The curious case of the 3DS, the device too successful for Nintendo to kill New Nintendo 2DS XL, out Friday, is the latest 3DS device not to have 3D
From CBC
In retrospect, it probably wasn't the best idea for Nintendo to name its new flagship handheld device after its least important feature.Read more here: http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/nintendo-new-2ds-xl-3ds-1.4222860When the venerable Japanese gaming company unveiled the 3DS, the successor to its wildly popular DS handheld, in 2010, it retained the physical aesthetic of the DS — dual screens (one with touch functionality) in an attractive clamshell design — while adding more processing power.
But the marquee new feature was stereoscopic 3D, which lets characters such as Mario and Pikachu leap off the screen — without 3D glasses.
At the time, 3D televisions were the next big thing in consumer electronics. At Nintendo's E3 industry event press conference that year, press marvelled at the idea of playing games in 3D without having to wear dorky glasses.
Since then, consumers' infatuation with 3D — in theatres, on TV and in games — has faded.
Despite that, and Nintendo's focus on its newest console, the Switch, the popularity of 3DS has curiously endured.
Early flop, then price drop
When the 3DS first hit stores, gamers balked at its $249 Cdn price point. They saw little reason to upgrade from the DS, which already had a wide library of great games. In fact, the 3DS ended up being the weakest console launch for Nintendo since 1995's Virtual Boy (coincidentally, an earlier attempt at 3D gaming).
Less than six months later, Nintendo dropped the 3DS price by a staggering $80, to $169. Sales gradually picked up, bolstered by new games in fan-favourite series such as Pokemon, Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing.
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