When Mario's Picross debuted for Game Boy in 1995, the game became a cult hit among hardcore puzzle fans. The simple sudoku-like concept was easy to grasp, but difficult to master. The controls for the game were rather cumbersome, but Nintendo was able to overcome the issue when they rehashed the series in 2007 and released Picross DS for their touchscreen handheld.
Since the reception of the game was so positive, this past Tuesday Nintendo released a third iteration of the series, Picross 3D. The original concept remains intact, but instead of solving puzzles on a traditional flat game board, the new title allows players to chisel away at a three dimensional cube to reveal the hidden image inside.
In a move that really nobody understands, Nintendo decided to announce the successor to it's popular DS handheld just 5 days prior to the release of the latest iteration of it's current DS, the XL. Nintendo's new system, nicknamed the “3DS,” promises three dimensional gaming without the need for special glasses.
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.
