The Nintendo 3DS will hit European stores on 25 March, and retailers have confirmed that the UK price will be between £219 and £229. The system will be available in two colours: cosmos black and aqua blue.
Most of Nintendo's Amsterdam press event confirmed details we already knew, both from the E3 unveiling and the recent Japanese press day. The 3DS comes with two screens, the top display providing glasses-free stereoscopic 3D, the bottom standard 2D images and touchscreen functionality. On the left of the bottom screen is an analogue controller, replacing the Nintendo DS d-pad enabling more precise sensitive direction controls. There are also built in motion and gyro sensors for tilt controls.
The console also has two cameras on the front so users can take 3D photos. Taking advantage of this feature are a collection of apps, including a set of six AR cards which, when viewed through the camera, show various creatures popping up out of the card – a familiar augmented reality feature. There's also Face Raiders, a simple shooter game that lets you fire at silly photos of your own face.
"Nintendo 3DS is not just about being able to watch and play in 3D without glasses – it also offers unique social experiences," said Laurent Fischer, managing director of marketing at Nintendo Europe. "In the way Wii brought families together, Nintendo 3DS will appeal to a broad range of people." He was referring to the two new wireless internet features. StreetPass allows different Nintendo 3DS systems to communicate with each other as their owners pass in the street. In this way, strangers will be able to swap game data and items, and even have their Street Fighter IV characters engaging in automatic fights. This concept has been explored before, notably in an old Japanese dating gadget, which would alert users if they passed by other owners who shared the same interests.
Also revealed was SpotPass, which will allow 3DS owners to automatically download game updates and content as they pass by Wi-Fi hotspots.
And to continue the fitness focus that has proved so successful on Wii, the Nintendo 3DS can act as a pedometer when put into Sleep Mode. Users can then earn "play coins" for going for a walk, and these can then be traded in for additional content in compatible games and apps. By accessing the Activity Log, users are able to check how many steps they've taken.
Elsewhere, Nintendo revealed the Mii Maker app, which will allow users to create their own avatars based on photos of themselves. These can then be imported onto memory cards and used as profile images on social networking sites such as FaceBook. Nintendo's online store, or eShop, will also be updated to offer new versions of classic games as well as mini downloadable 3D titles.
There were also a couple of partner announcements. Eurosport will be supplying 3D sports content on the system, while Aardman Animations is to provide a series of new Shaun the Sheep short movies in 3D. Nintendo has also partnered with BSkyB to attain shortform content from Sky 3D.
So, a wide array of functionality and some neat mainstream-friendly ideas. What was lacking from the announcements, was a selection of new games. Only Lego Star Wars III Clone Wars 3D and Crush 3D adding to the list of games already mentioned at the Japanese event.
The question is, are YOU pre-ordering one?
• UK launch: 25 March; £219-£229
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