DS because they didn't want to spend more then 200$ on a 3DS. Also by the end of the years lot of First party game will be released Mario kart,Super mario,Kid icarus,Animal crossing,Starfox just to name a few having more 3DS in circulation mean more first party game sold. Anyway Nintendo won't gain as much from each 3DS sold anymore but i think in the end they will gain more then what they lose because of all the first party games

"Programme members will also get 10 GBA virtual console games--including Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Metroid Fusion, WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$, and Mario vs. Donkey Kong--that Nintendo says it has no plans to release to the general public. Any 3DS owners who connect to the Nintendo eShop before midnight US Eastern time on August 11 will be automatically entered into the programme." This seem like to me like a last attempt from nintendo to sell more 3DS until the price drop. Buy a 3DS fast before the 11 august if you want to get those 10 exclusives gba games.

@ RageSet Actually they will be taking a loss from each unit sold after the pricecut . Maybe it is just a little one but it is still a loss. If you take a look at Sony, some consoles are sold at a loss because that way they will begin building a large install base, and make a lot of profit from royalties, publishers, accessories and dlc.

@SolidTy A lot of money to ask parents to plunk down for the kids? Are you kidding me? Seriously dude you need to take a look around, gaming systems are specifically target to kids. Now a day the average gamer is an adult not a kid.

And here I thought they meant Australia matched US's price point of 250, knew that was never the case, still gonna import when there are more games!

"...-that Nintendo says it has no plans to release to the general public." This is why I just got away from Nintendo altogether. Those are wonderful games to have available for download. It's nice that early adoptors are getting those games for free, but maybe other people would like to pay for those games, and then download and play them. Nintendo has always done stupid stuff like this. Don't guess they'll ever change.

BA HAHAH epic fail

Maybe if Nintendo releases more decent games I might consider it, for now I'm waiting till they improve on the design, you like 3DS Lite.

Nintendo was ridiculous when they put the 3DS price for $250...that was way too much for what it barely does. But why not drop the price now instead of August? Maybe because of the PSVita? Yeah? Scared are we Nintendo? ;)

@KhanhAgE Completely agree. If anything Nintendo is a company notorious for waiting until the absolute last minute to do a price drop. @RageSet Yep I want to get a 3ds but I'm waiting for some good games to come out. I don't want remakes either like you mentioned. Those will be great to get eventually as well but I want new titles.

woot free games for my 3ds

All of a sudden, it looks like Nintendo's realized what a threat the Vita is. The time of Nintendo selling their new consoles for more than they're worth is over - they'll be taking losses, just like everyone else. No more special treatment, Nintendo.

thats pretty nice of them to give 20 free games to the early buyers..