The 3DS Is Totally Available

Think the 3DS is impossible to find the day following release? While the system did pretty much disappear in the hours after shops opened yesterday (and in many cases in the hours before too), Nintendo has somehow managed to get out new shipments to a number of shops.

As I covered in my launch center mobile blog, the large Tsutaya retailer in Shibuya suddenly began taking pre-orders yesterday, saying that a new shipment of systems was set to arrive today.

Today, I checked Tsutaya around noonish and found that this sudden shipment had yet to sell out. There may be a good reason for this. Other major shops have also taken shipments of the system.

From Twitter user Kaztsu:

This sign at Yodobashi Camera in Akihabara says that the shop has taken shipment of black and blue systems. On launch day, this particular Akihabara sold out of their 2,000 systems (1,000 to pre-orders, 1,000 to same day sales) by about 9:30.

Also from Kaztsu:

This one is from the Akihabara Sofmap. They apparently couldn't afford a stand for the sign, but the text is the same. Five people were lined up to pick up the sudden shipment, according to Kaztsu.

The current conspiracy theory (although it may just be my own conspiracy theory) is that Nintendo and retailers may be preparing a constant supply of systems in part as a deterrent to resellers. The system does not seem to be pulling major markups at auction sites like Yahoo Auctions.

In other forbidden 3DS retail imagery:

Yokohama Yodobashi (where I had to pick up IGN 3DS number 3) has a pretty big demo area. This wall is in addition to the aisle kiosks that are at other retailers.

When I went to the Yokohama Yodobashi, they had a sign saying that they didn't know when additional systems would arrive, and were thus not taking pre-orders.

Also at Yodobashi: a sign listing increased buy-back prices for other systems when you buy a 3DS. PSP (any variation) usually commands ¥5,000, but goes up to ¥8,000 if you buy a 3DS. DSLite, DSi or DSi LL go up to ¥6,000. I wasn't aware that Yodobashi does buybacks in the first place.

And at Shibuya Tsutaya, a poorly placed "Do Not Open" sign:

By all means do open your 3DS! (Especially around a bunch of kids who are stuck with the old non 3D style DS -- bwa ha ha ha ha.)