Finding out that Super Mario 3D All-Stars was going to have a limited production run and would only be sold digitally until 31st March 2021 provoked some strong reactions from many Nintendo fans. Sure, there’s an argument to be made that anyone who wanted a copy of this compilation game probably picked one up already, but the notion that access to an incredibly popular and important game like Super Mario 64 or Super Mario Galaxy (or Sunshine — yes, we love Sunshine!) was being arbitrarily restricted left a bad taste in the mouth of many gamers. We bought the game — of course we did — but the feeling that we were being strong-armed into it didn’t sit well, and neither did the idea that people who bought a Switch from April 2021 would find it increasingly difficult to track down some of the finest games ever made.
Of course, 3D All-Stars wasn’t the only product that Nintendo put out to celebrate Super Mario’s 35th anniversary — the Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. was similarly time-limited, with no more of the nostalgic novelty console being produced shipped to stores after 31st March.
43,99€ isn’t a bad deal.
At the time we imagined a glut of both products immediately hitting eBay — and we’ve certainly seen attempts from scalpers to flip the console and game online for huge sums. However, we personally have seen both Super Mario 3D All-Stars and the Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. in surprisingly plentiful supply in the intervening months.
Even now, nearly four months after the ‘death’ of Mario, we’re able to visit our local department stores, electronics outlets and game-specific retailers and find both sitting on shelves available to buy. One supermarket chain is selling the Game & Watch for just 39,90€, too, with European outlet Media Markt selling it for 40,99€.
Must. Resist.
We’re wondering if this is just a local phenomenon, or if Nintendo really did go to town when producing this neat little throwback console and deciding print run numbers for 3D All-Stars. We’re interested to find out if you can still find either in stores.
So, let us know if you’re able to still get your hands Super Mario 3D All-Stars and the Super Mario Game & Watch console by answering the polls below, and tell us the country you’re in in the comments (if you like):
Thanks for participating. Let us know below if you’ve succumbed to temptation with either of these, if you’re waiting for the G&W to hit bargain basement prices, or if you can’t find either items in your neighborhood for love nor money.
@Kyranosaurus – And that there lies the problem; Everything is anti-consumer in that context. Even non-24 hour stores if one works overnight and desires, say, a hamburger. Sounds hyperbolic, but that is technically anti-consumerism in the truest form.
Continuous availability is the only pro-consumer methodology. However, shelf life exists, and this goes beyond your common expiring products. As interest wanes it starts to become less likely to be purchased, add on top that the comfortability of “knowing” something will always be there, the consumer will then opt to not purchase the item till it becomes greatly reduced in price. However, that only happens on clearance when, for this example, the shelf life is no longer desired enough to continue, and thus becomes anti-consumer. As it is no longer available. Most of the time becomes too costly to maintain space for only the select few will purchase.
To use a non-consumer example: It would be like if someone missed my wedding. And hopes that I hold a new ceremony for those that missed it. That’s costly to me for those that have other, more important priorities. But my refusal could be considered “anti-consumer” in a variant of being “anti-friends/family.”
The retail space is very lucrative, and if games like Xenoblade 2 or the tradegy forgotten that is Codename STEAM ain’t selling… why maintain that space for the fewer and fewer that expect the convenience for them to win out? They move them out for new games far more will buy. Something simply has to give.
And digital events? Same deal. They pay to maintain collaboration for a short amount of time. And the response is similar. Why maintain a license agreement when nearly everyone stopped buying your crossover packages?
And self-promotion, like anniversaries? Well, how long SHOULD a game maintain their 1st year, or 5th year, or 35th year anniversary celebratory content? Isn’t it not even a celebration when you can get thematic first year content on a tenth year?
