The 3D portable is days away from North American release and excitement is rising. Despite the massive hype for the 3DS there has been a few across various message boards that have been wondering how well the games for said device will sell at their price point, which is no cheaper than $40 according to Gamepstop.
The 3DS has been considered competition for not only the forthcoming NGP but also for the very popular iPhone which has become widely considered a gaming device as well. With this considered a $40 price point may be considered very noncompetitive when the iPhone can offer similar games, sans 3D, for a tenth of the price. Many developers have said this can’t be helped as costs to make the games have increased significantly.
One studio head told has said that 3DS launch titles “clearly have budgets two-to-three times what typical DS games have seen in the past”.
JC Connors, of Foundation 9’s handheld specialist subsidiary Griptonite Games added that “it simply takes more time and effort to design towards all the devices’ advanced features”.
“If you wanted to spend console money on developing a PSP2 or 3DS title, every penny of it would show, and clearly some of the launch titles have budgets two-to-three times what typical DS games have seen in the past,” he added.
Though the 3DS is likely to sell millions right out of the gate it could prove a slower climb for software sales. Only time will show how closely the iPhone and other smart phones are competing with the strictly game-centric devices. What do you think?
