Super Mario Heading To Nintendo 3DS For Christmas...2012.

*THIS POST HAS BEEN UPDATED!!!*

To read the new release date details, please CLICK HERE

2012 - The year of  Mario?

Mini Gamers was conducting the usual trawl through the 'New Releases' and 'Coming Soon' sections of various online retailers, looking for items which might be of interest to our readers, when we spotted that the highly-anticipated 3DS game, Super Mario 3D had now been given a release date on the Play.com website.

However, our initial joy soon turned to disapointment when we realised that the date provided was actually for the 2nd of December next year (2012).

Furthermore, the original Nintendo 3DS release calendar cited the potential North-American release date for the game as 'Holiday 2011', but it seems as though this may now also be delayed until sometime next year.

It is unclear whether MarioKart 3D, which it was also hoped would make a 2011 debut will now also be given a 2012 release date, but we can reveal that two other Mario-related 3DS titles - Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games, and Luigi's Mansion 2 are both scheduled for release on the 3DS console next year, making 2012 the year of Mario 3D.

Nevertheless, the news of a 2012 release is likely to be a huge source of disappointment to both Mario and 3DS fans alike. The 3DS has failed to reach estimated sales figures over the last few months, which has now resulted in a swift price-drop by Nintendo.

One of the main reasons that the 3DS is thought to be unpopular outside of Japan is the lack of many big name 3DS titles, including MarioKart 3D and Super Mario 3D, amongst others.

Thus, it could be argued that by delaying Super Mario 3D until the end of next year, Nintendo have only served to worsen the overall perception of the 3DS as an expensive but short-lived product in the current gaming market.

In fact, the only good thing about Super Mario 3D being released in the UK in December 2012, is that it will give gamers plenty of time to save up money to buy the game. That's if the Nintendo 3DS is still in circulation by that date, of course...