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Final 3DS Design, Release Date, Price, And New Details Revealed

And you said it wouldn't be black and blue. Just moments ago, at the Nintendo Conference 2010 in Tokyo, the final design of the 3DS made its debut (pictured above). Outside of the analog stick looking more like a marshmallow, I can't see much of a difference. And I'm glad. I thought it looked great at E3.

Nintendo also revealed that the 3DS will come packaged with a 2GB SD card. And just like the Cylon detector from Battlestar Galactica, the 3DS will alert the player if another 3DS is in the vicinity by flashing a red light on the upper right hand corner of the unit. This light also alerts the player that the 3DS may have collected data from the passerby unit. The info exchanged between the two units includes how long ago you met the other user, how many times you've crossed paths, and also what the last game was that you played together.

The 3DS design is final, but plenty of new details are emerging about the system. What's left to announce? A release date, of course. The 3DS will land on Japanese store shelves on February 26, 2011 for 25,000 yen (roughly $299). We won't have to wait long to get our hands on it, either. Nintendo says the U.S. and European launches will be in March. No pricing was provided for those regions.

The image and details come courtesy of Mark MacDonald, industry veteran, all around great guy, and executive director of 8-4, Ltd. You can follow Mark on twitter here.

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Comments
  • definitely want to get this!!! seems awesome! a little pricey though.......i will before i purchase though...ima give sony another chance with the new psp....if the new psp is a flop and a waste of money then i will get this..the feature with the blinking red light seems cool

    **just read phill's article on it..it has a web browser along with the cool picture editing thing...forget the psp!! im sold!**
  • If my wallet was a person, it would look like one of those starving kids in Africa for the rest of this year and 2011.

  • Absolutely getting it!!! I'm gonna save now so that way I can get it in March. Woo! I can't wait!
  • Phew! Glad to finally have some closure. Even though it's $300 in Yen, it may be around $229.

    I can't wait for March, the 3DS sounds amazing! 3D GB and GBA games!

  • Just because its 25,000 yen and that equals $299 doesnt mean its gonna cost $299. They rarely just use the pricing strait across like that. The DSi XL cost 18,000($195)yen but is only $170 here. So I would still guess its gonna cost $250.

  • ahhh, i was pipe-dreaming a christmas 2010 release...

  • If its 300 bucks in America like in Japan, that seems like a great price, I'm mean Nintendo always come out with something at a reasonable price, and if it does come out in March like the week of my birthday then that will be the best birthday present EVER. Saving up for this hands down.
  • Yeah that's pricey at 300. That's like buying a ps3. Should a handheld cost as much as a console? Prob best to wait for redesign, price drop and bundle deal.

  • must get fro next year if Crysis 2 and Dues EX and KZ3 dont burnt all my money and LBP2

  • w00t! I'm buying this.

  • I doubt it'll be $300.  I'm thinking $200 at the most, and even that's pricy.  They don't want a PSPGo on their hands.

  • It sounds so awesome and I want it soooo bad...but 300 is to much for me.  I can only do 200 maybe 220

  • OH SNAP!!!!  this will be fun

  • A little less exciting than I thought it would be. Hoping for more new features than were announced tonight but VC Handheld and the "classic games" is definitely awesome. March is a good month for the system to come out, I hope it is less than $250, which is what I sadly think it will cost.

  • It looks really good. The more I see of this system the more I want it.

  • I will have one especially for Pokemon Black.

  • 300$ whoa! thats a little steep for something that may get crushed dropped and stepped on in a kids room. Maybe I can hold off on this gem until they lower the price to 199 or less.

  • I was excited about this, but if the price is $300 at launch.lol no way i'll be getting one.$200 maybe, But $300 for a 3ds is a joke.That's 50-100+ more than a psp while still not being as powerful graphically(yes i know it is a big leap from the ds, but the ds was way behind the curve and it's still not quite up there with even the last gen psp. 3d slider or not).I'd say they will probably bring that price point down quite a bit for the US launch.Even though i'm sure there are probably tons of rich stupid parents that will rush out to buy it for the spoiled little chittlens.
  • i play my ipod when travelling (like on the bus 'n stuff). i only play my broken ds when im in an airport

  • illl buy cuzz they can justify it being 300$ but i dont think anyone else is hapy about this

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