For this year's E3, arguably the biggest showing was of Nintendo's new handheld console, the 3DS. Yeah, we knew it was coming, but I don't think anyone expected it to be so impressive. Motion and gyro sensors, able to play 3D movies, Gamecube-quality graphics, and "passive" online? Sign me up.
Yet the biggest question in everyone's mind is this: when can I buy this crazy little piece of tech? Nintendo said "by March 2011", but that's simply too vague. Will it be a holiday item? Will we see it at the end of summer?
Here's what I think:
Nintendo really didn't NEED to launch the 3DS. I mean, it's an awesome system, but the DS Lite and DSi are still selling extremely well. Nintendo could have easily announced it at next year's E3. Yet, they're launching it within the next year. Hmmmm.
My hunch is that both the DS Lite, DSi, and DSi XL will be gettign $20 to $40 price drops for the Fall and Holiday seasons. In fact, I would go as far to say that Nintendo may even drop the DSi to the current Lite's price and stop selling the Lite altogether...well, that might not be true, but it's speculation.
Then, the holidays explode (again) with a rush to buy the cheaper DS systems. Next year rolls by, February/March comes, and Nintendo launches the 3DS. At the same time, they kill the DS Lite, the DSi XL, or both (too many skus to have all four on the market).
This is consistent with Nintendo's business model. People forget that - while Nintendo continues to innovate technology - their business model has been going in the same cycles since the NES days. Their pricing philosophy, target audience, and innovation methods are the same as they've always been.
I really do think Nintendo will drop in March 2011, beyond just what they said in their E3 conference. In May, when interviewed about Nintendo's falling sales, Nintendo said that "annual sales slipped 22 percent this year, and [they] expect the sales drop to continue through March 2011". March 2011, huh? Now where did I hear that date before...?
So, what do you think? Will the 3DS launch in the Fall, or early next year?
Blooper Team will share game updates, a deeper look at the film and new merch.
This is make or break for the Silent Hill 2 remake, if it looks lacklustre then I think it's the final nail in the coffin for a lot of people. Nothing has been wow worthy since it's reveal.
Resident Evil 2 Remake, Resident Evil 4 Remake, the Dead Space Remake etc, it has a lot to live up to with the quality remake titles we've gotten recently over the years.
Summer is the perfect time for multiplayer party games, and Pool Party seems to bring just enough chaos and silliness to the billiards formula to keep it entertaining.
The Mass Effect trilogy shines as one of the only Western RPGs to give an immersive and unforgettable experience.
There's much better wrpg series. Mass effect dumbed down after the first one. Seemed a but different going from the 1st to the second, not in a good way.
My favorite trilogy will be the Ar Tonelico trilogy, Xenosaga trilogy followed by the ME trilogy.
How can it be the best trilogy when the 3rd one is terrible and the only thing it had going for it was the multiplayer?
Considering all 3 witcher games are better
Considering all 3 Dragon age games are better
Considering all 3 Baldur's gate games are better
Weird choice