14 DAY TRIAL // Video game hardware maker Nintendo has taken the unprecedented step of issuing an apology to all those customers who have bought the new 3DS handheld before the recent price cut, saying that the move was needed to make the device more attractive to other potential players.
The price of the Nintendo 3DS is now down to 169 dollars or the equivalent in other markets, which is 30 percent less than when the device was first out during February and March of this year.
The letter to those who have already bought a Nintendo 3DS has been posted on the official Japanese language website of the company and says, “The situation has changed greatly since we originally launched the 3DS.”
It adds, “We decided it was necessary to take this drastic step in order to ensure that large numbers of users will continue to enjoy the 3DS in the future. If the software creators and those on the retail side are not confident that the Nintendo 3DS is a worthy successor to the DS and will achieve a similarly broad base, it will be impossible for the 3DS to gain popularity, acquire a wide range of software, and eventually create the product cycle necessary for everyone to be satisfied with the system.”
The letter is signed by Satoru Iwata, who is the president of Nintendo, and he has also taken time to talk about the importance of early adopters and how much the company he heads believes they have helped promote the 3DS.
Those who have already bought the handheld are entitled to a number of free video games that will not be released through other outlets.
Before the end of the year Nintendo plans to launch both Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 for the 3DS and hopes that this, coupled with the price drop, will make the device a hit during the all important Christmas shopping season.