Nintendo 3DS Priced And Dated For Australia
Comments
104 responses to “Nintendo 3DS Priced And Dated For Australia”
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Dunnowhathuh
Hmm, the price point is high enough to make me think twice but low enough that I wouldn’t ignore it outright. Guess I’ll wait until there’s a game that I HAVE to have before I consider buying it.
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Aidan Dullard
Mr. Squirrels, via Twitter: “I will now do a silly thing of your choice”.
THE POSSIBILITIES!
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VGP
Pretty much the perfect price for Aus. I will get one, I just hope the games don’t cost too much.
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Michael Winters
All things considered, it’s not a terrible price. I won’t be getting one because of lack of spare funds and the NGP holding my interest much more.
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Powalen
Pretty happy with that price (Well… not HAPPY, but happy that it wasn’t $399).
I’ll get one after all the region locking, battery life, etc have been fully tested (maybe).
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Steve M
It’d be pretty hard to argue that it’s “fair” – it’s unfortunately naive to expect us to get the same price as the US, but a $100 dollar mark-up is an insult – but I might pay that. It’s probably the most I would consider paying, but I will consider it. I don’t think it’s the price itself that bothers me so much as the huge disparity between our price and the US’s. If it weren’t for the region locking I don’t think I’d have any second thoughts about importing.
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Edward Thompson-Durie
Yeah, the $100 mark-up is off putting for me. I would import if it wasn’t for region locking.
Oh well, its not urgent. I only play pokémon which is being released for DS.
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Alinos
Surely the Region locking is a prime example of why to import. Then just import the games along with it
not only are they cheaper. some launch earlier so by the time its posted it ends up the same
plus then you get the US store DS store instead of the AU one
which due to needing to re rate everything in australia is always somewhat lacklustre
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Steve0410
I didn’t really expect it any less. It is, after all, only $50 more than the DSi XL’s RRP, and there was no way Nintendo would release it at the same.
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Jason Oliver
That’s already $100 too expensive – I find it bizarre that I was able to buy a GBA for $200, a DS Lite for $200 but now the new generation the priced has climbed 75%.
We still don’t know what the region locking situation is (DS games are already expensive – well the Nintendo published titles anyway) so I’ll be holding off till later in the year before deciding whether to import or just bend over…
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Steven Bogos
Import the console and then import all the games?
Also, it’s inevitable that the console will get hacked eventually, and when it does you’ll be able to play games from all regions on it, like the Freeloader did for the Wii
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Nicolai Parsons
Is that the same Freeloader which doesn’t work on the Wii any more because they updated the firmware to block it?
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Steve M
Yeah, I’m considering doing just that (and have been since before any prices were announced at all): getting a 3DS when I’m in Japan in a few months and then just importing games. Would be handy down the road too, since I’ll probably be spending a fair bit of time over there.
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mccawsome
Its an unfortunate part of living in Aus, we pay a premium for everything.
I think thats also why they never give us a price and date on the same day as the US or any where else.
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Jimu Hsien
That’s not too bad, I’m actually interested.
“Wife can I buy..ouch ouch, no AAAARGGH!!!”
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Steve0410
Then just wait for the NGP. You’ll shit bricks.
If we’re going by the DS/PSP example, it’ll be anywhere between $600-700.
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Steven Bogos
Wow… $700 for a handheld? If this is true, the RIP NGP in Australia (the diehards like me will import it, but it’s regional market will be dead)
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Cerzel
Price is naturally still crap since we’re getting charged more, but hell, this is about $100 less than I was expecting.
Still, I think I’ll hold off until the inevitable 3DS Lite/XL etc.
That or Megaman Legends 3. Whichever comes first. -
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Jason Oliver
A 360 is cheaper – and it wouldn’t suprise me if you could find a PS3 for that much!
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Ian Uniacke
yeah but carrying a ps3 around on a bus with you gives you such a pain in the back! Urk! Forget about the 50 inch television.
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Ben Harring-Harris
Well, I was fully expecting a $400 price so thats a somewhat nice surprise. As for the date, I guess its not much of a wait – I can definitely hold out.
I’ll be picking one up day dot, now the dates for the games…. -
Marco
UNFAIR! It should be around the US$250 price point – Mario has screwed us with his plumbing equipment! 🙁
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Nigel
Nope, was tempted, but I think the 3D is a gimmick and I have come to realise I play with my phones games more than I break out my DS. Zelda is tempting but I might wait for a price drop.
Also need to see how sick the 3D makes me feel when playing it too.
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Foxbane
We should be able to import them from the eu due to it being pal unless nintendo have gone all kotick
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♣TadMod♣
Wow. I know I’m a stingy uni student, but this truly rules out a purchase…
…I remember buying my gameboy color (with 2 games, mind you) for $99…
I’ll hold out and hope for a competition on Kotaku. 🙁
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VGP
You should ask Mark to run a comp for you on Cheap$kate Gamers, and then “Todd” could win. Problem Solved!
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Steve0410
There are justifiable reasons. Of course, they’re things gamers don’t usually care about, but only bean counters bother with. Blame it on the combined volatility of the Yen/USD/AUD, high tariffs, small population etc.
$350 is on the low end of what most people were expecting.
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WiseHacker
I do not mean to be rude, but what do you mean by justifiable reasons?
Furthermore, most of the reasons I have heard (the classic one being import costs) are only justifiable if this was still 1975.
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PiMan
Pretend US$250 is actually US$275, because we have a 10% tax INCLUDED in the price while they have to pay on top of the stated price depending on state.
27% ‘screw the Australian gamers’ tax isn’t as bad as 40%, and is much more easily explained.Alternatively, look at prices outside the US. Japan is getting it for 25,000 Yen, which is equivalent to AU$300. Although I don’t know if that includes sales tax of any kind.
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woodsdog
They pay a sale tax in US, its not called GST… its called sales tax, thats why Amazon in run out of a select few states, to avoid sales tax and sell at a cheaper price. so its still 40%…
& tarrifs, they probably have them too.
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Cindax
Good point PiMan, 27% while still insulting is easier to accept than 40% and makes me ponder the price a little more.
Either way, I’ll keep screaming about the price until the retail industries gives us a reasonable explanation for the price hike in Oz.
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Weiss
If the 3DS games maintain the low quality of DS games, then no way will I be paying $350 for one! I’ll hold out for the NGP 🙂
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Steven Bogos
Low quality DS games? What PLANET are you from man? Zelda: Spirit Tracks, the Phoenix Wright series, the professor layton series, Mario kart, new super Mario bros, pokemon, Advance Wars, Cooking Mama (lol), The new Kirby games, Chrono Trigger, The Mario and Luigi series and countless others would like to have a word with you.
I’m sorry DS developers actually decided to push the boundaries of the system instead of just rehashing console ports like the PSP.
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Nicolai Parsons
Most of those games you mention are rehashes of old franchises or direct console ports.
Layton and Phoenix Wright are your best examples of what the DS is uniquely able to do. The World Ends with You would be my personal favourite along with other gems like Maestro and Hotel Dusk, which deserve credit for making other original experiences. I’ve lamented the DS’ lack of power and I think too many games on it haven’t compensated for it.
Overall, I think I’ve had better experiences on the PSP, oddly enough. Patapon, Loco Roco, that sort of thing. Then again it was where I discovered the Monster Hunter Series, God of War’s best moment in Chains of Olympus and a proper portable Kingdom Hearts game in Birth By Sleep on PSP but it’s not the way people think of it, you have to go with what everyone else tells you is good.
The DS for me is a great console people have yet to make the most of. The PSP knows what it is, but because it was priced too high initially and wasn’t enough like what people expected in the west, it didn’t sell well. The games are there, the DS hype has just flooded the market.
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plmko
I couldn’t have said it any better there Nicolai.
I’ve had the DS since launch, and where there were honestly some very good games and games that added new features such as touch screen FPS controls, it ultimately never truly excited me nor screamed classic to my face.
The PSP, which i’ve only owned for 2 years, provided me with an excellent library of hidden gems, from to direct console sequels/spin-offs or some unique stuff as mentioned: Loco Roco, patapon. I suppose it’s because the PSP hasn’t received much hype and the games have truly surprised me.
I will be buying both the 3DS and the PSP2 (NGP) soon enough, but my optimism will be leaning towards the PSP side of things this generation.
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Tom Graham
Could someone close that italics tag in the article <_<
Cheaper than I expected. But still far more than is fair.
I'll be sticking with my Amazon pre-order for $275 inc. shipping.
Any word on game pricing or lineup? -
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Vallen Chaos Valiant
Reasonable for a non-reginlocked machine.
With region-lock, it is too much to ask for 350AUD while forcing me to have a smaller game library. So American 3DS it is.
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VGP
Everyone can complain about the AU price, but I just looked at the Nintendo AU site … NZ SRP – $453!!
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Matt
I just bought mine now on amazon.com for 249US plus 24 bucks shipping to AU.
Stuff getting ripped off here in Oz.
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Hamish Edwards
Honestly, the comparative price hike of the DSi might have been warranted when our dollar wasn’t at parity; but it is now.
The more people that buy this with a $100 markup, the more Nintendo and other game companies (such as various titles on Steam) will be encouraged to continue to charge us a premium because we keep paying it.
I, for one, think it’s absurd.
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Peter Richards
It is a $75 markup, (The US price of $250 is the ext-tax price), so $250 + GST = $275.
Plus the minumum wage here is twice the minimum wage in the US, and retail rents are on average considerably higher here, so the cost of selling the DS is actually higher here.
I would have preferred $299, but $349 is fairly reasonable, considering it sells for AUD$300 in Japan.
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Matthew Buckner
Sweet! $349 is the right price for me. I was expecting $399, so hopefully the games will be on par with current DS prices (eg $69.95 for new releases) and places will definitely have games on special at launch, so might be able to get the console and a game for $400. Only problem is, I need to double that figure so my Fiancee can get one too….
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taiko1983
Would have been a day-one purchase but the region locking was the deal breaker. Heard rumors that the NGP maybe region-locked too. I guess I will wait until there is a region free next gen hand-held console available.
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Matt Hutton
Mark & the staff…
You don’t seem to have mentioned this, but IGN’s article says Nintendo of Australia said that StreetPass won’t be available until late this year or even early 2012. Do you know the specifics of this?
Is that in all regions or just Australia? As one of the key features they’ve been touting for the system it seems like a bizarre delay and I can’t figure any reason why it would be just Australia seeing the delay.
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Ian Uniacke
I believe that’s Australia only. It has to do with negotiating wifi hot spots in Australia. Oh by the way now that I think of it that way it’s actually “Spot” pass that won’t be working…so presumably street pass will still work since it doesn’t require wifi hotspots.
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NotoriousR
Probably will wait for the inevitable redesign/ $250 price drop. Unless they make an awesome special edition 3DS for MGS3.
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Marcus
This is actually better than I expected, seeing as this is glasses-less 3D technology packed into a small console that has an ok range of games.
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Luke
If i was going for a new portable device i would wait for the NGP, I think to compete with the 3DS hold on the market i think Sony will price the NGP around $375 and i think it offers more then some gimmicky 3D device.
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Matthew Murphy
Not sure at this moment, I may get it in a deal, when it’s cheaper or when they release a lite version or something.
I really don’t know 😀
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Flumpf
Drat! I should have guessed hitting it with a “[/I]” (but formatted HTML proper-like) wouldn’t work, but worth a try.
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Grim
Too rich for my blood. I’ll probably stich with my NDSlite until the 3DS hits $200ish.
BTW Mark, rogue italics all the way down the page after your story text ends!
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Ben J
Hmm… I’m glad it’s not $400 but it’s still bugging me knowing that we’re paying so much extra than the US. It all depends on whether there’s any preorder deals with a free game, but then again there’s no launch titles that really grab my interest.
I might wait it out a while before getting one.
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Alex
Thats rrp, wait for the big w and kmarts to price. Hopefully will be round the 299 mark if other portable launches are to go by anything.
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Broderick Monk
This seems like a fair pricing, though:
1. I’ll wait for the next model.
2. The Games are all pretty unspectacular to me so far
3. I want an all black one. I get that the inside of the top half has to be black, so I’d rather go for consistency.-
Broderick Monk
And as far as I know (and by what I know being the EB Games’ pre-order list), the launch titles are going to be:
-Nintendogs+Cats
-Super Street Fighter
-Asphalt
-Lego Star Wars 3
-Rabbids
-Combat Of Giants Dinosaur Strike
-Ghost Recon
-Splinter CellAgain, That’s just the EB Games PO list for launch, but I’m sure at least one or two of those titles will not see that day. Considering the date of Lego Star Wars 3’s Multi-Platform release, I’d take a wild swing and say that’s a definite, but everything else I have no idea.
Though I bet that Combat Of Giants will most likely be there. And Nintendogs.
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mccawsome
I wouldnt be getting this for me (just not appealing to me) but as a parent its a sizable chunk of change to spend on a kid.
Considering this is birthday present material and I would have to get at least one game obviously though its probably more like 2 or 3, + a cover and I’m looking at more like $450. Its pretty expensive.
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Oddie
It seems odd that they would charge a higher price than the more powerful iPod Touch. Clearly a rip off and I will certainly give this one a miss and holding out for the NGP.
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Korolev
I totally understand why they would charge that much, and I totally understand how some people have no problems with that price.
But it’s not for me. Too expensive. Sorry.
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MrBS
I was betting on $450 but $350 is quite reasonable. I’m still importing naturally. Gotta have my niche RPGs!
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Michael Barnes
Wow $350! I was expecting $400 after GAME and EB Games expected prices. Thanks for being at least a little bit fair Nintendo! 🙂
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garnet 23
oh shit yea thought was gonna be 400 minimum. probs still gona wait till its bout 300 and sum more games out
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Cale Barnett
WOW so $100 bucks more than USA when currently our dollar is doing BETTER than the US…..
this is just ridiculous Nintendo….
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XBlade1X
I don’t really mind the price, I’ll be picking one up, but it would be nice to have a better choice of launch titles. I can’t wait for Snake Eater though, hopefully the game remains pretty much the same as it was on PS2 while maybe throwing in some nice new features.
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scrapking
Keep in mind that, when comparing to the Canada/U.S. price of $249.99, that suggested retail prices in Canada and the U.S. do not include sales tax (and you might add up to 17.5% depending on where in North America you live).
So once you add sales tax on in North America, or remove the included sales tax in Australia, the price difference is still there but it’s not as great as you would think.
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Stevorooni
It’s a slightly better price than I was expecting but still not very good. With a mediocre launch lineup as well I might just wait and see how rich I am feeling at launch time.
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Rappo
$350, could have been worse, but calling this a “good” price is a joke. We are at parity with the USD and the US are only being charged $250… thats a 40% mark-up for Australia, and people think that’s reasonable. That’s why it’s region locked, to let them mark up the price of the console and games in some regions (because the first hack they’ll be trying for will now be to break the region coding).
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Muddy
Well, if it makes you guys feel any better, the UK RRP is 229 pounds, which is about 360AUD.
(Just don’t look at the price on amazon.uk)Anyway, this means the NGP will be more than $400.
Sigh. But wait, let’s do more comparisons to make ourselves feel better.
G27 is $340 at best.
A meal at Tetsuyas is probably more than $350.
An iPad/iPhone is $1000.This!? Bargain! Yes! Sigh.
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Tomasz
Would anyone know if the region locking on the 3DS would carry into old DS titles?
I’ve got a mixture of Australian and American DS games for my old DS, and I’d hate to be locked out from playing half of them…
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Philip
Given the US dollar has the same exchange rate with Australian dollar, people who sell 3DS would think the Australian customer is stupid enough to pay the extra $100 dollar for nothing. Sure there is “region lock”, but there are a lot of hackers such as R4/M3/Cyclo will do the crack soon. Just like the Wii with the Softmod and Home-Brew channel, or the “unbreakable” PS3 with the PS-break and its Customer Firmware. Any smart customer can easily find the cheapest solution in Internet. For example, they won’t spend $1000 to buy the first FAT PS3, but rather spend $400 to buy a slim 320G hacked PS3!
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penko
ohh!!!!!!!!!!!my god its amazing.i was in the hospital because i was pregant and my husabnd came and i saw all my kids with a 3ds.
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Philip
Don’t be happy too soon – It is warned not for children under seven because the 3D is not good for very young child…
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