Nintendo enters into Panic Mode: Announces Wii U Price Cut, WWHD Bundle, and 2DS

So Nintendo appears to have gone into Panic Mode again as they have announced quite a few things:

1) Wii U is getting a $50 price cut making the Deluxe Model $299.99 now. They will also be releasing a Wind Waker HD Bundle that comes with a Digital Version of the game and a digital version of Hyrule Historia on September 20th for the same price:

http://kotaku.com/wii-u-price-drops-...-20-1214840727

http://kotaku.com/wind-waker-hd-rele...dow-1214863417

2) Nintendo has announced and in some cases moved up release dates for tons of Wii U and 3DS titles:

http://kotaku.com/nintendo-doles-out...lid-1214883870

3) Nintendo has announced the Nintendo 2DS. A cost reduced version of the 3DS with the 3D screen replaced with a 2D Screen. It will retail for $129.99 and is aimed at children under the age of 7:

http://kotaku.com/introducing-the-ni...ypo-1214807721

So basically Nintendo has gone into full swing panic mode for the upcoming Fall and Holiday season. So this might be a good time to get a Wii U or 3DS.

Well shit. I hope that day one buyers get some sort of deal like they did with the 3DS Embassador Program.

nintendo is sweating against the ropes going into the holiday season.

An ambassador program for the Wii U? The price drop came (or will come) 10 months after release unlike the 3DS which had a significant drop in price five months after release.

People say it is confusing enough between the Wii and Wii U yet now we're going to have a DS, 3DS and 2DS? What knucklehead thought of that idea?

That 2DS looks kinda neat actually, I may actually pick one up.

I don't think Nintendo is on the ropes to be honest, they're just trying to get ready to up sales for the holidays. After all, they do have a head start on both Sony and Microsoft at this point.

But who really cares about this console wars shit?

2DS? It's odd that they'd panic like that with the 3DS, considering sales have been excellent for the 3DS.

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Originally Posted by JCU

An ambassador program for the Wii U? The price drop came (or will come) 10 months after release unlike the 3DS which had a significant drop in price five months after release.

People say it is confusing enough between the Wii and Wii U yet now we're going to have a DS, 3DS and 2DS? What knucklehead thought of that idea?

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It's still an astounding timeframe for a new console to consider a price drop. MS and Sony were in the middle of their console lives before a price drop was even considered. I'm not saying Nintendo absolutely owes us something, but they've already set a precedent with the 3DS in that regard.

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Originally Posted by ApolloBoy

That 2DS looks kinda neat actually, I may actually pick one up.

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The upside to this is that, if it fails, you'll likely get double your money back from the Nintendo faithful in a few years. ;)

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Originally Posted by Metalwario64

2DS? It's odd that they'd panic like that with the 3DS, considering sales have been excellent for the 3DS.

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I see it as a strategic solution to reach a bigger audience. I have a (now) 6 year old who plays my 3DS more than I do, but it's always in 2D mode, as both my wife and I agree that he shouldn't be training his younger eyes to stare into a stereoscopic display for an extended time until more conclusive tests come in. Someone on either IGN or Kotaku equated the move as a Nintendo version of a Leapster, which, while oversimplified in it's implications, conveys the idea that Nintendo is actively targeting younger children with this move. Also, say you were on the fence before about a 3DS - you can now either have a 2D version that plays the same games, or, for 40 bucks more, you can take the plunge and get the full experience. It's a smart move, even if I don't care for the design (it just reeks of being rushed to market).

2DS is to help they get more money, since the Wii U is a failure.
Maybe I'll buy one when they release the 2DS XL, with a smaller size.

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Originally Posted by maxi

2DS is to help they get more money, since the Wii U is a failure.
Maybe I'll buy one when they release the 2DS XL, with a smaller size.

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They won't.

2DS is aimed at babies.

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Originally Posted by Lastcallhall

It's still an astounding timeframe for a new console to consider a price drop. MS and Sony were in the middle of their console lives before a price drop was even considered. I'm not saying Nintendo absolutely owes us something, but they've already set a precedent with the 3DS in that regard.

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The way Nintendo addressed both price drops is a bit different though. The 3DS was an $80.00 drop at a time when there was barely anything worth playing. Not only did the early adopters lose eighty dollars but there was barely anything worth playing. The only retail game I had for the system around this time was Ocarina of Time 3D which was an almost 13 yr old game. Fifty dollars this time around isn't as bitter tasting because the library is getting quite healthy. Who doesn't like anything free, right? I'd be extremely surprised if Nintendo addressed the early adopters of the Wii U.

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Originally Posted by Metalwario64

2DS? It's odd that they'd panic like that with the 3DS, considering sales have been excellent for the 3DS.

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This "panic" hyperbole is off base. It's called holiday marketing.

The 2DS; as stated in the original post here, (edit, I see Metalwario64 also picked up this fact a couple posts later) is aimed at children 7 and under who are otherwise directed not to play the 3DS for potential damge to their eye development.
This underserved market is now catered to with another game playing device. Where is the panic?

"Panic mode"? That's a bit sensationalist, if you ask me. The Wii U price cut makes perfect sense and needed to be done to have a better chance at competing with the next-gen consoles. The 2DS seems like a neat cost-effective idea as well. The later especially is more an example of Nintendo offering revisions to their handheld hardware every few years, just as they have been doing since the '90s. Hardly panicking if tou ask me, especially considering the 3DS is selling fine as-is.

Anybody notice the article that said the Vita's price had dropped?

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Originally Posted by TrekkiesUnite118

So Nintendo appears to have gone into Panic Mode

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That statement alone deserves rep because it's so true.

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You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to TrekkiesUnite118 again.

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:(

Nintendo will unload a substantial amount of consoles. But the question remains, will it outsell the Xbox 360, PS3 in October? Only time will tell because that is the true test. The Xbox 360 continues to be the best selling console in the US for quite some time now. If Nintendo can't sway enough mainstream gamers to buy a WiiU, then they are in serious trouble. IMHO, a re-hashed Gamecube game cannot possibly save the WiiU.

However the shit will hit the fan come this November.

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Originally Posted by Zz Badnusty

This "panic" hyperbole is off base. It's called holiday marketing.

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I agree with the Holiday marketing statement, but Nintendo is scraping the bottom of the barrel with a lack of innovation and last minute snap decisions. They probably had this option on the table for a long while and realized that they have no choice but to drop the price and exploit an old Gamecube game at the same time.