Nintendo Confirms European Date, Launch Price For DS

Nintendo has now confirmed a European launch date of March 11th for its much-heralded DS handheld, at an estimated retail price of UKP99 ($186) in the UK and 149 euros ($194) in the rest of Europe. At a press conference held in Paris, Nintendo also confirmed the software line-up for the European launch, including 15 software titles on launch day. The company's first-party launch titles, markedly stronger than the U.S. debut, include Super Mario 64 DS, Polarium (formerly known as One-Line Puzzle in Japan), WarioWare Touched! and Pokémon Dash. However, there are also over 10 confirmed titles from third-party publishers, including The Urbz, Tiger Woods PGA Tour, Project Rub (also known as Feel The Magic: XX/XY in the U.S.), Spider-Man 2, Rayman DS, Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits, Asphalt: Urban GT, Sprung, Zoo Keeper, Robots, and Ping Pals. Nintendo made it clear that they were determined to steal a march on the rival Sony PSP, which has very tentatively been announced for a March release in the West, by simultaneously announcing a 35 million euro marketing campaign built around the DS launch, with an integrated campaign around the 'Touch Me!' theme that incorporates TV, print, in-store, POS, sampling, online and PR.