Topic: Nintendo Explains Why Smaller New 3DS Isn't Coming to NA

[alexosborn]

Upsetting the core audience was expected.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/39652/nintendo-explains-why-smaller-new-3ds-isnt-coming-to-na

Nintendo has finally explained why the company decided not to bring the smaller, standard model of New 3DS that supports swappable face plates to North America.

Damon Baker, the Senior Manager in Marketing and Licensing at NoA, told Nintendo Life that it came down to making things as clear as possible for consumers in the North American market.

"Look, the face plates are super cool, but we're a different market. And now we have clear differentiation between those three systems," he explained. "Before, there was a very limited difference between the 3DS and 3DS XL: other than size. It was the same resolution, same functionality... now, there's the 2DS, 3DS, and New 3DS XL, all of which have their own functionality and features. The different price points give it a clear message for consumers."

Naturally the company knew it would upset hardcore Nintendo fans, but that was a sacrifice the company was willing to make. "The core audience... we weren't going to win with them on that decision. But we had to think about expanding the user base, we had to be able to market it and make it easy to pick up for consumers."

Are you disappointed the smaller model isn't available in North America or are you more than happy with the XL? Let us know in the comments below!

[Khushrenada]

Interesting. So, the smaller unit isn't coming at all.


I'll survive.

[Phil]

A better, clearer message for consumers would be to not name your darned systems so stupidly that it confuses them-- and gamers, too.

[Khushrenada]

A better, clearer message for consumers would be to not name your darned systems so stupidly that it confuses them-- and gamers, too.

If they did that, then marketing wouldn't have a job. By having to explain and make clear to consumers what the differences are between all these similar sounding products, then they are able to stay employed and have a large marketing budget to accomplish this difficult task. C'mon Phil. Think of the marketers.

[Vahne]

In other words they're saying that the sales in America aren't worth the effort of bringing more options over. Instead they'll just reduce options until only the New XL and 2DS are left.
It's just NoA getting ready to abandon their current platforms prematurely yet again.

[Phil]

A better, clearer message for consumers would be to not name your darned systems so stupidly that it confuses them-- and gamers, too.

If they did that, then marketing wouldn't have a job. By having to explain and make clear to consumers what the differences are between all these similar sounding products, then they are able to stay employed and have a large marketing budget to accomplish this difficult task. C'mon Phil. Think of the marketers.

That's true. I'm not always thinking about those kinds of things. That's why I'm really happy you're there to help me out, Khush.

[Phil]

Also, upsetting the core isn't a very bright idea, as that's the segment that is keeping the Wii U "afloat." (Had to put quotations since it's more treading water than anything else.)

[ClexYoshi]

James Jones can rest easy now.

[Triforce Hermit]

Nice way of saying "We are just going to force people to buy the New XL that has a bigger audience and **** the smaller audience, they will buy the New XL in the end anyways."

[NES_RPG_NERD]

Only thing I want explained is why they released so few units at launch so that non-preorder people got the purple shaft...

[nickmitch]

I guess they knew there'd be no chance of keeping a satisfactory supply of face-plates in stock, so they can avoid that headache.

But saying the new 3DS and new 3DS XL aren't different enough for a clear message to consumers is a bit insulting. They've had the regular and "XL" dynamic since the DSi.  I think the message is clear and that bigger screens is enough of a differentiator.  And I'm not sure how you push the regular, launch 3DS model next to the new 3DS XL.  People are only going to care about the new model and if you come with one new model, the old ones are pointless.

[nickmitch]

Further, weren't 3DS sales down?  Do you really need to sell that thing anymore?  I could understand if the system were actually new, but the damn thing is (nearly) 4 years old.  How many potential buyers are you looking at that don't already own one version of the hardware at this point?  And how many of those people wouldn't just get the new 3DS model because of it being the clearly better version?

Going back to face plates, I think you could just sell 2-3 versions in stores and set up some more online.  Maybe even do exclusives on Club Nin- oh wait, nevermind.

[Ian Sane]

So expanding the userbase is more important than pleasing the core audience.  I get why a company would think that but I feel like Nintendo has had that attitude since the launches of the DS and Wii and it really turned me off of the company.  When you read between the lines it says "we now YOU will still buy our **** so we can take you for granted and focus on a different audience".  It's the same reason why Xenoblade took a fan campaign and a partnership with a retailer to get released here - it wasn't a mass market game and thus in the eyes of NOA did not matter.  The fans that wanted that game were still going to buy Mario and Zelda even if NOA pissed them off.  They're assuming that the fans that want the smaller model will still buy a New 3DS XL, even if they're annoyed at NOA while doing it.

Though the assumption that your core audience can be taken for granted is a foolish one.  If it worked that way would the Wii U have flopped so hard at launch?  Would the 3DS have had to have a major price drop so soon after release?

[tonoxtono]

Soooo..expanding the user base is fine and all but, uh, why isn't there a charging cable included then? Maybe I'm misunderstanding something. Feel free to let me know.

[broodwars]

Soooo..expanding the user base is fine and all but, uh, why isn't there a charging cable included then? Maybe I'm misunderstanding something. Feel free to let me know.

Yeah, it's amusing that the device that's supposed to "expand their user base" doesn't include a charging cable that the audience they're appealing to...doesn't have.

[Khushrenada]

I think I know what the problem is. Nintendo's been making videogames so long that they've started using videogame logic in real life now. They can no longer separate the two and so that is why we are seeing all these fun choices from Nintendo lately.

[kokumaker]

Meh. The interchangeable faceplates are no substitute for the XL's larger screens, anyway, so I continue to be unbothered by this decision.

[Ian Sane]

No "small" New 3DS - NOA's decision based on this "expanding the audience" nonsense.

No charger - Likely NCL's penny pinching decision since North America was the last market to have that.

NOA can and will make their own baffling decisions but NCL's baffling decisions override all.  Yes it makes no sense to talk about expanding the audience while not including a charger but NOA might not have wanted it to be that way.  NCL has decreed that ripping off the customers with this stupid charger nonsense is the priority.  NOA's priorities are secondary.

You know that shitty take out restaurant in your town where the owner thinks that charging for ketchup packets is the key to success?  That's Nintendo.

[Mythtendo]

I don't want the XL, it's not that portable to me and I have no plans to get it. So this is one less sale they will get (I didn't buy the DSi XL or 3DS XL for the same reason).

[Soren]

NOA is rudderless at the moment. Do you want a larger user base or do you want to appeal to your core market?

Also, this is hilarious coming from the same division that has no problem fragmenting the user base with retail-exclusive Amiibo.

[broodwars]

NOA is rudderless at the moment. Do you want a larger user base or do you want to appeal to your core market?

Also, this is hilarious coming from the same division that has no problem fragmenting the user base with retail-exclusive Amiibo.

And considering the same guy is the head of both NoA and Nintendo Japan (Iwata), to me it shines a spotlight on Iwata not really knowing what he wants to do with the North American market when the company's entire focus is on saving the 3DS in Japan.

[marvel_moviefan_2012]

Remember when Sega made stupid asinine decisions that cost them North America while they were busy chasing after Japan? Sounds like Nintendo is on the same path and yet they continue to not see the signs. Sega still had their arcades to keep them afloat while the rest of the ship sunk into hell and Nintendo has Pokemon keeping them afloat and now Amiibo as a life raft but they are still sinking straight to hell. I am honesty at the point where I no longer feel sad for them I am at the point where I kind of regret buying a Wii U because I want to see them fail they deserve to fail.

All that hate aside, if I do get any 3DS at all it will only be an XL model so this never really affected me any.

[Adrock]

This is weird. Wouldn't Nintendo better its chances of expanding the user base with more options? Technically, that reaches the most amount of people if "expanding the user base" is the entire reasoning behind this decision. And if it wanted to better differentiate the models, calling it almost anything except "New 3DS" would have been a better choice. Then again, New 3DS XL makes the original 3DS look even worse than the original XL did so people are more likely to pick the New 3DS XL which is what Nintendo wants.

Ultimately, the subset of fence-sitters who both want the regular New 3DS and won't settle for New 3DS XL is the smallest group of 3DS-interested people. If Nintendo absolutely had to disappoint any subset of its own fans, that would be the one to pick. Makes sense even if it's kind of a shitty thing to do.

In any case, I still think this choice has everything to do with Nintendo of America not wanting another smaller model that would sell modestly at best and ultimately far worse than the larger model. I get it. I don't entirely agree with it because I support options, but I get it.

[chilenozo]

I hope they are making their research accurate enough. I'M NOT BUYING.

I've been waiting for years to get a 3DS, I wanted all this years the smaller model, with better 3D and better battery life, and now with a decent library. I'm all about portability, and I travel a lot due to my work.

I have money to spend in lots of games, I would have bought 10 brand new games initially.

But I won't....good luck Nintendo


Cheers
A very disappointed costumer

[Khushrenada]

I hope they are making their research accurate enough. I'M NOT BUYING.

I've been waiting for years to get a 3DS, I wanted all this years the smaller model, with better 3D and better battery life, and now with a decent library. I'm all about portability, and I travel a lot due to my work.

I have money to spend in lots of games, I would have bought 10 brand new games initially.

But I won't....good luck Nintendo


Cheers
A very disappointed costumer

You're only hurting yourself. Good games are good games and they work just as well on the old 3DS as the new. I haven't played the NEW 3DS yet but I've had plenty of fun and enjoyment from my launch day 3DS up to now.