Netflix app for Nintendo 3DS launches today but backlash against pricing plan change continues

America's largest on-demand Internet streaming video provider Netflix has launched an app for Nintendo 3DS but it won't halt the backlash against the company which decided to upwardly change its pricing plan.

Netflix launched, Thursday, an app that can be downloaded from Nintendo eShop and installed in Nintendo 3DS.

The news is good for Nintendo 3DS as the handheld gaming device, which allows users to play 3D games without the need for special glasses, hasn't been selling too well.

According to critics, playing 3D games on a small display causes eye fatigue and a splitting headache.

Nintendo chief Satoru Iwata didn't say whether playing games on Nintendo 3DS has adverse health effects but acknowledged the need of having more digital media to keep nonactive Nintendo 3DS users engaged.

And, the Netflix app seems to be a good start. Though current content available in the Netflix app can be viewed in 2D mode in Nintendo 3DS, an additional library of select movies that can be viewed in 3D without the need for special glasses will be launching soon, Nintendo said today.

The app gives Nintendo 3DS owners access to an amazing wealth of movies and TV shows, which they can watch conveniently from thousands of free Wi-Fi access points across the country, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime said in a statement.

However, there's a catch. To stream Netflix content, one needs to hook up Nintendo 3DS to the Web via WiFi. And yes, one needs to subscribe to a Netflix streaming plan that starts at $7.99. Guess even if the app is free, you still need to cough up at least $7.99 a month to make it useful.

So how does the Netflix app for Nintendo 3DS rate? We give it a B- (B minus).

And, that's for three reasons:

[1] Because Netflix this week decided to hike its Internet-plus-DVDs-in-the-mail plan from $9.99 per month to $15.98 per month. Of course, the online streaming-only service plan is still $7.99 per month (same price as what they're now charging Nintendo 3DS users) but the 60% upward price revision has earned Netflix a lot of negative reviews.

What irks us more is that Netflix spokesman Steve Swasey has the gumption to call the price hike moderate. We knew there would be some people who would be upset, Swasey said. To most people, it's a latte or two.

[2] You cannot watch the netflix content offline, and

[3] Like 3D games on Nintendo 3DS, the 3D content on Netflix is likely to give people eye fatigue and headache.

Netflix boasts of more than 20 million members but the change in the pricing plan has prompted tens of thousands of users to vow that they'll be canceling their subscriptions.

Two of the angry comments posted on Facebook pages dedicated to Netflix pricing plan change read: I think you (Netflix) should fire your marketing department. Anyone that comes up wit ha 60% price increase scheme and forgets to NOT include even a minimal increase to the service or content at the same time to distract, confuse, bamboozle, or lie to your customers is just stupid, and We've already canceled ours. Not going to go along with this money-grab strategy.

It's unlikely that a Nintendo 3DS app will put an end to the backlash.

In conclusion, Netflix on Wii was good but Netflix on Nintendo 3DS doesn't sound that good - for both Netflix as well as Nintendo.