With special thanks to Anoop Gantayat at andriasang.com and twitter users: IDG’s Tokyo bureau chief Martyn Williams, Mark MacDonald (Executive Director at 8-4, Ltd.), and “Nikkei_TRENDY,” we present the following official second- and third-hand 3DS information from Nintendo Conference 2010!

We’ll start with just the bare facts and update as more tidbits are made available:

Japanese launch date:
February 26, 2011
Japanese MSRP:
Â¥25,000.00 (ca. US$299.99)
U.S./European launch:
March 2011

Notes:

  • Iwata actually mentioned the Virtual Boy as a fore-runner of the 3DS!
  • Many 3rd parties are extolling the virtues of the 3-D capabilities.
  • They (and Iwata) think the 3DS will break the “curse” of poor 3rd party game sales in Japan.

Features:

  • Aqua Blue and Cosmo Black colors available at launch (aww, no red/orange…)
  • Mii’s on 3DS were confirmed by Iwata.
  • Mii’s can be made from photos on the fly and saved to SD.
  • Augmented Reality was demonstrated.
  • QR code scanning (natch)
  • A 2GB SD card will be bundled with the system (cheaper than upgrading the internals ;) ).
  • You can go to the “home screen” and use the browser even during a game.
  • There seems to be both a “journal/diary” app and (possibly) a pedometer function.
  • DS, GBA, and “Classic games” (including GB/GBC) with 3-D updates will be available for download.
  • “Tag Mode”
    • Tag Mode uses WiFi to continuously share info between 3DS’ in close proximity, even when the 3DS is “asleep”.
    • Mii’s are shared, as well as info on the other person (number of times “seen”, last time seen, etc.).
    • It can share game-specific information even when that game isn’t inserted (is this the source of the “game storing” rumors?).
    • It can also download games, demos, news, etc. automatically.

(Possible) Launch Titles shown/mentioned:

  • Animal Crossing
  • Ocarina of Time
  • Chocobo Racing
  • Metal Gear Solid
  • Paper Mario
  • Resident Evil: Revolution
  • Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D (in development)
  • Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle (stupid title :P )
  • Kingdom Hearts