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The Nintendo 3DS hits the U.S. this Sunday to a hungry fan base that helped the original Nintendo DS become the most popular console in Nintendo history. Adding a glasses-less 3D interface--and taking full advantage of the latest techno-trend in U.S. media today--only sweetens the deal for video game fans rushing to get their hands on the newest DS iteration.

But the Nintendo 3DS has a new challenge on its hands: how to beat Apple. It wasn't long ago that Nintendo was the pixelated prince of video game land. But with Apple's never-ending supply of cheap games at the touch of a button, even Nintendo has stated that Apple is now their biggest competitor. The company delivered a keynote address on the future of their gaming platforms on the same day as--and literally, across the street from--Apple's iPad 2 unveiling.

As of right now, Nintendo doesn't offer an application market like Apple but the console does come with some games and features included with the console that fans may enjoy.

"We spent a lot of time and energy on the pre-installed applications," Nintendo 3DS producer Hideki Konno told Wired.com earlier this month. Konno says the applications were designed to get other people watching and interacting with the 3DS, which is why many of them feature augmented reality, motion control and photography.

Some features are simple. Face Raiders is a game where your photographs become characters. Just take a picture (or upload one) and the face is your opponent. Try and hit the faces as they dart around the room.

Others are more complex. StreetPass allows you to sync up with other 3DS users playing nearby. The console can run syncs for 12 different games at once, sharing data with other players. This will work better if the console really catches on here in the U.S. as it has in Japan.

Want it? Well you won't be the only one. Head to http://www.nintendo.com/3ds to preorder or find out where you can get yours.

Source: Wired.com