A lack of compelling software is behind slowing 3DS sales in Japan, according to Team Ninja boss Yosuke Hayashi.
Although Nintendo's new portable made a strong start in the country, it wasn't long before ageing rival PSP returned to the top of the weekly hardware sales rankings, and Hayashi believes this is due to the greater variety of software available for Sony's handheld.
"In Japan, I feel that there isn't enough software that can drive up the sales of the console. There's a flow where people are looking towards the PSP where there is much more variety."
However, Hayashi isn't concerned about the 3DS's future outlook.
""We see the potential in the 3DS and believe that once there are more games that can satisfy customers more people will start to realise the full potential of the console, so it's still early days and we're not worried about the future at the moment."
Earlier this month, Hayashi revealed Ninja Gaiden 3 will feature a 'complex multiplayer mode'.
Comments
15 comments so far...
Megatrons_Fury on 28 Apr '11 said:
Totally agree
The Nintendo 3DS launch is a joke, worst launch Nintendo have ever done as far as i can remember.
Still it makes sense as maybe they were working too hard secretly on the next gen Wii console, knowing how Nintendo operates tends to make me think somehting positive will come out of all this.....
I hope.......
humanhand on 28 Apr '11 said:
I think they wanted the 3DS on the market a good year before the launch of their next home console. Evenly drain our wallets with stellar launch line up or not.
g_marrs on 28 Apr '11 said:
To be fair, it's really because Nintendo tried to give third parties the launch. They've learned a valuable lesson. Next time launch with Mario.
boskersrevenge on 28 Apr '11 said:
Ubi? Let Ubi have control?
Slap that man!
YCshinobi on 28 Apr '11 said:
Should have launched with Zelda and there would be no complaints, well except from the few who complain about Zelda, but other than that it would have been a prefect launch.
stealth on 28 Apr '11 said:
totally disagree
the worst launch was the ds launch
And the 3ds sales worldwide are outpacing the ds. so how bad could it be
Balladeer on 28 Apr '11 said:
The DS had SM64DS.
And since when have Team Ninja been allowed to say anything? If they can atone for making Samus a giant wuss, then and only then should they be let out of the cupboard.
stealth on 28 Apr '11 said:
Yes it did. A worse version with bad controls. And thats all it had for like a solid year..........
Balladeer on 28 Apr '11 said:
And still one of the best games on the DS!
liveswired on 28 Apr '11 said:
It doesn't take a Ninja to work out that one -
It was a pretty poor launch - Pilotwings, Street Fighter and Nintendogs are after all being said excellent titles and are real standouts with exceptional graphics and gameplay.
The rest was unfortunately just filler thrown together within a few months to make the release.
voodoo341 on 28 Apr '11 said:
Hasn't really started off too well. Was interested but not any more. This review just about sums the 3DS up for me.
Windowlicker79 on 29 Apr '11 said:
I'd agree with that. Every new Nintendo console should be released with a new Mario game, just like the NES, SNES and N64 were. Preferably as an in box bundle
stealth on 30 Apr '11 said:
hardly
stealth on 30 Apr '11 said:
hardly
In terms of sales its started out killer outselling the ds worldwide.
When the games start flowing starting june and for another 7 years.
get back to me how much this launch mattered
Zepf on 30 Apr '11 said:
Bet they were counting on the momentum of ds sales spilling onto the 3ds, why use stellar games when the things were practically guaranteed to fly off the shelves?
Besides the real nintendo gems are one the way anyway, looking forward to the new Mario game!
By which time, price might have dropped a little. It's all good.
What's wrong with sm64 ds? Controls were tight on the dpad, had some great mini games built in. Sort or splode owned me for months!