It's official: 3DS launching March 27 for $249

[Pikminister]

Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime confirmed a $249.99 price point and a March 27 release date for the 3DS handheld in the U.S., along with titles including a 3DS version of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Nintendo #3DS will be offered at a suggested retail price of $249.99. #3DSevent

Source: http://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/s...36481569177600

[Dracarys]

With region locks and friend codes!

[Darkmoon]

Region locks? Joy. Ah well, annoying but not the end of the world.

[Pikminister]

With region locks and friend codes!

According to Nintendo, not all games will be region locked.

In regards to the Friend Codes, good news:

"there will be a single, unified Friend Code per 3DS system. Once players trade their codes, they will be able to connect in all online-enabled games -- there are no game-specific codes as on Wii and DS".

And just to clarify, not all online games require trading Friend Codes. That's something you already been seeing in Wii and DSi online games. In fact, it's been a while since 3rd party devs have offered alternatives to FC's.

[rewak]

Why spend $250 on a handheld when you can pick up a console for less than that? Yeah it's got 3D but whoop-de-doo, it's still just a DS. I'll wait thanks, firstly for the price to come down, secondly to see if it actually lasts, and thirdly because the launch titles are pretty weak.

[Pikminister]

Why spend $250 on a handheld when you can pick up a console for less than that?.

In that case, why buy a next gen console when you could get more bang for your buck buying a computer? You not only get to play games but you can pretty much do anything. Including design your own games.

At least on a PC, you'll have a better chance of ever playing 3DS exclusives Revelations or Mercenaries, than on any other console (not that I recommend taking that option)

Yeah it's got 3D but whoop-de-doo, it's still just a DS?.

Well, it's a new version of the DS... but technically it's a different beast. As different as your PS1 was to it's sequel, the PS2:

Resident Evil 1 - DS


Resident Evil: Revelations 3DS

I'll wait thanks, firstly for the price to come down, secondly to see if it actually lasts, and thirdly because the launch titles are pretty weak.

Yeah, the price point is not for everyone.

And you do have valid reasons to wait. I'm surely not going to camp outside GameStop/BestBuy to buy it.

But who knows, if I have enough cash available on launch date...

[rewak]

Well this is my points, why spent this much on a handheld when you could go get a console or a nice PC? It just doesn't make much sense to charge this much for a handheld system, even if it is Nintendo. I know it's more powerful than the DS but still, watching gameplay of Revelations you can see the low-res textures, the limited poly-models, all the niggly little things that remind you it isn't quite as nice as if the game were on a console. 3D to me is just a gimmick that's overstaying it's welcome and that's why i'm gonna wait cause i can see interest and developer support dropping by next year and by then it'll be half the price, and i can wait that long

[riderkid]

i'll just tget mine off shopnbc. way better and in my budget at least

[Mr. Spencer]

Right, I'm opening a pool.

Who would like to start the betting at how long it'll take before Nintendo release a 3DS Lite or any other successor?

[Branden_Lucero]

Well this is my points, why spent this much on a handheld when you could go get a console or a nice PC? It just doesn't make much sense to charge this much for a handheld system, even if it is Nintendo. I know it's more powerful than the DS but still, watching gameplay of Revelations you can see the low-res textures, the limited poly-models, all the niggly little things that remind you it isn't quite as nice as if the game were on a console. 3D to me is just a gimmick that's overstaying it's welcome and that's why i'm gonna wait cause i can see interest and developer support dropping by next year and by then it'll be half the price, and i can wait that long

there's no reason to ever buy a handheld for more than $150 period. the last time i paid full price for a handheld was the original PSP 1000. i got the PSP go for $150. screw paying any more for that. hell, cell phones are just as bad. you want a nice htc phone, you either got to pay around $500 for one, or get suckered into a 2-year contract just to get the phone price to drop to $200 or less (or even free).

[Pikminister]

Right, I'm opening a pool.

Who would like to start the betting at how long it'll take before Nintendo release a 3DS Lite or any other successor?

Well let's consider how long it took for the DS...

DS - 2004

DSL - 2006

DSi - 2008-09

With the DS a new upgrade came by every two years. Considering that the 3DS is a 3D portable, it may happen every 3 YEARS.

So my bet is, 3 years before we see another upgrade... Unless the iPhone or PSP 2 force Ninty to upgrade it quicker.

[RetroRain]

Over-fucking-priced. Really. I can see between $149 and $199, but $249 is just bullshit. I'm not complaining, I'm just saying. I'm not enirely sure if I'm getting this yet.

Anyway, the 3DS appeals to me more than any of the other previous DS models, including the fucking Wii, which I always thought was a waste of a system to begin with.

I just hope that this is the last DS. I never cared for the two-screen concept. Ever since day 1 when the showed the first DS, there was something about having a second screen that came off as tacky or try-hard. It's hard to explain, but I can't stand the idea of having two screens like that. To me it says "Even if we can't creatively make a good game we're going to give you a second screen, so that will make up for it."

[Dracarys]

I'll be buying one the day a new RE game is available, Mercs 3D I guess. Far from the first time a RE game release date has directly influenced a buy.

[rewak]

UK gets it 25th March, RRP £230, or around $370. RRP in Europe is €250 or around $340/£210. As always the UK gets the worst deal.

[Mr. Spencer]

Well let's consider how long it took for the DS...

DS - 2004

DSL - 2006

DSi - 2008-09

With the DS a new upgrade came by every two years. Considering that the 3DS is a 3D portable, it may happen every 3 YEARS.

So my bet is, 3 years before we see another upgrade... Unless the iPhone or PSP 2 force Ninty to upgrade it quicker.

First man to step up to the plate, his money's on the table. Three years. Anyone else willing to take a punt?