In 2004, Nintendo released the Nintendo DS, a dual-screen gaming handheld that was revised several times over the next few years as the DS Lite, DSi and DSi XL (LL in Japan) and went on to become one of the most popular consoles ever. The Kyoto-based gamemaker is obviously hoping to repeat that success with its new Nintendo 3DS.
While electronics makers struggle to sell 3-D televisions, reporting unimpressive sales, the Nintendo 3DS, which is able to display 3-D imagery without using 3-D glasses, sold out for the Japanese launch on Saturday, with some people who had not pre-ordered it lining up overnight.
Rumors put the initial launch shipment for Japan at 400,000. An unconfirmed and paltry number, considering the 140 million-plus Nintendo DS units that have been sold around the world. The vast majority of the 3DS were claimed in the January pre-orders. Many retailers received some extra units from Nintendo in an attempt to satiate the demand — or at least show they were trying.