Mario Kart: Super Circuit: One of 20 games being offered to early adopters

Just four months after it arrived on store shelves, Nintendo of Australia has announced plans to slash the RRP of its 3DS handheld from $350 to $250 on Friday 12 August. The price of the unit has also been heavily reduced in Japan, Europe and the United States. The 3DS is currently in the midst of a crippling software drought and, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, Nintendo has already conceded that its latest offering has experienced slower than expected sales.

The platform holder plans to soothe any resentment on the part of early adopters by offering them free downloadable games for the device. In order to qualify for the compensation, 3DS owners must connect to the eShop prior to Friday 12 August. From September, players will be offered 10 Virtual Console titles from the NES library, including Super Mario Bros, The Legend of Zelda and Donkey Kong Jr. Players will also be granted access to 10 GBA titles by year’s end, with Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Metroid Fusion and WarioWare Inc: Minigame Madness among the highlights.

Does the new price make you more likely to pick up a 3DS? Are the 20 classic games fair compensation for shelling out an extra $100 at launch. Let us know!