Japan survey says 3DS priced too high, awareness too low

A recent survey conducted by Macromill asked 1,000 people some questions about the 3DS and the results don't look good for Nintendo. The results show that 56% of those asked don't even know what the 3DS is. Similarly alarming results come from a survey from GetNews which asked if the price of the 3DS was fair. 80% think it is overpriced. Taking these numbers at face value would spell trouble for Nintendo, but there are many things to consider. We don't know who these people are that were surveyed such as age, profession, etc. When it comes to knowledge of its existence, Nintendo has 4 months to put some solid marketing behind it. Those that are excited for it now are core gamers. The time will come when Nintendo is ready to inform those outside the core gamer circle. While many of those already in the know believe the price is a bit steep, 80% is steep. I'd also ask how many of these 80% know what the 3DS is capable of. Surveys like this should be conducted closer to or soon after launch for more accurate results.

I have to wonder how many people really knew about the Wii before its release, and whether they thought it would be too much $$$ for it (I'm betting they would have said too much!)

I still think $250/300 is cheaper than shit so color me impressed. Also nice Metal Storm, Streex!

MetalStorm is fantastic! Never played it before and still holds up after all these years. Way to go Irem. Wish you still published games in the US.

The Wii is a perfect example. Some didn't think Nintendo would last after the GameCube, and then they announced the Wii. Some laughed when the name was announced (I did too) and the control scheme revealed. The end result? Highest selling console this generation. The 3DS seems like an almost guaranteed success where the Wii didn't.

From the new screens I've seen of the 3DS... I may never see the real world again...
I cannot stop thinking about Ocarina of Time... revamped... in 3d... jaw-drop

How do the screen sizes compare with the DSi XL, btw? I've been wondering that. I know it has two different sized screens, but is the bottom one more comparable to the regular DSi?

This is one of the few drawbacks. The touch screen size is actually just a tad bigger than the DS Phat's, at 3.04 inches. The top widescreen is bigger, at 3.54 inches, but that is smaller than the 4.2 inch DSi XL and bigger than the 3.24 inch DSi screens. All in all, the 3DS's screens are smaller than the DSi XL's.

I've been playing on a DSi so I'll enjoy the larger widescreen display but the touch screen getting some shrinkage will suck a little.

I doubt it'll be enough to matter, though.

When's the 3DS XL coming?

I could guess 2012 going by how many revisions Nintendo likes to make.

Yeah, well, we shall see... Honestly, I was surprised the PSP saw so many revisions. Why? No one gives a shit about them!

PSP go! Has got to be the lamest thing ever.

The PSP never worried me. To be honest, the one thing that worries me as far as competition for Nintendo in the handheld market is... wait for it... Apple.

I know, I know- they're not even direct competitors. It's just ever since I saw something about the iPhone getting 3D, (or was it the iPad?) I got to wondering how long it would be before Apple comes to the same conclusion about the video game market that Microsoft did awhile back. "Why aren't we doing this?" Apple's portables have a ton of support and are growing in numbers and popularity. (As far as I can tell.)

My thought process that ended there went like this: "Hmmm.... these old articles about all the stuff people wanted the 3DS to do are silly. A GPS receiver? Dorks. There's no way Nintendo would do that. It's not their style. Packing a million unrelated functions into one device is more Apple's style. Wait... don't they already have touch screens on most of their stuff? And don't they have 3D soon, too? Sure, Apple has never been big on games, but that doesn't mean they couldn't start! If they simply started to focus on games, the iPhone, which has been getting more reasonable in price, could compete directly with the 3DS, which looks to be relatively expensive for a Nintendo portable! Plus, it would have infinitely more functionality!" Scary.

I dunno. Just something to think about.

Totally agree. It could definitely come to that. But, I don't know that Apple would ever make anything that's main purpose is gaming. as you said, they are more the Swiss Army Knife type of company.

What bums me out is that it would be yet another competitor in an already to-the-limit-saturated market, who (along with M$ and SONY) have much more money to throw around getting technological/3rd party support.

But whatever. I doubt Nintendo will ever die, but if it does, so too will my love for current gaming. As impressive as 360/PS3 *may* be, they have barely anything my style.

Nintendo recently came out and said that Apple was their biggest threat. In a way is this belittling Sony and Microsoft? Maybe, or maybe Sony and M$ are naive for not thinking about Apple as well.

You can see how the philosophy is similar between Ninty and Apple, striving for innovation and new ways to play. M$ and Sony are on the same bend trying to push as much memory and graphics as possible.

My question is how much of a threat can Apple games be with only a touch screen? I suppose the limit rests on the developers shoulders, but the 3DS will have those buttons, slide pad and d pad to accommodate deeper gaming experiences, along with a stylus for better pinpoint accuracy with touch control.

It is scary if Apple decides to ever take gaming more seriously. They have a legion of fans that would surely jump aboard a gaming centric device.

Just yesterday I heard a rumor that Apple has $51 billion burning a hole in their pocket and they are out to buy out a big company, Sony being one of them. I can't see that happening but that would be a huge acquisition.

If Apple buys SONY... I'll sell my kids.

Streex wrote:

Nintendo recently came out and said that Apple was their biggest threat. In a way is this belittling Sony and Microsoft? Maybe, or maybe Sony and M$ are naive for not thinking about Apple as well.

You can see how the philosophy is similar between Ninty and Apple, striving for innovation and new ways to play. M$ and Sony are on the same bend trying to push as much memory and graphics as possible.

Exactly! It did come to mind that Nintendo and Apple have a lot more in common than with the other two. They both have fans who are eternally loyal with good reason. (Microsoft and Sony fans are only more recent, and like most Sega fans, would melt away the moment the winds shifted.) Both companies have earned their following through truly great innovation and outstanding design.

Antilles, you said the iPhone was getting 3D? I did not know that.

I believe this was it:

http://gizmodo.com/5114247/wazabee-3deeshell-adds-3d-screen-to-iphone

Doesn't sound quite legit, but I just perused and looked at the "shell."