We know the launch date and price for the Nintendo 3DS in Japan, but here's a list of what else we know, plus some fancy videos:
Here's what we know, based on what Nintendo said at the press conference last night or put out via fact sheet:
1) $300?!
The ¥25,000 ($298 U.S.) price covers the cost of a charging cradle, AC adapter, 2GB SD card, telescoping 4-inch stylus, and six AR cards that facilitate the augmented-reality games that come with the device.
2) It even does the laundry. If the laundry is accessible via LAN.
The 3DS does all sorts of wireless tricks even while in sleep mode. According to reports from the press conference, the device automatically links to Nintendo Zone and wireless LAN access points to pull data from the Internet and exchange data with other 3DS systems. Allegedly, users can also transfer their DSiWare games to the 3DS.
3) We want our Kid Icarus already.
The list of confirmed games is massive, but it's not immediately clear how many of these are launch titles.
4) It might break the bank, but will it break my arm?
The 3DS weighs about half a pound and is 5.3-inches wide, 2.9-inches long, and 0.8-inches tall when closed.
5) Do you have it in pink?
It comes it two colors -- Aqua Blue and Cosmos Black.
6) Boy, Nintendo must be rolling in it, right? Despite Nintendo's confidence in the 3DS as a device, the company slashed its financial outlook for its fiscal year (which ends during the U.S. and Europe 3DS launch window in March 2011). Net profit forecasts are down by more than half to ¥90 billion ($1.1 billion U.S.) and net sales got cut back 21 percent to ¥1.1 trillion ($13.2 billion U.S.). Nintendo's already had a rough year with slumping DS and DSi sales plus a too-strong Japanese yen.
7) Ouch. Really?
Along with those dire financial numbers, Nintendo announced that it hopes to sell 4 million 3DS units and 15 million software titles in Japan in its first month on the market (which roughly covers the window of time from launch to the end of Nintendo's fiscal year).
Sources:
Martyn Williams, IDG multimedia editor & Tokyo bureau chief
Official 3DS Specs, Hardware Pics, 1st-party Screens [Tom's Guide]
Transfer DSi Ware Games to 3DS [Andriasang]
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Source: Daily News from GamePro.com
Wednesday, September 29, 2010