All this information comes from the investor meeting from this morning.

On why 3DS hands on events are important…

We have repeatedly mentioned the fact that you cannot comprehend the real value of the 3D images unless you view them with your own eyes. We originally expected that the value of 3D images without the need for special glasses would be automatically spread to some extent by many consumers experiencing the device by themselves and then playing with the pre-installed software like “Nintendo 3DS Camera,” “AR Games” and “Face Raiders” together with people around them. However, as a result of analysis of the situation after the launch, it has become clear that we need to do a lot more to convey the value to consumers.

The value of 3D images without the need for special glasses is hard to be understood through the existing media. However, we have found that people cannot feel it just by trying out a device, rather, some might even misestimate it when experiencing the images in an improper fashion. This makes it more important to give people more opportunities for appropriate experiences of glassless 3D images. More specifically, regarding 3D images, the parallax of right eye and left eye, in other words, how different images should be viewed by either of the right eye and the left eye, is highly individual. Therefore, we would like to thoroughly encourage people to properly adjust the 3D Depth Slider. Additionally, we think it is very important to provide people with contents in which they can easily experience glassless 3D images. In particular, we need to enhance the contents which can be enjoyed passively by non-active users, like a 3D video distribution service. We will promptly work on this after the currently planned hardware update. There is no easy road to making people understand the attraction of glassless 3D images and making Nintendo 3DS widespread. We would like to adhere to these patient efforts.

Another mission we have to tackle in order for Nintendo 3DS to spread is the fact that there are some more things you cannot value without actual experience than just glassless 3D images.

In addition to glassless 3D images, Nintendo 3DS has various features including new communication methods like “StreetPass” and “SpotPass,” AR(Augmented Reality)-related functions, “Mii Maker” and so on. However, it is now clear that the combination of these new features is not necessarily easy-to-understand by just saying one word to those without experience.

For example, Nintendo 3DS has pre-installed software called “StreetPass Mii Plaza,” which utilizes the “StreetPass” technology and all Nintendo 3DS users can play with this. In checking feedback from users in various ways, most of them think highly of this software once they experience it, and we feel that “StreetPass” has a great deal of potential. On the other hand, we have found that not all Nintendo 3DS users enjoy this software. There seems to be more than a few consumers who have Nintendo 3DS hardware but don’t know about this software and possibly haven’t had a chance to get interested in it.

After all, pre-installing a feature which we would like many people to enjoy is not sufficient to make it actually popular among users. The potential of one feature will never become a reality unless we offer a chance to make people interested in it and invent a way of communication in which we can express its attraction in one word.
We are going to focus on these actions at the appropriate timing in our marketing activities. – Satoru Iwata

Talk about 3DS network on eShop channel…

Through the system update scheduled for around the end of May, we will be enhancing the network services, including Nintendo eShop and Internet Browser. Since Nintendo eShop will work as the basis of various network services, we will be able to propose new services to users through “SpotPass.” However, for the system update, we need to have consumers voluntarily go online with their Nintendo 3DS. We are planning to do some promotional activities in order to urge them to do so. More specifically, we will give a free download of “ExciteBike” as one of the “3D Classics” series during a certain period of time after the beginning of the system update. We would like to announce this widely and have as many people as possible update their hardware and start using Nintendo eShop. Concerning the Virtual Console software, we will begin with GameBoy and GameBoy Color software, and continue with this until we gradually realize the Virtual Console software for the other platforms.” – Satoru Iwata

StarFox 3D…

In addition, on July 14, we are planning to release “Star Fox 64 3D,” which is a newly-arranged version of “Star Fox 64,” the most well-known game of all the 3D shooting games in the time of Nintendo 64, and in which we offer a new feature that uses a gyro sensor to control Arwing, who flies around the 3D space. – Satoru Iwata

People want 3DS but not now..

It is clear from our market research that many people feel that they “want” and “want to buy” Nintendo 3DS, and the latest demand for this device is the largest in comparison with our previous new platforms at the time of their launches, but on the other hand, there is a big proposition that not that many people believe “Now is the time to buy it!” The penetration will not gain speed without overcoming this challenge. After all, the way to solve this problem lies in how to communicate “what kind of games can be played,” as long as Nintendo 3DS is a gaming device. There might be consumers who are interested in Nintendo 3DS, but they are unable to find software which they want to play, and they are in the “wait-and-see mode.” – Satoru Iwata