Nintendo's handheld gaming console with 3D capabilities, the Nintendo 3DS, now has an official launch date: February 26.
According to Nintendo's president Satoru Iwata, the 3DS will first launch in Japan, and it will cost about 25,000 yen ($300). The U.S. and Europe release date is sometime in March, but the price for those markets is still unknown.
While Nintendo's original announcement left room for speculation that the 3DS will launch by the end of 2010 and in time for the holiday shopping season, the folks from Nintendo claim they originally planned to launch it by the end of March 2011, and then hurried the release date to February.
Nintendo 3DS is a portable gaming console that doesn't require the user to wear glasses to experience the 3D effect on the screen. The device, which we previewed at the E3 conference in June, looks quite similar to the previous model — the Nintendo DS. However, the 3D effect — its most important new feature — cannot be captured on photos. You have to experience it first hand to appreciate it.