Nintendo Reports Strong Initial 3DS Turnout For U.K. Launch

Nintendo and retailers reported strong initial turnout in the U.K. for the 3DS launch there Friday. But a Nintendo U.K. spokesman declined to say how many units the company shipped for the European launch, and told us late in the day Friday that it was “still too early to discuss” initial sales. He said the company will discuss initial European sales early this week. Nintendo had said that of the 4 million 3DS systems it will ship this fiscal year, through March 31, 1.5 million will be in Japan and the other 2.5 million will be split between Europe and the Americas (CED Jan 20 p2), where the 3DS was to launch on Sunday.

"Hundreds” of consumers waited on line “around the block to be the first to get their hands on the console” Friday at an event held at retailer HMV’s London flagship store on Oxford Street, Nintendo said. The store was one of 600 across the U.K. that opened at midnight to start selling the 3DS, it said. “Thousands” of consumers turned out at HMV stores to attend its midnight store openings, said Tim Ellis, head of games at the retail chain. He called it “an amazing response."

"The reaction to Nintendo 3DS has exceeded our wildest ambitions,” said David Yarnton, general manager of Nintendo U.K. “The launch is already bigger than Wii, and by a distance,” he said. Amazon’s U.K. subsidiary said the 3DS was “the most pre-ordered console of all time” for it, passing the PS3 (CED March 18 p8). “With one week left until” the device’s European launch, the 3DS had 20 percent more pre-orders than the PS3 had ahead of its March 2007 introduction there and 56 percent more than the Wii, “the previously most pre-ordered Nintendo console,” in 2006, Amazon said. Nintendo U.K. said last week that, “with three days to go until launch, pre-orders … have more than doubled those achieved for Wii in 2006."

EBay said last week it listed the 3DS at 186.99 pounds (about $300), which was “the cheapest console-only deal currently on the market and an 18% saving on” the device’s recommended retail price of 229.99 pounds there. The offer, including free U.K. delivery, was posted by entertainment retailer Zavvi and is to last until 8 a.m. Thursday.

In the U.S., more than 800 GameStop stores were to open at 12:01 a.m. Sunday to start selling the 3DS, the chain said. An additional 2,400 GameStop stores were to open early at 9 a.m. Sunday to sell the system, it said. Customers who trade in used DS Lite, DSi or DSi XL systems will receive a $50-$100 credit toward the purchase of a new 3DS system at $249.99, GameStop said. On April 2, 2,000 GameStop stores will host 3DS demo events from 12-6 p.m, it said. GameStop is running a contest at its website in which consumers can win a 3DS and $500 GameStop gift card, it also said.

Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime was scheduled to appear on NBC’s Late Night With Jimmy Fallon one night before 3DS midnight launch events in the U.S.