Those unfamiliar with the Square Enix tax probably aren’t purchasing titles on the DS from the Japanese publisher. Square Enix tends to “value” their games above other releases on the handheld, and thus prices them accordingly between 34.99 and 39.99 as opposed to the relatively accepted $29.99 retail price. While the higher price point isn’t used only by SE (Nintendo’s own Pokemon franchise uses the $34.99 price point), Gamestop listings for 3DS games have been released that put the standard price for 3DS games at $39.99, with a $49.99 price point also being put on certain games available within the launch window.
Although none of this has been confirmed by Nintendo, based on the increased price of 3DS games in Japan, the rumor is probably reality. Fortunately, US gamers still have it better then their Japanese counterparts who pay the equivalent $57.00 for a standard DS game, with titles for the 3DS set to go for the equivalent of $73.00.
The price point shift seems to be just about fact at this point, but the below release schedule being given to individuals that pre-order at Gamestop seems a tad more speculative in nature. If this schedule represented cold hard fact, Nintendo fans might just explode come June 2nd (Ocarina of Time is the only title confirmed to this point to be coming out on the 2nd). By the looks of it, my head is probably going to hold off exploding until September 2nd… Pet Zombies… in 3D? Count me in.
March 15
- Dead or Alive Dimensions $49.99
- Samurai Warriors Chronicles $49.99
March 22
- Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars $39.99
March 27
- Madden NFL Football $39.99
- Sims 3 $39.99
- Nintendogs & Cats $39.99
- Steel Diver $39.99
- Pilotwings Resort $39.99
- Super Street Fighter IV $39.99
April 2
- Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Shadow $39.99
- Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell $39.99
- Asphalt $39.99
- Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs $39.99
- Rabbids Travel in Time $39.99
June 1
- Cartoon Network SuperToon Rumble $39.99
June 2
- Animal Crossing 3D $39.99
- Mario Kart 3D $39.99
- Paper Mario 3D $39.99
- Dream Trigger $39.99
- Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D $39.99
- Kid Icarus: Uprising $39.99
- Star Fox 64 3D $39.99
- Super Monkey Ball $39.99
July 6
- Resident Evil: Mercenaries $39.99
Sept. 2
- Face Kart: Photo Finish $39.99
- Pet Zombies in 3D $39.99
Popularity: unranked [?]
