All things considered, 2011 was a pretty solid year for the 3DS. Despite an incredibly slow adoption rate at launch and the resultant corporate turmoil, buyers on the fence were eventually persuaded by a massive price drop and 3D remakes of yesteryear's classics. By the end of 2011, Nintendo had sold "more than 4 million" of its stereoscopic wunderkind to US consumers, as well as 1 million units each of Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7.
Nintendo had only sold 830,000-ish 3DS units as of last July, a full 4 months into the life of the product. By the end of October, however, that number had inflated to around 1.08 million units thanks to August's price drop, with November pushing another 795,000 units into American pockets. For this to add up, the holiday shopping season would have needed to move at least 2.1 million more 3DSes, which doesn't seem like that much of a stretch considering the abundance of bundles at retailers.
Reader Comments (70)
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:33PM The Great Cornholio said
But.... But.... But... The 3DS/Nintendo were going to be the next Dreamcast/Sega!
/sarcasm
/sarcasm
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:37PM A Sandwich said
We're passed "Nintedoomed", people. Now we're moving into "Vitastrophe" or "Vitaclysm", whichever you guys like better.
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 5:31PM Shadow Hog said
@A Sandwich
That's okay - apparently some CNET correspondents (I think) actually seriously predict that not only are handhelds doomed, but the Vita won't even launch in the US.
http://neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=457329
Reply
That's okay - apparently some CNET correspondents (I think) actually seriously predict that not only are handhelds doomed, but the Vita won't even launch in the US.
http://neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=457329
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:39PM Ballin said
Good for Nintendo. If you're going to burn money to move units, I'd hope you put up some solid numbers and solid they are.
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:40PM ecco6t9 said
Analysts....
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:47PM SmashZilla said
Nintendo discovered the mysterious and elusive business formula "make some good games and maybe people will buy them or something."
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:49PM lonecow said
So 3D remakes of yesteryear classics were what sold systems?
Which games were that again?
LoZ Ocarina... that makes sense....
Kirby?
Excitebike?
Urban Champion?
I hardly think those were system sellers.
Mario in 3D Land and Mario Kart are the ones that finally put the system over the edge... and those are SEQUELS not remakes.
Which games were that again?
LoZ Ocarina... that makes sense....
Kirby?
Excitebike?
Urban Champion?
I hardly think those were system sellers.
Mario in 3D Land and Mario Kart are the ones that finally put the system over the edge... and those are SEQUELS not remakes.
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 5:00PM FernandoRocker said
@lonecow
There are only two remakes by Nintendo: Ocarina of Time and Star Fox 64.
Pushmo, Pilotwings, Steel Diver, Nintendogs, Super Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart 7, etc... all new games.
Reply
There are only two remakes by Nintendo: Ocarina of Time and Star Fox 64.
Pushmo, Pilotwings, Steel Diver, Nintendogs, Super Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart 7, etc... all new games.
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 5:07PM ItsameMatt03 said
@lonecow
Been huffing something? Try not to kill any more brain cells.
Reply
Been huffing something? Try not to kill any more brain cells.
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 9:16PM (Unverified) said
@Nergy They said that it wasn't remakes that sold the system.
Nice reading comprehension bro.
Reply
Nice reading comprehension bro.
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:50PM Wizardsofwaverly said
I want a ruby & sapphire pokemon game in 3D nintendo
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:53PM tchuks said
The reason it's so funny to keep bringing up "Nintendo = doomed" comments on Joystiq is because of http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/editorial-nintendos-creeping-doom-how-the-company-came-to-m/
Nintendo's impending doom!!! With legendary arguments such as "Nintendo doesn't have any games out now" as if they never planned on releasing a Mario game on 3DS. Then the expert analysts in the comments section with their "yep saw it coming all along Nintendo is doomed, they don't have Halo or gears of war!" They must be right, some of them are 14 years old.
For all this and more, the 3DS/Nintendo is doomed posts will continue :)
Nintendo's impending doom!!! With legendary arguments such as "Nintendo doesn't have any games out now" as if they never planned on releasing a Mario game on 3DS. Then the expert analysts in the comments section with their "yep saw it coming all along Nintendo is doomed, they don't have Halo or gears of war!" They must be right, some of them are 14 years old.
For all this and more, the 3DS/Nintendo is doomed posts will continue :)
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 5:22PM (Unverified) said
@tchuks
Biggest video game industry around.
Has many, many billions of dollars on standby.
Console has shaky sales in its first software-bare months.
"DOOMED"
Reply
Biggest video game industry around.
Has many, many billions of dollars on standby.
Console has shaky sales in its first software-bare months.
"DOOMED"
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 9:19PM TwEE said
@tchuks
Some people seem to really want Nintendo to disappear. There were people commentating in the comment section of that article who were around here (joystiq) during the Wii's early days calling doom and dismantling of Nintendo. They never learn. When civilization crumbles to dust the Road Warrior will be playing Nintendo game beyond the thunderdome.
Reply
Some people seem to really want Nintendo to disappear. There were people commentating in the comment section of that article who were around here (joystiq) during the Wii's early days calling doom and dismantling of Nintendo. They never learn. When civilization crumbles to dust the Road Warrior will be playing Nintendo game beyond the thunderdome.
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:53PM Roto13 said
DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMED-uh
I like mine.
I like mine.
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:54PM Faceless Troll said
Having finally broke down and gotten a 3DS last weekend . . . Nintendo really needs to consider a redesign of the e-shop. As it is the categories aren't very meaningful or useful for figuring out where to get the games you want.
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 5:07PM SmashZilla said
@Faceless Troll
You know, I was thinking the exact same thing just the other day.
Maybe the benefit for all these categories is to give some decent facetime/ad space for some really unknown titles that wouldn't get the time of day when stacked up next to Mario and the likes. Inconvenient for us maybe but if I was a small time developer I'd be pleased to see some of my content right next to a Mario game. I actually do find myself "shopping" around in the eshop more so then live or psn.
Reply
You know, I was thinking the exact same thing just the other day.
Maybe the benefit for all these categories is to give some decent facetime/ad space for some really unknown titles that wouldn't get the time of day when stacked up next to Mario and the likes. Inconvenient for us maybe but if I was a small time developer I'd be pleased to see some of my content right next to a Mario game. I actually do find myself "shopping" around in the eshop more so then live or psn.
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 5:10PM Faceless Troll said
@SmashZilla
It's just not a logical arrangement. I mean suppose I want to get Bionic Commando, for example. Do I look under "Famous Faces", or "Virtual Console"? Maybe "New Releases"?
What's the reasoning behind placing it under Virtual Console and not Famous Faces, or Vice Versa? It just doesn't make any sense the way it's set up.
Reply
It's just not a logical arrangement. I mean suppose I want to get Bionic Commando, for example. Do I look under "Famous Faces", or "Virtual Console"? Maybe "New Releases"?
What's the reasoning behind placing it under Virtual Console and not Famous Faces, or Vice Versa? It just doesn't make any sense the way it's set up.
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 5:14PM cantwait2bhome said
@Faceless Troll
Very true. I myself am rarely on there looking to buy something new. I'm usually just browsing, so it doesn't really affect me...but I'm sure it's a mess to find what you're looking for if you're trying to look through the categories. I know that when they first discussed it they said it would be like a store shelf where it's always changing, but I don't know how well that really works...
Reply
Very true. I myself am rarely on there looking to buy something new. I'm usually just browsing, so it doesn't really affect me...but I'm sure it's a mess to find what you're looking for if you're trying to look through the categories. I know that when they first discussed it they said it would be like a store shelf where it's always changing, but I don't know how well that really works...
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 5:22PM cantwait2bhome said
@Faceless Troll
I'd say the eShop can be divided basically into the following categories: DSiWare
Virtual Console
3DS exclusives (has it been called 3DS Ware officially yet?)
3DS Classics (which could be considered a part of either of the latter two)
Why NOA doesn't more obviously and consistently display the eShop in this manner is beyond me. I mean, I think it's great that they have the front pages that promote new and featured content, but it would probably be wise if they had some sort of menu that made it easy to get to the sections I listed above.
Reply
I'd say the eShop can be divided basically into the following categories: DSiWare
Virtual Console
3DS exclusives (has it been called 3DS Ware officially yet?)
3DS Classics (which could be considered a part of either of the latter two)
Why NOA doesn't more obviously and consistently display the eShop in this manner is beyond me. I mean, I think it's great that they have the front pages that promote new and featured content, but it would probably be wise if they had some sort of menu that made it easy to get to the sections I listed above.
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 5:37PM SmashZilla said
@Faceless Troll
Oh I totally agree. It's not cohesive. I don't need to be seeing 3 banners for mario vs donkey kong.
Reply
Oh I totally agree. It's not cohesive. I don't need to be seeing 3 banners for mario vs donkey kong.
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 6:39PM AxelSteelBMX said
@Faceless Troll: One hundred percent agreed. I managed to get the Zelda LE 3DS at Best Buy on Black Friday and the first game I downloaded was Four Swords Adventure. After trying (and failing) to find the game by swimming through the murky categorizations, I had to search for the damned title before I was able to get it.
Nintendo needs to realize that part of the reason for the shop is for people to do just that: SHOP. If it's UI isn't user-friendly, people aren't going to want to look through it to see what's out, they're going to either grab what they came for in the first place and say "Screw this, I'm done" or they're going to just leave without getting anything at all.
I don't understand how they managed to take a step BACKWARDS from the comparatively easy-to-navigate Wii Shop Channel.
Reply
Nintendo needs to realize that part of the reason for the shop is for people to do just that: SHOP. If it's UI isn't user-friendly, people aren't going to want to look through it to see what's out, they're going to either grab what they came for in the first place and say "Screw this, I'm done" or they're going to just leave without getting anything at all.
I don't understand how they managed to take a step BACKWARDS from the comparatively easy-to-navigate Wii Shop Channel.
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 10:53PM RasenganFury said
@Faceless Troll
I find it funny that Nintendo kind of tries to hide the ambassador content on the e shop.
Reply
I find it funny that Nintendo kind of tries to hide the ambassador content on the e shop.
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:56PM FernandoRocker said
But Joystiq... you told me that the 3DS was dooooomed and that Nintendo was going third party!
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 5:04PM FernandoRocker said
@FernandoRocker
And I'm not lying!
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/editorial-nintendos-creeping-doom-how-the-company-came-to-m/
Reply
And I'm not lying!
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/editorial-nintendos-creeping-doom-how-the-company-came-to-m/
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 7:33PM Mustang Fanboy said
@FernandoRocker
Dude you seemed so damm butt hurt because of the article. lol its very amusing watching you trying to defend nintendo.
Reply
Dude you seemed so damm butt hurt because of the article. lol its very amusing watching you trying to defend nintendo.
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:57PM Mustang Fanboy said
Waiting for "but 3DS is doomed" by Fernando Rocker
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:59PM pluupy said
Don't worry those who missed the 3DS-doom phase!
Next year's it's the Wii U's turn!
Next year's it's the Wii U's turn!
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 5:14PM FernandoRocker said
This is where we get a nice look at the quality and bias of the bloggers here at Joystiq.
Will the Vita get the same treatment the 3DS did? I'm willing to bet no.
Joystiq: The 3DS sold 200,000 in its second week... doomed and going third party! (In February, same price as the Vita).
Joystiq: The Vita sold 70,000 in its second week, in holiday season... everything is just fine!
Will the Vita get the same treatment the 3DS did? I'm willing to bet no.
Joystiq: The 3DS sold 200,000 in its second week... doomed and going third party! (In February, same price as the Vita).
Joystiq: The Vita sold 70,000 in its second week, in holiday season... everything is just fine!
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 5:23PM mrantimatter said
@FernandoRocker
You act as if peopel said that week 2. they didn't.
Instead, that talk started after months of iffy sales, and high profile delays and cancellations. Until the price drop, the system indeed looked to be in trouble.
Reply
You act as if peopel said that week 2. they didn't.
Instead, that talk started after months of iffy sales, and high profile delays and cancellations. Until the price drop, the system indeed looked to be in trouble.
Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 5:17PM Gibbeynator said
Nintendo needs to invest some of their money in a time machine, and then go back and undo all the great missteps of their company.







