Gamers will be given foil space blankets to beat the chill when they camp out in central London before the launch of a new 3D console.

Hundreds of people are expected to queue up outside the HMV store in Oxford Street where the first Nintendo 3DS will start being sold in the UK at a minute past midnight on March 25.

A spokesman for the Japanese firm said the console, which has two screens, a built-in motion sensor, three cameras and can also double as a pedometer, offers “glasses-free” 3D techno-logy.

HMV’s head of games Tim Ellis said: “We’ve already been seeing huge interest for the 3DS through pre-orders in store and online at hmv.com, and on release we expect many thousands more gamers to turn up to midnight events around the country, not least at our Oxford Street flagship and our Liverpool One superstore, which I’m absolutely thrilled have been selected to host the official UK launch.

“Like the Wii before it, I feel sure Nintendo’s 3DS will not only take gaming to a new level – further changing the way that we consume games content – but will play a major role in helping to popularise 3D as a growing entertainment format.”

Around 100 stores are opening at midnight, including shops in Aberdeen, Belfast, Dundee and Liverpool.

Reports from Japan, where the console has already been launched, said it is able to tell if users are playing bootleg copies of games and disable itself.