Good news for people in the market for a portable video game system: Nintendo is slashing the price of its 3DS from $250 to $170, effective Aug. 12.
Bad news for Nintendo: The new lower price is because the company is posting losses and facing up to a lack of hit titles for both the 3DS, which is less than six months out from launch, and the Wii, which has a successor system on the way.
But leave it to Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime to spin it in a positive (if slightly pathetic) light:
“For anyone who was on the fence about buying a Nintendo 3DS, this is a huge motivation to buy now. We are giving shoppers every incentive to pick up a Nintendo 3DS, from an amazing new price to a rapid-fire succession of great games.”
Meanwhile, Nintendo is rewarding 3DS early adopters with 20 free downloadable games. All they have to do is use a wireless broadband connection to log into the Nintendo eShop at least once before the end of the day Aug. 11 and join the “Nintendo 3DS Ambassador” program. Starting Sept. 1, they’ll be able to download 10 NES Virtual Console games at no charge (including Super Mario Bros, Donkey Kong Jr., Balloon Fight, Ice Climber and The Legend of Zelda). Then, later in the year, they’ll be able to download 10 free Game Boy Advance Virtual Console titles (including Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Metroid Fusion, WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame and Mario vs. Donkey Kong).
