Pricing for Nintendo 3DS gaming console already causing a stir

As expected, the release details for the highly-anticipated Nintendo 3DS was announced this week, and already there is already some brewing discussion about the exorbitant price tag.

Rumors sprouted way before and after the Nintendo's latest handheld gaming system was officially introduced at E3 2010 back in June.

The 3DS will miss the holiday shopping season when it first launches in Japan in February, and it will land in the United States and Europe by March. No word on an official U.S. price, but the 3DS will retail for 25,000 yen in Japan ($299). If that price holds true for the U.S. market, that's certainly expensive for a portable console - even if it does have a dual screen design and 3D capabilities.

However, not everyone thinks that estimated price will stick when it crosses the Pacific, which is definitely possible as many tech products tend to drop in price in North America when coming from Japan or Europe.

Some analysts think that if Nintendo charges a price, then there are certainly gamers who are willing to pay a high price. That could be true of almost any established brand, but if Nintendo wants to sell an estimated 4 million 3DS units by the end of March 2011, they're going to need a more established following.

Would you pay $250-$299 for a Nintendo 3DS? If not, what is the maximum amount of cash you're willing to shell out?