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Oh Nintendo, ya big doofs!


On 08/28/2013 at 01:56 PM by Jon Lewis

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For those who don't know, I work part time at Toys R Us. Every now and then I get the chance to work in the Electronics Dept and while I enjoy selling games, it can be frustrating. This is because many consumers have no idea what they want, and you have to explain everything to them so they can make a smart purchace.

I don't mind doing this in most cases - I enjoy selling video games much more than toys and baby items - but one extremely annoying part of retail is brand confusion. Parents get so confused about what to buy because there are so many options. Sure, those options are great in the grand scheme of things, but I always find myself having to explain some things to parents. Things like : Why does the 3DS play DS games, but not the other way around? And Why don't they make Mario on Playstation? Stuff like that. It's frustrating, but especially with the handhelds, since in most cases, they are the same device with small feature additions (or reductions).

So today's announcment of the Nintendo 2D's has good intent, but overall frustrates me as a retail salesman. I can already imagine all of the parents coming in, looking for 2DS games only to find that it's a scaled down version of the 3DS. Some parents actually go as far as to talk down about the product because their young kids keep badgering them for the newest tech, and the parents often feel obligated to buy the newest stuff, even though they don't need it. 

I know that I'll have to answer all of these questions, and correct my co-workers that don't understand but overall, I feel Nintendo really needs to work on its presentation of its products. It's becoming more and more confusing for the average consumer with their products lately. I've had to explain to way too many people that the Wii U is something brand new, not just a new Wii Controller. 

I'm not looking forward to Black Friday (or this retail holiday) at all! (Let me be clear though, as a consumer I'm very excited, but as an employee of Toys R Us, not so much.)

 


 

Comments

transmet2033

08/28/2013 at 02:05 PM

What is my original DS is not a 2DS?  What is my original Xbox if not an Xbox One?  What the heck is a Wii U if not a special edition Wii, or some crazy Sega add-on?

Jon Lewis Staff Writer

08/28/2013 at 02:07 PM

haha, great examples. U think someone would catch those before they became official.

Nick DiMola Director

08/28/2013 at 02:23 PM

Oh man, didn't even think of the retail impact on Xbox One. "I had one of those Xbox One doohickeys 10 years ago! Why won't these new games work on it!?"

Gaming companies suck at naming things. At least Sony has kept it simple (if only a bit generic).

TheMart22

08/28/2013 at 02:22 PM

I completely agree especially with them going back from "3"DS to "2"DS. Have fun explaining that Laughing

Also, I remember similar confusion with the Wii U release. There are still most likely people out there who have no idea the Wii U is actually a new console and not just an add on to the Wii. Like Nick says above, there's a lot to be said for the generic Sony format. It works!

Ranger1

08/28/2013 at 03:52 PM

As a consumer, I'm pretty excited about the 2DS, as 3D effects don't work for me due to poor depth perception from being nearly legally blind in one eye. I can see where it will be a nightmare for all the poor retail employees, though.

Jon Lewis Staff Writer

08/28/2013 at 04:21 PM

Don't get  me wrong - I actually think the 2DS is a sound idea. I think people who were on the fence about getting a 3DS have no excuce now. My brother who doesnt really use the 3D on my 3DS will probably be interested in this one. I personally think that the name is what the problem is, as uneducated consumers will think its a brand new console with new games. In the end, its just another way to enjoy the great software that the 3DS has.

Ranger1

08/28/2013 at 04:36 PM

Jon, I know exactly where you're coming from. I've listened to many poor employees in electronics departments attempt to explain things to clueless people. I think there need to be flashcards for the clueless.

True Gamer At Heart

08/28/2013 at 04:16 PM

I think even thou nintendo could improve on the presention of the product..I still think you will get questions...People who do not know, especially the older crowd and the I have to buy a video game for my husband/boyfriend/girlfriend etc...And I do not know what to get..Let me ask this gentlemen..Hey do you mario for the ps3??

Jon Lewis Staff Writer

08/28/2013 at 04:19 PM

True. In all honesty, the dumb questions will never cease and I will probably have to deal with it for as long as I work there, but I guess I was just saying that companies aren't making it easier for us to explain to the consumer. I can hear the questions now...haha

Alex-C25

08/28/2013 at 09:59 PM

Yeah, it's always hard to explain to non-gamers/casual fans those things with the names, and there's also the case where people say things like Mario for the Xbox, or say the name of the game wrong (like some people I know that call every GTA game San Andreas).

But going a bit off-topic, since i've heard right now about the 2DS, will that mean that they will discontinue the 3DS, or will just be an option for those who want to play 3D games?

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