You have to see it to believe it

Ahead of the North American launch of the 3DS on 27th March, Nintendo has announced details on its United States demo tour where members of the public can try the system out and experience its unique 3D effects.

Demo Pods and mobile Demo Squads will be spread across 40 locations in cities across the U.S. starting from 11th March. So if you're still unsure whether the 3DS is for you or not, this will be the perfect opportunity for you to sample what the system has to offer. The built-in software and various games will be playable and if you visit the Demo Pods, you'll be able to make your own 3DS Mii character and upload it to your Facebook page via email using the on-site computers.

To find out more on the Augmented Reality games, head over to our Hands On feature article and see what Face Raiders and the other mini-games have to offer.

From the official press release, read on to see if the demo tour is stopping by your neck of the woods or not:

Consumers to Discover New Ways to Play During Nintendo 3DS Demo Tour

From augmented-reality games to rich 3D visuals that don’t require special glasses, the Nintendo 3DS™ system offers a wealth of new hand-held experiences that must be seen to be believed. To give consumers a firsthand look at these unique features, interactive Nintendo 3DS Demo Pods and mobile Nintendo 3DS Demo Squads will be in select U.S. cities starting March 11, offering sampling opportunities at more than 40 locations in cities nationwide. Visitors are invited to explore the system’s built-in software and play upcoming games, all in advance of the March 27 launch date.

The Nintendo 3DS system includes built-in cameras that let users not only take 3D photos but also incorporate their own likenesses and surroundings into fun games, including the hilarious shooting game Face Raiders™ and compelling AR Games™ such as Archery. Built-in applications also include Mii Maker™, which makes it easy for users to create customized Mii™ characters wherever and whenever inspiration strikes – even using the Nintendo 3DS camera to help generate a Mii character based on a photo after selecting certain details like hair and skin tone.

More than 200 million Mii characters have been created worldwide since the 2006 launch of the Wii™ system, and that number is sure to grow as players discover the portable fun of Mii Maker on Nintendo 3DS. Nintendo 3DS Demo Pod visitors who create a Mii character can commemorate the experience by uploading their Mii character to their Facebook pages and sharing their creations with friends and family via e-mail from an on-site computer.

Offering an extraordinary chance to experience these new games and features in-person, Nintendo 3DS Demo Pods are scheduled to appear at the following locations:

  • New York City: Grand Central Terminal (Vanderbilt Hall, West Side)
    o Running March 11-30
    o Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
    o Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
  • Chicago: Citigroup Center (entrance to Ogilvie Transportation Center)
    o Running March 11-April 3
    o Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
    o Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
  • San Francisco: Pier 39 (Main Entrance Plaza)
    o Running March 11-April 3
    o Monday through Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
  • Los Angeles: Third Street Promenade (1300 block)
    o Running March 11-April 3
    o Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
    o Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
    o Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

In addition to the Mii Maker application, visitors can experience hands-on demos with various launch titles, including Pilotwings Resort™, Steel Diver™, Nintendogs™ + cats, Super Street Fighter® IV 3D Edition, Madden NFL Football, LEGO® Star Wars® III: The Clone Wars™ and Asphalt™ 3D. The Nintendo 3DS system is set to launch at a suggested retail price of $249.99.

For more information about Nintendo 3DS, please visit http://www.nintendo3ds.com.