Nintendo Announces Launch Day Games for 3DS in America

At long last, Nintendo has revealed which games we'll be able to play on launch day (March 27th, in case you've forgotten) and not just in the "launch window". There are 16 games in all (not including the built-in AR games or separate versions of Nintendogs), 3 of which are from Nintendo themselves. They are:

• Pilotwings Resort
• Steel Diver
• Nintendogs + cats
• Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition
• The Sims 3
• Madden NFL Football
• Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D
• LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
• Ridge Racer 3D
• Super Monkey Ball 3D
• Bust-A-Move Universe
• Samurai Warriors: Chronicles
• Asphalt 3D
• Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D
• Rayman 3D
• Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Shadow Wars

From what I've seen around the interwebs, a lot of people are unhappy about this lineup. The reason, I'm guessing, is because there isn't that AAA marquee killer-app super-awesome hyperbole title like a Zelda or a Mario. I, on the other hand, am perfectly content with this lineup. Allow me to explain.

Nintendo knows a thing or two about how to print money. They know that with as much hype as there is surrounding the 3DS, they don't need to have a major franchise ready right from the start in order to move units. In fact, it's better that there isn't one big title hogging all of the spotlight. This allows the wealth to be spread around to all of the other launch games, which means higher sales for third parties, which means more interest and investment in the 3DS from third parties (which is one of the main goals Nintendo had for the 3DS to begin with). Never doubt the business savvy of the Big N.

Also, at least in my opinion, there are indeed some good titles available. I'm very excited for Steel Diver, which could be a great sleeper hit. I'm not much of a Nintendogs fan, but I appreciate that it's a quality title as well. And then you've got Super Street Fighter IV, which (at least from what we've seen so far) is a console-quality port which makes use of a lot of the 3DS' new features.

Of course, if you think that the lineup is lacking, then that's fine too. There's no harm in waiting out the launch mayhem and buying a 3DS when some games you like start to roll around. For me, however, I'll be there March 27th with a 3DS in hand and eyes gazing into the aether... if I can get one on launch day. It'll probably be pretty hard, ya-know?

Thanks to GoNintendo for relaying the info.