Nintendo eShop Extended to 3DS, Also Netflix and Super Mario

Nintendo’s Iwata Satoru gave his keynote speech today at GDC 2011 during which he and Reggie Fils-Aime announced new services and games that will be heading for the Nintendo 3DS platform.

Those announcements included streaming video (films, TV shows) from Netflix, as well as 3D video content, classic retro games from SEGA’s Game Gear and more.

If you’ve got a Netflix account then later this year (Summer) you’ll be able to stream films and TV shows even to your 3DS via a Netflix application for the 3DS similar to the Wii version. Along with that will also be Hollywood 3D film trailers with the Green Lantern being named.

"We’re offering [movie] studios a distribution vehicle to a large and motivated userbase to promote their upcoming releases in 3D without glasses," said Fils-Aime. "And those owners will want to share those experiences with others."

They will also be working on a short-form (roughly 5 minutes or less by definition) video service that will include a range of genres.

The 3DS will also be able to record 3D video as well as 3D photos but no real details were announced. They did mention that they’ve teamed with AT&T for Wi-Fi hotspot access and that a Super Mario game for the 3DS would be unveiled at E3.

• Downloadable classic games via the portable Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console service will include Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, as well as those from the Game Gear and TurboGrafx-16 systems.
• “3D Classics” will introduce select classic video games remastered in 3D.
• Games currently offered as Nintendo DSiWare and an Internet browser will be available

Here’s a companion release from SEGA about the Game Gear titles. Five unnamed games are the beginning. Looking at the Game Gear games made by SEGA the only likely candidates  really are Sonic, Aerial Assault, Clutch Hitter, Columns, Dragon Crystal, Ecco the Dolphin, Panzer Dragoon, Pengo, Phantasy Star (which would make an awesome 3D game). You can probably bet on Sonic, Ecco, Phantasy Star and Columns.

SEGA of America, Inc. and SEGA Europe Ltd. today announced that they are partnering with Nintendo to produce a series of fan favorites from the Game Gear that will soon be available for download on the Nintendo eShop service for the upcoming Nintendo 3DS system.

First announced today during Nintendo’s keynote address at the Game Developers Conference, SEGA’s favorite classic games will be among the first titles to be offered exclusively for download on the new platform.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Game Gear system.

Five releases are planned for the launch of the Nintendo eShop, with more to be announced later this year. For more information about Nintendo eShop titles from SEGA, please visit http://www.sega.com/

Nintendo 3DS launches March 27 in the United States at a suggested retail price of $249.99.