The new handheld console from Nintendo which took Japan by storm is finally coming to the United States on March 27^th 2010—although it reaches Europe slightly earlier on March 25^th. Retailing for about $249.99 it will be a bit more expensive than the standard Nintendo DS but the new functionality, the 3d part, probably makes up for that price tag entirely. After all, this device will provide a 3d screen without the need for crazy glasses.

Nintendo needs to find a way out of their current slump and stand up against Microsoft and Sony. Microsoft with their Xbox 360 and the Kinect, which has  turned them into a monstrous powerhouse and landed them in the Guinness Book of World Records; and the Sony PS3, which has a spectacular amount of beautiful games still coming out. Nintendo only has the Wii, whose remote system is currently paling against the Kinect.

The Nintendo 3DS handheld may very well be the way that they jumpstart their position in the handheld market.

With a revolutionary screen that will change up the way that graphics work (especially for handhelds) they have already shown that they can sell in Japan and it’s hard to discount the sheer hype this month in both the US and Europe. In fact, the game became so popular in Japan that Nintendo felt the need to help distribute a warning about young children using the game system (essentially that developing eyes don’t deal with this 3D rendering very well.) Even that didn’t dampen the resolve of the consumers yanking these off the shelves on the island.

Now, behold the commercials. The European commercial seems to be a lot more informative, whereas the American commercial relies entirely on action and wow-factor. I’d watch them both.