3DS gets 1,200 midnight store openings

Over 1,200 stores are planning to open at midnight this Thursday (March 24th) and start selling the Nintendo 3DS at the earliest opportunity.

The official retail launch event will take place at HMV’s Oxford Street store, where the first 500 buyers will be able to claim a free 3DS game of their choice. All customers on the night will be given a a special commemorative launch-night pack, including a ‘space blanket’ to keep them warm in the queue, a limited edition launch T-shirt and a commemorative issue of the Official Nintendo Magazine.

In addition, there are 13 ‘VIP’ launch shops spread around Britain and Ireland. The first customers at these stores will be able to pick up games for substantial discounts – and the very first buyer at each shop will be given a free taxi ride home.

Nintendo UK’s general manager David Yarnton commented: We’ve been blown away by both retail and consumer reaction to Nintendo 3DS. With over 1,000 stores opening across the UK at midnight to launch the console, this has the potential to be one of our biggest launches ever in the UK.”

The official retail launch event takes place at HMV’s 150 Oxford Street store. The 13 additional VIP stores are:

Argos – Leeds
Asda – Derby
GAME – Glasgow
GAME – Cardiff
GAME – Manchester
GAME – Oxford Street, London
Gamestation – Birmingham
Gamestation – Hull
Gamestop – Dublin
HMV – Liverpool
Smyths Toys – Dublin
Tesco – Cambridge
Xtra-Vision – Letterkenny