A black Nintendo 3DS has been smuggled off a Chinese assembly line, according to reports Monday. Leaked videos and photos quickly making their way around the internet allegedly show a 3DS handheld without operating system software installed.
A YouTube video (embedded above) purports to show a 3DS being opened and closed. It also compares the 3-D gaming gadget, which Nintendo will release in Japan on Feb. 26, to several of the company’s other portable machines.
When the cameraman attempts to play a copy of Super Mario 64 DS, the unit shows only a black screen filled with small white text.
Photos on the Nintendo 3DS Blog show the device from various angles, including with the back cover off and the battery pack removed.
Since there does not seem to be any firmware installed on the machine, it appears to be totally useless. I’m curious to see if any information about the 3DS that Nintendo has yet to announce bubbles up as a result of this leak.
The 3DS delivers a deep, rich 3-D display without requiring gamers to wear glasses. Nintendo is expected to announce a U.S. launch date and price for the portable device Jan. 19.
