3DS release in October?

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TM2-Megatron

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This is being reported on a few different sites today; thought it was interesting.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=243473

Nintendo's 3DS will be released a full two months in advance of Christmas this year, CVG can reveal.

UK industry sources have today informed us that the platform holder is readying an October launch for the system - which it will announce at E3.

That means it will go head-to-head with Microsoft's own great hardware hope this winter, Project Natal.

News of an October launch was a surprise for the execs we spoke to - as Nintendo had only previously announced that the handheld would hit shelves before March, 2011.

An October launch pre-dates that expiry date by a full six months - and gives Nintendo a three-month run-up to Christmas.

One very senior publishing source told CVG: "It's a surprise - we were expecting it much closer to Christmas. But I suppose it gives Nintendo the opportunity to get it front and centre in people's minds nice and early.

"In my experience, you don't launch a product that early to Christmas unless you're confident in it - and going to spend a lot of money on it. We're reassured that Nintendo is going to give it some decent backing in Q4."

The 3DS allows gamers to enjoy software with 3D effects without the need for any special glasses - but will also play regular DS titles.

Professor Layton developer Level 5 is reportedly creating a custom 3D game for the system.

Nintendo describes it as 'the new portable game machine to succeed [the] Nintendo DS series'. Take from that what you will.

CVG asked Cambridge University 3D experts how the device might work earlier this year.

We haven't yet got hold of a specific launch date - but Sunday, October 10 (10/10/10) is surely a front runner.

Nintendo told CVG today's story was merely "rumour and speculation". We get that a lot.
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October is within the range that I've been predicting, as it falls within the September-November period that nearly all major hardware releases from Nintendo have been in the past 6 years. I would've thought November would be more likely, being closer to Christmas... but I guess what's one month?

If this does turn out to be true, then the 3DS could potentially launch within mere weeks of of Pokemon Black & White.
 
"In my experience, you don't launch a product that early to Christmas unless you're confident in it - and going to spend a lot of money on it. We're reassured that Nintendo is going to give it some decent backing in Q4."

Well, they do have every reason to be confident in it. Nintendo's handhelds have been strong sellers since the original Game Boy (I discount the Virtual Boy because, really, who would have believed that was supposed to be portable?), and the DS had the added benefit of attracting more casual gamers.
 
Wow... that's early. Guess we're once again going to release games just before the new console comes out.
 
Hmm...interesting IF true. I have to admit, I was expecting a release closer to early-March.
 
Ryu Shoji said:
Hmm...interesting IF true. I have to admit, I was expecting a release closer to early-March.
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That was never likely. A Q1 release would've been out of character for Nintendo, and also a terrible time to release something like that. People are still getting over the heart attacks from thier holiday credit card bills... why would they want to drop $200-250 on a new handheld?

Of all the stuff Nintendo has released in the past several years, only the DS Lite has had a release in the first quarter of the year (in Japan). The Gamecube, Game Boy Micro, DS Phat, Wii, DSi, and DSi XL all came out between September and November.

The only thing that surprised the execs mentioned in the article is that it wasn't released a bit closer to Christmas. No way they were actually expecting it in 2011.
 
TM2-Megatron said:
That was never likely. A Q1 release would've been out of character for Nintendo, and also a terrible time to release something like that. People are still getting over the heart attacks from thier holiday credit card bills... why would they want to drop $200-250 on a new handheld?

Of all the stuff Nintendo has released in the past several years, only the DS Lite has had a release in the first quarter of the year (in Japan). The Gamecube, Game Boy Micro, DS Phat, Wii, DSi, and DSi XL all came out between September and November.

The only thing that surprised the execs mentioned in the article is that it wasn't released a bit closer to Christmas. No way they were actually expecting it in 2011.
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Either way, the EU will probably get it around December-March (Wii was a December release, DS was March).
 
Well, I just got a DS Lite last Christmas. The N3DS will have to wait another 2 years or so before I buy it. :/
 
I doubt it. I'd say next Fall by the earliest, possibly next Spring. For starters, the DSi XL just came out a couple of weeks ago. Two brand new handhelds in one year is overdoing it, and I'm sure it would make people doubt buying the 3DS knowing a remake of it could come out just a year or so later.

Also, it hasn't even been confirmed by Nintendo yet. It's all a rumor for now - if Nintendo is going to confirm it, it'll be at E3. Also, all these information was leaked on purpose by Nintendo, obviously, to see what kind of reactions it would get. This way if people didn't like it, Nintendo could just say it was a rumor. However, if people did like the idea of it, they could make it happen.

Reason for that is that Nintendo is never this generous with information. They keep everything confidential until the last minute. Remember the Wii (Revolution back then) and how long it took Nintendo to release some details on the name, the controller, the specs., etc. If people already know about a brand new handheld that Nintendo hasn't even announced or confirmed yet, odds are it was leaked on purpose.
 
I'll wait until they have a decent collection of games, just in case it ends up like the Wii.
I don't want to buy another system just for a few good games.
 
That'd be crazy early, and a bad idea. Either way, America probably won't be getting it till Christmas '11.
 
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