24th March 2011, 8:13 PM
(This post was last modified: 25th March 2011, 12:06 AM by Dark Jaguar.)
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/24/report...about-100/
This is interesting. I don't mind Nintendo making a profit from this. However, it does make me wonder why they didn't go for a $200 price point and still make roughly double what the components cost. I think they'd still have a lot of profit even after considering marketing and so on, and traditionally Nintendo has always aimed for cheaper price points on their handhelds, so it is odd that the 3DS would be so expensive compared to previous ones.
Here's the launch prices I was able to find for Nintendo's previous handhelds. I also calculated for inflation using this site: http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/ , so I note the year it was launched too. I'll only note the internal hardware upgrades rather than the remodels (the remodels are almost universally cheaper than the first versions anyway).
Game Boy: Launched in 1989 for $90, adjusted for inflation in 2011 to $160.63
Virtual Boy: Launched in 1995 for $180, adjusted for inflation in 2011 to $261.39
Game Boy Color: Launched in 1998 for $80, adjusted for inflation in 2011 to $108.62
Game Boy Advance: Launched in 2001 for $150, adjusted for inflation in 2011 to $187.55
Nintendo DS: Launched in 2004 for $150, adjusted for inflation in 2011 to $175.74
Nintendo DSi: Launched in 2009 for $170, adjusted for inflation in 2011 to $175.37
You'll note that even adjusted for inflation, only one of these systems even break $200 (Virtual Boy, actually exceeding the 3DS price just barely after inflation). The 3DS is the most expensive handheld Nintendo has yet sold, by a large margin, and I'm just not sure why. Other things I noticed: The inflation since the late 80's is pretty surprising. Also, the Gameboy was originally launched at $90? Well apparently so! Every source I could find online (Wikipedia included) backs that up. Neat. Also, I never did get a DSi, making it the first actual hardware update on a Nintendo handheld I haven't got.
Honestly, I'm not getting it just yet. I just can't afford it right now. I certainly will at some point, probably soon, just not now. I just wonder how long Nintendo can maintain that price point. Will it be popular enough to really sell crazy numbers like the much cheaper Nintendo DS, or will they end up dropping it by at least $50 by the end of the year? I don't think the fact it's in the same range as the Virtual Boy is a "bad sign" or anything, since the VB failed for all sorts of reasons that don't apply to the 3DS. It just doesn't help. It also doesn't help that in addition this is the portable with the lowest battery life of their handhelds so far. That is sure to improve with remodels that reduce the energy requirements of the hardware (as well as possibly improving the screen so that it can be viewed from a wider angle and still see the 3D image).
This is interesting. I don't mind Nintendo making a profit from this. However, it does make me wonder why they didn't go for a $200 price point and still make roughly double what the components cost. I think they'd still have a lot of profit even after considering marketing and so on, and traditionally Nintendo has always aimed for cheaper price points on their handhelds, so it is odd that the 3DS would be so expensive compared to previous ones.
Here's the launch prices I was able to find for Nintendo's previous handhelds. I also calculated for inflation using this site: http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/ , so I note the year it was launched too. I'll only note the internal hardware upgrades rather than the remodels (the remodels are almost universally cheaper than the first versions anyway).
Game Boy: Launched in 1989 for $90, adjusted for inflation in 2011 to $160.63
Virtual Boy: Launched in 1995 for $180, adjusted for inflation in 2011 to $261.39
Game Boy Color: Launched in 1998 for $80, adjusted for inflation in 2011 to $108.62
Game Boy Advance: Launched in 2001 for $150, adjusted for inflation in 2011 to $187.55
Nintendo DS: Launched in 2004 for $150, adjusted for inflation in 2011 to $175.74
Nintendo DSi: Launched in 2009 for $170, adjusted for inflation in 2011 to $175.37
You'll note that even adjusted for inflation, only one of these systems even break $200 (Virtual Boy, actually exceeding the 3DS price just barely after inflation). The 3DS is the most expensive handheld Nintendo has yet sold, by a large margin, and I'm just not sure why. Other things I noticed: The inflation since the late 80's is pretty surprising. Also, the Gameboy was originally launched at $90? Well apparently so! Every source I could find online (Wikipedia included) backs that up. Neat. Also, I never did get a DSi, making it the first actual hardware update on a Nintendo handheld I haven't got.
Honestly, I'm not getting it just yet. I just can't afford it right now. I certainly will at some point, probably soon, just not now. I just wonder how long Nintendo can maintain that price point. Will it be popular enough to really sell crazy numbers like the much cheaper Nintendo DS, or will they end up dropping it by at least $50 by the end of the year? I don't think the fact it's in the same range as the Virtual Boy is a "bad sign" or anything, since the VB failed for all sorts of reasons that don't apply to the 3DS. It just doesn't help. It also doesn't help that in addition this is the portable with the lowest battery life of their handhelds so far. That is sure to improve with remodels that reduce the energy requirements of the hardware (as well as possibly improving the screen so that it can be viewed from a wider angle and still see the 3D image).
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ~ Charles Babbage (1791-1871)