3DS price drop, free games for early adopters!

[Tyeforce]

http://press.nintendo.com/articles.jsp?id=30048

REDMOND, Wash., July 28, 2011 – Nintendo of America today announced plans to drop the suggested retail price of its portable Nintendo 3DS™ system to $169.99 in the United States, as new games based on some of the world's most beloved video game franchises head to the system. The new price, down from the suggested launch price of $249.99 and effective Aug. 12, makes an outstanding value even better and sets up a strong holiday season for the system.

"For anyone who was on the fence about buying a Nintendo 3DS, this is a huge motivation to buy now," said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. "We are giving shoppers every incentive to pick up a Nintendo 3DS, from an amazing new price to a rapid-fire succession of great games."

Nintendo 3DS has the strongest software lineup of any video game system this holiday season and the new price now opens up the glasses-free 3D experience to many more consumers. Building on the popularity of The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ 3D, which launched June 19, the upcoming game calendar is a Who's Who of iconic video game franchises. Star Fox 64™ 3D arrives on Sept. 9, followed by Super Mario™ 3D Land in November, Mario Kart™ 7 in December and Kid Icarus™: Uprising during the holiday season.

In addition to great games, Nintendo 3DS has a host of attractive features* that make it the must-have video game system this season:

The new Nintendo Video™ service automatically delivers short 3D videos from the worlds of music, comedy, animation and Hollywood.

A free application allows Netflix members with unlimited streaming plans to instantly watch TV episodes and movies streaming from Netflix.

The Nintendo eShop is a digital store for Nintendo 3DS owners that provides access to a wide variety of downloadable content, such as original 3D software, classic games that have been re-mastered in 3D called 3D Classics, Game Boy™ and Game Boy Color "Virtual Console" games in their original 2D glory, and more than 350 Nintendo DSiWare™ games. Visitors can also view video game trailers, screen shots and product information for games, including those available at retail locations.
Since Nintendo 3DS launched in the United States on March 27, more than 830,000 people in the U.S. alone have purchased one to enjoy 3D visuals without the need for special glasses. These Nintendo 3DS owners represent some of Nintendo's most loyal customers, and Nintendo is rewarding them for getting in on the action early with 20 free downloadable games from the Nintendo eShop.

These free games are available to anyone who owns a Nintendo 3DS system and uses a wireless broadband Internet signal to connect to the Nintendo eShop at least once before 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Aug. 11. These users will automatically be registered in the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador program. The program contains two elements:

Starting Sept. 1, Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors will be able to download 10 NES™ Virtual Console™ games at no charge and before they are available in the Nintendo eShop to the general public. These games, including Super Mario Bros.™, Donkey Kong Jr.™, Balloon Fight™, Ice Climber™ and The Legend of Zelda™, are slated to become paid downloadable games, but Ambassadors get them early for free. Once the paid versions of the games are posted to the Nintendo eShop later in the year, the updated versions will be available to Ambassadors for download at no cost.

By the end of 2011, Nintendo will provide Ambassadors with 10 Game Boy Advance Virtual Console games. These include games like Yoshi's Island™: Super Mario™ Advance 3, Mario Kart™: Super Circuit, Metroid™ Fusion, WarioWare™, Inc.: Mega Microgame$ and Mario vs. Donkey Kong™. These games will be available exclusively to Ambassadors, and Nintendo currently has no plans to make these 10 games available to the general public on the Nintendo 3DS in the future.
More details about this program will be announced in the future.

Remember that Nintendo 3DS features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/3ds.

*Some features require a broadband Internet connection.

tl;dr:
The 3DS is getting a price drop from $249.99 to $169.99 on August 12, and anyone who has bought a 3DS before then will receive 20 free Virtual Console games; 10 NES games, and 10 Game Boy Advance games. These games include:

NES
- Super Mario Bros.
- Donkey Kong Jr.
- Balloon Fight
- Ice Climber
- The Legend of Zelda
+ 5 more

Game Boy Advance
- Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3
- Mario Kart: Super Circuit
- Metroid Fusion
- WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$
- Mario vs. Donkey Kong
+ 5 more


This is why I love Nintendo. Oh, and looks like Sony is screwed.

 

[Conor]

Its the same price in the UK

They're offering really good VC games too.

 

[Tyeforce]

Its the same price in the UK

They're offering really good VC games too.

The price drop is effective in Europe, too. And the 20 free games.

 

[KlopiTackle]

Stupid nintendo europe we are paying more for the 3DS.
Because of exchange rates.

 

[Justin]

Wow... I'm impressed to be honest. I think we all knew a price drop was coming soon, just not a $80 drop. And they aren't screwing us early adopters over either! They said before there would only be Game Boy and Game Boy Colour games not Advance games so I find it interesting they're doing this... And they're good games! And they're exclusive AND free! That was a lot of "and"s. I'm impressed! Although note they say 'currently have no plans to release them publicly' not 'we will not release them publicly'. They'll probably be posted a few years down the line.

Also... WTF @ Mario Kart 7. Could they not pick something slightly better? Even Mario Kart 3DS would be better.

 

[JasonBurrows]

Wow... I'm impressed to be honest. I think we all knew a price drop was coming soon, just not a $80 drop. And they aren't screwing us early adopters over either! They said before there would only be Game Boy and Game Boy Colour games not Advance games so I find it interesting they're doing this... And they're good games! And they're exclusive AND free! That was a lot of "and"s. I'm impressed! Although note they say 'currently have no plans to release them publicly' not 'we will not release them publicly'. They'll probably be posted a few years down the line.

Does this mean people that bought a Nintendo 3DS on the release date when it says "Early Adopters"

 

[Tyeforce]

Does this mean people that bought a Nintendo 3DS on the release date when it says "Early Adopters"

Yes. Anyone who buys a 3DS before August 12th will get 20 free Virtual Console games.

 

[Psychonaut]

Yes. Anyone who buys a 3DS before August 12th will get 20 free Virtual Console games.

brb camping out on the 11th for the price drop and registering the system for the free games

trololol

also, i have a bad feeling about this. 3ds lite may be right around the corner, if they're pulling this.

 

[JasonBurrows]

Yes. Anyone who buys a 3DS before August 12th will get 20 free Virtual Console games.

So when do they become free to download, is it August 11th or September 1st?

 

[Tyeforce]

brb camping out on the 11th for the price drop and registering the system for the free games

trololol

also, i have a bad feeling about this. 3ds lite may be right around the corner, if they're pulling this.

Good luck with that. The Ambassador program is only open to people who connect to the eShop before 11:59 PM on August 11th, and even retailers that are open at midnight can't sell the system at the new price until 12:01 AM.

Though, you may be able to buy it a few days in advance and get a refund the day of the price drop at certain retailers...


And I don't see how this is any sign of a 3DS Lite around the corner. There's no way Nintendo's going to release a 3DS revision this early. The price drop was a lot sooner than I ever expected it would be, and more than I expected, too (thought it'd drop to $199, not $169), but I guess they did what they had to do to compete with PSVita. They don't need a redesign at this point, though.

 

[Tyeforce]

So when do they become free to download, is it August 11th or September 1st?

September 1st for the NES games, and before the end of the year for the GBA games.

 

[Psychonaut]

Good luck with that. The Ambassador program is only open to people who connect to the eShop before 11:59 PM on August 11th, and even retailers that are open at midnight can't sell the system at the new price until 12:01 AM.

Though, you may be able to buy it a few days in advance and get a refund the day of the price drop at certain retailers...


And I don't see how this is any sign of a 3DS Lite around the corner. There's no way Nintendo's going to release a 3DS revision this early. The price drop was a lot sooner than I ever expected it would be, and more than I expected, too (thought it'd drop to $199, not $169), but I guess they did what they had to do to compete with PSVita. They don't need a redesign at this point, though.

coming from the guy who got LoZ 3ds two weeks in advance (or one week, whatever)

i feel like it's coming sooner than before, because of this. some kind of revision.

ps vita is more powerful than the 3ds. they're completely different systems, offering completely different experiences. competition is always there, but comparing the two systems side by side is derp.

handheld ps3 with a touch screen vs nintendo's do it all and then some handheld doesn't compare easily.

meh. i'm gonna try and hold off on buying a 3ds now on the sole purpose that i own all the games they're giving away, already.

 

[rafren]

excuse my language


HOLY ****

 

[«Jack»]

Still not getting a 3DS.

If I want old games, I'll emulate them, and no amount of money is worth a handheld with games that I don't ever see myself playing.

 

[Trent the Paladin]

Good luck with that. The Ambassador program is only open to people who connect to the eShop before 11:59 PM on August 11th, and even retailers that are open at midnight can't sell the system at the new price until 12:01 AM.

Though, you may be able to buy it a few days in advance and get a refund the day of the price drop at certain retailers...


And I don't see how this is any sign of a 3DS Lite around the corner. There's no way Nintendo's going to release a 3DS revision this early. The price drop was a lot sooner than I ever expected it would be, and more than I expected, too (thought it'd drop to $199, not $169), but I guess they did what they had to do to compete with PSVita. They don't need a redesign at this point, though.

Not a redesign, but they could use a better battery. Either way, I knew that drop was coming and I'm glad early adopters aren't getting screwed over. I just know I'll rage if one of those GBA games isn't Pokemon.

 

[Jas0n]

I seem to remember saying when the 3DS came out that I'd atleast wait for a price drop before buying and Tye forcefully replied with, "YOU'LL BE WAITING ATLEAST A YEAR BEFORE THAT HAPPENS11!!1!!!"

tehe.

 

[Solar]

Yay I'm really excited!!! I feel so rewarded for getting the system early and the 20 free games feel like there worth the $80 price drop. Nintendo is really givin us something good this time!!!!!!!!

 

[Bacon Boy]

See, I was smart and traded in my DSi. Pretty much got the system for $50. Talk about a price drop.

 

[-Aaron]

I seem to remember saying when the 3DS came out that I'd atleast wait for a price drop before buying and Tye forcefully replied with, "YOU'LL BE WAITING ATLEAST A YEAR BEFORE THAT HAPPENS11!!1!!!"

tehe.

Remember when his main reason for getting a DSi was that a Virtual Console was coming for it to make up for the missing GBA Slot? Good times.

Anyway, this is great news. Like Raz said, a price drop means that something is around the corner. I can't wait.

 

[MasterC]

This sounds like a great deal,although I don't care if I get free virtual console games or not.But the price drop is what got my attention to look at this thread.