3DS 'launch window' to include more than 30 games leading up to E3

by James Ransom-Wiley on Jan 19th 2011 11:15AM

Did you hear? It's got a built-in pedometer! The 3DS measures your steps as you walk -- right there in your pocket! Even better: You can pull the thing out whenever and snap all kinds of pics -- the thing's got three cameras! And get this: It also pipes out music, browses the internet and even plays games.

True, you've already got a pile of old DS games (and now defunct DS devices) that you could be playing on your new pedometer, but more than 30 three-DEE titles are expected to be released during the 3DS "launch window" (which begins March 27 and promptly closes on June 7 with the start of E3).

We've listed 24 of the apparent launch-window releases after the break (though Nintendo's being coy about exact dates), including Nintendo's own Nintendogs + cats and Pilotwings Resort, plus a hearty helping of third-party support; with notable newcomers, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked (previously unannounced outside of Japan) and Crush 3D, a possible port of the 2007 PSP platforming puzzler from Sega.

Don't look at the date ambiguity in dismay -- see it as an opportunity! Beginning in late March, you can walk to and from GameStop in anticipation of a new batch of games each Tuesday for ten whole weeks, and the 3DS will count your steps -- each and every one of them! And just imagine how many Street Passes you're going to rack up?

First-Party Launch Window Titles

Nintendogs + cats
Pilotwings Resort
Steel Diver

Third-Party Titles "Coming Soon" (Partial List)

Asphal 3D (Ubisoft)
Bust-a-Move Universe (Square Enix)
Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D (Ubisoft)
Crush 3D (Sega)
Dead or Alive Dimensions (Tecmo Koei)
Dual Pen Sport (Namco Bandai)
Lego Star Wars 3: The Clone Wars (LucasArts)
Madden NFL Football (EA Sports)
Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D (Konami)
Rabbids Travel in Time (Ubisoft)
Rayman 3D (Ubisoft)
Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D (Capcom)
Ridge Racer 3D (Namco Bandai)
Samurai Warriors Chronicles (Tecmo Koei)
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked (Atlus)
The Sims 3 (EA)
Super Monkey Ball 3D (Sega)
Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition (Capcom)
Thor: God of Thunder (Sega)
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Shadow Wars (Ubisoft)
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell 3D (Ubisoft)

First-Party Titles "In the Works"

Animal Crossing game
Kid Icarus: Uprising
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
Mario Kart game
Paper Mario game
Star Fox 64 3D

Source: Nintendo

Tags: 3ds, 3ds-launch, animal-crossing-3ds, asphalt-3d, atlus, bust-a-move-universe, capcom, combat-of-giants-dinosaurs-3d, crush3d, dead-or-alive-dimensions, devil-survivor-overclocked, ds, dual-pen-sport, ea, ea-sports, kid-icarus-uprising, konami, launch-games, lego-star-wars-3-the-clone-wars, lucasarts, madden-nfl-football-3ds, namco-bandai, nintendo, nintendogs-plus-cats, paper-mario-3ds, pilotwings-resort, pro-evolution-soccer-2011-3d, raving-rabbids-travel-in-time, rayman-3d, resident-evil-the-mercenaries-3d, ridge-racer-3d, samurai-warriors-chronicles, sega, splinter-cell-3d, square-enix, star-fox-64-3d, steel-diver, steel-driver, super-monkey-ball-3d, super-street-fighter-iv-3d-edition, tecmo-koei, the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time, the-sims-3, thor-god-of-thunder, thor-the-video-game, tom-clancys-ghost-recon-shadow-wars, ubisoft

Reader Comments (51)

Asphalt... stinkin' up the launch of every DS from the original all the way to the 4DS ;).

Seriously though, VERY nice launch. Makes me wish I had $250 to throw away.

Yes, but, how long does the battery last on sleep mode? With only 4-5 hours play time, battery is precious for the 3DS. Also looks like a massive pedometer. I'll not be carrying it everywhere unless I really know I'll be gaming.

Awesome, much better than the Japan launch!

When was the last "blockbuster" game console launch? Greatness (as far as games are concerned) seems to hit these things quite a ways down the road.

@MGTrey

I played the hell out of Super Mario World with my SNES. Didn't need a game for a very long time. It was the specials I tell you, specials!

@MGTrey

Twilight Princess on the Wii. that was reason enough for me to camp out for 2 1/2 days.

@SecretAgentHam

but that was also on the gamecube, so i'm not sure if it counts.

Halo 1 on the Xbox is the latest i can remember.

and wtf is up with "launch window?" launch titles are the ones available on release of the system.

@MGTrey

Dreamcast.

SoulCalibur, Sonic Adventure, PowerStone, Awesome Force Alpha 4, Cool Game 2, Hydro Thunder

the list goes on...

@MGTrey I still think the PS2 and 360 launches were pretty good. The PS2 had Madden, NHL, SSX, Tekken Tag, DOA 2, and Timesplitters.

The 360 had Perfect Dark Zero (an underrated game for its time and one of the few console games with 32 player online support), Kameo (the best Rare game since Starfox Adventures), DOA 4, NFS: Most Wanted (arguably the only good hi-def NFS until Most Wanted), and Condemned (the scariest hi def game not named Dead Space.)

I still own 4 of those 360 launch titles and I'm currently looking at reacquiring Most Wanted also.

@MSUHitman

You forgot Project Gotham 3 (RIP Bizarre?) and CoD 2.

@SecretAgentHam Punch-Out!! (Wii) I've never camped out for a game before, but it was worth it (& I also got Namco Museum DS in the process, anyone played the original PS1 version?)

Nintendogs, Pilotwings, and Steel Diver? Thank you, Nintendo, for giving me a good reason not to buy a console at launch. I couldn't afford it anyway. Zelda had better be ready by Christmas time though!

@Shadow Hog
Maybe not exclusively, but you have to admit, not having a very strong Nintendo IP at launch is going to hurt them a little bit. Not even a Mario Game at launch? Or a Zelda game? Sure, Nintendogs is a big property for them, but most of the 'hardcore' audience, which they said the 3DS would cater to, is more interested in titles like Resident Evil, Metroid, Dead or Alive, than they are in Nintendogs or Pilotwings.

And given the myriad of crap games released for the DS by other companies, ( I'm looking at you, Hanna Montana!) almost every Nintendo IP has been worth playing, as compared to maybe a third of releases from other developers.

@Shadow Hog - I take it you've never played The World Ends With You, Elite Beat Agents, Rune Factory 3, Mega Man ZX, ZX Advent, or Phantasy Star Zero?

I sure would like to play one before I buy it. Anyone know if they will have them on display or when?

I won't have the uncontrollable need to throw down $250 until they release a 3DS exclusive Poke'mon game.

@richardspagna yea if nintendo was smart they would have released pokemon black and white as a launch 3ds game. Some people with a ds or a ds lite will probably buy a 3ds so that some of the dsi only functions on black and white can be utilized but still it won't bring in as much money as it would have brought if it were a 3ds title. Oh well I guess the first 3ds pokemon game will probably be a remake of ruby and sapphire next year.

@richardspagna I figure if I wait till a 3DS exclusive Pokemon comes out, I can find the 3DS at a lower price, or possibly get the second version. If Black and White were 3DS exclusive, I woulda pre-ordered the thing six months ago.

@richardspagna

Problerm with making Black/White 3DS exclusive is that would tank pokemon sales. Since the 3DS will have limited availability due to production allotments and a global launch for the most part - There'd be literally millions of potential pokemon sales lost for people who would normally be day one purchasers. Personally I know five other people picking up black/white, and I'm the only one that has any interest in getting a 3DS. The rest think it's too much for now. So you also have that playing into effect.

@SpikeJX Pokemon B/W has DSi-only functions? News to me!

*gets down on one knee* Nintendo, will you marry me?

Damn... huge dilemma... My 30th birthday is just a couple weeks after this launch and I know if I ask for a 3DS, I'll get one...

But I really can't see anything on this list of games that I actually want, except for the list of Nintendo's "in the works". Maybe if the "in the works" games were given official dates within the first month or so, I'd feel different.

And maybe as more info about these 3rd party games are unveiled, one will stick out as a worth while purchase - but for now, nothing stands out to me as a killer must have app.

@Axcalibur

"My 30th birthday is just a couple weeks after this launch and I know if I ask for a 3DS, I'll get one... "

r u married? i'm assuming you mean the wife(y)

@Axcalibur I agree. Splinter Cell could be cool but this list doesn't look too appetizing.

@PR0F3TA

LOL, yup, wifey is pretty good about getting her husband fun toys and I already hinted that the 3DS would be the big item this year.

And I agree with Jonnaathannn - Splinter Cell could be good, the franchise has been getting better (for me at least) with each release. I loved Conviction, and if they tie that gameplay in with 3D graphics, that could be a very fun game.

I'd be inclined to say Resident Evil: Mercinaries could be fun - but I'm worried it'll be very repetitive gameplay, if there's little improvements or innovation from the Mercinaries we played in Res 4 & 5. I still think they should just combine Mercinaries with the other Resident Evil game (Revelation, I believe). Make for a more "complete" experience.

Riiiiiidddgeeee Racerrrrrrrrrr!!!!

@Rubiksman
It's Ridge Racer.

@Mr Numeros
Methinks whoever downvoted you didn't get the joke.

honestly it sucks i must wait even longer for the best games :(

You guys must be reading a different list of games. None of the launch window games really grab at me.

@Berzerk
True that. The only ones that look particularly interesting to me are Dead or Alive, Devil Survivor, and possibly the Tom Clancy games, but none of them enough so to be system-selling. It's probably for the better, since I doubt I'll be able to afford one at launch anyway. Ideally I'd like to hold out until a model with superior battery life comes out, but when Zelda, Metal Gear and Paper Mario are released for the system, then we'll see.

I don't care what this article says, you used the wrong Reggie picture. I don't care if you have to photoshop the presentation screen, you must always use the 'Price Point Reggie.'

When are we going to hear about the price of this software so I know how much to save up?

My only vague purpose in looking at these 3ds threads is hoping that they'll announce they've pulled their heads out of their asses on the region-encoding thing.

As someone who LITERALLY spends half the year in a different region than the other half and carries a DS with her, the console is useless to me if I can't buy games wherever I happen to be. While I own only a small number of Japanese games, I honestly don't know which of my other games came from the US and which came from the UK, I'd have to examine each box to find out. I have plenty of both.

At least the new console should mean I'll be able to clean up on cheap DS carts?

I'll buy when Zelda is out. None ot the launch titles do anything for me.

STAR FOX ABDSWTTGBIGCDSAAQ2!!!
Greatest. Game. EVAR.

Though the general concept of buying a new console at launch gives me a boner, I don't see myself wanting to buy any of these games.

It's comical how excited peopel are to spend $250 so they can pay nintendo for the same games all over again, only in THREE DEEEEE.

@oolz

Alright, settle down boy

I'm not ready to cancel my preorders just yet (yes, plural, one each from amazon and gamestop just to make sure I get one) I'll monitor the launch game situation, but as of right now, I don't see anything I care to play, so I might wait it out.

Well...the price, combined with the "Same sh*t, different platform" launch titles, just sealed the deal for me. Wake me up when Professor Layton comes out.

Unfortunately, none of those games really grab me except for the "in the works" list. But those aren't making the launch window, right?

Sooooooooo does this mean 30+ games will be available upon US launch? That seems excessive.

"Crush 3D"

wait, Crush... in 3D

HOLY SHIT.

As a side note, this better not be just a port, I want to see zoe mode make a game where the 3D is a necessary part of the gameplay with this.

I guess I better pre-order mine now. They only a have 1 million available at launch (dumbasses)

IF u want to pre-order urs here's the link to amazon http://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-3DS-Cosmo-Black/dp/B002I096AA/ref=sr_1_1?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1295475857&sr=1-1

Professor Layton is a Japanese launch title . . . it's not even in the Euro/American launch window.

Talk about depressing.

If I remember right Nintendogs is actually considered a heavy hitter for Nintendo.

I'm actually getting this at launch but no games because my DS lite just broke down.

Everyone's worried about what will be available for 3DS software at launch. Don't forget there's the Virtual Console. 3D Gameboy games! They didn't list what VC games would be available at launch, did they? ...

More.... RABBIDS?! WHY?! It's torture!

By the way.... Metal Gear Solid 3(D), Kingdom Hearts 3D (screw that stupid long name)..... where are they? As to why they didn't bother preparing a Mario game for the console's launch, I'll never know..... At least there's Zelda. It's cool, but.... it's still a port. We better have some definitive games for the 3DS, especially on launch.

@TCJJ Indeed, we need more rayman, less rabids!

| 1 | 2 |

3DS 'launch window' to include more than 30 games leading up to E3

Reader Comments (51)

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 11:21AM Shockwave said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 11:21AM mrmobius said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 11:21AM commenter7 said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 11:22AM MGTrey said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 11:49AM Engerz said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 12:11PM SecretAgentHam said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 12:22PM maveric101 said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 12:24PM SmashZilla said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 1:41PM MSUHitman said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 1:56PM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Jan 20th 2011 12:27AM TheBigKing1 said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 11:23AM Kataclysm said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 1:55PM Kataclysm said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 4:31PM Smash Genesis said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 11:23AM lessthankris said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 11:25AM richardspagna said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 11:55AM SpikeJX said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 4:14PM bongoes said

Posted: Mar 4th 2011 2:47AM Punkrawk Bbob said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 5:48AM mattwo said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 11:26AM Mrguy you know that guy said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 11:30AM Axcalibur said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 11:40AM PR0F3TA said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 11:58AM JONNNathannn said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 1:34PM Axcalibur said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 11:32AM Rubiksman said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 11:43AM Mr Numeros said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 5:10PM gatotsu911 said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 11:33AM PR0F3TA said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 11:35AM Berzerk said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 12:16PM gatotsu911 said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 11:43AM Mr Numeros said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 11:44AM Hamburglar MD said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 11:59AM emichan said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 12:06PM ghall said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 12:09PM Schlecht said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 12:31PM butaneko said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 12:45PM oolz said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 1:03PM Funkmaster General said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 1:06PM Hoops said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 1:36PM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 2:12PM Fuzunga said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 2:16PM Chichok said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 2:43PM Johe4871 said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 6:18PM Narutogameking said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 7:20PM Smugleaves said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 9:42PM Bluebreaker said

Posted: Jan 19th 2011 9:43PM Jinketsu said

Posted: Jan 20th 2011 7:19AM TCJJ said

Posted: Apr 14th 2011 5:48AM mattwo said

Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

Breaking News

WB conjures up Harry Potter for Kinect this fall

Featured Stories

Silver Lining: I Am Alive's unfeeling world

Game Of Thrones and the paradoxes of adaptation

Super Joystiq Podcast 004: 38 Studios meltdown, Gravity Rush, Civilization 5: Gods & Kings, Dragon's Dogma

Engadget

TUAW

Massively

WoW