Retro Gaming Australia

Nintendo held a press conference today to announce their Q1 FY2012 results, and took the opportunity to address the lagging sales of its new 3DS handheld. The price of the Nintendo 3DS is being slashed by 40% from 25,000 yen ($AU291) to 15,000 yen ($AU174) effective August 11, 2011. Similar price drops will occur across the rest of the world.

The news that’s of more importance to retro gaming fans, however is that the Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy Advance will be joining the 3DS Virtual Console line up. As a consolation to people who bought the 3DS at its full price, Nintendo will be giving out a whole horde of free Virtual Console games.

Free games on the NES include Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong Jr., Balloon Fight, Ice Climber and The Legend of Zelda, while the free game line up from the GBA consists of Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi’s Island, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Metroid Fusion, WarioWare: Mega Microgame$ and Mario vs Donkey Kong. This line up only applies to Japan for the moment, so we’ll have to wait and see what Nintendo has in store for us.