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3DS

North American 3DS Launch to Boast 16 Different Games

by Neal Ronaghan - February 22, 2011, 6:58 am EST
Total comments: 18 Source: (Press Release)

Three Nintendo-published titles will be out on launch day with Steel Diver on day one.

Nintendo revealed the North American 3DS launch lineup today, and it includes Pilotwings Resort, Steel Diver, Nintendogs + Cats in three versions, and 13 other games. Each title will be available for $39.99.

Ubisoft and EA are the only other two companies with more than one title at launch. Ubisoft has four (Asphalt 3D, Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D, Rayman 3D, and Ghost Recon Shadow Wars), and EA has two (Madden and The Sims 3D).

Other notable titles include Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition and Super Monkey Ball 3D. See below for the full list:

  • Pilotwings Resort (Nintendo)
  • Steel Diver (Nintendo)
  • Nintendogs + Cats (Nintendo)
  • Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition (Capcom)
  • Madden NFL Football (EA)
  • The Sims 3 (EA)
  • Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D (Konami)
  • LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (LucasArts)
  • Ridge Racer 3D (Namco Bandai)
  • Super Monkey Ball 3D (Sega)
  • Bust-A-Move Universe (Square Enix)
  • Samurai Warriors Chronicles (Tecmo Koei)
  • Asphalt 3D (Ubisoft)
  • Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D (Ubisoft)
  • Rayman 3D (Ubisoft)
  • Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Shadow Wars (Ubisoft)

Nintendo Reveals Launch-Day Lineup of 18 Nintendo 3DS Games

With More Than 30 Games Total Launching by Early June, There's Something for Everyone

REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 22, 2011 – On day one, new Nintendo 3DS™ owners will have plenty of video games to keep them busy. Nintendo and its third-party publishing partners have made sure that people who buy a system on March 27 will be able to choose from a variety of experiences that leverage the system's new features. A steady and diverse stream of games of all kinds will keep the fun going, with more than 30 Nintendo 3DS games total launching before the E3 Expo in early June.

"Seeing 3D visuals without the need for special glasses is just one aspect of Nintendo 3DS," said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. "The real test of any system is whether the games and applications draw you in and keep you engaged. Through the launch window and beyond, Nintendo 3DS delivers."

On March 27, new Nintendo 3DS owners will be able to choose from the following Nintendo-published games, each available at a suggested retail price of $39.99:

  • Pilotwings Resort™, an aerial adventure featuring airplanes, hang gliders and rocket belts. Players soar above tropical Wuhu Island in 3D as they complete missions or snap pictures.
  • Steel Diver™, a submarine game that involves strategy and combat. The 3D visuals give players the sensation that they are looking into a miniature aquarium as they control the sub's speed, depth and pitch, and fire torpedoes.
  • nintendogs™ + cats, a game that lets players interact with realistic puppies – and kittens – in a variety of fun ways. There are three versions of the software, each with different starting breeds: French bulldog, toy poodle and golden retriever. But in each version players can unlock and enjoy more than 20 different breeds.

Other Nintendo 3DS games in the works for 2011 from Nintendo include The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ 3D, Star Fox 64™ 3D, Kid Icarus™: Uprising and new installments in the Mario Kart™ series.

Third-party publishers also have a strong slate of games ready to go on March 27. These include:

  • Super Street Fighter® IV 3D Edition from CAPCOM
  • The Sims™ 3 from EA
  • Madden NFL Football from EA SPORTS
  • Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D from Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
  • LEGO® Star Wars® III: The Clone Wars™ from LucasArts™
  • RIDGE RACER® 3D from NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.
  • Super Monkey Ball™ 3D from SEGA
  • BUST-A-MOVE UNIVERSE™ from Square-Enix, Inc.
  • SAMURAI WARRIORS®: Chronicles from TECMO KOEI AMERICA Corp.
  • Asphalt™ 3D from UBISOFT
  • Combat of Giants™: Dinosaurs 3D from UBISOFT
  • Rayman® 3D from UBISOFT
  • Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon® Shadow Wars from UBISOFT

Nintendo 3DS also comes pre-loaded with a variety of fun games, applications and features, such as the Nintendo 3DS camera, which can be used to take photos in 2D and 3D as well as be used in other games and applications. For instance, the built-in Face Raiders™ game asks users to shoot at funny depictions of their own photographed faces, while the Mii Maker™ application lets gamers use the camera to take a picture of a person and have an automatic Mii™ character created. The system also comes with six AR Cards, which, when viewed through the outer cameras, bring to life fun and interesting animations and images. For example, when used with nintendogs + cats, users might see their puppies or kittens sitting on their coffee tables or in the palms of their hands. With Nintendo 3DS Sound, users can enjoy sound-manipulation tools or rock out with their Nintendo 3DS system while listening to their MP3 or AAC music files.

Nintendo 3DS is also able to play nearly every game in the massive Nintendo DS library, except those that require use of a secondary Game Boy™ Advance slot.

For more information about Nintendo 3DS, visit http://www.nintendo3ds.com.

Talkback

TJ SpykeFebruary 22, 2011

So it's confirmed they are raising the price $10? DS games were usually $30 and some were $35 (and of coarse Square Enix used $40). That is disappointing and something I hope doesn't become standard as I will buy even fewer 3DS games than I did DS.

Of the launch games, I can see myself getting Street Fighter, Pilotwings, LEGO, and maybe Monkey Ball.

Ugh, Ubisoft is releasing Rayman 2 *again*? I was a fan of the game on the Dreamcast, and the Nintendo DS port had some problems....but really, Ubisoft?

Also, the press release implies Pilotwings Resort features only Wuhu Island and no other locales. If so, my anticipation for that game has significantly diminished.

KDR_11kFebruary 22, 2011

Raising the US prices makes sense, the fall of the US Dollar made 30$ much, MUCH cheaper than what those games cost in the rest of the world and likely resulted in a lot of importing. DS games launch at 40€ here which is almost twice as much as your cheapass 30$.

On the other hand raising 3DS game prices compared to the DS makes no sense in Europe where that would make them more expensive than Wii games (also 40€).

I expect some of these third-party games could be up to $45, which is pretty crazy. At least Mario Kart is good news -- should be a great test for the system's new online system. I hope there are gameplay innovations and at least the option for more balanced A.I. as well.


If anyone's wondering about the numeric discrepancy in launch titles in this article, Nintendo counts 18 because they are including Nintendogs + Cats as three different titles.

FZeroBoyoFebruary 22, 2011

The only game I'm really interested in is Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition. Much as I may hate to say it, but it looks like I may hold off on getting a 3DS for a few months.

Killer_Man_JaroTom Malina, Associate Editor (Europe)February 22, 2011

Mostly the same as the UK line-up, with a couple of exceptions, such as the inclusion of Steel Diver.

As far as launch day offerings go, it isn't too bad, though the ones I'm really interested in are a few months down the road.

KnowsNothingFebruary 22, 2011

$40 a game for only Wuhu Island?  No way.  This is not the Pilotwings I wanted!  This isn't a confirmation but at this point I'm 90% sure there won't be any other areas....and Pilotwings is the only launch game I'm interested in...

Perhaps I'll cancel my preorder.

TJ SpykeFebruary 22, 2011

Basically, yeah. North America has 4 launch games EU doesn't have (Steel Diver, Madden NFL Football, Bust-A-Move Universe, Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D). EU has 1 launch game NA doesn't (Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell 3D). Most of the games are the same though, so that is a good sign.

I haven't actually pre-ordered yet because I don't know where I will buy the system from yet.

Ian SaneFebruary 22, 2011

It's a better launch lineup than the DS had but it feels like Nintendo needs a big title.  Those three first party titles just don't cut it.  They're also too casual focused.  Nintendo isn't offering something at launch for the core.  Pilotwings could have been it but they seem to have transformed it into a Mii game.  We're getting some big groans from existing Pilotwings fans on this thread.

Capcom is picking up the slack but SSFIV is a port.  You don't NEED a 3DS to play it.  I don't see any real disadvantage to skipping this launch.

If Nintendo had gotten Kid Icarus in there then they would have something.

Dirk TemporoFebruary 22, 2011

Steel Diver is a glorified iPhone game, and they want us to pay $40 for it?

pololmejorFebruary 22, 2011

So... no Ocarina of Time on day 1 :'(

broodwarsFebruary 22, 2011

Quote from: pololmejor

So... no Ocarina of Time on day 1 :'(


Considering Ocarina of Time has been available to you for over 12 years, you shouldn't be that disappointed that the $40 3DS port will be arriving a little late.

TJ SpykeFebruary 22, 2011

I think Nintendo confirmed that last month when they said it was not gonna be out in the launch window. Too bad though, I would have considered picking it up.

brood, it's gonna be much better than the N64 original.

Luigi DudeFebruary 22, 2011

Quote from: Ian

It's a better launch lineup than the DS had but it feels like Nintendo needs a big title.  Those three first party titles just don't cut it.  They're also too casual focused. Nintendo isn't offering something at launch for the core.  Pilotwings could have been it but they seem to have transformed it into a Mii game.  We're getting some big groans from existing Pilotwings fans on this thread.


Steel Diver is a core game.  If a sidescrolling Submarine simulator action game isn't considered core to you anymore then you might as well stop buying anything from Nintendo since everything they make is a casual game by your definition.

Quote from: Luigi

Steel Diver is a core game.  If a sidescrolling Submarine simulator action game isn't considered core to you anymore then you might as well stop buying anything from Nintendo since everything they make is a casual game by your definition.

Hey, if you're not offering something good, then that could be construed as not offering it at all.

GoldenPhoenixFebruary 23, 2011

Quote from: MegaByte

Quote from: Luigi

Steel Diver is a core game.  If a sidescrolling Submarine simulator action game isn't considered core to you anymore then you might as well stop buying anything from Nintendo since everything they make is a casual game by your definition.

Hey, if you're not offering something good, then that could be construed as not offering it at all.

I've heard mixed things on it, sounds like a game that is more of a wait and see. Really though I am fine wiht the launch lineup though I would LOVE pilotwings I am waiting for confirmation that it will not just be the flying game in Wii Sports Resort and at teh very least there are some new areas to explore at WuHu island

Ian SaneFebruary 23, 2011

Quote:

Hey, if you're not offering something good, then that could be construed as not offering it at all.


Agreed.  It just doesn't look like much.  Bad games don't count.

You want a core submarine action game?  Check out In The Hunt.  This looks like a tech demo with 10 minutes of gameplay.

It doesn't matter because this is how launches work now.  Everyone, not just Nintendo, has figured out that at the beginning you've got a bunch of early adopters that will buy it no matter what.  So you don't have to offer much at launch provided you deliver the goods later on.  The 3DS launch will be successful.  There are enough people that would buy it on day one even if the only game was Pictochat 3D.

Luigi DudeFebruary 23, 2011

Quote from: MegaByte

Hey, if you're not offering something good, then that could be construed as not offering it at all.

Most of the previews have actually said the game is good.

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