3DS massive price drop, 20 free games for early adopters

ondafly · 28-07-2011 9:12am #1

According to Kotaku

3DS is now $170 in the US from $249

Also mentions 20 free downloadable games for current owners. No mention of price change for Europe though.

cherryghost · 28-07-2011 10:09am

Prices have been slashed on Amazon already

Mr E · 28-07-2011 10:25am

Prices aren't officially dropping until August 12th. If companies like Amazon have dropped their price already, wouldn't you be entitled to the 20 free games if you bought before then? Win win if you are....

Azure_sky · 28-07-2011 10:31am

I'll never become an early adopter again. I guess those of us who got it at launch day from the high street get nothing?

RobertFoster · 28-07-2011 10:42am

So long as you connect to the eShop before August 12th, you'll get the 20 free games. It doesn't matter if you bought it from the high street.

ShaneU · 28-07-2011 11:04am

cherryghost wrote: »

Prices have been slashed on Amazon already

£169 is the reduced price?

Mr E · 28-07-2011 11:52am

Cut confirmed for europe (cut by 'around a third')

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-07-28-eu-3ds-price-cut-around-a-third

ScaldyMc · 28-07-2011 12:11pm

I like the selection of gba games listed. Dying to play Metroid Fusion again.

FutureGuy · 28-07-2011 12:42pm

ScaldyMc wrote: »

I like the selection of gba games listed. Dying to play Metroid Fusion again.

Check boards.ie, find out I'm getting 20 free games.

Win.

The Volt · 28-07-2011 1:00pm

Are people able to get the free games now?

shuffles03 · 28-07-2011 1:10pm

So from the looks of it, if you don't already own a 3DS and are planning on buying one, the best option would be to buy it now before August 12th from the likes of Amazon etc who have already pre-empted the price cut thus guaranteeing 20 free games?

I wonder if the receipt of the free games will follow the long wait associated with the PSP GO 10 free games offer. I've heard so many stories of people purchasing a GO and waiting over 2 months to receive the games.

Nollog · 28-07-2011 1:18pm

http://www.nintendo.co.uk/NOE/en_GB/news/2011/nintendo_3ds_ambassador_programme_44123.html

YOU NEED TO CONNECT TO WIFI BEFORE AUGUST 11TH IN ORDER TO BE MARKED AS AN EARLY-ADOPTER, SO GO TO MCDONALDS OR SOMETHING AND DOWNLOAD A SYSTEM MENU UPDATE OR SOMETHING.
ANYONE WHO DOESN'T CONNECT TO THE INTERNET ON THEIR 3DS BEFORE AUGUST 11TH 11:59PM WILL NOT RECEIVE THE FREE GAMES FROM THE ESHOP.

shuffles03 · 28-07-2011 1:19pm

Guys, question about ordering from Amazon.co.uk. I've never bought anything before so if the price is £169, are there any hidden costs apart from maybe postage? Nearly bought a 3DS yesterday, so glad I didn't now with this cut.

I noticed the likes of play.com etc haven't updated their prices yet. Do you think I should go with Amazon or will their be better deals over the next few hours/days?

Nollog · 28-07-2011 1:20pm

shuffles03 wrote: »

Guys, question about ordering from Amazon.co.uk. I've never bought anything before so if the price is £169, are there any hidden costs apart from maybe postage? Nearly bought a 3DS yesterday, so glad I didn't now with this cut.

I noticed the likes of play.com etc haven't updated their prices yet. Do you think I should go with Amazon or will their be better deals over the next few hours/days?

Nope.
Delivery is free too, with super-saver.

megaten · 28-07-2011 2:23pm

shuffles03 wrote: »

Guys, question about ordering from Amazon.co.uk. I've never bought anything before so if the price is are there any hidden costs apart from maybe postage? Nearly bought a 3DS yesterday, so glad I didn't now with this cut.

I noticed the likes of play.com etc haven't updated their prices yet. Do you think I should go with Amazon or will their be better deals over the next few hours/days?

That's the price it's been most of the time on amazon. They haven't applied the cut yet.

shuffles03 · 28-07-2011 2:39pm

Cool, well hopefully the cut is applied on their site well before the 11th or else I'll just get one in HMV for €119.

nitromaster · 28-07-2011 3:49pm

*sees price cut* F U Nintendo

-clicks through and sees 20 free games* = happyness again.

I get 20 free games for basically no reason (on my part)

Gotta love Nintendo.

Halve_ZOL · 28-07-2011 4:20pm

shuffles03 wrote: »

Cool, well hopefully the cut is applied on their site well before the 11th or else I'll just get one in HMV for €119.

€119? Then I'm definitely picking one up. Missed out on Ocarina of time back in the days, so looking forward to play that one.

ShaneU · 28-07-2011 4:48pm

shuffles03 wrote: »

Cool, well hopefully the cut is applied on their site well before the 11th or else I'll just get one in HMV for €119.

Where are you getting €119 from? It won't be that cheap

megaten · 28-07-2011 4:53pm

I'd say it'll go down to 150 -170 myself. Maybe as high as 190 for shops like xtravision that are determined to try and keep prices high.

nitromaster · 28-07-2011 5:11pm

€169 seems to be the figure thrown around on neogaf/etc....Guessing whatever DS models are still on sale will get a price drop :pac:

Myrddin · 28-07-2011 5:48pm

nitromaster wrote: »

*sees price cut* F U Nintendo

-clicks through and sees 20 free games* = happyness again.

I get 20 free games for basically no reason (on my part) Gotta love Nintendo.

So basically, early adopters like myself will have paid roughly €100 for twenty NES or GB roms which the 3DS will emulate? (assuming the rrp falls to €150 from €250) Oh yeah, I really love Nintendo. I'd be happy with a few more choice 3DS titles tbh.

WarZoneBrother · 28-07-2011 6:43pm

This price cut is what Nintendo need to compete with the PS Vita... Surely the price drop is to influence people to the 3DS rather than the Vita.. I think I shall pick up another 3DS after price drop then PS Vita.. Could have predicted this would happen with the Vita only being 50 quid more than 3DS and a whole lot more powerful..

nitromaster · 28-07-2011 7:10pm

EnterNow wrote: »

So basically, early adopters like myself will have paid roughly €100 for twenty NES or GB roms which the 3DS will emulate? (assuming the rrp falls to €150 from €250) Oh yeah, I really love Nintendo. I'd be happy with a few more choice 3DS titles tbh.

Considering they didn't have to.....a 3DS title or two would have been much sweeter though tbh...

And i was happy enough paying full price for the system so i guess i gotta be happy with some free downloads in addition...just my way of looking at it.

ShaneU · 28-07-2011 7:11pm

EnterNow wrote: »

So basically, early adopters like myself will have paid roughly €100 for twenty NES or GB roms which the 3DS will emulate? (assuming the rrp falls to €150 from €250) Oh yeah, I really love Nintendo. I'd be happy with a few more choice 3DS titles tbh.

Really don't have any sympathy for you. Everyone knew it was overpriced at launch for the diehard fans who'll pay anything, then they drop the price when sales die down to pick up the people on the fence. It was released too early just so the profits would fit into one of their stupid quarterly reports instead of when it's ready.

Wolverine359 · 28-07-2011 7:17pm

5 of the 10 NES games have been confirmed so far:
Super Mario Bros,
Donkey Kong Jr,
Balloon Fight,
Ice Climber,
and The Legend of Zelda,
available from September 1.

And 5 of the 10 GBA games have also been confirmed:
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Metroid Fusion
WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$, and
Mario Vs Donkey Kong,
available by the end of the year.

http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/29082/free-3ds-games-confirmed/

pdbhp · 28-07-2011 7:27pm

Well I already own all of those games but I'll take them since they're free.
It's great that Nintendo are doing this but it also smacks of desperation to shift a few consoles before PS Vita comes along in all its shiny goodness

Wolverine359 · 28-07-2011 8:09pm

According to nintendo.co.uk, it seems that Yoshi's Island and Super Mario Advance 3 are on the GBA list, maybe instead of Super Mario Advance 4, or maybe in addition to the other 5... but anyway! :pac:
Here's the details of the ambassador programme (you become a 3DS ambassador automatically if you connect to the eShop before August 11):
http://www.nintendo.co.uk/NOE/en_GB/news/2011/nintendo_3ds_ambassador_programme_44123.html

pdbhp · 28-07-2011 8:34pm

Logged on there to the E-Shop, does that mean I'm in for the free games now?

Thought this was fairly defeatest.

All of you who have kindly supported Nintendo 3DS from the beginning are Nintendo’s most important customers. Although we may not be able to completely prevent you from regretting purchasing Nintendo 3DS early, we would like to express our gratitude to our special customers like you by offering 20 free downloadable games from Nintendo eShop.

Odd that they'd think people would regreat getting the 3DS early but at least they're acknowledging us fans

Wolverine359 · 28-07-2011 8:55pm

^Yeah I thought that was pretty strange too, I even lol'ed at that part.

It's as if they expect everyone who bought the 3DS on day one to regret ever making the purchase.

pdbhp wrote: »

Logged on there to the E-Shop, does that mean I'm in for the free games now?

Yep I think that's literally all you have to do to qualify for the free games. Have to wait another month to access the NES games, but that's all.

jaykhunter · 28-07-2011 9:00pm

What kind of backwards compatibility does the 3DS have?

nitromaster · 28-07-2011 9:08pm

jaykhunter wrote: »

What kind of backwards compatibility does the 3DS have?

Just DS games via slot/DSiWare games via the shop.

3D versions of certain NES titles via the virtual console...guess it's getting some non 3D versions for this.
Gameboy + Gameboy Color titles via virtual console...oh and they're adding Gamegear titles to the virtual console soon.

Oafley Jones · 28-07-2011 11:16pm

Still not interested in this device. My launch day lite still manages to get almost 7-8 hours of play. I've no interest in 3d and it's inclusion or otherwise wouldn't influence me in the slightest but I cant get past that battery life.

Also it's ugly.

Resi12 · 29-07-2011 3:21am

Isn't this EXACTLY what they did with the N64? Overpriced for first few weeks ($200) so the die-hards will buy it and then drop it to reasonable price for the general public ($149)?

http://ie.ign64.ign.com/articles/060/060605p1.html

1huge1 · 29-07-2011 8:27am

If my memory serves me correct this is the fastest a company has ever dropped their price of a console, I mean 6 months...come on

I don't remember it dropping that fast for N64 Resi12 but maybe i'm wrong, I was rather young back then.

Edit: From that article is says the N64 was released in September was the price was being reduced around the end of march

Azure_sky · 29-07-2011 8:29am

/\/ollog wrote: »

http://www.nintendo.co.uk/NOE/en_GB/news/2011/nintendo_3ds_ambassador_programme_44123.html

YOU NEED TO CONNECT TO WIFI BEFORE AUGUST 11TH IN ORDER TO BE MARKED AS AN EARLY-ADOPTER, SO GO TO MCDONALDS OR SOMETHING AND DOWNLOAD A SYSTEM MENU UPDATE OR SOMETHING.
ANYONE WHO DOESN'T CONNECT TO THE INTERNET ON THEIR 3DS BEFORE AUGUST 11TH 11:59PM WILL NOT RECEIVE THE FREE GAMES FROM THE ESHOP.

Nice.....I guess we're getting GBA games after all on the V.C.

Mr E · 29-07-2011 8:48am

Price drop/20 free games threads merged since they were discussing the same things.

SilentHunter · 29-07-2011 9:52am

I'm glad to see Metroid fusion on there. I bought a second hand version of it and the save feature didn't work for me.

1huge1 · 29-07-2011 9:56am

The price issue and the battery life issue are of equal importance when it comes to me not having a 3ds yet. 1 problem down Nintendo, 1 to go.

o1s1n · 29-07-2011 2:15pm

SilentHunter wrote: »

I'm glad to see Metroid fusion on there. I bought a second hand version of it and the save feature didn't work for me.

Change the battery in the cart and it'll work again.

29-07-2011 8:34pm

What will preowned ones be selling for now?

Just Like Heaven · 29-07-2011 10:07pm

I haven't actually used my 3ds online yet. Do I need to register with credit card details etc. on the E shop to qualify for these free games?

Thanks.

kearneybobs · 29-07-2011 10:20pm

fewtinsoffroth wrote: »

I haven't actually used my 3ds online yet. Do I need to register with credit card details etc. on the E shop to qualify for these free games? Thanks.

Nope. I think you just need to have a nintendo ID or something. I linked my club nintendo id with it and away I went.

Just Like Heaven · 29-07-2011 10:28pm

kearneybobs wrote: »

Nope. I think you just need to have a nintendo ID or something. I linked my club nintendo id with it and away I went.

Cheers! Will get on it.

Was pretty pleased with the first 10 games announced so far.

Irish Halo · 29-07-2011 10:35pm

kearneybobs wrote: »

Nope. I think you just need to have a nintendo ID or something. I linked my club nintendo id with it and away I went.

Not even that according to Nintendo:

To register for the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Programme, you only need to make sure you visit the Nintendo eShop at least once on your Nintendo 3DS before 23:59 pm (Central European Time) on August 11th.

Just connect to the internet and pop into the eShop apparently, I assume we will get something confirming that we are ambassadors before the 12th of August though.

martineatworld · 30-07-2011 4:14pm

1huge1 wrote: »

If my memory serves me correct this is the fastest a company has ever dropped their price of a console, I mean 6 months...come on

I don't remember it dropping that fast for N64 Resi12 but maybe i'm wrong, I was rather young back then.

Edit: From that article is says the N64 was released in September was the price was being reduced around the end of march

Nope. Original Xbox anyone!? It was out under two months and a price drop was announced, with a similar free game ploy to ease the pain of early adopters.

http://uk.gamespot.com/news/2861836/xbox-price-drop-in-australia-europe?sid=2861836

amacachi · 30-07-2011 4:18pm

Really don't get the whinging, prices of consoles tend to come down and Nintendo are "making it up to" the people who bought early.

The price isn't enough to get me to get one, that'll happen when it's been exploited so I can emulate and import.

EDIT: Actually it'll be when a revised model with a properly functioning battery is out and been exploited before I get one. :pac:

Nollog · 01-08-2011 9:49pm

lol, was my red text too big mr. e?

Anyone know if gamestop have lowered the value they give for trading in the console yet?

DARK-KNIGHT · 01-08-2011 11:43pm

how do you get on to the eshop? my 3ds is connected to my wifi but its saying internet not available check support and i dont see an option in 3ds menu for eshop????

really confused now

Naphiel · 02-08-2011 2:04am

Do you have the latest system update?

DARK-KNIGHT · 02-08-2011 2:24am

Naphiel wrote: »

Do you have the latest system update?

lol i never updated console... DUH ME:o

3DS massive price drop, 20 free games for early adopters

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