3DS pre-orders nearing 100,000 in the UK

Nintendo UK sales director, Andy Yates, has said that pre-orders for 3DS are nearing the 100,000 mark in the country, which is " in line," with the company's target.

Speaking with MCV, Yates said the number of pre-orders for the handheld has already beat the firm's "personal best for a console launch."

"We're very encouraged that it's going to be a big launch," said Yates. "Our target was to get over 100,000 pre-orders - and we're in line with that. So far, we've already beat our personal best for a console launch. With three weeks to go, we're in a great position, as pre-orders are still building."

According to the firm, retailers are pleased to have something of 3DS's magnitude launching in March.

"I don't think you can underestimate peoples' hunger for new technology - the performance we're expecting comes from the quality of the product," added Nintendo's UK marketing director Dawn Paine.

"The pre-order numbers are a testament to that. We are building towards Wii-style launch proportions. That has been our ambition all along: to get the UK into a 'feeding frenzy' situation.

"We feel we've picked the perfect time to launch the 3DS."

3DS launches in the UK on March 25 and in the US March 27. It's out now in Japan.