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Nintendo Portables (Games) Games

Nintendo 3DS Launching On March 27 For $250 120

Sam writes "Nintendo executive Reggie Fil-Aime today revealed US availability and pricing for the Nintendo 3DS at an event in the Nintendo World store in New York City. The 3DS will launch on March 27, 2011 with a retail price of $250 and will be available in two flavors: Aqua Blue and Cosmo Black. There will be roughly 30 games released between the launch day and E3 2011 (June 7 to June 9). These include Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D, Madden NFL Football, The Sims 3, Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D, and LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars. The device will have the same form-factor as the DSi and will be backwards compatible with both DS and DSi games. Users will also be able to download games via an online store, called the eShop. In Europe, the 3DS will launch on March 25, 2011. While Europeans will get the device two days early, pricing is not good news. Nintendo held a second event in Amsterdam today and said that pricing would be left up to retailers. Retailers in the UK are reportedly planning a £229.99 ($367.64) price tag, while other European retailers are going with €249 ($336.00)."
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Nintendo 3DS Launching On March 27 For $250

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  • by Anonymous Coward

    But who is going to waste money on a portable gaming device that cost as much as either their cell phone (Which is almost as functional), or their home console?

    I mean 250-370 bucks for a device that is going to have games running in the 30-50 dollar range just seems ludicrious to me.

    But then I'm probably not the target demographic.

    • by MasaMuneCyrus ( 779918 ) on Thursday January 20, 2011 @03:17AM (#34936952)

      Well, the PSP (which also launched at $250) has nearly 67 million sales [vgchartz.com] compared to the PS3's 47 million. And the Nintendo DS has 145 million sales compared to the Wii's 85 million, or the PS3 and Xbox 360's 98 million combined.

      That said, it sure would be nice if the 3DS has a tv-out function...

      • by rsmith-mac ( 639075 ) on Thursday January 20, 2011 @03:28AM (#34936986)

        Do keep in mind however that the PSP was basically only a half-success in the Western markets. In terms of hardware units sold Japan is in 3rd place behind North America and Europe, but in terms of software sold the situation in the West is so bad that most 3rd parties pulled out of doing PSP development after 2008. As it stands there's something like 8 games due on the PSP in North America in the next 6 months; most of them are being published and/or developed by Sony. The only place PSP game development is still alive is Japan, where a number of games still come out every week.

        It was the most successful non-Nintendo handheld to date, but it's not the kind of success you want to emulate in the West.

        • Comment removed based on user account deletion
      • Wow, I had no idea it was like that! Maybe it's because I'm a hermit, but I hardly ever see anybody with a PSP? You'd think 67 million units would be easy to spot :D
      • I agree that Nintendo DS would have bigger sales, but at the same time the PSP could be used as a mp3 player and portable video player, so i like both products and think that Nintendo should have a device like the PSP then they would even make more sales and be able to compete more with Sony.
      • That said, it sure would be nice if the 3DS has a tv-out function...

        Considering no TV can do 3D the same way the 3DS can, not really...

        • That said, it sure would be nice if the 3DS has a tv-out function...

          Considering no TV can do 3D the same way the 3DS can, not really

          Then why haven't the DS and DSi had TV out? (Where's the consumer version of IS Nitro Capture in the way that Super Game Boy and Game Boy Player were the consumer versions of Wide Boy?) Why can't the 3DS have TV out even in 2D mode?

          • Then why haven't the DS and DSi had TV out? (Where's the consumer version of IS Nitro Capture in the way that Super Game Boy and Game Boy Player were the consumer versions of Wide Boy?) Why can't the 3DS have TV out even in 2D mode?

            Yeah, this was pretty much a deal breaker for me. I chose to only get a PSP as I can keep it connected to my TV at all times. I don't take it with me when I travel, as I use that as an excuse to take a break from video games and catch up on some reading. Besides, it would be possible as the 3DS has the option to turn off 3D. That's the way I'd want to play it anyway, as I get enough eye strain as it is, so I'd be happy with a TV out that didn't support 3D.

            If they leave it out, then, especially considerin

          • by tgibbs ( 83782 )

            Then why haven't the DS and DSi had TV out? (Where's the consumer version of IS Nitro Capture in the way that Super Game Boy and Game Boy Player were the consumer versions of Wide Boy?) Why can't the 3DS have TV out even in 2D mode?

            Most likely because keeping cost low is a major objective of a handheld device. The 3ds is being introduced at about the highest price that consumers are likely to pay for a handheld game. And running a wire to your TV from a handheld device is so awkward and inconvenient that fe

            • The 3ds is being introduced at about the highest price that consumers are likely to pay for a handheld game.

              PSP-2000 added component out, and PSP-3000 added composite out. Why can't Nintendo make a hardware revision that adds these?

              And running a wire to your TV from a handheld device is so awkward and inconvenient

              How more so than running a wire from your computer to your smartphone to charge it and load songs?

              few people would use the feature

              YouTube coverage of a video game is like free marketing. But anyone who wants to make a YouTube video of a DS game currently needs a camcorder and a bracket to hold the DS. A TV output would shrink the requirement to a USB video capture box or DVD recorder and would make the result much cl

        • Can't you turn it off? I know there's a control to adjust the 3D effect, and I thought turning it all the way down turned off the 3D?
        • by gorzek ( 647352 )

          Not to mention, the screen orientation of the 3DS would have to be rendered quite oddly on a TV. To show both screens stacked on top of each other like they are on the unit itself, you'd have about 2/3 of a widescreen TV going to waste. Maybe if widescreen TVs could rotate 90 as a standard feature...

    • by flimflammer ( 956759 ) on Thursday January 20, 2011 @03:36AM (#34937014)

      All new handhelds start off in the $200-$250 range, and that's fine. If it's obscene to you then you're not the demographic they're after for the moment. The price will obviously go down over time like they all do.

    • PSP was around the same price when it was first launched so the same is to be expected with the 3DS. Not only that, but unlike your "cell phone" or even "home console", this device will serve as a 3D camera too. However, the games are probably going to be more pricey than a typical handheld ($39USD to $49USD from what I read). That is more comparable to home console title price points. I'm guessing it's due to the increased complexity of the games resulting in much higher development costs for a handheld.

    • But who is going to waste money on a portable gaming device that cost as much as either their cell phone (Which is almost as functional)

      Unlocked smartphones cost $500, not $250.

      or their home console?

      The GameCube had been through several rounds of price cuts by the time the $150 Nintendo DS came out in the fourth quarter of 2004.

      games running in the 30-50 dollar range

      Not all of them. Unlike the original DS and DS Lite, the DSi and 3DS have an online app store, and games may cost 1000 Nintendo Points.

    • But who is going to waste money on a portable gaming device that cost as much as either their cell phone (Which is almost as functional), or their home console? I mean 250-370 bucks for a device that is going to have games running in the 30-50 dollar range just seems ludicrious to me.

      At that price, the low end iPod Touch would be a better investment for $229, with games more in the $1-10 range, not to speak of all the free games available. I used to own a DS Lite, and it was awesome. Gave me a lot of relief from the tedium of day-long wrestling meets. But then I got an iPod Touch for free when I bought my in-laws an iMac, and found quite a few games that were either the same or comparable to those on the DS Lite, so it went off to eBay. It was also nice to reduce the amount of gear I ha

      • So I was watching this infomercial in the 90's where they were trying to sell their lcd "game console" with over 1,000 games. And I'm not talking a dot matrix game console like the GameBoy; I'm talking about an LCD screen made of squares, circles, and x's. (imagine an LCD full of this --> [(x)] ). Anyway, part way through the infomercial, the narrator says, "Never buy one of those expensive games again!" as the lady is throwing "Super Mario World" for the SNES in the trash. I about died of laughter

        • Most of these "LCD Brick Games" (you're thinking of the "Pro 200" model, which was advertised on TV) have about 10 games on them; the "over 1000" includes setting the starting difficulty and speed. They disappeared from the market once The Tetris Company pressured US Customs to enforce its specious claim of copyright in the rules of Tetris.

          At least WarioWare series has far fewer duplicates in its collection of 200 or so games per edition.

      • ...she had a pink DS Lite, I think for much the same reason as I had one.

        Because you're both girly girls? :)

      • by tepples ( 727027 )

        The only bad thing about the iPod Touch is I'll miss some of the Nintendo games like the Prof. Leyton series & Mario, etc.

        That and a directional pad. The multitouch screen doesn't cut it for all genres; on-screen buttons lack tactile response.

    • 250 USD = 156 GBP = 285 EUR
      229 GBP = 271 EUR = 365 USD
      249 EUR = 335 USD = 210 GBP

      I'm used to getting robbed by hardware costs in the UK but that's nearly half off.
      No wonder they region locked it.

    • Your cell phone doesn't have a 3D display (no glasses required). The games available for the 3DS are enticing too. I mean I see your point, but this system is going to be pretty awesome, IMNSHO. Also the price will drop to a more reasonable level eventually. But I'll probably be an early adopter.
    • by josath ( 460165 )
      High end smartphones (eg iPhone, Droid, etc) run in the $400-$600 price range on release. These prices aren't advertised as much, usually you only see the 'subsidized' prices. Eg the phone might be advertised as $99 or $200 -- but that's plus a $30/month data plan for two years. You do the math.
  • by Anonymous Coward

    What's the bet the Australian price will be $500, because we're still at 0.5 USD right?

    • by Nursie ( 632944 )

      Oh sure. And it'll be several more months before we see 'em here too!

    • I'm inclined to just buy it from Amazon.

      • there have been some rumors about the 3ds having region locking, and i seem to remember from the gamecube days, isnt australia in the same region as europe? (nintendo wise anyway?)

        • You're correct. I can't believe they've brought back region locking. I'll be boycotting the 3DS completely based entirely on this.

          And I was really looking forward to 3D gaming too :(

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by Anonymous Coward
      Why don't you just steal one? I mean, you're all criminals anyways.
  • How soon Nintendo forgets that its market positions and price points are directly proportional on all its systems...
  • The Japanese will be getting the 3ds in a couple of weeks but it's going to cost a little north of $300.
  • AFAIK, US prices don't include sales tax, while European prices do, so add 20% or so to the US price before you start comparing it. But this still brings the price difference to $60 or so.
    • by darkain ( 749283 )

      Curious, which state has a 20% sales tax?

      • Ah ok, didn't know the sales tax was that low in the US. Over here in the Netherlands, this tax is 19%, but this is included in the price. Without this tax, it would cost about $308.
        • The highest sales tax in the US is I believe 10%. Most states have it around 5%-6% and some have no sales tax at all. In Ohio (where I live) tax on this would only be $16.25.
    • Re:Price difference (Score:5, Informative)

      by cbope ( 130292 ) on Thursday January 20, 2011 @03:53AM (#34937076)

      Nowhere in the US is sales tax even approaching 20%. As an ex-pat living abroad, I don't really keep up with sales tax in the US but I believe it is averaging around 8% across the US.

      Yet once more, the US gets cheap devices while the rest of the world pays more, sometimes a LOT more. I'm really getting tired of companies launching products with the same "price" in US dollars and euros. The currencies are NOT valued the same, the euro is currently much stronger than the US dollar (~1.35:1 as of this morning). Luckily not everyone is doing this, the smarter companies will price appropriately for the market and local currency, such as offering something in the US for $249 while the same product in Europe is 199€ or 219€ which is much more inline with the currency's actual value. I acknowledge that our VAT is higher than US sales tax but we do enjoy better consumer protection than the US and better warranties, e.g. most consumer electronics are warranted for 2 full years, and if something breaks within the "expected lifetime" of the product, I can ask for a replacement even after the warranty period.

      I don't mind paying a bit more, but many companies are gouging customers by playing the currency game. I would put Sony in this category based on their pricing.

      • by whoop ( 194 )

        One of the reasons Nintendo gave for region-locking the 3DS was for differences customizing each region for the best experience, like language. So, clearly, since Europe has so many languages, the need to pay more. I guess.

        • One of the reasons Nintendo gave for region-locking the 3DS was for differences customizing each region for the best experience, like language. So, clearly, since Europe has so many languages, the need to pay more. I guess.

          Why would you need region locking for that? If someone needs the extra language then they will buy the localised, more expensive, version. If people do not care and would rather buy the cheaper english version then probably localisation isn't needed after all.

        • Comment removed based on user account deletion
      • by anss123 ( 985305 )

        I acknowledge that our VAT is higher than US sales tax but we do enjoy better consumer protection than the US and better warranties, e.g. most consumer electronics are warranted for 2 full years, and if something breaks within the "expected lifetime" of the product, I can ask for a replacement even after the warranty period.

        Good point. Didn't know the US had shorter mandatory warranties. Though I've only made use of warranty within the first month or so as I always lose the recite.

        • Denmark has this too (or at least something that resembles it pretty closely).

          That having been said, we have 25% VAT. So no surprizes there.
      • Yet once more, the US gets cheap devices while the rest of the world pays more, sometimes a LOT more.

        We get the games for cheaper, and you get the pharmaceuticals for cheaper. It's a trade off to make it fair.

      • I thought it had more to do with import taxes than companies outright gouging, also the extra consumer protections. Blame the gov''t, not ninty.
      • smarter companies will price appropriately for the market and local currency, such as offering something in the US for $249 while the same product in Europe is 199€ or 219€ which is much more inline with the currency's actual value

        No the dumb companies or the ones selling things that are easy to import will do that.

        The smart companies that can control their markets (via region locking, country specific warranties, etc) will sell it for the price in each region that maximises profit.

        And of course s

  • by RogueyWon ( 735973 ) * on Thursday January 20, 2011 @03:38AM (#34937020) Journal

    What's not in the summary or TFA is that this is the first handheld to be "fully" region locked. The PSP was region locked for movies, while the DSi had region locking for the online stores. But this is the first handheld where titles bought off store shelves will all be region locked. There's been evidence for some time that Nintendo are the most anti-consumer of the three console developers, but I think this is probably the final proof.

    Combined with the console's price-point, this really does make me wonder where Nintendo are going with this. They've put it at a price tag which, like the PSP, is going to put it out of reach of most of the playground demographic, at least until Christmas. And yet among non-Japanese grown-up gamers, one of the biggest uses of handhelds is for when you go travelling. I'm not going to sit at home and play on a handheld, in general, when I have proper consoles and a gaming PC in my flat. Why should I peer at a tiny screen and cramp my hands up for a handheld's controls when I could be gaming in comfort? And my commute? I suspect that like many people who live in or near a major city, my commute on public transport is just too crowded and too rattly for handheld gaming. When travelling abroad, however, handhelds come into their own, and that's when I've gotten most of the use out of my PSP and DS. But if I can't pick up a game when I'm out in the US for the flight back to the UK? That's not going to make me happy.

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by RotsiserMho ( 918539 )
      Are you serious? This is the FIRST Nintendo system to be fully region locked. Not exactly "evidence for some time". Also let's not forget it was Sony that pulled the plug on PS3 Linux. They're the only company to ever REMOVE an official feature from a functioning console. I read an article on 1-Up I think that mentioned the price point on the 3DS will be higher because the price point on the Wii really should have been higher. They priced the Wii so low that it was hard to find for over a YEAR. My gu
      • Wow Slashdot's preview is NOT the same as what it posts. It ate my whitespace. How does one edit comments on here?
      • Also let's not forget it was Sony that pulled the plug on PS3 Linux. They're the only company to ever REMOVE an official feature from a functioning console.

        Oh yeah that was a feature that 99% of the userbase used. An OS that was serious gimped by lack of good videodrivers and a lack of RAM. I can buy a second hand computer for 40€ that ran Linux a lot better then how Linux ran in OtherOS mode. Are you serious ? Is anybody crying about Linux on the PS3 serious ?

        * Wake me up when I can buy my game
        • Taking your three requirements in turn and looking across all of the current "big" console platforms:

          1) PS3 games aren't region locked. Ever. The console technically has the capability to implement this, but it has never been turned on. Sony won't certify region locked games. That said, some games are released for specific markets without translations. Unfortunately, this is probably unavoidable; the margins on "small" games in a lot of markets (particularly Japan) are pretty thin and requiring every game t

          • by tlhIngan ( 30335 )

            Also let's not forget it was Sony that pulled the plug on PS3 Linux. They're the only company to ever REMOVE an official feature from a functioning console.

            Oh yeah that was a feature that 99% of the userbase used. An OS that was serious gimped by lack of good videodrivers and a lack of RAM. I can buy a second hand computer for 40 that ran Linux a lot better then how Linux ran in OtherOS mode. Are you serious ? Is anybody crying about Linux on the PS3 serious ?

            And you think 99% of the userbase cares if the

            • Like I said in my post, the PS3 has the capability to region lock but does not use it. You sometimes see region codes on the boxes, but I have no idea why, because the games are not locked. I have PS3 games here, with US and EU region labels on the boxes, both of which work just fine on the same (unmodified) PS3.

            • And you think 99% of the userbase cares if the console was region locked?

              Hmm here in Europe there is a big user group importing a lot of games overseas because of the weak dollar. So no I don't think 99% cares, but I'm sure a big group cares...
          • Unless you are seriously good at both hardware and software, you are not going to be doing this for any of the current consoles.

            Wrong ! It isn't that difficul see http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Assemble-a-Cthulhu-PCB/ [instructables.com]

            And it works great on the ps3 !

            http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Assemble-a-Cthulhu-PCB/ [instructables.com]
      • by teslar ( 706653 )

        This is the FIRST Nintendo system to be fully region locked.

        What? Dude, Nintendo friggin' invented [wikimedia.org] region locking for video games. Even the NES was region locked [wikimedia.org]. You couldn't even play German games on your British NES.

      • by hal2814 ( 725639 )
        "They're the only company to ever REMOVE an official feature from a functioning console."

        To be fair, updating the console after the sale is a pretty new phenomenon. But consoles lose features all the time. The Atari 5200 lost two controller ports and the Master System lost the slot used with their 3D glasses. I'm sure there are others examples. That's not exactly what you're talking about since only the new consoles were affected but it's as close as you can get for consoles that you couldn't really u
      • Are you serious? This is the FIRST Nintendo system to be fully region locked. Not exactly "evidence for some time".

        • Games bought in the Wii Shop Channel are tied to your Wii. Did your Wii break? Too bad, you lost all your downloaded games too (unless you manage to make a stink out of it or live in a country with good customer protection).
        • Want to use your Wii however you like with homebrew? Too bad, Nintendo will fuck you over with firmware updates.
        • Nintendo released a 4.2 firmware update that had a high cha
      • I am not sure why Sony is was brought into this but lets tell the truth here. Linux was NEVER officially supported by Sony. OtherOS feature was not on the box, or on any promotion/merchandising materials. No mass media market campaigns for other os, no radio, print or TV ads for OtherOS. Given the army of features that are pretty open for the PS3, it is silly and indicative of this decisive generation thanks to media and gamers in general. It was one of many unadvertised features that shipped for the PS3.
    • by mwvdlee ( 775178 ) on Thursday January 20, 2011 @04:04AM (#34937124) Homepage

      But this is the first handheld where titles bought off store shelves will all be region locked.

      I'm sure there'll be people to help Nintendo out with their missing features. Like when PS3's OtherOS went missing.

      I'm not going to sit at home and play on a handheld, in general, when I have proper consoles and a gaming PC in my flat.

      OTOH, I've got a console and a DS at home, and usually play with the DS. I can just open and shut the lid whenever I need to without having to wait. To me, the DS is much more about playing WHEN I want rather then WHERE. Then again, I don't have a hardcore gamer mentality; I play games for fun, not for a challenge; I don't play for hours on end.

      • by Vectormatic ( 1759674 ) on Thursday January 20, 2011 @06:01AM (#34937568)

        OTOH, I've got a console and a DS at home, and usually play with the DS. I can just open and shut the lid whenever I need to without having to wait. To me, the DS is much more about playing WHEN I want rather then WHERE. Then again, I don't have a hardcore gamer mentality; I play games for fun, not for a challenge; I don't play for hours on end.

        Same here, my DS has fallen into disuse the last few years, but i have my PSP on my nightstand in sleep-mode, so i can play a level of little-big-planet / race in gran turismo during the commercial breaks when i'm watching TV, which is something i couldnt/wouldnt really do with the 360/wii/gaming pc

      • I'm sure there'll be people to help Nintendo out with their missing features.

        Nintendo has successfully sued sellers of storage media for GBA and DS.

        Like when PS3's OtherOS went missing.

        Likewise, Sony is suing Mr. Hotz.

    • It looks like you shouldn't buy it.

    • by ookaze ( 227977 )

      What's not in the summary or TFA is that this is the first handheld to be "fully" region locked. The PSP was region locked for movies, while the DSi had region locking for the online stores.

      Actually, DSi games were region locked too.

      But this is the first handheld where titles bought off store shelves will all be region locked. There's been evidence for some time that Nintendo are the most anti-consumer of the three console developers, but I think this is probably the final proof.

      What? This has nothing to do with being anti-consumer.
      But it's very bad for the low number of consumers like me, that import games and play genres that are not popular on my territory. I can't say I'm pleased with this.
      I'm used to it, but I thought Nintendo understood that it wasn't making them any good.
      I hope this protection will be broken.

      But given my long experience of region-locked consoles, people like me are far too small a quantity for region-locking to have

    • by Anonymous Coward

      So what you're saying is that because Nintendo is only now region locking their games just like everyone else has since day one that this makes them the most anti-consumer company especially in comparison to Microsoft which is the only company not to give you free internet browsing (or any internet browsing, charges you to use facebook or twitter and uses expensive non-standard accessories?

      Can I have some of that crack you're smoking?

    • by morari ( 1080535 )

      I don't think that Nintendo really knows what they're doing with this thing... I mean, all they're doing is following the 3D gimmick and then slapping a ridiculous price on top of that.

    • by Machtyn ( 759119 )
      Agreed, the price point is quite high. I come from an upper middle class family, and never have I or my siblings ever had a Christmas gift over $100 (unless we combined it with our birthday present).
  • It'll be released in blue and black colors whereas previous current-gen Nintendo products have all had initial releases in white color. Is glossy white no longer the cool color?

    • Black handhelds are fingerprint magnets. They look ugly after much use. The white version mitigated this significantly.

    • Nintendo released their first glossy white device back in 2006 with the DS Lite. Design moves on a bit in five years.

  • by neolithicau87 ( 1930904 ) on Thursday January 20, 2011 @03:58AM (#34937090)

    Having since enjoyed the freedoms afforded to me (for now anyway) with the lack of PS3 region locking, as an Australian, I have hence decided that any systems locked will be imported from the states.

    Region locking to me is a serious throwback to the early 90s where Nintendo used to manipulate publishers and price points in every region. With region locking, Nintendo can just blindly go ahead and charge me twice as much (typically new games here are upto $120AUD on PS3/360, similar on Wii) and get away with it.

    It's bullshit and I refuse to play their profiteering game any longer.

    • Region locking for a portable device is even more stupid. Because you'd never, say, take you hand held video game device with you when travelling from Australia to the United States on holiday.

      And you'd never want to buy a new game for the flight back.

      I guess you're supposed to buy a new device as well.

  • will be available in two flavors: Aqua Blue and Cosmo Black.

    Because I want to make sure I get the one that doesn't fuck up the taste of my hamburger.

    • Product not for children under the age of 6.

      Unlike the Virtual Boy, the 3DS has a "3D off" setting. Besides, very few games for any console are rated EC in the ESRB system. Most are rated E (originally K-A, ages 6+) or higher.

    • This looks like something that Nintendo's lawyers told them they had to do, kind of like that warning in every videogame manual that everybody ignores, which cautions that games have the potential to trigger seizures. It makes it harder for somebody to sue, claiming "Your system is the reason my kid needs glasses!"

      In fact, the notion that the 3ds could harm a normal child's eyes does not make a lot of sense. There's no evidence to support it, and some evidence against [nytimes.com]

  • IS there an R4 card for it yet?

    I know the latest cards get around the DSi and DSXL added protections and the newest one I got last week even got around the new games detecting if it's on a microSD card in a cart.

    Honestly, why should I carry around the 40 carts I own, I want them all on one cart. the stupid machine should allow me to download them into it to begin with to remove my need to use a piracy tool.

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