Nintendo 3DS UK launch information revealed

The Nintendo 3DS preview event in Amsterdam and New York provided many key pieces of information about Nintendo next handheld successor. Now with the event dying down it seems like we have all the information we’re going to get out of it. So what do you need to know about the Nintendo 3DS? Read on to find out

When will it be released and how much will it cost?

The UK release date is March 25th. If you’ve being paying attention to the news on the US launch details for the Nintendo 3DS, you’ll know they’ll get it on March 27th, which means we actually get it two days before them.

As for the price, in a weird and ominous fore-shadowing way, Nintendo has not revealed how much the Nintendo 3DS will be, just saying that “refer to retailers”. This means that the ball is in the retailers court and we could now be seeing competitive pricing and deals in a bid to get the most of the Nintendo 3DS pie. HMV have launched the first shot with a £229.99 price point, with GAME following suit. But Play.com has up the ante by offering £219.99. The prices may may make many wince and grab their wallet’s tight, but since some expected it to be around £200, these prices aren’t too bad. Regardless you better get use to it because £210-229 is expected to be the price range.

You can read Gerrard Winter’s thoughts on the Nintendo 3DS pricing.

What about the colours?

Initial launch models for the Nintendo 3DS come in two flavours; Cosmos Black and Aqua Blue. You can bet Nintendo will eventually release different colours and special editions to coincide with specific games but right now, that’s your choice.

What do I get when I purchase the Nintendo 3DS?

You can check out the blog ‘Train2Game looks at Nintendo 3DS Details‘ to see what accessories you get with the Nintendo 3DS (as well as other information). As for software, there have been no plans for any bundles (but with two months still to go – and as history as shown us – it’s likely we may hear something). What you are guaranteed to get is pre-installed software such as Mii Maker, mini-game Face Raiders, the 3DS e-Shop, which allows you to buy Game Boy and Game Boy Color games through the Virtual Console or purchase download new 3DSiWare, with the last feature being ideal for those (like me) who missed/skipped on the Nintendo DSi.

So what about the launch games?

Nintendo have confirmed that eight games will be released when the Nintendo 3DS is launched (they didn’t say what they were specficaly and there is conflicting reports) and that there will be 30 titles available within weeks of March 25th, which you can see below.

Nintendo

Face Raiders (pre-installed game), Paper Mario, Star Fox 64 – Nintendo, Pilotwings Resort, Animal Crossing, Mario Kart, Nintendogs + Cats, Steel Diver, Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D and Kid Icarus Uprising

Ubisoft

Rayman 3D, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell 3D, Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D, Asphalt 3D, Rabbids 3D, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars and James Noir’s Hollywood Crimes, Driver: Renegade

Capcom

Super Street Fighter IV, Resident Evil Revelations and Resident Evil Mercenaries 3D

Konami

Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater and Pro Evolution Soccer 2011

Tecmo

Koei Dead or Alive Dimensions and Samurai Warriors Chronicles

EA

The Sims 3 and Madden NFL Football

Sega

Thor God of Thunder and Super Monkey Ball 3D

Others

Ridge Racer 3D (Namco Bandai), LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (LucasArts) and Puzzle Bobble Universe (Square Enix)

What’s this Spot Pass Ive been hearing about?

Spot Pass is the awesome new way the Nintendo 3DS will handle Wi-Fi. Before on the DS and DSi, your system had to not playing a game and “in use” before it could access Wi-Fi and even there was the occasion where it could be iffy.

With the 3DS Spot Pass system, You can not only access BT wi-fi spots all over the UK, but can do so when the console is even in sleep mode. In fact, some games take advantage of this such as Super Street Fighter IV, which has players battle each other using virtual figurines as they pass each other in the street.

Spot Pass will make videos and news accessible and players able to trade Mii Characters thanks to the ‘Street Pass’ facility.

Nintendo are in talks with wi-fi partners all over Europe to make sure gamers are never far from a wi-fi spot.

Speaking at the 3DS press announcement in Amsterdam today, Nintendo’s MD of marketing and PR Laurent Fischer said:

“Spot Pass revolutionises content on the move. Players will be able to join each other instantly and more easily than before. Our aim is to develop innovative content via Spot Pass.”

“We reinvented gaming with DS and Wii, and now 3DS is set to change gaming again.”

Any other information I should know about?

Aardman Animations will be releasing content on the Nintendo 3DS, starting with exclusive 3D short films based on Shaun the Sheep and Eurosport and Sky Sports 3D have joined Nintendo in a special deal which will allow sports fans to download coverage from the two sports broadcasting giants. More programming is expected to follow.

In what is to make hardcore gamers sad, the Nintendo 3DS is region locked. You can find more information about it here.

The dreaded friend code is still in place. But now it has been simplified as you only need to enter a friend’s code once, instead of doing it for each separate game. It may still be a hassle compared to adding friends on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, but at least it’s a step in the right direction.

GAME’s excited reaction to the Nintendo 3DS

CVG have a look at the Nintendo 3DS’ seven key strengths.