3DS game prices are too high. It's something that's been mentioned several times in the NPD threads. $40 for a handheld game with full console games at that price or not much higher is just too much. DS games at $40 (e.g. Square-Enix tax) didn't perform well typically, for example, either. We've been hoping Nintendo would wise up and not put all new 3DS games at that $40 price, and it looks like it may be happening.
Amazon
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D - $35
Animal Crossing: New Leaf - $35
Best Buy
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D - $35
Animal Crossing: New Leaf - $35
Wal-Mart
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D - $35
Animal Crossing: New Leaf - $35
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D comes out in May, and Animal Crossing comes out in June (U.S. dates). Luigi's Mansion just came out at $40, so it's not a present change. Pokemon X/Y still show at $40, but Pokemon typically has a premium price on the handhelds, anyways. Still, it looks like (some) upcoming 3DS first-party games may be dropping in price to $35 at release.
You can say that AC has sold more than enough in Japan (> 3m), so any outside of Japan sales are just icing, so that's why they'd reduce the price. And DKCR is a remake, so maybe that's why it's cheaper. However, it still looks like a possibility that Nintendo (in the U.S., at least) might finally be bringing down the price of some 1st-party games at release.
* Hope the eShop also reflects the reduced prices, particularly for Animal Crossing.
* Still want a real Player's Choice budget line, even though that's been sort of sparse on Nintendo handhelds, anyways.
Amazon
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D - $35
Animal Crossing: New Leaf - $35
Best Buy
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D - $35
Animal Crossing: New Leaf - $35
Wal-Mart
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D - $35
Animal Crossing: New Leaf - $35
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D comes out in May, and Animal Crossing comes out in June (U.S. dates). Luigi's Mansion just came out at $40, so it's not a present change. Pokemon X/Y still show at $40, but Pokemon typically has a premium price on the handhelds, anyways. Still, it looks like (some) upcoming 3DS first-party games may be dropping in price to $35 at release.
You can say that AC has sold more than enough in Japan (> 3m), so any outside of Japan sales are just icing, so that's why they'd reduce the price. And DKCR is a remake, so maybe that's why it's cheaper. However, it still looks like a possibility that Nintendo (in the U.S., at least) might finally be bringing down the price of some 1st-party games at release.
* Hope the eShop also reflects the reduced prices, particularly for Animal Crossing.
* Still want a real Player's Choice budget line, even though that's been sort of sparse on Nintendo handhelds, anyways.