Great post - I think the 3DS is dead. Why, other than all of those points listed here - but more importantly because my 7 year old says so. While I rarely if ever play a game on a handheld device, my kids determine my purchases of these items. He is really interested in the Vita and I will likely trade in his DSXL only to get the Vita for him considering the tech and gaming that is offered on it. Plus the ability and flexibility it offers in conjunction with the PS3 is a win win for me...

So long Nintendo.... you are officially falling behind IMO. Sony, Microsoft and Apple are providing the next entertainment options for the next generation of gamer.

I really like Nintendo and a lot of their original game series. Especially Zelda

But they need to focus more on sports games. I remember I had to suffer through no college BBall games when I had a gamecube and no NBA 2k games after 2k3

They did have NCAA Basketball 2k3 on gamecube but it was so rare it was like $120 bucks on ebay at the time.

I've been complaining for years about the lack of good sports games on the portable Nintendo systems. There hasn't been an NHL game on a Nintendo portable since NHL 2002 or NHL Hitz. Decent baseball titles have been lacking, as have hoops.

I've often wondered why Nintendo didn't try their own hand at a Baseball series. A proper one. They don't even need to use MLB players, something along the lines of Baseball Stars (create your own teams and players) would kill on a DS.

There's a difference between failing a console simply not being for you, which seems to be the case. The 3DS is on pace to beat the DS, the Vita will probably only outsell it in February for the launch and trail until the expected price cuts and revisions are announced.

...missed an 'and' in there.

Sigh, a misinformed sports gamer.

"With a lack luster lineup, an insane price tag and a main feature that is hardly ever featured"

Um. $150 aint bad at all (GS has them for 150, Many places giving $20 in credit if you buy one as well). AT ALL. PS Vita is at least $100 more and if you want memory and a game, could be up to $200 more.

Also, the 3D feature is used very well in most games, especially ones created by Nintendo such as Super Mario 3D Land.

"The best sports game so far"

I understand this is a sports blog, but come on... 3DS wasn't really made for sports games. I'll give that to PSP/Vita users. They just work better on those systems.

"From what I have seen, heard and read, the 3DS killed itself,"

You must not have read very much. The 3DS is the fastest selling system of all time, ever. It has picked up ridiculous amounts of steam in the last few months, more than doubling its sales. The PSVita sales are very poor. They've sold 1/4 of the sales of the regular Nintendo DS in the last week and 1/12 of the 3DS sales.

I just wish people wouldn't write articles based on false information and get their facts straight.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Vita hated. I plan on picking one up in the next year, but this article is just wrong.

You wrote this article close minded like a dummy.

I came in here to write exactly what blunaxela wrote. You really have no idea what you're talking about at all. The Wii outsold both the PS3 and Xbox 360 (also is near to outselling both of them combined), and the DS outsold the PSP by more than double. I also have to call attention to how you call $209.98 (3DS with memory card included, and one game) an "insane price point" compared to $319.97 (PS Vita, 4 GB memory card, and Uncharted: GA). Sports games don't determine whether a console lives or dies, the market for sports games is a lot smaller than you seem to think. Wait until more, better Mario games come out like Paper Mario, and Super Smash Bros. 3D, then we'll see which console is dead. Don't get me wrong, I have my Vita pre-ordered, and have a space cleared for it next to my 3DS, but I'm not delusional enough to think the 3DS will fail.

The 3DS isn't for the sports gamer or hardcore guy. But as long as Nintendo keeps making Mario and other first party games it will sell. The overpriced initial price point had to come down but it will sell well and the Big N will keep making money reprinting first party games.

Since when is $150 an insane price? What's insane is the price people will HAVE to pay for Sony's memory cards for the Vita.

This article is so close minded and completely ignores the fact that Japan - due to it's appetite for handheld gaming - is the biggest player in sales. The 3DS is doing really well over there and with Monster Hunter on the system (not yet announced for VITA), it can't fail.

This Article reads like a teenager's blog, who has just ran out to buy a Vita and wants to reassure their ego after the 300 dollar spend. Can't we like both? Why does one have to win and the other lose? This is business, not sports.

I think 3DS and Vita will both lose ... especially Vita ... because of the price point at 249 for the unit , 40-80 bucks for a memeory card and 40-50 for a game you taking almost 400 bucks ... and I can get virtually all the games on a 249 160 gb PS3 at home. for 300 bucks you can buy an ipod touch with 32 gb included , games ranging from free to 6 bucks ... and a vast libary of music and movies to chose from ... and whats so next gen about the vita ... hmmmm touchscreen .... we have that on all our smart phones ... maybe graphics which is cool but that is it. Sony just like Nintendo will drop the price point within 6 months just in time for the holiday season.

Yeah....unfortunately none of this article is fact. While I do agree they need better sports games that was not the vision for the 3ds at all. Both of my kids LOVE the 3ds for various reasons. They don't even need a game - they would play with the 3d picture thing all day long if they could. Anyway, I am sorry but I am going to have to respectfully disagree.

As others have pointed out you don't know what you are talking about. I love my 3ds. And let me get this right it is Nintendos fault that YOU turned down the 3d and that YOU did not turn it back on. MMMMMKKKKK

Nintendo had a $625 million net loss last financial quarter. It was their first reported net loss in 30 years. 30 years!

Most of that can be blamed on the sluggish 3DS launch. Sure, it's picked up sales a bit due to the huge price drop (which was mostly done out of desperation) and the holiday sales period, but the company and their latest handheld platform is taking on a lot of water at the moment.