The Nintendo 3DS now has an official release date, and it’s February 26th, 2011 (in Japan) where it will be on sale for 25,000 yen. That’s roughly $300 which is a bit higher than my $250 prediction, but I’m not surprised at all given how much the unit does.

Final Nintendo 3DS models
Here’s the final design of the Nintendo 3DS and its first of what will probably be many colors to come: Aqua Blue and Cosmo Black

 
The Nintendo 3DS sure has a lot of cool looking games in its early months of being on the market.

The games:

-The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
Link in the Deku Tree
Link in 3D!

Link slicing grass
Notice the improved graphics.

-Nintendogs + Cats
Nintendogs + Cats
Take this online and the game will be huge.

-Pilot Wings Resort
Pilot Wings: Resort
I haven’t seen you in 15 years!

-Steel Diver
Steel Diver
Dive, surface, fire!

-Kid Icarus
Kid Icarus
Watch Pit fly.

Pit can handle it
It shouldn’t be too hot.

-StarFox 64 3D
We need your help Star Fox
One of my favorite games back in 3D? Sign me up.

-Animal Crossing 3D
Animal Crossing 3D
Animal Crossing also jumping onto the 3D ship.

-Paper Mario 3D
Paper Mario 3D
He may appear flat, but Mario loves 3D as well.

-Mario Kart 3D
Mario Kart 3DS
Mario Kart always sells well, because they’re good games. I expect this one to be big yet again.

-Resident Evil: Revelations
Resident Evil: Revelations
Yes, the 3DS can pump out some impressive graphics.

-Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition

-Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater 3D
Metal Gear Solid 3DS
Snake Eater never looked so good.

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater 3DS
Nice, improved graphics.

-Mii Studio
Mii Studio will help you make your face look like you
This is a very smart feature.

-Resident Evil: Mercenaries (NEW)
Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D
The Mercenaries looks beautiful.

Resident Evil making its way into the world of 3D gaming
I’m looking forward to stuff being thrown at be be more menacing than before.

-Mega Man Legends 3 (NEW)
Mega Man Legends 3 is finally here!
I had a very strong feeling that this was going to be the game that Capcom was referring to the other day.

Here’s what you get in the Nintendo 3DS box:

Nintendo 3DS System
Nintendo 3DS Exclusive Charging Stand
Nintendo 3DS AC Adapter
Nintendo 3DS Exclusive Touch Pen (about 4 inches)
SD Memory Card (2 Gigabytes)
6 AR Cards (paper cards are used for playing with the camera)
Simple Starter Guide
Instructions
Warranty

Here are the system specs:

-Size: 134x74x21mm
-Weight: 230g
-Upper Screen: 3.53 inches, wide screen with naked eye 3D support, 800×240 pixel resolution
-Lower Screen: 3.02 inches, 320×240 pixels
-Camera: there’s one camera on the inside and two cameras on the outside. Each camera is 3 megapixels (640×480)
-Wireless Communication: 2.4GHz. The 3DS can exchange data with other units through Surechigai (Tag Mode). It can also connect to the internet via wireless LAN access points (compatible with WPA/WPA2 IEEE802.11 security).
-Inputs: A/B/X/Y, D-pad, L/R, Start/Select, Slide Pad (360 degree analogue input), Touch Screen, Internal Mic, Camera, Motion Sensor,
-Gyroscope Sensor
-Other Inputs: 3D Volume (you can smoothly adjust the degree of 3D output), Home Button (this opens the Home menu), Wireless Switch (this allows for the wireless to turn off even while in mid-game)
-Power Button
-Connector
-Game Card Slot
-SD Memory Card Slot
-AC Adapter Connection
-Charge Connection
-Headphone Connection
-Sound
-Stereo Speakers on the left and right of the top screen
-Touch Pen: it can be lengthened up to 10cm
-Battery: Lithium Ion Battery
-Game Card:Nintendo 3DS exclusive game cards. The actual size is the same as DS cards. The max memory capacity will be 2 gigabytes at the system’s launch

Some of the major functions mentioned by Nintendo in its press release includes:

-Enjoy 3D images with the naked eye on the top screen.
You can adjust the 3D volume to change the 3D feel, and can also make it 2D.

-A stereo camera that can take 3D pictures.
Includes 2 external cameras. When you take 3D pictures, they can be viewed on the spot.

-New input interfaces: Slide Pad, Motion Sensor, Gyro Sensor

-Itsunoma ni Tsuushin
When the 3DS is in sleep mode, the system will automatically seek out Nintendo Zone and wireless LAN access points and will grab information, game data, free games, videos and other things from the internet. The name, incidentally, translates to something along the lines of “Wireless Communication When You Weren’t Expecting It.”

Surechigai Tsuushin/Tag Mode
When the 3DS is in sleep mode, it will automatically exchange data with other 3DS systems. The system can transfer data from multiple games simultaneously.

Functionality For Use Without Leaving Games: Home Menu, Internet Browser, Notice List

-A Variety of Software Built In: Nintendo 3DS Camera, Nintendo 3DS Sound, Mii Studio, Surechigai/Tag Mode Mii Plaza, AR Games, Omoide Kirokuchou (Memory Recording Notebook), and more.

-Download Sales of Games: In addition to buying games, you can view introductory videos and rankings on them.

Transfer Over Software and Data: Nintendo is allowing you to easily transfer over your already purchased software to your 3DS. So keep buying DSiWare games, because they’ll be able to jump ship.

-Backwards Compatible: In addition to playing games made for 3DS, the system can also play DS and DSi titles.

-Parental Controls: You’re able to set play restrictions based off game ratings and limit browser use, other areas, etc. Parental Controls are being improved from the DSi versions.

14 thoughts on “Nintendo 3DS: What comes in the box, its specs, its special features, release date, price, gameplay trailer montage, and more.”
  1. At that price no way i’m getting one you can buy a ps3 or xbox 360 for that price. I don’t think many average people have that kind of money for a handheld devise 200 is high 300 i’ll stick to my dsi until it comes way down money is hard to come buy these days

    1. *justncase, the way I look at it, the 3DS probably will hit United States on March 27th, 2011…so that gives you 6 months to put aside a little money each week towards one. 6 months equals roughly 26 weeks. If you can save $13 a week (or for most people that work, $26 per two week pay period), you’ll have just enough to cover the cost of the system and its tax.

      Make a little “3DS Jar” that you stick money aside in and before you know it, for sparring a couple of extra lunches a week outside of home, you’ll have the very first 8th generation gaming machine on day one, without feeling like you’re emptying a whole paycheck. 🙂

  2. Not sure why people are complaining about the price. Considering you’re getting an amazing portable gaming device with autostereoscopic 3D $300 seems more than reasonable to me.

    Consider the alternative of using your PS3 to play 3D games – you’d have to add the cost of the PS3 itself, a 3D capable TV AND a pair of 3D glasses – that would come to a hell of a lot more than $300.

    Of course……the quality of 3D on the PS3 is far higher than on the 3DS but i’m just keeping things in perspective.

    1. *Tom Ato, you know…despite PS3’s 3D gaming being capable of being experienced on big screens, I was more impressed at E3 with the 3DS because of the lack of glasses and just how sleek the whole interface/slider was.

  3. Dude this is sick! Definitely gonna have to get it for Zelda, Metal Gear Solid, Star Fox, and Resident Evil. Price is a little steep but well worth it. Cant wait!

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