Interpret, a leading entertainment, media and technology market research firm, released its Q1 2011 3D Entertainment report, which finds that Nintendo has yet to capitalize on the earlier anticipation for its 3DS glasses-free 3D handheld gaming device.

The report based on 1,600 respondents, shows interest declining 27% for the Nintendo 3DS since a year ago. “The lack of sales for the 3DS does not reflect the overall interest in 3D gaming,” said Michael Cai, Interpret VP of Games and Technology. “Instead, it illustrates that Nintendo put the cart before the horse; that is, they released the hardware without the necessary software to engender robust sales. Our data shows that gamers want the Nintendo franchise games – Super Mario Brothers, Zelda, etc – but without them, the 3DS will continue to flounder.”

Despite the underperformance of the 3DS, the gaming industry may represent the greatest hope for 3DTV sales in particular – consumers who own a PS3 and/or Xbox 360 are much more likely than the average consumer to plan to purchase a 3DTV in the next 12 months.

Interpret senior vice president of strategy and analysis Dan Casey, reporting the report findings at the recent 3D Gaming Summit revealed that while 60% of the people surveyed were aware of the Nintendo 3DS, those people were not knowledgeable about its features. Only 28% of respondents aware of the 3DS knew it did not require 3D glasses.

Reactions to the glasses-free 3D on the handheld came as a surprise. Only 22% of the respondents who played with the 3DS thought the 3D effect improved gameplay. Some 28% said it actually made the gameplay experience worse and 13% of users actually turned the 3D effect off.

Story filed 29.09.11