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Nintendo 3DS not out until next year

The Nintendo 3DS will arrive in Japan early next year, but like a work-experience kid on his first day, British gamers are being sent for a long weight.

Richard Trenholm Former Movie and TV Senior Editor
Richard Trenholm was CNET's film and TV editor, covering the big screen, small screen and streaming. A member of the Film Critic's Circle, he's covered technology and culture from London's tech scene to Europe's refugee camps to the Sundance film festival.
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Richard Trenholm

The Nintendo 3DS has its first official price and release date. The 3D handheld gaming gubbins launches in Japan early next year, but like a work-experience kid on his first day, British gamers are being sent to the store for a long weight.

We hope no-one had all their fingers and toes crossed for a 3D gaming Christmas: the 3DS will hit Japan on 26 February. A US and UK launch follows in March.

Japanese gamers will pay ¥25,000, which translates to a very reasonable £190. We're sure it'll be more than that when you add on the usual British technology tithe, but we'll keep you posted. The Japanese release will come in black or fetching turquoise and will be packaged with a 2GB SD card.

With a six-month wait on the cards, you could still get plenty of use out of the existing 2D DSi or DSi XL. For some next-generation gaming you can actually buy now, see which system is our leader of the arm-flailing pack as we pit Xbox 360 Kinect against the PlayStation Move and Nintendo Wii in motion-control console combat.

To prepare yourself for the long wait, check out our gallery of hands-on photos with the 3DS -- or just nip down to the store for some striped paint. That should kill a few hours.