Following news that the Japanese game giant’s 3D-capable DS console is delayed until after the New Year, Nintendo presents a loss for the last two quarters. Knowing that a new DS console is on its way out, lots of eager geeks seem intent on delaying their purchases. Nintendo has reported its worst performance in six years. Sales of game consoles fell sharply in anticipation of the delayed 3D-capable DS console (a strong yen also contributed to the poor outcome).

Sales of the DSi and other versions of the DS console during the period fell as much as 43 percent to 6.7 million units. The number of games for the unit declined by 23 percent. Even Wii sales plummeted – a total of 4.97 million Wii consoles sold in the first half, a drop of 14 percent. 3DS will go on sale in Japan on February 26 2011, and the following month it will be released in U.S. and Europe.

And competition in the market has increased dramatically since Nintendo released the Wii in 2006, as the Wii is no longer the only one with a motion-sensitive controlle; both Sony and Microsoft offer similar gadgets to their consoles. Neither will the 3DS be alone in offering a three-dimensional gaming. Sony have updated their software so that so that the PS3 is able to run games in 3D. Coincidentally, Sony also offers compatible 3D features in the company’s latest Bravia HDTVs.

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