Nintendo Reveals 3DS's Japanese Launch Details, Battery Life

Nintendo has revealed new information about the Nintendo 3DS's upcoming Japanese debut, including a launch line-up of ten games, its first-party release schedule, and the system's estimated battery life. As it began a three-day Nintendo World 2011 public event in Tokyo this weekend, the platform holder disclosed that the portable will have an approximate battery life of 3.5 to 5 hours when playing 3DS games, depending on operating conditions such as screen brightness levels and use of wireless features. When playing DS or DSi games, the handheld will have a battery life of 5 to 8 hours. Fully charging the system's battery will take around 3.5 hours. Though many gamers are complaining in online comments that the battery life is shorter than expected, the estimates are in line with that of a standard DSi played with the highest brightness setting. The 3DS will ship in Japan on February 26 for ¥25,000, or $301, in "Aqua Blue" and "Cosmo Black" editions. Each of the portables will come with a charging dock, an AC adapter, an extendable stylus, a 2GB SD memory card, AR cards (for playing built-in augmented reality games), instruction manuals, and pre-installed software. Ten games will release alongside the 3DS's Japanese launch: Nintendogs + Cats (three versions), Konami's Winning Eleven 3DSoccer, Capcom's Super Street Fighter IV, Tecmo Koei's Samurai Warriors: Chronicle, Square Enix's Tobidasu! Puzzle Bobble, Namco Bandai's Ridge Racer 3D, Ubisoft's Combat of Giants, and Level-5's Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle.  Nintendo also outlined its schedule for first-party 3DS titles in Japan: Steel Diver, Pilotwings Resort, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D will ship in Spring 2011;  then Star Fox 64 3D and Kid Icarus: Uprising will release in Summer 2011; and Mario Kart 3DS, Animal Crossing 3DS, and Paper Mario 3DS will hit stores at a later date. The company has not yet divulged a firm release date or pricing for the 3DS in North America yet, though it's previously said it will launch in March. Nintendo of America will hold a press event on January 19, when it will presumably announce this information, as well as planned launch titles for the region.