Nintendo holding 3DS event in Tokyo September 13

by JC Fletcher on Aug 23rd 2011 3:30PM

Nintendo will host a 3DS-focused media event in Tokyo on September 13, Bloomberg Japan reports. That's two days before the start of the Tokyo Game Show, which Nintendo typically does not attend officially. The Nintendo event will not let consumers in, but will be open to investors and analysts.

Nintendo customarily has a fall event every year, like last year's "Nintendo Conference," in which new games are unveiled and plans for upcoming hardware are detailed. It would be easy to use this new event as evidence that Nintendo really is planning to announce that crazy stuff that's been rumored, but really, all we have is a rumor and a press event that happen to come up around the same time. It's safe to expect new game announcements, but it's still a stretch to think we'll see new hardware. Not impossible, but a stretch.

Via: GI.biz
Source: Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg

Tags: 3ds, japan, nintendo-conference, tgs-2011, tokyo

Reader Comments (59)

Im seeing a redesign in 2012. A new design to better compete with vita to make shareholders happy. I see nintendo fanboys spewing vasts amount of hate to any news source reporting this. I now see nintendo fanboys praising said redesign after nintendo officially announces it. Nothing ever changes.

@DethLocke

Nintendo really really REALLY needs to stop trying to make its shareholders happy..... screw their share holders. And fainboi opinion does not matter.... as Nintendo could arrive at their house, light their dog on fire and kick them square in the nuts and they would thank them for the experience.

Nintendo needs to focus on actual customers.....

The sort of rational people who are going to look at something like a fundamental redesign of a system that has barely gotten off the ground as a sign of a company to avoid. Especially if they had bought in to the initial system expecting support, not shenanigans....

This is actually something that could hurt Nintendo more than it helps. Assuming of course the rumors are true ..... and at this point Nintendo has left me with little reason to believe that they are not. (yes that is how much my faith has been eroded when it comes to the big N) So until they show me otherwise I have no choice but to expect the worst ~.~

Still have my fingers crossed that they can turn things around tho.

@DethLocke

That would be the dumbest move, period. It doesn't matter what haters or fanboys are saying. If you look at this as a business move, it makes no sense. It's worse than releasing a PSP GO that has a completely different format for games. You're releasing a portable with a different set of controls and further punishing existing customers.

I seriously doubt they'd go through with that. 3DS sales now are just fine, single joystick and all. Once the big name franchises come here in the next few months along with a handful of good third party titles, the "woes" of the 3DS will be a thing of the past.

@DethLocke

I see somebody talking out of their bum, I see this a amusing.

@DethLocke Why would they be unhappy at the news?

@Scuffles Strange that you put the fanboys as so irrational and yet yourself so pessimistic.

Passion is passion afterall.

@Shockwave I would actually see them doing that though. Nintendo doesn't mess around with 5 million consoles. They plan for 50-100 million. Splitting that early adopter (many of which probably will buy a new iteration anyways) doesn't strike me as an impossible move by Ninty. And they can always get the rumored add-on (which I actually think will be the large percentage of this rumor going from the translation there is not much to indicate a revision just an addon, a full redesign would hopefully be a little more ambitious) or use the touchscreen.

@houser

I guess you could call me a pessimist because I feel Nintendo has lost the benefit of the doubt, however as I said at the end I still hold out hope.

In any case I'd take being a pessimist and being pleasantly surprised over being an optimist and being routinely let down ^^

@Scuffles

That would be illegal. Nintendo, and every other publicly traded company for that matter, is bound by law to act in the best interest of their shareholders to the best of their abilities. Simply saying "Screw the shareholders" is not an option

@Scuffles
Good point.

@aaronharmon

And what has trying to please the shareholders gotten them?
More importantly what has trying to please the shareholders gotten the shareholders?

This is a case where ignoring the shareholders and doing what is right for both the consumers and Nintendo ...... benefits the shareholders.

Simply by ignoring them and refusing to kowtow to investors who likely have no idea of the ins and outs of the industry short of shouting at the top of their lungs "WE WANT MOAR MONEY NOW!", they are in fact serving in the best interests of the shareholders.

Sort of like locking up your gun collection so your brothers idiot children don't find them and decide to play William tell in the back yard .....

@DethLocke

That makes no sense. You're a big lipped aligator moment waiting to happen.

@Scuffles
Interestingly enough, the only company that has successfully given the shareholders the middle finger is Apple. More specifically Steve Jobs.

Ever since he returned to Apple, the Apple shareholders have largely shut up.

@Scuffles
Not all shareholders are evil. You own any stock? I currently own some Nintendo stock. Shareholders invest their money in a company that they think will succeed. Shareholders who lose faith (and money) in a company sell their shares. Any shareholders who think Nintendo can't turn this around have already left them.

Day one 3DS owner here. Go ahead, laugh

@MEMgrizzlies7

http://www.funnyjunk.com/funny_gifs/2073159/Nelson+Laughing+GIF/

@MEMgrizzlies7

I shall only laugh with you, friend, for I am an owner since launch as well.

@MEMgrizzlies7
We can laugh on the inside. On the inside...

@MEMgrizzlies7

I am as well, and if there is a redesign then you can bet that I will buy it. I always have. I had the GBA, the SP, Micro, DS Phat, DS Lite, and DSi.

@ItsameMatt03

And when I was young, we didn't have luxuries like color or black and white screens.

@MEMgrizzlies7

Don't fault you for being an early adopter even if I have become very hesitant to be in that group. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with the 3DS, It simply needs more solid titles.

I can expect only bad things at an event catered to "investors and analysts".

Those two groups have been the bane of this industry. Rarely do they encourage anything logical or anything that the gaming public actually agrees with. You know, those crazy people that buy the products from the company that you're "investing" in.

I expect a lot of hand holding and warm blankets with a bucket filled with piss to dip the consumers heads in. You know, for the sake of "growth".

@Mmmmz

guessing here that you have no idea of the concept of capitalism.

I'll eat a sombrero if Nintendo releases a new 3DS or a $10 add-on. My guess is that it'll be some big second- or third-party announcement, a major 3DS software update, or some wild card, like the Wii U.

@Silent Intent "Nintendo will host a 3DS-focused media event..."

Erm, you can forget about that Wii-U bit.

@Silent Intent

I'll eat my hat too!

...provided it's this hat:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxhZ7REnVcs

@Silent Intent
Yeah, if they announce a new handheld or redesign for the 3DS they're dead in the water. Rightfully so, too. They'd be pulling on major Sega move and no one would trust them again. So no one would invest in their new console (assuming it doesn't get bumped to release when Sony/Microsoft flinch) and they'd have a hard time taking a plunge again.

A redesign this early is just bad news. You're burning the people that helped you stay afloat this long and that's a bad thing to do after a price drop. They'd have to allow a free upgrade while transferring your existing ambassador program.

It just wouldn't make any sense unless you WANTED to kill your company. Especially in this uncertain WORLD economy.

@Mmmmz Not to mention the current 3DS has been doing pretty well recently, thanks to that price cut. http://www.vgchartz.com/article/87639/the-japan-preview-82111-edition-ps3-price-cut-week-2-of-3ds-cut/

Right now, I'm having a hard time believing Nintendo will make a new 3DS. There's just no excuse, no matter what they can come up with, that'll justify a new 3DS this early.

@Mmmmz I think the redesign is just sensationalist journo hype for clicks. The translation reads much more like they are working on an add-on for a second analogue. Not much reference to a full on revision.

@Silent Intent I am so taking you up on this. I am saving this post.

@Silent Intent YOU MUST EAT THE SOMBRERO

http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/nintendo-3ds-bizarre-circle-pad-attachment-coming-to-japan-dece/

YOU MUST EAT THE SOMBRERO

I hope the new 3DS will be named, GAMEBOY 3DS. And I hope the handheld fits comfortable in the hands of western gamers. I hate it when my thumbs cramp when gaming on the DSi.

@Dance Mofo Western gamers? Unless the average western gamer is some 6'5" brute that's a pretty weird gamer breakdown. And with the DSi especially, there IS an alternative.

@houser USAers? USAians? Americans?

@Dance Mofo
Are "Western Gamers" a new breed of human with a different type of hand than everybody else or something?

@pluupy
I guess western gamers are the new breed of human evolution. But when you hear "western developers" from US, I figured "western gamers" from US. All I know is when it comes to the DSi even the 3DS, it feels very uncomfortable holding it. The D-pad is small, the buttons also, even trying to push the shoulder buttons are a pain. Yes I can get the DSi XL and no I won't buy one now.. well until Nintendo decides to drop the price.

@Dance Mofo
Except that western developers include studios that are based in Europe and Australia.

Remember L.A. Noire? That studio was based in Australia.

Could they use this time to also show off the body of the Wii U, that hasn't been displayed yet has it?

@Draco http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo15iruRD9I

@Draco
Not much to say about the console itself. That's probably why they didn't say much about it during E3. I do wish there were more USB ports, though.

It's gonna be Pokemon Gray for 3DS. Why wouldn't it be?

@LittleMofreaky Smoke? Slate? Gray is just so blah.

http://www.nooooooooooooooo.com/

@Measlesopolis

http://www.instantrimshot.com/

So they might add a second analog stick and take away the emphasis on 3D? Why would you want to make it less unique? The DS succeeded because it was a totally different experience than consoles.

He's dead Jim.

@oolzie
Something caused this device to be killed, either because the 3DS ran out of memory, or for some other reason. To continue, press OFF and go rage in another room.

I was going to buy the red 3DS on 9/9 when it would be released but now I think I might wait a couple more days to see what this hubbub is all about, just to be on the safe side. I know it so far it's all rumors and such but it couldn't hurt to wait and see right?

I can't help but say that I've been saddened a bit by how gamers are ruthlessly slamming the 3DS. For example - recently, I saw some elitist 'h4rdc04r' gamer wishing for every working person involved with Nintendo to "lose their jobs and become rightfully homeless", all because of his love for Microsoft and Sony.

Yes, I was also left speechless.

@The Mentlegen
That is absolutely horrid that someone would say something like that. While I'm not super pleased with a lot of decisions that Nintendo has been making lately, to wish people out of a job? That's just bad taste.

| 1 | 2 | Most Recent | Next 50 Comments

Nintendo holding 3DS event in Tokyo September 13

Reader Comments (59)

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 3:34PM DethLocke said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 4:05PM Scuffles said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 4:06PM Shockwave said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 4:07PM TwEE said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 4:10PM houser said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 4:35PM houser said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 4:41PM houser said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 5:03PM Scuffles said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 6:03PM aaronharmon said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 6:08PM pluupy said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 6:58PM Scuffles said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 7:02PM Mrguy you know that guy said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 8:31PM mahouneko said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 11:16PM DeadInside said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 3:35PM MEMgrizzlies7 said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 3:41PM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 3:45PM A Sandwich said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 3:49PM SpishackCola said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 4:00PM ItsameMatt03 said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 4:07PM Shockwave said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 4:10PM Scuffles said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 3:36PM Mmmmz said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 7:17PM Nook said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 3:37PM Silent Intent said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 3:41PM Silent Intent said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 3:52PM NaeemTHM said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 3:52PM Mmmmz said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 4:05PM Silent Intent said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 4:22PM houser said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 5:43PM Once known as Shadsy said

Posted: Sep 13th 2011 6:57PM Once known as Shadsy said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 3:40PM Dance Mofo said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 4:34PM houser said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 5:10PM Dance Mofo said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 5:51PM pluupy said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 6:24PM Dance Mofo said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 8:36PM mahouneko said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 3:46PM Draco said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 3:54PM kvn7918 said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 5:56PM pluupy said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 3:48PM LittleMofreaky said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 4:36PM houser said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 3:52PM Measlesopolis said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 5:08PM Marco le Polo said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 3:53PM jsowers said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 3:56PM oolzie said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 5:47PM pluupy said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 4:01PM ProfessorBonkle said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 4:03PM The Mentlegen said

Posted: Aug 23rd 2011 4:10PM ProfessorBonkle said

Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

Breaking News

WB conjures up Harry Potter for Kinect this fall

Featured Stories

Weekly Webcomic Wrapup is a stranger in a strange land

Silver Lining: I Am Alive's unfeeling world

Game Of Thrones and the paradoxes of adaptation

Engadget

TUAW

Massively

WoW