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The 2DS: One 'D' Short of Three

20130830-172521.jpgPeople are flipping out over the 2DS. Yes, it's a bit of a silly product with a silly name (Nintendo loves their puns).

But I think most people are overlooking one thing: this device has to be insanely cheaper to produce than the other two variants of the Nintendo 3DS. It  has a cropped feature set while also using some surprising cost saving techniques. All this and at only $40 less than the original 3DS, the profit margin is most likely much higher too.

So, Nintendo targets those kids whom it recommends not use 3D with a cheaper version made just for their little digits and makes even more money in the process? Sounds good to me. And they do all this while hitting a lower price point and reenforcing an already successful platform. This isn't a far-future strategy, this is for this holiday and a year or two beyond.

One thing is for sure, this little oddity is destined to be a collector's item.

It Came From Inside the Nintendo Power Hotline

A former game counselor for the Nintendo Power helpline managed to snag two binders regularly used to assist stumped gamers. Yes, maps, tips, tricks and strategies on actual paper bound by not-so-precious metals and sometimes hand drawn.

Should Nintendo Go Mobile?

Yesterday, Bill Mudron tweeted:

I'm kinda wondering if we won't see Nintendo start releasing super-simple games on smartphones within the next 2 years.
–@mudron

First things first: Bill Mudron is a Nintendo fan. This isn’t some anonymous internet troll clamoring for Nintendo to go third-party. This is an admirer of their wares with a genuine interest in the company and upon posting this tweet several others rose to agree with him. This isn’t a new sentiment; Nintendo’s own shareholders have wondered why Nintendo doesn’t sell games on Apple’s App Store. I've been hearing this a lot lately, however it's this tweet that pushed me to address it.

With that said, let's take a quick look at why Nintendo should publish content on mobile devices. Putting their games on another platform increases their visibility and creates mindshare. People want Nintendo software on their phones because phones will always be more convenient than a dedicated gaming handheld. It is a bigger market and let's face it there is a lot of money to be made on the App Store. But while doing so would certainly bring a short-term boost to their bottom line it would damage their current business ventures in the long run. Let's look at the reasons for this.

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