The Nintendo President predicts the 3DS will have a ‘rocket start’ in the USA , boosted by high definition graphics and the games available for the handheld.
“There will be not only our own software, but also third- party titles, which have the photo-realism that will satisfy Western gamers,” said Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata “We expect the 3DS to get off to a rocket start, like the Wii’s debut.”
The latest handheld from Nintendo had its release date and price revealed during a press event in Amsterdam yesterday. The 3DS is set for release on March 25th here in the UK with retailers setting prices around £220 to £230. Meanwhile the US will have to wait two days longer for the 3DS to be released on March 27th, and will be able to get it for $249.
When currency conversion is taken into account that means a Nintendo 3DS is £60 more expensive in the UK than it is across the Atlantic, a fact that has frustrated some Train2Game students.
For more news from yesterday’s Nintendo 3DS press event, see the Thoughts of Train2Game blog.
There is a huge desire for the 3DS, as evident on the Train2Game forum, and it’s reported to be the most demanded electronic device right now and analysts predict it’ll provide the game industry with a boom.
The 3DS launch should be a major catalyst for the game industry,” said Tony Wible, an analyst with Janney Montgomery Scott LLC. “Polls have shown more pent-up demand for the product than any other consumer electronics device in the market.”
Meanwhile Michael Pachter says the 3DS will sell more than its rival the PSP2:
“I think that the 3DS will outsell the PSP2, because the 3DS is new and different, while the PSP2 is likely going to be a souped up version of the old PSP. Thus, I think that 3DS will have greater success in capturing the consumer’s imagination.”
The 3DS may also receive some competition from mobile games on devices such as the iPhone, which the Train2Game blog recently reported have seen a massive increase user base in recent times.
Nintendo say they will ship over 4 million units of the device in its first month to prevent a shortage of stock, while it’s predicted the 3DS will bring Nintendo extra $1.8 billion dollars a year.
The Nintendo 3DS is set for release in the UK on March 25th 2011.
So Train2Game, do you agree with the Nintendo President that the 3DS will have a ‘rocket’ start? What are your thoughts on the pricing? And will you get one come March 25th?
As usual, you can leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.
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