Nintendo 3DS Has 3DSWare And 3DSPlay?

When asked about the final name of the Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata replied, “the final product name shall be announced in the not-so-far-away future.” OK, but the final name of Nintendo’s new hardware might actually be Nintendo 3DS, if trademarks filed in Japan are an indicator.

Nintendo registered Nintendo 3DS, N3DS, and two more curious terms – 3DSPlay and 3DSWare. The latter sounds like the Nintendo 3DS’ version of DSiWare, a downloadable game service Nintendo introduced with the Nintendo DSi. Perhaps the Nintendo 3DS is getting its own shop with downloadable games. 3DSPlay is quizzical. Could it be a WiiPlay equivalent?

DS Sound, DS Name Card, DS Magazine, DSMovie, DSCamera, DSCinema, DSMessage, DSMusic, and DSAlbum are also newly added to Japan’s trademark database with Nintendo is the registrant. These could be services, but they are most likely protective trademarks. Nintendo registered “Manga no Ma” or Manga Room in Japan and never used that.