Nintendo states that for the launch of the 3DS they are focusing on the core gamers.

Since the DS' release several years ago it has grown increasingly popular with a wide variety of demographics and while the 3DS may repeat this Nintendo is focusing on the 'core' gamers at launch according to Charlie Scibetta, Senior Director of Corporate Communications for Nintendo of America.

Speaking to Industry Gamers Mr. Scibetta notes that Nintendo are aware that the majority of people buying the 3DS at launch will be those who have long been fans of the company.

"We know right at launch that the people that will be most interested in buying the 3DS are people that have been buying previous versions of the DS, that are Nintendo loyalists, and people that are core gamers. There was a perception years back that we were somehow moving away from that crowd, and not making games that catered to that crowd, and that's absolutely not true. With this launch, we especially wanted to make games for them and give them what they wanted."

Mr. Scibetta does state that as the 3DS progresses Nintendo will begin targeting wider audiences but without losing track of its most loyal fans. He notes that software, both first and third party, will be of interest to a number of demographics but the launch is most certainly focused on core gamers.