Nintendo Have Announced they are dropping the price of the Nintendo 3DS from 12th August. The USA will see a price frop from $249.99 to $169.99. The European Price Cut will be around a third, with Nintendo saying its down to retailers to determine the final price cut.
For current Nintendo 3DS Owners, and people who will get the device up until 23.59 PM (CET) 11th August, will be entitled to free games under an "Ambassador Program". This program will be in 2 stages:
Starting from 1st September, Ambassadors will be able to download 10 NES Virtual Console games for free before they are available to the general public. these games include Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong Jr., Balloon Fight, Ice Climber and The Legend of Zelda.
Before the End of 2011, Ambassadors will get 10 free Game Boy Advance Virtual Console games. these include Yoshi’s Island, Super Mario Advance 3, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Metroid Fusion, WarioWare, Inc.: Minigame Mania and Mario vs. Donkey Kong. These games will be exclusive to Ambassadors and Nintendo has no plans to release these games to the general public.
Nintendo has also announced that the 3DS has sold over 830,000 in the USA. they say the need to reduce the price of the 3DS is to help accelerate the adoption of the hardware, but the timing and the amount of the reduction is unprecedented in Nintendo's history.
Nintendo have released a video from the New York Best Buy Nintendo 3DS Launch. the video features interviews and shows some of the entertainment on hand for those queuing to get the 3DS.
The Nintendo 3DS is coming out in the UK on 25th March. This means today is nearly the last time you have to get it posted to you before the handheld comes out. the cheapest prices is £187 and both Amazon.co.uk and Asda with several other shops in the £190 range. several shops have different bundle pricing so have a look around.
Nintendo is holding a press event in Amsterdam for the Nintendo 3DS. a separate event, but most likely with the same news, is happening in the USA. i'll try to cover news from that event as soon as i can.
Big stories from the Amsterdam Event include (will continue to be updated):
As Expected, the event is being hosted by Jonathan Ross
Announced Blue And Black colours are the colours available at launch
Can play DS and DSi Games
a 2GB SD Card will come with the system, users can upgrade that
Take 3D photo's, Share them via the SD Card
Spot Pass, name for feature that uses WiFi to download updates to the handheld. Nintendo working with WiFi HotSpots to allow free access. this feature is accessible even when 3DS is in sleep mode
EuroSport a partner, 3D videos coming via Spot Pass in the future
also talking to Sky to bring Sky3D content to the 3DS
Aardman have an involvement. building on previous partnership over FlipNote Studio. Aardman will create special content featuring Shaun The Sheep in 3D for the 3DS. they will be 1 minute short films available via Spot Pass.
Street Pass, Name for feature where 3DS systems share information between themselves. Street Pass works when 3DS is in sleep mode. don't even need a game in the system for it to work.
Street Pass will only work if you want it to
Capcom on stage now, Yoshino Ono having a great fun time on stage
Super Street Fighter IV 3D uses Street Pass. Fighter figurines unlock as you play the game. these figurines can be used in Street pass and fight in VS battles with other 3DS users who have also set it up
Super Street Fighter IV 3D uses Nintendo WiFi Connection that allows fights to happen between players over WiFi from across the world. you can also use local play to play with people right next to you.
a new mode has been added that allows people to spectate online matches using "Channel Live"...a feature they could only do on the 3DS
game will have 35 fighters
Ubisoft's turn now, Yves Guillmont on stage
8 launch games, Rayman 3D, Rabbids 3D , Ghost recon Shadow wars, James Noir's Hollywood Crimes, Driver, Asphalt .... and more
Konami next, Enomoto and Hatsumi on stage
Konami want to re-invent their old franchises using 3D and come up with new ones
Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D
Temco Koei/Team Ninja
Been looking at handhelds for a while now as a place to do a new Dead Or Alive, but none of them suitable until they were introduced to the 3DS
Dead Or Alive Dimensions, first Handheld Dead Or Alive and start of the re-emergence of Dead Or Alive Series
uses internet play, local play, street pass, and co-op play
Nintendo games coming to 3DS
Pilot Wings Resort, played over the Wii Sports Resort
Nintendogs + Cats, 3 versions available to buy.
Steel Diver
The Legend Of Zelda Ocarina Of Time 3D
Kid Icarus: Uprising
Pre-loaded software on 3DS
Acitivty Log (Logs steps taken)
Mii Creator, uses camera to create Mii's
Augmented Reality Games
Face Raiders (Takes pictures of your face which you can shoot at in a gallery)
Internet Broswer and e-Shop coming at a later date.
e-Shop has Game Boy and Game Boy Colour Games
Ninendogs+cats, Steel Diver, PES 2011 3D, Super Street Fighter IV 3D, Super Monkey ball 3D, Resident Evil Revelations, Combat Of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D, Dead Or Alive Dimensions, Rabbids 3D, Ghost Recon Shadow Wars, Samurai Warriors Chronicles, Driver Renegade, Lego Star Wars III The Clone Wars, Paper Mario, Starfox 64, The Legend of Zelda Ocarina Of Time, Resident Evil Mercenaries, Tom Clancys Splinter Cell 3D, Ashphalt 3D, The Sims 3, Ridge Racer 3D, Meta Gear Solid Snake Eater, Animal Crossing, Pilot Wings Resort, Mario Kart, Kid Icarus Uprising...all games coming soon.
Nintendo 3DS coming across the EU On 25th March
25 games coming out from 25th March-June
Price will be announced by retailers as ultimately its down to them
Presentation is over now. expect news throughout the day
Nintendo UK have announced that European gamers will be able to watch the Nintendo 3DS event from Amsterdam Live. the event will be streamed at http://live.nintendo3ds.nintendo-europe.com/ on 19th January at 2PM GMT/3PM CET
The Japan Pokémon Black And Pokémon White website has been updated with official screenshots of the game. these screenshots are the same as those that were leaked earlier. These screenshots are in-game and show off many new parts of the game. the more noticeable changes shown are the town scape, the bridge, and the new battle scene.
But, the pictures of the battle scene and the cave with blue electricity, the bridge, and the city scape lead me to think that whilst the game can be played on the Nintendo DS, these screens show parts of the game that would take advantage of the 3D screens on the Nintendo 3DS. this is pure speculation on my part, but we already know that the 3DS can play DS games.i doubt that Pokémon Black And Pokémon White would have full 3DS stuff built in, as the game is coming out presumably before the Nintendo 3DS, but i do expect some functionality.
In a out of the blue announcement, Nintendo have announced the Nintendo 3DS and that it is set for release before March 2011. The Name Nintendo 3DS is a temporary name that will most likely remain. the Press release also mentions that on the Nintendo 3DS, "...games can be enjoyed with 3D effects without the need for any special glasses". The Press Release details that the Nintendo 3DS will be able to play both Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi games, presumably Nintendo DSiWare games also.
There is wild speculation about the 3D effects that the 3DS will use. The Video below is one method where 3D effects can be achieved without glasses, but it is dependent on being able to sense movement. This game uses the DSi Camera to detect movement and create the 3D effect.
Using onboard sensors to create a 3D effect, like the video, is a cheap solution, and following the current trend from Nintendo of using "of the shelf" parts, makes this a highly likely solution. but its not the only solution. there do exist LCD displays that can produce a 3D image without the need for the viewer to wear glasses. this would be a more expensive option and limit the viewing angle, something that was highlighted in the Nintendo DSi XL, but it should work for the gamer as they would hold the 3DS close to their eyes.
Reports from Japan are saying that Nintendo have chosen the later and are going to use Sharp LCD's. these reports are also saying that whilst the Screens have been used in Japan on cellphones, they are unsuitable TV Sized. the reports say the LCD screens will be smaller than 4 inches diagonally, smaller than the DSi XL.
When the press release says that the 3DS will be compatible with DS and DSi Software it reveals that the the 3DS must have two camera's. the reports from Japan are also saying that the 3DS will have vibration, 3D Control Sticks (possibly a Analogue Nub or Two), Better battery life, and better Wifi. but those reports must be treated as rumour for now.
Patents have been found for a new version of a Nintendo DS Cartridge. The Patents show the cartridge being used on a current Nintendo DS, but it is possible that these are the cartridges for the Nintendo 3DS. as the 3DS is compatible with DS/DSi games, making existing cartridges fit with the 3DS makes sense. patent pictures show what could be a 3DS cartridge fitting in a DS, meaning DS games would fit in a 3DS.
Whilst alot of this is speculation, we won't know more information unitil E3 where Nintendo is set to release more information.
