According to Kotaku, Nintendo has just discounted the 3DS to $170. That’s a huge price cut by any standards, especially if you keep in mind this is a new system with the latest auto-stereoscopic 3D display tech.

Furthermore, it seems Nintendo only sold about 710K units worldwide since launch, well-under the millions the company was expecting. The situation is the polar opposite of the DS launch in 2004.

/cue damage control

IMHO, I think 3D in the home (or in mobile devices) is a fad. The eye strain is just too much for most to bear. Commanding a premium price for an immature platform like the 3DS doesn’t make sense — i.e. Virtual Boy and the 3DO in the 1990s.