A Lost Legacy, and a growing problem for Nintendo...

The  dawn of a new console is meant to be a joyous one; an event where both gamer and developer rejoice in the latest in next-gen offerings. However, what with the negative welcoming of their 3DS, it would appear that Nintendo are now already looking towards the future...please welcome, the Wii-U. Saying that, questions have already begun to surface as to what the console offers pre-existing Nintendo users - or any other next-gen console for that matter. Furthermore, is the controller logistically sound? Seriously, how does Nintendo expect children - who have, and continue to, constitute a very large section of their market share - to handle a controller that is over 10% longer than the Wii itself?

Anyhow, I digress - the case in point here is regarding the Nintendo 3DS and its ever-expanding list of cancellations. As mentioned above, the console has been met with much derision in regards to its 3D technology - such as the need to angle the console just right, or the health warnings that come associated with it - and it would appear that fellow developers are now similarly losing faith.

The latest loss has come in the form of Assassin's Creed: Lost Legacy, a 3DS exclusive that Nintendo showcased in their 2010 E3 presentation. However, on 14th July 2011, lead writer for Assassin's Creed: Revelations, Darby McDevitt, was quoted as saying "You may have heard of the game Lost Legacy for the 3DS. It was announced, but that kind of morphed into this idea" - a revelation that is sure to disappoint current 3DS owners.

Now, I can hear you asking, why does this warrant a news piece? Well, to put it simply, it is the speed in which companies are cancelling 3DS titles that has spawned this piece. While Lost Legacy is certainly a big loss - the Assassin's Creed franchise alone could have done wonders for the 3DS' popularity - it is just another in a long line of cancellations, and one has to wonder why.

My Garden was probably the original...the game was meant to be a launch title, but was cancelled before the console even made it into stores. Following that, there was four - yes four - Hudson cancellations including Omega Five, Bonk, and an extension of the companies staple success, Bomberman. Furthermore, a number of big name releases have been pushed back to 'indefinite development', with little talk as to when - if at all - the games may be released; the likes of BloodRayne: The Shroud and a possible Tekken heading such a list.

So, what's going on? Have developers and distributors alike lost faith in the 3DS? Luckily for Nintendo, their back-catalogue of cult heroes can, realistically, hold down the fort for a while - sure, just look at the outstanding success of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D - but is this enough to warrant the console a success? The problem the 3DS has is not a lack of good games - Nintendo's own prevents this - but instead a lack of good external releases.

If developers continue to turn their back on the 3DS, flooding its market instead with cancellations and on-hold releases, can the console possibly survive? Furthermore, what incentive is there for new developers to create a 3DS title?

"Oh Luigi...we are-a screwed!"...

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