Joystiq

Of the four million 3DS systems Nintendo plans to produce in the fiscal year ending in March, Nintendo has earmarked a million and a half for Japan. According to a retailer's blog, translated by Andriasang, the portion of that allotment that will be available on launch day is just 400,000. The retailer suggests that anyone hoping to get one of those Japanese systems should pre-order one.

Nintendo has yet to reveal official launch-day numbers for other territories -- of course, these Japanese launch-day numbers are unofficial, so it has yet to reveal those as well. But if supplies are going to be so tightly constrained in the home market, expect to have to pre-order elsewhere.

http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/report-400k-3ds-systems-available-on-japanese-launch-day/

Ok numbers I guess

Damn hell, that's 200k less than was available worldwide for Wii on launch day, iirc (or that could have been American only numbers, not sure), but that's even impressive given our population difference

Shortages and ebay jackings confirmed

Does Nintendo have some kind of deal with the people who resell it for $1000? 1m for the first week in Japan really would be more appropriate.

I expect excess demand and sky high prices on ebay come launch

I really hope all those 400k units don't go to Tokyo and the other big cities alone.

Honestly I am not suprised , with 4-million slated for March it doesn't suprise me that 400K will be available launch day. I already expected shortages and was the first person to pre-order 3DS at my local EBGames before even American's could pre-order.

Keep in mind Kinect sold 8-million units in two months. If Nintendo can sustain those kinds of numbers it will be one hell of a big launch. Not to mention I have a feeling 3DS could supercede Kinect.

So long story short if you want a 3DS they will be in short supply so go pre-order now, it may already be to late to get a unit day one!

Please don't compare an entire gaming handheld system with a camera perypheral.

OP:

I hope Nintendo has learned something with Wii shortages on its first 2 years... 1.5 Million for Japan till the end of the fiscal year seems very low...

Will Kinect's record for biggest gaming HW launch last so short? It depends on whether Nintendo logistics will work smoothly enough, because we don't know yet how 3DS will fare on the long term, but its launch will be as big as Nintendo will be able to supply it.