3DS details coming in September

[jay]

Nintendo has confirmed to Bloomberg Japan that it will finally reveal pricing and availability details for its upcoming 3DS handheld on September 29.

While the device was unveiled at E3 last month and Nintendo has stated it will be available in 2011, there has been no concrete confirmation of a global release.

The price, meanwhile, has seen only speculation thus far - with analysts predicting an RRP of $249-299.

Nintendo spokesman Yasushi Hiroshi Minagawa also told Bloomberg that the much-anticipated date and cost reveal would be made in Japan.

[nestlekwik]

Yes, announce that release date.  Then we'll know when to look forward to the announcement of your next re-hash on the Nintendo DS around that same time.

$250 does sound about right, though.  I can't really imagine people wanting to spend more than that, especially when people complain about the DSi being $170.  But, you know, that's what high price points are for at launch - the early adapters that would pay basically any price for the item.

[randomizer9]

In terms of technology at least, this isn't going to be another Virtual Boy.  I had a chance to demo the 3DS at E3 and It. Freaking. Works. 

While it is impressive tech, whether anyone can do anything new and interesting with that 3D remains to be seen.  To be fair, though, it took awhile for folks to do neat new stuff with the DS, so I'm optimistic.

[nestlekwik]

I think there was plenty of unique offerings when the DS and Wii both launched, but then, after a handful of months, the third-party market just crushed everything by shoveling crap all over the formats.  Some good ideas squeak by here and there, but it seems with Nintendo's systems, the payoff is having the system right away.  We'll see what happens as we learn more about the system as it sounds like it has a stellar lineup from respectible publishers thus far.  I'm just concerned what is going to happen once the floodgates open up to other companies.