Common sense should dictate, especially to one of the most successful gaming companies in the world, that it probably isn't the wisest marketing decision to announce your new product prior to the current one hitting store shelves. Especially since it already renders said current unreleased product mostly obsolete.
So what's the deal Nintendo?!
While the press release was intended for the Japanese market, and only specified a release date for that region (March of 2011), it will still be premiering at North America's largest gaming expo, E3. So, it's not like the news was solely intended for those gaming in the land of the rising sun. Besides, news travels fast since the nifty invention of the Internet.
In it's first month of US sales, the XL managed to peddle a surprising 141,000 units, so American consumers proved to be unaffected (or uneducated) by the 3DS news. And that only accounts for a small percentage of the total sales of the DS line in March, which was over 700,000. So consumers must not care, or parents are unaware, that they will be doling out another few hundred dollars to the “big N” in the next 18 months.
That leaves hardcore fans, myself included, left scratching their heads wondering if $190 is worth less than two years of 93% larger gaming. Especially if they've loyally purchased a Phat, Lite and Dsi.
The line, overall, has sold over 125 million units and shows no signs of slowing down. And while some naysayers are deeming the “3DS” the second coming of the Virtual Boy, Mario fanboys prove time and again that they're willing to buy whatever Reggie tells them to.
