Oct 16 2013
Who is the Nintendo 2DS for?
The 2DS is Nintendo’s entry level iteration of the 3DS and the 3DS XL – ‘a DS capable of playing 3DS games, but not in 3D’. How useless, you say. What is the point? Nintendo’s marketing schemes suggest it is a product to introduce younger kids (7 years and under) to their gaming network. I disagree. I think the Nintendo 2DS – considering its release date – is made for consumers like myself.
Let me explain the 2DS’s actual target demographic. It is oddly specific but will be widely successful. The console is catered towards older students (or even adults) such as myself, who have grown up with the Pokemon series and who are looking to purchase Pokemon X and Y, the new version released on October 12.
The series has a nostalgic replay value, yet the games constantly improve and expand to a point where I will, without a doubt, purchase the next iteration. And I am not alone. In the first 2 days, Pokemon X and Y has sold over 4 million copies. This statistic represents much more than parents buying the game for their children. And Nintendo’s release of the 2DS on the exact same day is no coincidence.
At $129.29, the 2DS is an attractive option for parents to purchase for their young child. However, it is also a great option for those who have grown up playing Pokemon and who are not willing to spend over $250 on a 3DS to only play one game.
Nintendo has been extremely clever. Pokemon X and Y has constantly been marketed as ‘the game to change all Pokemon games’. The iteration features many new ‘firsts’ for Pokemon, encouraging those who have fallen out of interest to pick up a copy and resume playing. It is the first of the series to be rendered completely in 3D – making it only playable on the 3DS, and no other previous console. Trainer customization and various aspects of RPG have been completely redone, resulting in an entire game engine and new levels and tactics of play.
Game Freak has really outdone itself this time, and Pokemon X and Y will be remembered as great transition point for the series’ transformation into an even more social, beautiful, and strategic game. Building on five generations of games, a digital menagerie of captivating creatures, and a wide range of diverse regions to explore, Pokemon X and Y proves this formulaic portable role-playing series can still deliver an innovative experience.
I hope I have made my point clear. So who is the 2DS for? Nintendo is not creating anything new. It is not for the serious ‘gamers’ who have a 3DS XL or even the older 3DS. The 2DS is for the entry level-buget gamer. It is catered specifically for the older audience seeking to play one game and one game only – oddly specific audience, yet I expect this console to be extremely successful. I applaud you Nintendo.