It’s been 16 years since Nintendo showed 
up at CES – but with competition growing and a revolutionary product launch looming, Mario and Co. are packing their bags and heading to Vegas this January.
The company will be one of the flagship exhibitors in the 2011 CES Gaming Showcase when the consumer electronics tradeshow returns to Las Vegas Jan 6-9. All totaled, more than 35 video game companies will be part of that display.
We certainly have no problem getting caught up in the fun of playing games, but the people who create them have their pocketbooks to worry about, too. In 
this column, finance expert and GameSpy contributor Chris Morris guides you through the tricky corridors the gaming industry’s financial side, touching on big-time business decisions and how they matter to the common gamer.
When Nintendo announced the price of the 3DS, jaws dropped. 25,000 Yen converts, as you undoubtedly know by now, to just under $300 — a figure the gaming world howled was too high. Many gamers initially assumed the system would carry the same price tag when it hit the states, and the outrage increased. Analysts and industry observers predicted (after currency conversion and other factors) that the U.S. launch price would likely be closer to $250, but this did little to mollify people.
What many people tend to ignore or forget, though, is that Nintendo made some enormous pricing mistakes with the Wii — leaving millions of dollars on the table. And with the 3DS, the company’s taking steps to ensure it doesn’t repeat those gaffes. $250 (or even $300, if the company decides to surprise everyone and roll the dice) is, admittedly, an extraordinarily high price for a handheld gaming device… particularly one that has a single function. And this pricing strategy could backfire and give Apple a window to increase its market share. But from a pure business standpoint, it’s a sure way for Nintendo to regain the confidence of its investors.
It was pretty hard to find anyone who 
liked Nintendo Wednesday afternoon.
Loyal fans were upset to learn they’d have to wait longer than expected for the 3DS. Nintendo investors were ticked that the company abruptly changed its fiscal 2011 earnings guidance. And shareholders of other publishers were annoyed, since Nintendo’s woes brought the entire gaming sector down on Wall St.
But the party was going strong at 1 Infinite Loop in Cupertino, Calif.
Despite indications it was right around the corner
, 3D handheld gaming won’t hit store shelves until next year.
Nintendo announced Wednesday that its 3DS portable system, which lets owners play videogames in stereoscopic 3D without the need for special glasses, will go on sale in Japan next February — and will hit U.S. and European stores in March.
Nintendo’s jump into the 3D gaming world won’t 
happen until 2011.
The video game company on Wednesday announced that its 3DS portable system, which lets owners play games in stereoscopic 3D without the need for special glasses, will go on sale in Japan next February — and will hit U.S. and European stores in March.
So much for a holiday surprise from Nintendo.
The company today announced launch details for the 3DS, its upcoming handheld gaming platform that lets users play games in stereoscopic 3D without the need for special glasses. Japanese consumers will be the first to get their hands on the system – starting Feb. 26. U.S. and European gamers will have their chance in March.
You have to give it to Sony. When 
they made the decision to join the 3D battlefield, they jumped in with both feet.
Starting Tuesday, Sept. 21, every PlayStation 3 on the market will begin supporting 3D playback. (The move will come via a free software update.) That instantly puts 3D hardware into 38 million homes worldwide.
3D TV is being pushed hard by television manufacturers,
and while pick-up has been better than expected, it’s still not something the mass audience is clamoring for. Why not?
A new study by Nielsen offers some insight – but you can probably guess the two biggest culprits. The survey finds that the high costs of the sets and being forced to wear 3D glasses are the two key reasons people aren’t rushing out to buy the sets. The news gets worse for manufacturers, though.
Nintendo has announced plans to shave $20 off the price 
of two versions of its best selling video game system – the Nintendo DS. Effective Sept. 12, the DSi will drop from $170 to $150 and the DSi XL will move from $190 to $170.
The move follows price cuts in several other regions, but the timing could raise a few questions. We’ve got three theories as to why Nintendo decided to make the move now.
To hear some people tell it, 3D gaming is the wave of the 
future. In just a few years, you’ll be bobbing and weaving in your living room as you play in an environment that’s more realistic than anything you’ve ever experienced.
Bull.
Sure, 3D can be a cool feature in games, but is it something that will take over the industry? We don’t think so. And we’ve got five good reasons why the pundits are wrong.
Chris Morris: Journalist 