While Japan must deal with only a single first-party game when the Nintendo 3DS launches there later this week, those of us in North America who have to wait until March to pick up the DS's successor will be able to choose from more than just Nintendogs + Cats.  Nintendo of America has announced that eighteen games will be available for the system on March 27, three of which come from Nintendo itself: the aforementioned puppy title, Steel Diver, and Pilotwings Resort.  Here's the complete launch list, both first- and third-party:

• Pilotwings Resort™
• Steel Diver™
• Nintendogs + Cats™
• Super Street Fighter® IV 3D Edition
• The Sims™ 3
• Madden NFL Football 
• Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D 
• LEGO® Star Wars® III: The Clone Wars™ 
• RIDGE RACER® 3D 
• Super Monkey Ball™ 3D
• BUST-A-MOVE UNIVERSE™
• SAMURAI WARRIORS®: Chronicles 
• Asphalt™ 3D
• Combat of Giants™: Dinosaurs 3D
• Rayman® 3D
• Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon® Shadow Wars

Let's all give a big welcome to the "3D" modifier which is back to take over the heavy lifting from tacking on a "DS" to a game title to denote which console it calls home (in the proud tradition of "64" and beyond).  But seriously, it's great to see some core games on the list with the casual stuff.  In fact, it looks like the 3DS launch library in North America is mostly core titles.  My launch interests lie with Street Fighter and Pilotwings, naturally, but the great thing about a new system launch is renting other titles that only seem minorly interesting just to take the new hardware for a test drive.  For instance, I'm lukewarm on Super Monkey Ball, but I'll try it again just to see it in 3D if I don't have to make an expensive, long-term commitment to it.