At a recent financial results briefing, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata confirmed that the Nintendo 3DS eShop will not launch until May 2011. Numerous videogame pundits have criticized Nintendo for not having the online service ready for the 3DS’ launch. Here’s an excerpt from the briefing:
I would like to take this opportunity to inform you of our scheduled system updates of the hardware in detail. The first system update is scheduled for late May, at almost the same time around the world. Upon this update, you will be able to use some features including:
- Nintendo eShop,
- Transfer of Nintendo DSiWare from Nintendo DSi to Nintendo 3DS, and
- Internet Browser.
Does the delay change your 3DS purchasing decision? Are you going to wait until the eShop is ready or are you going buy a 3DS on launch day? Does the delay reinforce Nintendo’s shaky Internet reputation in your mind? Or is the company wisely waiting until it gets things right before it launches the service?
I don't think it matters at all honestly. Their epolicy is pretty antiquated as it stands. BSU brought up a point that most of their DSiWare isn't desirable so I don't see how anything changes with this.
In a nutshell…if I were buying this on launch day…this wouldn't stop me.
No im fine with it. I really wasnt thinking about getting it until may or june anyways now.
Interesting and disappointing that Nintendo seems to be falling so far behind with internet integration on their devices. Poor internet service, poor digital game selection, poor understanding of using profile's to store information instead of keeping it on a particular system like they do now (and have shown they will continue to do with the 3DS).
Obviously these things are not necessary, and in a way I am almost glad they are not good at working with smaller digital only games because I wouldn't want the quality of their larger titles to be compromised or for them to push smaller games. And as much as I like some of the XBLA games I play they feel more casual than I want my games to feel. I wouldn't want the same thing to happen with Nintendo games. Despite this online integration being desirable, it definitely is not a determining factor for me at all—it would just be nice to have.