So, today Nintendo finally announced the final plans for the 3DS launch. Japan gets it on the 26th of February, with the rest of the world waiting a month before getting their hands on it. A whole ton of data came out: it comes bundled with a charger stand, an AC adapter, a 10cm telescopic Nintendo 3DS touch pen, a 2GB SD card, six augmented reality cards as well as instruction booklets. New functions include a slide pad, motion sensor and gyro-sensor. It will have parental controls like the Nintendo DSi and the DSi XL portables before it. It is can play games downloaded off the 3DS's Virtual Console as well as games downloaded onto a Nintendo DSi and works with  Nintendo DS game cartridges, and keeps the cameras of the DSi line. They even announced exact sizing, which is a little too dull to post.
 
None of that matters, though, compared to the biggest statistic of all: price. And that is where I think Nintendo will lose people. 
 
The announced price in Japan is 25,000¥. Current conversion rates on XE.com put that at $299.02 in the US, and £189.30/€219.25 for Europe pre-tax (UK typical rates put that at 20% extra, pushing it closer to £230/€265), which is more than the Wii. 
 
Now, yes, it's a very cool piece of kit; portable 3D, capable of running games with great graphical quality, etcetera. But let's be serious, here. For the UK price, you can have a 250GB Xbox 360S with 3 games and £20 spare to spend on more stuff, or be £20 shy of a 160GB PS3 Slim. Both offer way more playability. If you insist on being portable, you could have a PSP and a DSi together for that cost. Is it really worth that much? 
 
I'm sure it will sell well at launch, but like it seems is happening with the Wii now it will tail off afterwards if they can't justify it well. Nintendo need to learn the lesson from Sony and the PS3 launch, which here in the UK launched with a bit of a sad trumpet due to the astronomical pricing. A high entry cost means early adopters might be the only adopters for quite a while, and without holiday sales to prop it up, this could be the first time another company (Sony, with the practically confirmed PSP2) takes the handheld crown...

So, today Nintendo finally announced the final plans for the 3DS launch. Japan gets it on the 26th of February, with the rest of the world waiting a month before getting their hands on it. A whole ton of data came out: it comes bundled with a charger stand, an AC adapter, a 10cm telescopic Nintendo 3DS touch pen, a 2GB SD card, six augmented reality cards as well as instruction booklets. New functions include a slide pad, motion sensor and gyro-sensor. It will have parental controls like the Nintendo DSi and the DSi XL portables before it. It is can play games downloaded off the 3DS's Virtual Console as well as games downloaded onto a Nintendo DSi and works with  Nintendo DS game cartridges, and keeps the cameras of the DSi line. They even announced exact sizing, which is a little too dull to post.
 
None of that matters, though, compared to the biggest statistic of all: price. And that is where I think Nintendo will lose people. 
 
The announced price in Japan is 25,000¥. Current conversion rates on XE.com put that at $299.02 in the US, and £189.30/€219.25 for Europe pre-tax (UK typical rates put that at 20% extra, pushing it closer to £230/€265), which is more than the Wii. 
 
Now, yes, it's a very cool piece of kit; portable 3D, capable of running games with great graphical quality, etcetera. But let's be serious, here. For the UK price, you can have a 250GB Xbox 360S with 3 games and £20 spare to spend on more stuff, or be £20 shy of a 160GB PS3 Slim. Both offer way more playability. If you insist on being portable, you could have a PSP and a DSi together for that cost. Is it really worth that much? 
 
I'm sure it will sell well at launch, but like it seems is happening with the Wii now it will tail off afterwards if they can't justify it well. Nintendo need to learn the lesson from Sony and the PS3 launch, which here in the UK launched with a bit of a sad trumpet due to the astronomical pricing. A high entry cost means early adopters might be the only adopters for quite a while, and without holiday sales to prop it up, this could be the first time another company (Sony, with the practically confirmed PSP2) takes the handheld crown...

That's kinda hard to believe. Apple's products sell at around twice the price the 3DS will be in Japan, and they are doing very well, and they are Nintendo's only competitors in the market.
 
Unlike, the PS3, it is not the most expensive in the market, the 3DS is actually the cheapest of the next gen handhelds (3DS, iPhone, iPad). 
 
However, it gives Sony a great opportunity to bring a super cheap handheld into the brawl.

However, it gives Sony a great opportunity to bring a super cheap handheld into the brawl. "

considering the technology behind it, the price isn't that bad. 

" considering the technology behind it, the price isn't that bad.  "

OMG, you can get a 360S with three games for 40 £ less than a PS3 Slim with no games and a smaller hard drive in the UK?! That's almost theft. 
 
On topic, I don't think Nintendo will ever lose the handheld market. Remember, this thing can also play DS games so people can just sell/trade in their DS's and use the money towards this.

DS trade prices are rubbish now, though. By March, they'll be abysmal. 
 
I think having a handheld that costs more than a comparable home system is a massive sales killer; think PSP Go, which over here is £250, twice the cost of a standard PSP3000. 
 
And yes, the cost of a PS3 over here is pretty much wallet rape. Even second hand, a 360 with 120GB HDD is £100, and the nearest PS3 is the 40GB for £130...

To me it seems too high for mainstream gamer appeal, it doesn't have all the functionality of a smartphone so it's not really comparable.  Still, Sony hasn't shown off anything with regards to the PSP2 and the 3DS has a really strong library seemingly.
 
What drives casual gamers to buy handhelds like the DS and Gameboy, which were always gateway systems?  I think a low price was always a factor...  If this was a normal time for gaming we'd probably be expecting the next generation of consoles at a higher price sometime soon, but it's not.
 
The economy for actual people is only getting worse and worse, will people pay more and more for gaming?

Internet experts speaking with the same expertise they did on the Wii years ago. 

Even at a $300 price point, the 3DS is guaranteed to still sell millions of units based simply on the branding, the appeal of the cutting edge tech, and the current DS user base. If you can't or won't pay that much, keep in mind that the price will eventually drop.

" Internet experts speaking with the same expertise they did on the Wii years ago.  "

It won't cost that much in the US. I can't imagine it being more than $200. In Japan, Nintendo can get away with it because they'll gladly gobble up anything Nintendo releases. Here their audience is tougher, so they'll lower the price to accommodate. Well, that's my prediction, anyway.

Hey Nintendo will never fail. We thought the same thing when they showed the wii off. We thought they where crazy. Look at what happened.

"However, it gives Sony a great opportunity to bring a super cheap handheld into the brawl. "

" It won't cost that much in the US. I can't imagine it being more than $200. In Japan, Nintendo can get away with it because they'll gladly gobble up anything Nintendo releases. Here their audience is tougher, so they'll lower the price to accommodate. Well, that's my prediction, anyway. "

" @Willy105 said:

"However, it gives Sony a great opportunity to bring a super cheap handheld into the brawl. "

I'm not the only one who laughed at this right? "

I have to admit, everything I hear about PSP2 makes me think it too will be costly; touchscreens are not cheap, and replacing buttons will up costs per unit. 
 
I doubt Nintendo will reduce outside Japan; everyone thought the Wii would be cheaper, too, and it turned out to cost more (Proof for the doubters). So yeah, expect a little mark-up for outside Japan.

It's pretty pointless to discuss the UK and US prices because we don't know what they are.  Direct conversions aren't going to be accurate.  I can definitely see the unit being £250 in the UK, but if Nintendo want to stick to their 'cheap' philosphy then I doubt it'll be over £200.  While I'm sure it would still sell well, it would alienate a lot of buyers.

$300!!!!!

It's a lot of cash for a 3DS but I still don't think Nintendo are at risk of losing the handheld market any time soon.

" @TheGreatGuero said:

" It won't cost that much in the US. I can't imagine it being more than $200. In Japan, Nintendo can get away with it because they'll gladly gobble up anything Nintendo releases. Here their audience is tougher, so they'll lower the price to accommodate. Well, that's my prediction, anyway. "

I hope you're right. If it is lowered though, I only see it coming down to maybe $250. Cutting the price $100 in just a months time seems unlikely. "

No.

EVERYONE would buy one if it was £150.

" EVERYONE would buy one if it was £150. "

" I wouldn't..  And yes, it's a pretty steep price for a handheld. Then again, keep in mind that this is coming from someone who's not big on handhelds. I can certainly see why it's popular, it's just not for me. Nevertheless, asking for $300 is pretty heavy, but as stated above, Apple manages just fine. You have to remember though that you get a lot more usability out of most apple products than you will from a 3DS. Might be completely off on this though. "

" @Azteck said:

" I wouldn't..  And yes, it's a pretty steep price for a handheld. Then again, keep in mind that this is coming from someone who's not big on handhelds. I can certainly see why it's popular, it's just not for me. Nevertheless, asking for $300 is pretty heavy, but as stated above, Apple manages just fine. You have to remember though that you get a lot more usability out of most apple products than you will from a 3DS. Might be completely off on this though. "

The way I see it, the 3DS is in a special place that separates it from typical handhelds. While we are still struggling to get  3D working well in TVs, something the size of the 3DS is much easier. It's finally bringing something to the handheld that consoles can't do better yet. "

Most people have said it is not bad at all. you only really hold a hand held in one way anyways so there is not extra strain to hold it the "right" way.@Azteck:

" Most people have said it is not bad at all. you only really hold a hand held in one way anyways so there is not extra strain to hold it the "right" way.@Azteck: "

" @Azteck:  I guess the point I was trying to make was more about the fact that it's finally given us a reason to play our handhelds at home, even. Normally I'm with you about not being big on handhelds. I have a DSi, but I rarely touch it (pun not intended). I'm almost always at home, so I can just play my consoles or PC. But when the 3DS launches, I feel like having 3D that actually works would give me motivation to finally pick up my handheld in place of consoles. "

" I can totally see what you mean. It's different from other consoles and thus gives you an incentive to use it instead of just having one to play on the go. Out of curiosity, how long do you think the new-tech-feeling will last with the 3DS? Out of experience, a lot of new technology seizes to be as amazing as they were when you first bought them within months. That might not be the case with this one though as it's truly innovative, and almost one of a kind on the market. "

It will sell perfectly fine. IF there is one thing to remember in life is that people will ALWAYS try to buy the latest tech piece no matter the price. Honestly if you think that paying $300 for a handheld that has the best visuals out for a handheld, 3D without the use of glasses and a slew more improvements that are quite cool. Look no further than your local starbucks to see all those idiots who have bought a MacBook just for word processing and internet.  
 
If people will buy a $599 PS3 at launch people will buy a $300 handheld. 
If people will buy a $549 iPad for only the 16GB model people will buy a $300 handheld 
If people will buy a $429 iTouch with 64GB people will buy a $300 handheld with 2.5GB capacity 
 
so it will sell.

If people will buy a $599 PS3 at launch people will buy a $300 handheld.

" @flufflogic: Umm that is wrong 2500 yen is 300 bucks :/ LOL  "

I have to admit, everything I hear about PSP2 makes me think it too will be costly; touchscreens are not cheap, and replacing buttons will up costs per unit. 
 
I doubt Nintendo will reduce outside Japan; everyone thought the Wii would be cheaper, too, and it turned out to cost more (Proof for the doubters). So yeah, expect a little mark-up for outside Japan.

" @flufflogic

I have to admit, everything I hear about PSP2 makes me think it too will be costly; touchscreens are not cheap, and replacing buttons will up costs per unit. 
 
I doubt Nintendo will reduce outside Japan; everyone thought the Wii would be cheaper, too, and it turned out to cost more (Proof for the doubters). So yeah, expect a little mark-up for outside Japan.

Not to be a dick. But reread what you posted. May have been a mistake but you clearly said that the wii cost more outside of Japan and give a website with bad info on out to prove your point. And now you post with a link showing your wrong. "

You have to remember though, there is no official price for the US yet, and things like that tend to be a little less expensive here. So I wouldn't expect anything more than $250.
 
When you consider the technology though, the price could be well worth it, even if it's more than an iPod Touch.

Y'see, this is the thing; it'll sell. I just don't think it'll be anywhere near the 4 million Nintendo expect in the first month. I mean, yes, iPad did similar to that, iPhones tend to do that - but they're multifunction devices. Has any console ever had a 4 million opening month?

You are forgetting something in your arguement and that is shit is more expensive in Japan for pretty much everything!  
Expecting the price in other parts of the world to be what it is in Japan is not something you can count on. It's actually more likely that this new product is going to be more expensive in Japan. That is the more statistically accurate prediction to make based on price is that it will be cheaper in North America and Europe.

Assuming that the Japanese price will carry over to those regions is not logical in the slightest.     

I think it is going to go down in price in the US. The only way Nintendo will lose the handheld crown is if  "PSP 2" has dual analogue sticks, faster load time,  cheaper price, and makes people forget what a mess the original PSP was.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA no.

PSP cost just as much upon launch and the original DS wasn't much cheaper, people will pay this. Pretty silly to say they'll lose their footing on the market because of a launch price. Look at the PS3, they ended up doing okay. Besides it'll drop in price, and sell gangbusters either way.

The novelty factor is gonna sell this thing like crazy.  If they price it lower than $300 and sell out straight away, it'll just end up being sold on ebay at $300 (or more) anyway, so what's the point?  Once the initial rush dies down and they can comfortably keep up with demand, they'll just drop it a bit and sell another zillion units.