http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/31964

Save data CAN be transferred from cartridge to an SD card for use with the eShop version...in spring 2013.

Past retail 3DS releases will be coming to the eShop in Japan on November 1, according to a recent Nintendo Direct. You can also transfer your save data from the cartridge to an SD card to work with your download version of the game if you double-dip. However, that function won't be available until the spring.

The list of the games include a number of first-party titles, and can be seen below.

• Mario Tennis Open
• Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games
• Mario Kart 7
• Super Mario 3D Land
• Hana to Ikimo no Rittai Zukan
• Star Fox 64 3D
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
• Pilotwings Resort

The video also details how you can purchase the games, either on the eShop or in stores using various eShop cards for money or the specific game. More games will be on the way and will be announced later.

There is currently no word as to whether this will be happening in North America or Europe.

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The news isn't unexpected. But did we have any notice about this Nintendo Direct at all?

I'm also expecting the NA and Europe announcements tomorrow morning. Am prepared to eat crow, though.

Would be perfect if the games were offered at a discount.

It IS worrisome that they apparently didn't mention any prices. I'll buy Starfox for $20, but $40? Pass!

While you're here Manuel, what's "Hana to Ikimo no Rittai Zukan"?

4800 ¥ except The 3D Encyclopedia of Flora an Fauna 3800 ¥

It's an illustrated encyclopedia with 3D photos/videos of flowers and animals.

It's actually quite neat, but I didn't want to buy it on card.

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/3ds/asuj/index.html

Gotcha. Thanks!

Interesting that quite a few first-party games are absent from this list, notably Kid Icarus: Uprising and Fire Emblem Awakening (being that this is for Japan). Maybe Nintendo doesn't want to offer them digitally at the moment because they take up the most space?

I think it would be a really good idea if Nintendo offered the option to buy the games physically at retail and then include the option to download the game to your SD card along with owning the cartridge at no extra cost. I'm far too invested in filling my shelf up with games to stop at this point.

Not likely, then nothing would stop you from selling or returning the retail copy, thats why no company do that

I'm guessing this is merely the first wave; these (and others) will likely follow in the days to come.