UPDATE: The pods are now open, anyone check one out yet? And if you have a crippling fear of pods, you can visit one of the roaming Demo Squads listed in this schedule.
Besides this weekend’s showing at PAX East in Boston, Nintendo will begin to show off the 3DS at mysterious Demo Pods in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, on Friday morning.
Do you live in one of those cities and will you be hitting up a Demo Pod this weekend?
[Full press release after the break]
From augmented-reality games to rich 3D visuals that don’t require special glasses, the Nintendo 3DSâ„¢ system offers a wealth of new hand-held experiences that must be seen to be believed. To give consumers a firsthand look at these unique features, interactive Nintendo 3DS Demo Pods and mobile Nintendo 3DS Demo Squads will be in select U.S. cities starting March 11, offering sampling opportunities at more than 40 locations in cities nationwide. Visitors are invited to explore the system’s built-in software and play upcoming games, all in advance of the March 27 launch date.
The Nintendo 3DS system includes built-in cameras that let users not only take 3D photos but also incorporate their own likenesses and surroundings into fun games, including the hilarious shooting game Face Raidersâ„¢ and compelling AR Gamesâ„¢ such as Archery. Built-in applications also include Mii Makerâ„¢, which makes it easy for users to create customized Miiâ„¢ characters wherever and whenever inspiration strikes ”“ even using the Nintendo 3DS camera to help generate a Mii character based on a photo after selecting certain details like hair and skin tone.
More than 200 million Mii characters have been created worldwide since the 2006 launch of the Wiiâ„¢ system, and that number is sure to grow as players discover the portable fun of Mii Maker on Nintendo 3DS. Nintendo 3DS Demo Pod visitors who create a Mii character can commemorate the experience by uploading their Mii character to their Facebook pages and sharing their creations with friends and family via e-mail from an on-site computer.
Offering an extraordinary chance to experience these new games and features in-person, Nintendo 3DS Demo Pods are scheduled to appear at the following locations:
- New York City: Grand Central Terminal (Vanderbilt Hall, West Side)
- Running March 11-30
- Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Chicago: Citigroup Center (entrance to Ogilvie Transportation Center)
- Running March 11-April 3
- Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
- San Francisco: Pier 39 (Main Entrance Plaza)
- Running March 11-April 3
- Monday through Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Los Angeles: Third Street Promenade (1300 block)
- Running March 11-April 3
- Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
- Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
In addition to the Mii Maker application, visitors can experience hands-on demos with various launch titles, including Pilotwings Resort™, Steel Diver™,nintendogs™ + cats, Super Street Fighter® IV 3D Edition, Madden NFL Football, LEGO® Star Wars® III: The Clone Wars™ and Asphalt™ 3D. The Nintendo 3DS system is set to launch at a suggested retail price of $249.99.
Join the conversation
Share your perspective. Keep it thoughtful, welcoming and on topic.