portable gaming

Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata has apologized to early adopters of his company's 3DS portable game player for dropping its price so soon after launch.

"In the past, there have been price drops for video game systems some time after their release in order to broaden the user base further," Iwata wrote in a letter posted to his company's Web site and translated by game-enthusiast site Giant Bomb. "However, never before has Nintendo chosen to issue such a dramatic price drop less than 6 months after a system release."

According to Iwata (Google Translate page), the price drop was due to the company's desire to reassure "software creators and those on the retail side that are not confident that the Nintendo 3DS is a worthy successor to the DS and will achieve a similarly broad user base."

Last week, Nintendo announced that it would drop the price of its 3DS worldwide. In the U.S., consumers will find the portable, which allows users to play games in 3D without the need for special glasses, selling for $169.99 starting August 12. That's one-third off its launch price of $249.99.… Read more

Sony's upcoming portable game player, the PlayStation Vita, could be on store shelves October 28, a report claims.

According to gaming publication IGN, a reader sent in a flier from Blockbuster in the U.K. that lists the PlayStation Vita as launching on October 28. The flier shows the Wi-Fi-only version retailing for 229.99 pounds ($378.37) and the 3G-capable version at 279.99 pounds ($460.61).

The Vita is arguably one of the most anticipated industry launches this year. The device, which will replace the ailing PlayStation Portable, comes with a 5-inch multitouch OLED screen, dual joysticks, … Read more

Nintendo is cutting the price of the 3DS after disappointing worldwide sales.

According to the company, U.S. customers will find the handheld game device on store shelves for $169.99 as of August 12. That's down 32 percent from its initial selling price of $249.99.

In Japan, customers will be able to buy the 3DS for 15,000 yen ($190), discounted from its initial price of 25,000 yen ($317).

Nintendo described the decision as a way to "create momentum for Nintendo 3DS and accelerate its market penetration toward the year-end sales season, when the lineup … Read more

Nintendo next week plans to launch the first major update to its 3DS portable.

Owners of the 3DS will be able to download the free update on June 6, the company announced today. When they do so, they will find a new Web browser on the platform, as well as Nintendo's eShop.

The device's browser allows for regular Web surfing, but also supports 3D content. So, if a user browses to a page that has 3D content, it can be viewed from the portable.

Nintendo's eShop is a content-downloading service, featuring applications, product information, and game trailers. … Read more

After selling 3.61 million 3DS units rather than the 4 million units it hoped to sell by the end of its fiscal year, Nintendo is going back to the drawing board on its message to consumers.

Speaking during his company's fiscal 2011 financial results briefing yesterday, Nintendo chief Satoru Iwata said that "analysis of the situation after the launch [of the 3DS]" has revealed that the company needs to "do a lot more to convey the value" of its portable to customers.

"The value of 3D images without the need for special glasses … Read more

Sony has cut the price of its PlayStation Portable in Europe, the company announced today.

Starting today, European customers who opt for a PSP will find it available for 129.99 euros, down from 169.99 euros. Sony was also quick to point out that some of its "top titles" are available to customers in Europe for as little as 9.99 euros. Its "platinum" catalog of titles, including God of War: Ghost of Sparta, retails for 19.99 euros.

Sony's European PSP price drop follows two recent cuts from the company in the U.… Read more

If you were hoping to get your hands on the Panasonic Jungle, you'll need to settle for something else.

Panasonic has chosen to discontinue its efforts on the portable-gaming device, Reuters reported today. The company apparently announced it had "decided to suspend further development due to changes in the market and in our own strategic direction," Reuters reported.

The Jungle handheld was first revealed late last year. The device was slated to compete with the Nintendo DS and Sony's PlayStation Portable. However, Panasonic had a somewhat different idea with the Jungle. Rather than allow developers to … Read more

Numerous reports coming out of Japan claim the Nintendo 3DS has sold out in that country.

According to the reports, 400,000 Nintendo 3DS units were sold since the device's launch on Saturday. A sell-out was expected. Most retail outlets in Japan sold out of their preorders prior to the launch of the portable-gaming device and were already taking orders for the next shipment.

The Nintendo 3DS will be one of the more interesting launches this year, thanks to its unique feature-set. The platform, which went on sale in Japan for 25,000 yen (about $300), allows gamers to … Read more

The Nintendo 3DS is just hours away from launching in Japan.

The portable gaming device is scheduled to hit store shelves tomorrow in Japan for 25,000 yen (about $300), while U.S. buyers have to wait until late March. The 3DS features the familiar dual-screen design customers have grown accustomed to with the Nintendo DS, but allows gamers to play titles in 3D. The most interesting aspect of the 3DS is that it doesn't require users to wear special glasses to see the 3D effect.

Aside from that, the platform comes with an accelerometer and gyroscope to improving … Read more