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[Shun]

According to Siliconera

Nintendo of Japan is doing a promotion where all new 3DS LL come with a voucher that allows the buyer to download any of Nintendo's recommended software for the month.

This Promotion is starting April 26th and will continue on throughout until September 30th.

Each month, Nintendo will "Recommend" two different games for a buyer to choose from and the selection of games will change each month.

For the month of May, Nintendo is offering users either Animal Crossing New Leaf or Youkai Watch.

With that said, do you think that this promotion will entice consumers to buy more 3DS LL consoles? Do you also think that this promotion will come to America should it succeed in boosting overall sales?

 

[FluxWaveZ]

Nintendo's attempt at a kind of PS+? It'd be cool if it made it outside of Japan and if it evolved into something larger, but I wouldn't count on it.

 

[Sandfox]

Giving people a free game that's pretty popular is always a decent option. Free Animal Crossing or Yokai Watch should move some units.

 

[Boss Mog]

"allows the buyer to buy"? Wtf does that mean? Why wouldn't you be allowed to buy anything? I'm not sure OP explained this right or I don't get it at all.

EDIT: Ah OP changed to "allow the buyer to download" which now makes way more sense and is pretty cool, cause free games are always cool.

 

[perorist]

Nintendo's attempt at a kind of PS+? It'd be cool if it made it outside of Japan and if it evolved into something larger, but I wouldn't count on it.

Not really analogous to PS+ considering you need to purchase a new console every time you want to get a voucher.

 

[Tripon]

"allows the buyer to buy"? Wtf does that mean? Why wouldn't you be allowed to buy anything? I'm not sure OP explained this right or I don't get it at all.

You get a download code that gives you a choice between two games.

 

[Somnid]

You buy a 3DS XL. Nintendo gives you a voucher. This voucher is good for 1 game in a rotating selection through September.

 

[Amazeballs]

"allows the buyer to buy"? Wtf does that mean? Why wouldn't you be allowed to buy anything? I'm not sure OP explained this right or I don't get it at all.

The article makes it a bit more clear than the OP. Buyers will get a voucher for any recommended game before it expires. So you can wait until they recommend a game you'd want...I think.

 

[Sandfox]

"allows the buyer to buy"? Wtf does that mean? Why wouldn't you be allowed to buy anything? I'm not sure OP explained this right or I don't get it at all.

Nintendo is including a voucher with each 3DS LL that will let you pick one of the two games Nintendo recommends and available games will change each month.

 

[FluxWaveZ]

Not really analogous to PS+ considering you need to purchase a new console every time you want to get a voucher.

Sure. I guess I was thinking more that a specific catalog of games available for free changing on a monthly basis could become something like PS+ if Nintendo decided to, say, let people other than new buyers obtain one of those "recommended games" per month.

Though, they don't have a subscription service.

 

[L~A]

Wonder what the impact on sales will be... for both the 3DS and Youkai Watch.

 

[GamerJM]

I'm tempted to go buy one this month for Yokai Watch. But I want to wait until E3 to make sure localizations don't get announced. SO TOUGH

EDIT: Oh, I read the article, it seems when the next month comes the old game options still remain.

 

[Shinta]

I think it's more about getting people hooked on using the eshop, and buying digitally. Animal Crossing and Yokai Watch aren't going to be moving units. This is about conditioning people to get familiar with their digital marketplace right off the bat. Smart.

 

[Sir_Crocodile]

So that's a free retail level dlc game? Pretty good if it's the same price as a solus xl

 

[biocat]

Yokai watch is super popular with low elementary school age kids . I'm sure it will help sell units.

 

[Sigismundo]

Animal Crossing and Yokai Watch aren't going to be moving units.

I could swear Animal Crossing moved a ton of units (unless I misinterpreted what you said)

 

[GamerJM]

So that's a free retail level dlc game? Pretty good if it's the same price as a solus xl

No, it's only one game per voucher.

The way this is all worded is confusing. I'm still unsure if you get to choose between currently recommended games along with previously recommended games or not.

 

[Shinta]

I could swear Animal Crossing moved a ton of units (unless I misinterpreted what you said)

It did, but it's been out for a while. And it even had a special edition 3DS system already.

 

[L~A]

No, it's only one game per voucher.

The way this is all worded is confusing. I'm still unsure if you get to choose between currently recommended games along with previously recommended games or not.

Games are only available for one month, but you're free to keep your coupon and use it when there's game interesting you. For example, if you buy you console in May, you don't have to go with the May games, you can wait until, I dunno, Monster Hunter 4 is offered in July. But you have to use the coupon before September 30th anyway.

 

[Turrican3]

Meh.

At first I read that as "Nintendo is giving a voucher that allows you to download one game each month", kinda like Games-with-Gold.

A free, popular game is clearly nothing to scoff at, but the promotion could have been better IMHO.

 

[Veal]

They should do this with the WiiU.

 

[BishopLamont]

I think it's more about getting people hooked on using the eshop, and buying digitally. Animal Crossing and Yokai Watch aren't going to be moving units. This is about conditioning people to get familiar with their digital marketplace right off the bat. Smart.

wat

 

[Starwolf_UK]

I wonder if in the future hardware bundles might be done like this to avoid having to continuously update the included game and then get rid of the old stock.

 

[Darius]

Meh.

At first I read that as "Nintendo is giving a voucher that allows you to download one game each month", kinda like Games-with-Gold.

A free, popular game is clearly nothing to scoff at, but the promotion could have been better IMHO.

The difference is that you actually own the downloaded games and don´t need a subscription to be able to use them in this case.

 

[Aostia]

giving this "freedom of choice" is bettern than the usual bundle with pre-installed software imho.

 

[Cheesemeister]

The difference is that you actually own the downloaded games and don´t need a subscription to be able to use them in this case.

No, the difference is that you can only use the voucher to download ONE game during the entire course of the promotion, at a time of your choosing.

This is not a subscription, PS+, or ambassador-type deal.

 

[wsippel]

Meh.

At first I read that as "Nintendo is giving a voucher that allows you to download one game each month", kinda like Games-with-Gold.

A free, popular game is clearly nothing to scoff at, but the promotion could have been better IMHO.

XBL Gold and PS+ aren't free and the games are gone as soon as your subscription ends (on PS+ at least), so that comparison makes no sense whatsoever.

 

[Turrican3]

The difference is that you actually own the downloaded games and don´t need a subscription to be able to use them in this case.

As far as I understand it's PS+ what you're talking about, not Games with Gold.

EDIT: also @wsippel

 

[Turrican3]

so that comparison makes no sense whatsoever.

Why not?!

Games with Gold promotion: subscribe with XBLG and get free games that are yours forever --> promotion aims at getting more people subscribe to Gold.

Nintendo promotion: buy a console and get a free game --> promotion aims at getting more people buy 3DS.

Seems a fair comparison to me even if one is clearly far more expensive than the other *shrugs*

 

[Aostia]

No, the difference is that you can only use the voucher to download ONE game during the entire course of the promotion, at a time of your choosing.

This is not a subscription, PS+, or ambassador-type deal.

this is basically another bundle console + download code. this time around you can choose among different games and not getting only the one tied to the console, among a selection that offer you different games every month.

 

[wsippel]

Why not?!

Games with Gold promotion: subscribe with XBLG and get free games that are yours forever --> promotion aims at getting more people subscribe to Gold.

Nintendo promotion: buy a console and get a free game --> promotion aims at getting more people buy 3DS.

Seems a fair comparison to me even if one is clearly far more expensive than the other *shrugs*

As you just said yourself, both are completely different: buying a device vs. signing up for a paid service on top of buying the device itself.

 

[BishopLamont]

Why not?!

Games with Gold promotion: subscribe with XBLG and get free games that are yours forever --> promotion aims at getting more people subscribe to Gold.

Nintendo promotion: buy a console and get a free game --> promotion aims at getting more people buy 3DS.

Seems a fair comparison to me even if one is clearly far more expensive than the other *shrugs*

One you get more games but you don't get to keep, the other gives you less (1) but you get to keep.

Its not the same at all. Oh and the voucher is free, while xblg or ps+ also costs money.

this is basically another bundle console + download code. this time around you can choose among different games and not getting only the one tied to the console, among a selection that offer you different games every month.

This is a really effective way to capitalize on their IPs, this is the sort of stuff Nintendo needs to do, their margins are just gonna get thinner and thinner and this is one way to get rid of unnecessary costs associated with the usual bundles they put out.

 

[Deleted member 125677]

So every 3DS LL becomes a bundle with the game of the month? Neat. Could see it helping sales a bit.

 

[Turrican3]

One you get more games but you don't get to keep, the other gives you less (1) but you get to keep.

I understand mine was arguably not the best comparison ever, nor I want to keep derailing the thread, but I just want to point out again that, as far as I understand, the GwG games do not "expire" when the subscription does and you can continue playing them.

 

[Cosmozone]

XBL Gold and PS+ aren't free and the games are gone as soon as your subscription ends (on PS+ at least), so that comparison makes no sense whatsoever.

@_@ I didn't know that.

 

[panama chief]

making it out of Japan? nope.

 

[L~A]

Here's the selection for June :

That's Pokémon X and Y, Pokémon Art Academy (coming out on June 19), Animal Crossing : New Leaf and Puzzle & Dragons Z.

Source

 

[Mpl90]

Here's the selection for June :



That's Pokémon X and Y, Pokémon Art Academy (coming out on June 19), Animal Crossing : New Leaf and Puzzle & Dragons Z.

Source

...Wait.

...They are offering for free a game that's going to be released during that window? And they're giving 5 options this time?

Ok, they're serious about this. Happy to see it.

 

[cw_sasuke]

Seems like they are doing anything to not home drop the price of the system. Great selection though.

 

[L~A]

Seems like they are doing anything to not home drop the price of the system. Great selection though.

Well, that's pretty much a price drop (people are gonna need games to play on their new console), the only difference being it doesn't cost Nintendo one cent.

They really need to bring this to the west.

 

[Yoshi]

Well, that's pretty much a price drop (people are gonna need games to play on their new console), the only difference being it doesn't cost Nintendo one cent.

They really need to bring this to the west.

Puzzle & Dragons is a third party titel though, so that one does cost Nintendo money.

 

[Starwolf_UK]

Puzzle & Dragons is a third party titel though, so that one does cost Nintendo money.

It is entirely possible the publisher decided to take a cut on what would be 70% of the eShop to be part of the promotion.

 

[DrWong]

Puzzle & Dragons is a third party titel though, so that one does cost Nintendo money.

And/or it's also way for the publisher to pave the way for the - maybe - next 3DS Puzzle & Dragons...?

 

[MilesTeg]

Why is Puzzles and Dragons 3DS not coming to the West.

 

[cw_sasuke]

Why is Puzzles and Dragons 3DS not coming to the West.

Is this a question? It hasn't been announced yet but I'm pretty sure it's coming.

 

[luca_aros]

Good deal actually

 

[Desmond]

What is the RRP for a 3ds in Japan?

 

[L~A]

Why is Puzzles and Dragons 3DS not coming to the West.

GungHo already said they had plans to launch the game in the West, but we haven't heard anything for months.

What is the RRP for a 3ds in Japan?

18 000 Yens... without taxes.

 

[PaulExcellent]

I really want Youkai Watch localized.
Where is it?

 

[Desmond]

GungHo already said they had plans to launch the game in the West, but we haven't heard anything for months.



18 000 Yens... without taxes.

Damn, that's a great price. I can't imagine how much cheaper they'd be in a hard-off/book-store.