Nintendo's latest gaming console, offering glasses-free 3-D images, went on sale in Japan over the weekend ahead of a global rollout. Analysts say it promises to be the world's first 3-D mass-market product.
Lines formed outside Tokyo electronics stores, although they weren't as long as some previous gadget launches, as Nintendo offered purchase reservations in advance. The Nintendo 3DS costs 25,000 yen in Japan.
Kyoto-based Nintendo is banking on the 3-D technology as sales momentum gradually fades for earlier hits such as the Wii and predecessor DS models. While 3-D technology for TVs has created a buzz, and 3-D camcorders are also gaining some attention, such products have not sold in big numbers so far, making for a tiny fraction of overall TV and camcorder sales.