Slashing the price of a product doesn’t usually require an apology but the Nintendo 3DS price cut is a little different. Despite offering a bundle of games as compensation to early adopters – Nintendo is trying to style them as “3DS Ambassadors” – CEO Satoru Iwata has penned an apology note to fans who feel let down.
In the slightly over-dramatic letter, he tells Nintendo 3DS owners “there is nothing we can do to completely make up for the feeling that you are being punished for buying the system early” and assures them that they’re “extremely important”. Read on for more of Iwata’s mea culpa including some Mario news to further sugar the pill…
The letter is frank about Nintendo’s struggle promoting the 3D handheld. Iwata admits:
“If the software creators and those on the retail side are not confident that the Nintendo 3DS is a worthy successor to the DS and will achieve a similarly broad user base, it will be impossible for the 3DS to gain popularity, acquire a wide range of software and eventually create the product cycle for everyone to be satisfied with the system.“
After detailing the games offered in the 3DS Ambassadors scheme, the Nintendo CEO brings up Mario to make amends: “Additionally, we know everyone is waiting for Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7. They are scheduled for release in November and December, respectively, so we ask for your patience until then.”
The letter was translated from the original Japanese by Giant Bomb. A similar statement in English hasn’t been forthcoming but Nintendo has released details of the UK 3DS Ambassadors programme
What do you think of Iwata’s apology? Can the Nintendo 3DS still succeed?
Out now | £varies | Nintendo (via Giant Bomb)
