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Nintendo will release the price and the release date of the eagerly awaited 3DS handheld console on 29 September.

A spokesman for Nintendo Yasushi Hiroshi Minagawa told the Japanese branch of news service Bloomberg that more details on the Nintendo 3DS would arrive in two months' time.

The Nintendo 3DS has already caused a huge stir with its glassless stereoscopic 3D, and TechRadar's early impressions of the handheld have been favourable.

UK market

The UK has always been a consistent market for Nintendo's portable consoles and the 3DS is likely to sell well.

Although there was no confirmation if the 29 September date would also bring news of the UK release date and price, it is likely to be the first quarter of 2011.

The news came as Nintendo reported a 25.2 billion yen (£184.3m) loss for its first financial quarter, down from a profit of 42.3 billion yen a year ago.

Sales declined 25.6 per cent during the three month period to 188.6 billion yen (£1.4b), and operating income fell 42.2 per cent to 23.3 billion yen (£171m).

"Appreciation of the yen and the lowering of the price of Nintendo DS hardware in Japan and Europe adversely impacted net sales and operating income," said Nintendo.

The Nintendo 3DS is not likely to arrive in the UK until December, with the company's hopes of an October release ahead of Christmas likely to be confounded.

According to CVG, who have spoken to a senior games retail source, plans for an October launch are now being abandoned, with a limited amount of stock now set to appear in December.

That leaves precious little time for those hoping to upgrade to the latest handheld for Christmas will face a battle for units and a race against time.

Early indications

"Early indications to us are that the launch is going to emulate Wii in December," the source told CVG.

"We've been informed that Nintendo wanted a long run-up to Christmas, but now it's going to be a close-run thing.

"We're not expecting a lot of stock before next year."

As you may imagine, Nintendo has insisted that all talk of a release date is still speculative.

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has explained why the glasses-free stereoscopic 3D technology in the forthcoming Nintendo 3DS is not likely to make the jump to television any time soon.

The world of 3D is still battling with people's aversion to wearing glasses, something the latest 3D-enabled handset from Nintendo neatly sidesteps.

But Iwata has insisted to GamesBeat that the need for a viewing sweet spot – much easier to provide in a handheld than a television – would limit the technology's use for television.

Parallax barrier tech

"With this parallax barrier technology, the LCD must be a certain distance away from the screen," said Iwata.

"It also needs a certain viewing angle. We think it is not a great match for the home TV set."

Iwata admits that he has no idea when somebody will make the breakthrough to allow truly robust glasses-free 3D to hit televisions.

"As one of the engineers, I can anticipate that someone will invent a 3D TV that does not require you to wear 3D glasses," added Iwata.

"As far as today is concerned I do not think they can do it well. We need an invention to make it happen. If you ask me when, I have no idea."

As cool as Sony's PlayStation Move controller and Microsoft's Kinect system are, Nintendo totally stole the show at E3 2010 with the Nintendo 3DS – the true successor to its popular two-screen handheld that's able to display full stereoscopic 3D without the need for glasses.

Expensive 3D TVs began hitting the market this year, ushering in a new 3D era which will have huge implications for the videogame industry.

And while Sony has jumped hastily on the 3D bandwagon, releasing the first 3D PS3 games this month, there's still one issue other than the lofty price of the TV sets that's holding many potential customers off – those hideous glasses.

With the Nintendo 3DS that's not an issue. While the bottom screen is a normal 3.02-inch touch panel, the upper screen – a slightly larger 3.53-inch display - uses lenticular technology which, all babble aside, means that you get the same 3D effect as a 3DTV without having to don those hideous specs. And it works brilliantly.

It's like you're looking through a small window into a miniature world. We took a look at several Nintendo 3D games and were astounded by how good the screen does 3D.

It's pin-sharp. It's an 800x240 pixel resolution although, because of the technicalities of 3D – this resolution is split to effectively 400x240 pixels per eye. But it never feels like its straining your eyes and you don't get any of that ghosting (when you can see a feint double image) you sometimes see at the movies. It's was certainly the cleanest, clearest 3D we saw on the show floor, better than any of the 3D Sony Bravia sets we played PS3 games on.

Nintendo 3DS graphics

The 3DS has received a significant graphical power boost, too. We saw a remake of PS2 hit title Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater running on it and, even in its early form, it looked far superior to the PS2 original. Graphically, 3DS will easily surpass the PSP.

Another demo – an arcade flight game called Pilotwings Resort – showed off the incredible depth you can get from a screen so small. As you fly around the 3D environment in a plane the ground below looks physically far away, while nearby objects and your plane stood out.

It made it easier to make acute judgments in the game, too. Flying through hoops or under bridges felt easier to accomplish just because you're armed with depth perception like in real life.

3D is just one of this little gadget's many clever tricks. Inside the box comes a gyroscope and accelerometer sensors, which means the system will be able to detect both tilting and positional movement – just like the Wii Remote.

This adds huge possibilities for new gameplay in the games for 3DS. Nintendo said, for example, that in a first person shooter players would simply be able to move the DS around them to control their view in-game and look around the environment. Can you imagine what that would be like when combined with the 3D visuals? Mind boggling.

The 3DS also has enhanced wireless communication features that will automatically seek out and communicate with other 3DS units, allowing you to trade information such as scores or items with other players. The current DS has a similar feature, but for it to work you have to leave the game in the system and running in a special communication mode.

The chances of you coming into range with another player running the same game in wireless mode were close to nil. But the 3DS will seek other units and exchange data for all of the games you own at once without the need to be running any of particular game at all.

Nintendo 3DS hardware

On the outer casing of the DS are two camera lenses around two inches from each other. This appears strange, but it actually lets you take photos in full 3D (at 640x480 resolution) and what a compelling feature that is. Although it wasn't in the version of the hardware we used, expect the final retail 3DS to let you edit these photos in different ways, and record video, too.

Even more impressive, though, was an augmented reality demonstration which saw the 3DS recognize a Nintendo sticker placed on the table in front of us and, on screen, made a 3D dragon appear there. You can move the 3DS around to see (and shoot) the dragon from any angle you want, as though it were actually there.

There's a third camera on the inside of the console, which will take 2D photos, but will also feature in games. In the Nintendogs + Cats demo, you could tilt your head to the side and the on-screen puppy would to the same. Nintendo says it's working on face recognition tech so, eventually the games will know who you are the moment you pick up the 3DS.

Looking more closely at the hardware, the DS has a 3D slider on the right of the upper screen which, almost like a volume slider, lets you set the level of 3D depth it displays or turn it off completely to render games in 2D.

On the lower half of the machine, the 'Slide Pad' provides analogue control which, we can tell you now, is far more usable and comfortable than the PSP's analogue stub. Its large size fits your thumb perfectly and its enclave surface means your finger doesn't slide off.

The D-pad and face buttons are all exactly the same as the current DSi – perfectly responsive and nicely clicky. The Start and Select buttons are joined by a new 'Home' button, all three running on a strip below the bottom screen.

The SD Card slot remains, which will let you expand the memory of the unit. Nintendo didn't reveal how much internal memory the system will have. Games will come on carts of a size indistinguishable from the current DS.

Nintendo owned this E3 with the revelation of one of the most exciting pieces of gaming hardware we've ever used. The 3D is incredible, and yet that's just one of the many clever features of the unit that could result in some truly revolutionary games.

Nintendo says the Nintendo 3DS release date is 'by March next year' for Japan. Rumours suggest it'll be out worldwide before Christmas. We're hoping the latter is accurate because we'll be all over this little beauty like a rash.

IFE Services, a UK in-flight entertainment specialist, is to bring modified PSPs to long haul flights.

The PSPs used will have a 11-hour battery life and will be used by six, as yet unnamed, major airlines.

"The peripherals were specifically selected for use by airline passengers enabling the PSP system to be comfortably held or positioned on a seatback tray," says IFE's release.

"The PSP system has a high-resolution, widescreen TFT display and a sleek, lightweight design. To provide an enhanced experience to passengers, the PSP systems will be equipped with an extended battery life offering from 5.5 to 11 hours while playing games."

Long awatied

Speaking about the link-up with Sony, Mark Hogg, CEO of IFE Services, said: "We're delighted to be able to bring the PSP system to the airline industry.

"As a veteran provider of in-flight entertainment, we know that many airline passengers are interested in playing full-scale games with impressive graphics, which the PSP delivers.

"Our view is that this has been long awaited by the airline industry and the passengers they fly."

A new PSP is set to be announced at E3, but we're expecting that the ones used by airlines will be the a version of what is in on sale at the moment.

E3 is coming soon, prefigured by the annual rounds of speculation as to what the big three gaming brands – Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo – are planning on announcing at the LA-based games trade show.

One of the bigger surprises this year may well turn out to be the Sony PlayStation Portable 2. Senior industry sources have suggested that Sony might well show off the PSP2 out in La La Land this June.

For its part, Sony Computer Entertainment remains defiantly tight-lipped on the matter. So here's a round-up of what we know, what we've heard and what the games rumour mill has said about the next version of Sony's PSP handheld console to date.

Note that this page will be constantly updated as new information comes to light.

PSP2 rumours rumble on

Industry rumours about a PSP2 have been doing the rounds for years, with rumours of a touchscreen handheld certainly dating back to at least 2006.

These rumours have been circulating for almost as long as the original console itself has been around. Sony originally launched the handheld at E3 back in 2004, after making the announcement of its portable gaming plans the year before that in 2003.

Indeed, Sony was still denying plans for a touchscreen-version of the PSP back in early 2009, when it was (as we now know with the power of hindsight) still finalising plans for the release of the UMD-free, download-only PSPgo. It now seems highly likely that the PSPgo is the final iteration on Sony's original PSP form factor. And, by extension, the PSP2 will be arriving very soon.

PSP2 release date

Seven years after Sony originally told the world about its plans for the PSP, we are now, more than ever, certain that SCE is finalising its plans for a true successor to the original machine.

Not only are the key summer gaming events on the near-horizon – with E3 in LA this June, followed by Gamescom in Cologne in August and the Tokyo Game Show in September – but a number of developers and unnamed industry sources are now starting to reveal the first bits of information on the PSP2.

"As luck would have it, we'd uncovered PSP2's existence in the last issue of PSM3 – a week or two before the [most recent] net gossip - when Lost Planet 2 creator Jun Takeuchi casually referred to its existence in an interview," PSM3 magazine's Editor, Dan Dawkins told TechRadar.

So will we see the PSP2 at E3?

"It *might* be at E3 in one form or another – especially if Sony's hand is forced by the 'leak' – but I suspect Sony would rather save the announcement for Gamescom/TGS in August/September," adds Dawkins.

CVG Editor Tim Ingham agrees with Dawkin's informed speculation as to when the announcement (and following retail launch) for PSP2 will occur, telling TechRadar this week:

"If you look at the past few years, Sony has tended to use Gamescom in August as a good place to make hardware-related announcements, because they don't get as lost in the noise as they would do at E3 earlier in the summer."

So it looks like we should hear more from LA in June or from Cologne in August and, wherever the original announcement is made, the following retail release looks will be "most likely in early 2011," according to the PSM3 Editor.

PSP2 games - how to combat rampant piracy

Sony is going to have to mobilise all of its games marketing might, in order to re-establish the forthcoming PSP2 as a games console, first and foremost.

Much of the criticisms directed at the original PSP focused on the fact that Sony was trying to make a device that was a little too 'all things for all people' – offering web, music, video and multimedia capabilities – at the expense of focusing on what gamers want. Which is massive, exclusive blockbuster titles.

On that front, Konami's recent Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker could not have been released at a better time for Sony, reminding the hardcore PSP gaming fans why they originally fell in love with the PSP.

In addition to more big-name blockbuster titles and franchises such as Metal Gear and Grant Theft Auto, there is also a clear trend to shorter, punchier (and cheaper) downloadable games – following the runaway success of the iPhone and Apple's App Store model. So what of the PSPgo? Why has it failed?

"[PSP2] is above all, a tacit admission that PSPgo has, unsurprisingly, flopped, and was – surely – just an attempt to make a pirate proof iteration of PSP that, ironically-ish, ended up drying up the flow of original games, since gamers, and in turn developers, lost interest," notes PSM3's Dan Dawkins.

So PSP2 will have to develop the piracy-protected distribution model Sony has already introduced with PSP go (which means that download-only seems likely) as well as making the hardware – and, crucially, the supporting online shop and download service – "irresistible to developers and gamers alike."

PSP2 price – a must-have PS3 accessory?

If PSP2 can promise near-PS3 quality visuals, with much-improved PS3 integration as well as those "iPhone-style downloadable apps and inventive mini games, we'll all want one, for sure," says the PSM3 Editor.

But what price will we be prepared to pay for the PSP2?

Don't forget that Sony ran into considerable pricing issues with the last iteration of the PSP, with PSPgo costing £225 in the UK around the time of its September 2009 launch. (Retailers were quick to knock it down to a sub-£200 price point within weeks of the launch).

Then of course you have the fact that Nintendo is sure to price its forthcoming 3D handheld as competitively as it possibly can. One reason that the DS continues to sell so well is down to its sub-£100 price point.

With all of that in mind, it's hard to see how Sony could justify a PSP2 that was priced at OVER the £200 mark, even if they do what all the hardcore PS3 faithful really want and provide them with a dual analogue stick handheld console which they can control very much in the same was as they are used to controlling their PS3 games via a DualShock 3.

PSP2 specs – a four-core CPU?

The 'leaked' tech specs that are doing the rounds online right now suggest that Sony's PSP2 will boast an array of new features to help to differentiate it from (and make it more appealing than) Nintendo's new ('code-named') 3DS, which we already know for sure is going to be announced at E3 in June.

PSM3 expects to see a number of new features such as that long-mooted touchscreen, in addition to two cameras, possible 3G-connectivity (as opposed to PSPGo's Wi-Fi only), and – "as hard to believe as it would be welcome" – a four core Cell CPU (the PS3 uses eight).

There are no reasons to believe why all of these new tech specs could not make up Sony's PSP2, putting it on a more-than-equal footing with that other handheld gaming device that has gained a lot of attention from consumers in the last two years – the Apple iPhone.

The only real question that hardware specialists would ask would be about the possibility of that four-core processor, which PSM3's Editor admits, "sounds energy intensive, drawing practical considerations for battery life."

PSP2 console – publishers plans

Trade magazine MCV is also certain that publishers are already ramping up their own plans for an imminent launch of the PSP 2

MCV has recently reported on a"significant increase in [PSP] marketing spend at two key publishers for Q4 2010, at a time when the PSP is languishing in Western markets – and its most recent iteration, the PSPgo, is falling flat."

Yet another publisher told them that they are awaiting "a specific announcement" from Sony before revealing its future plans for the PSP platform. All of which strongly suggests that a consumer announcement of the PSP2 console is close by.

So while much of the pre-E3 hardware hype is still focused on Sony's Move and Microsoft's Natal motion-sensing controller tech - in addition to Nintendo's handheld plans for a 3D-ready successor to the hugely-successful DS - the official news about Sony's own release and tech plans for the true to successor to the PSP is clearly coming very soon.

Will Sony have finally learned a number of important lessons about effective download-only game development, pricing and marketing from Apple and Nintendo? We certainly hope so.

Nintendo's upcoming 3DS handheld will have a 3D off switch, so that users will be able to play games in both 2D and 3D.

Nintendo's President Satoru Iwata revealed that the technology is there to toggle between 2D and 3D after he was questioned on the health benefits of prolonged 3D use among children.

In an interview with Forbes, Iwata promised that those who don't want to play games in 3D do not have to, despite this being the big selling point of the 3DS.

3D or not 3D

Although not much has been said about the Nintendo 3DS, it is expected to be shown off at E3 in June and is likely to have a UK release date of October.

The handheld uses 3D technology that doesn't require glasses. Although the actual tech behind the 3Ds hasn't been announced, it is thought that Nintendo is using Sharp's parallax barrier screens which do allow for quick switching between 3D and 2D.

Nintendo will be hoping that the 3DS lifts its profits. Although the company has had its third best year ever, it has seen an 18 per cent dip in profits and its Wii sales have slid 21 per cent year on year.

When asked about Nintendo's financial situation, Iwata told Forbes: "I'm not pessimistic, and this is not a pessimistic forecast."

We would have preferred him to say: "It's-a-me! Mario," but you can't have it all.

The Nintendo 3DS will be released in October in the UK, with the gaming giant set to release the news about its handheld gamer at E3.

CVG has rooted out the news from its sources in the games industry, and is expecting an official confirmation that the next generation of the Nintendo DS will arrive long before the previously stated March 2011.

That's a massive 6 months earlier than expected, and will provide a huge boon to Nintendo at a critical time of year.

Holiday period

Obviously an October launch means that the 3DS will arrive ahead of Christmas, appearing on thousands of present lists, but it will also now be timed to debut at the same time as Microsoft's Xbox Natal kit.

One very senior publishing source told CVG: "It's a surprise - we were expecting it much closer to Christmas. But I suppose it gives Nintendo the opportunity to get it front and centre in people's minds nice and early.

"In my experience, you don't launch a product that early to Christmas unless you're confident in it - and going to spend a lot of money on it. We're reassured that Nintendo is going to give it some decent backing in Q4."

Official Nintendo Magazine has unveiled the launch date for Nintendo's DSi XL – the oversized handheld.

The latest model in the extensive DS series has a UK release date of March 5 2010, although no pricing has yet to be revealed.

The new version will apparently come pre-loaded with Dr Kawashima's: Little Bit of Brain Training: Arts Edition and Dictionary 6 in 1 with Camera Function, as well as Flipnote Studio and the DSi Browser.

Fourth edition

It's the fourth edition of the DS, and has a much larger viewing screen than its smaller brothers and a bigger stylus.

The reviews have been, well, average, and without a cost attached it's difficult to know what kind of impact the XL will have on British shores.

But being Nintendo it might well surpass expectations.

An advert, which revealed that a LittleBigPlanet starter park would be available for the yet-unavailable PSP-4000, has turned out to be a typo.

The ad agency behind the promotion – Accessories 4 Technology – which appeared in games industry magazine MCV has admitted the error, explaining to Negative Gamer that it was a "mistake on our part".

Backwards compatibility

Sony has not announced that a new PSP is on the horizon, but after a bit of a backlash with the PSPGo, due to the handheld console being unable to use UMDs, there is much rumour and speculation that the PSPGo would get a UMD update – which is taking backwards compatibility to the extreme.

As always, Sony has noted that it "doesn't comment on rumour or speculation", which means that it's definitely coming. Okay, we might have read between the lines there but if we are right, you read it here first.

A few eyebrows were raised when Nintendo named their oversize handheld the DSi LL, and, according to company president Satoru Iwata it could have been called the DSi Comfort instead.

Nintendo DSi LL features a 4.2 inch screen -- making it significantly larger than its DSi brother.

In the latest Ask Iwata blog, the naming process for the DSi LL is discussed along with some of the options.

Let's face it LL is a pretty poor name, but thankfully it's better than some of the options – with DSi Comfort, DSi Executive and the pukeworthy DSi Living discussed.

Deka!

However, if another Nintendo legend, Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto had had his way it would have been termed DSi Deka – which is Japanese for large.

We'd have plumped for DSi Wristbreaker, or DSi Book.

A few eyebrows were raised when Nintendo named their oversize handheld the DSi LL, and, according to company president Satoru Iwata it could have been called the DSi Comfort instead.

Nintendo DSi LL features a 4.2 inch screen -- making it significantly larger than its DSi brother.

In the latest Ask Iwata blog, the naming process for the DSi LL is discussed along with some of the options.

Let's face it LL is a pretty poor name, but thankfully it's better than some of the options – with DSi Comfort, DSi Executive and the pukeworthy DSi Living discussed.

Deka!

However, if another Nintendo legend, Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto had had his way it would have been termed DSi Deka – which is Japanese for large.

We'd have plumped for DSi Wristbreaker, or DSi Book.

The Nintendo DS has finally overtake Sony's iconic PS2 to become the biggest selling games console of all time in the UK.

As reported on the Official Nintendo Magazine website, Nintendo's handheld console has finally moved past the PS2 – with the latest Gfk Chart-Track figures confirming the news.

The total of 10.05 million consoles is enough to breeze past the PlayStation 2 – which is at 10.02 million.

Still going strong

Plus, the DS is, of course, still selling well – with the likes of the DSi and the larger DSi XL keeping the handheld up to date and fresh for consumers.

The original Nintendo DS arrived in the UK in 2005, and has sole in excess of 113 million units globally.

Official Nintendo Magazine's Online Editor Tom East told TechRadar that the DS has quickly become a modern classic.

"When DS launched in the UK back in 2005 most critics thought that PSP would trounce Nintendo's latest handheld so it's amazing to think that it's gone on to become the best-selling console of all time in the UK."

Family friendly

East explained that it was the breadth of content for the DS that pushed it to this level, appealing not only to traditional gamers with classic titles, but also to a family audience.

"Really it's the quality and breadth of the software that has made DS such a success as titles such as Nintendogs and Brain Training have appealed to a wider audience while new Metroid, Mario and Zelda adventures have kept Nintendo fans happy," he added.

To the tales of fighter pilots training on PC flight simulators we can now add the one about the boatload of sailors learning the ropes through a Sony PSP.

The story comes from the UK's Royal Navy, which has just invested £50,000 in 230 PlayStation Portable handhelds to help marine engineers prepare for exams.

Scheme to expand

As you'd expect, the PSPs come with custom software explaining aspects of the work under scrutiny, with both video and audio explanations for the hard of reading.

The scheme, which was cooked up by the maritime warfare school at HMS Collingwood in Hampshire, will be expanded if it proves successful.

Just get on with it

However, it has had at least one somewhat sniffy review from the Navy brass.

Commander Trevor Price said: "We are working on the premise that looking at a book is now seen as dull and boring. When I was at school you sat at your desk and you did your work and that was it." That's them told.