Friday, 27 January 2012

Nintendo to release 2D side-scrolling Mario title on 3DS next fiscal year

Nintendo confirmed not-so-shocking news this week that the WiiU will launch pretty much worldwide by the end of the year.

In its recent financial briefing report, we now know that Nintendo is planning to release a new Mario title on the 3DS, this one a 2D side-scroller (maybe a new addition to the New Super Mario Bros. franchise?). I wouldn't be surprised if this released by the time the holidays hit. It did the 3DS wonders when Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land released this past holiday.

Games sell systems, and in Nintendo's case, Mario sells systems. Along with Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land, Paper Mario and Mario Tennis are on tap for the 3DS. Don't forget about Mario's sometimes forgotten brother, Luigi. Luigi's Mansion's 2 will also be coming.

Nintendo has sold 15 million 3DS units worldwide, which like I've said before, is amazing after the lackluster launch it had. It's outpacing the Nintendo Wii, and more importantly the DS, which has sold 151 million worldwide, the best ever for a Nintendo handheld. And this is in the iPhone-dominated world we live in.

I have no doubt the 3DS will top 100 million units in its lifetime. But will it beat the DS? I had my doubts at first. But then the games started coming out, and it looks like people are buying them. The massive price drop also helped, too.

The DS set the bar really high for dedicated handhelds. So much that Nintendo may have had too high of expectations for the 3DS (they knocked down their sales forecast for this fiscal year from 16 million to 14 million). But the 3DS is selling again, and in dominating fashion. 150 million units? I will say "likely."

Get even tinier random thoughts at www.twitter.com/JeffHoard921

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