The 3DS is having a hard time living up to the success of its predecessor, the Nintendo DS. If you need evidence of that, then look no further than last month's North American sales numbers. According to those, the DS is still outshining Nintendo's successor.
The 3DS sold 143,000 units in June, a number which the DS more than doubled with a sales figure of 386,000. Nintendo, of course, is focusing on the fact that it sold 800,000 systems in total, but when you break the numbers down, it leads to a rather embarrassing conclusion for the lauded "glasses-free 3D" system.
The 3DS did get a bit of good news, with word that Ocarina of Time 3D sold 283,000 copies, which ain't too shabby at all.
Still, the 3DS isn't doing great and, given that Nintendo released the thing too early and has been mishandling it ever since, you're going to have to forgive me for thinking any humiliation is wholly deserved.
[Via Nintendo of America]
Contest:
10:30 AM on 07.15.2011 | 
Do I really need Netflix on my 3DS?
If you are talking about DSiWare (downloads), it IS possible to transfer them.
Gotta admit, I almost regret buying my 3DS on launch month. I should have at least waited for the good games, by then there will already be a price cut.
I read that a store in Canada will sell the 3DS for 200$ at the end of the month. I wonder if its already a price cut, or just a limited-time discount.
The original DS came out in November, so you can't really compare sales of the two systems. You really underestimate the power of holiday sales and parents buying them for their kids. If the 3DS was released in November you would be seeing much higher sales numbers for the first month. Speaking of which, the original DS had almost zero games other than Mario 64 for an entire year, whereas the 3DS is timing all of the big hitters to come out right around the holidays. Expect sales numbers for the 3DS to skyrocket this holiday season and then hopefully we can stop seeing all of these troll articles on Destructoid, Kotaku, Joystiq, etc.
Men lie. Women lie. Numbers don't.
@ Topic and got outsold in japan *drums* by the *drums* ... guess what? ... the PSP!
Also, with the 3DS having the most appealing exclusive (current gen) game is OOT. Logic and my n64 with said game combined to prevent me from wasting $300 to play a game I already have beat and own.
That Pricetag, game selection, and not apparent enough improved hardware make this handheld not on my radar. Sorry dudes, but Wii-like graphics on a handheld that costs more than the Wii, isn't blowing my technical spec socks off.
How exactly does that affect the gameplay? It doesn't. Most of the wildest concepts for using the dual/touch screen were already done on the DS, there isn't really any reason to upgrade at all.
You're not wrong. In fact, didn't the GBA also outsell the DS for a few months, after its launch? Which I think the DS did pretty well for itself in the end, after having a slow start. So I'm sure the 3DS will do just fine as well, come this holiday season!
@MrAndyDixon: now that is comedy gold.
@SayWord: Cheesus H. Christ on a Cracker, I actually agree with you for once!
I know Jim is just trolling for page-hits, so I'm not up in arms about his article, however by the looks of the comments, it appears not everyone else is as astute as I am.
Did you buy a 3DS at launch? Are you having fun with it? OK.
@Everyone else:
STFUAJPG
how does the first 4 months of ds phat compare to first 4 months of 3ds? that's a question worth asking. your open ridicule is baseless, and contrived. i'd appreciate a little less blow hard, and a little more intelligence from your write ups, thanks.
The ds was getting outsold 3x by a larger margin by the gba for 2 years.
Pretending like this is new or it matters is hilarious
This was may 2005..........
It's a fact. Stop getting your panties in a wad over facts.
What do you guys think, time to fire up the ol' low orbit ion cannon?
And attack what exactly? Nintendo? :P Or SONY again to hide the epic fail NINTENDO is at the moment? ;)
Still, glad to hear the DS is selling strong. Things really took off for that handheld once devs realized they didn't need to use the gimmicky touchscreen and mic capabilities to make good games.