Nintendo held a press event in New York Wednesday to finally unveil the launch details of its much-anticipated new 3DS portable console in North America.

The 3DS will launch for $249.99 on March 27 and come packaged with a 2GB SD card, a charging cradle, and six augmented reality cards, called AR Cards. There will be two colors available at launch: Aqua Blue and Cosmo Black.

Pre-installed software will include:

• Nintendo 3DS Camera: Take 3D photos with the 3DS' outer camera, and manipulate them with a variety of different lenses.
• Face Raiders: An augmented reality game where you shoot at virtual targets that use a facial photo you take.
• Mii Maker: Much like it is on the Wii, but now with an automatic generator based on a photo you take.
• StreetPass Mii Plaza: "The place where Mii characters meet and greet," allows you to exchange Mii data with other 3DS owners.
• Activity Log: Like on the Wii, the Activity Log tracks which games you've played and how long you've played them. It also acts as a pedometer, tracking your footsteps in exchange for Play Coins, compatible with certain games.
• Nintendo 3DS Sound: This acts as both a sound recorder and an MP3 player. And since it's Nintendo, there are sound filters and effects to play with.
• AR Games: Using the included AR Cards, these games use augmented reality tech to put in-game objects in your real world environment -- through the camera's lense, of course.
• Nintendo eShop: A digital storefront that allows you to buy DSiWare software, new 3DS-exclusive downloadable games, and classic Game Boy and Game Boy Color games via the Virtual Console.
• System Transfer: This will allow you to transfer purchased, downloadable software either from 3DS to 3DS or from DSi to 3DS. There is, of course, a limit on how many times this can be done, but that limit has not yet been announced.
• Internet Browser: This is what you use to read 1UP.com on your 3DS.

Some of the pre-installed software, while technically included on the 3DS, will not be activated until a software update comes post-launch. This includes the 3DS web browser.

The first-party Nintendo games tentatively scheduled to be available around launch will be:

• Pilotwings Resort
• Nintendogs + Cats
• Steel Diver

No word yet on a launch date for either Kid Icarus: Uprising or The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D.

The following third-party games are scheduled to be launched either on launch day or in the following weeks:

• Dead or Alive Dimensions
• Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D
• Madden NFL Football
• Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition
• Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D
• Asphalt 3D
• Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D
• Ridge Racer 3D
• LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars

In all, 30 titles will be available between launch and E3 on June 7.

The Friend Code system returns, though in a simplified fashion, as there will be only one code per system with instant registration. No longer will individual codes be required for each game, it essentially works like an Xbox Live friend request.

Nintendo launched its official 3DS website this morning, which contains more details on the above software and features.