You've been asking and asking about Nintendo's 3DS handheld, which offers glasses-free 3-D gaming (among other things), since it was first announced officially at E3 last year. The most important details you've been waiting to hear -- when you can get the thing and how much it will cost you -- were revealed early this morning at a press conference in New York City. Here's what you really want to know: the 3DS will run you $249.99 and it will be available in North America on March 27. More details after the jump.
While the glasses-free 3-D functionality is certainly the chief draw of the device, Nintendo is being sure to make clear that this isn't just a Nintendo DS with a high-tech screen added to the mix. Under the hood, processing power and visual fidelity both get a boost while a built-in accelerometer & gyroscope create a wider range of gameplay opportunities. Of course, let's also not forget the addition of an analog control nub to complement the D-pad. The 3DS will be initially available in both blue and black colors.
In addition to supporting the soon-to-be-released new line of 3D-enabled titles and Nintendo DS games, the 3DS will also feature built-in AR (Augmented Reality) gaming which require the use of cards that come packed in with the system. Right out of the box, the 3DS will also feature a built-in camera, a 3-D video player, a web browser, Mii support (you can create your own Miis, either from scratch or automatically, using a picture) and the same audio software featured on the DSi. Also confirmed is an improved Friend Code system; now, each code is hardware-specific and only needs to be registered once.
The 3DS launch window, which covers the space of time between the handheld's release and this year's E3 trade show, will see more than 30 games released. "Sports, action, shooter, fighter, family, racing, RPG," Nintendo of America prez Reggie Fils-Aime told the gathered journalists, "All available at or very soon following launch day."
No specific release dates given, but the games on display from Nintendo at the event included "Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D," "Pilotwings Resort," "Nintendogs + Cats," "Steeldiver" and "Kid Icarus Uprising." Third-party games being shown included "Dead or Alive Dimensions," "Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D," "Madden NFL Football 3D," "Super Street Fighter 4 3D Edition," "Asphalt 3D," "Combat of Giants," "Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D," "Ridge Racer 3D" and "Lego Star Wars 3: The Clone Wars." It seems that at least the Nintendo titles can be considered "launch window" releases. Stay tuned to MTV Multiplayer for additional updates later today.