TOKYO (AP) — Nintendo sank to a first-half loss, the first in seven years, as a rising yen and long-delayed release for its 3-D gaming machine set the scene for a weak full-year result.

Kyoto-based Nintendo Co., which makes Pokemon and Super Mario video games, said yesterday it posted a 2.01 billion yen ($24.7 million) loss for the six months through September. First-half sales dropped nearly 34 percent to 363.2 billion yen ($4.46 billion).

Nintendo last month shocked the gaming world by announcing its much awaited 3DS, a handheld packed with glasses-free 3-D technology, wouldn't be ready for the year-end shopping season when Nintendo rakes in about two-thirds of its earnings.

It will be released in February in Japan — missing Christmas and then January, a key sales month because of the New Year's gifts Japanese children get. Releases for Europe and the US will follow in March.

The half-year loss is the first for the maker of the Wii home console and DS handheld since 2003. Nintendo did not break down quarterly numbers. It posted a 69.5 billion yen profit for April-September 2009.

Nintendo spokesman Yasuhiro Minagawa said the yen's strength against the dollar — which reduces earnings brought back to Japan — drove down first half sales by 28.1 billion yen ($345 million).

Because of 3Ds delay, Nintendo last month slashed its full-year earnings forecast to 90 billion yen ($1 billion) profit from 200 billion yen ($2.4 billion) profit. That would represent a 61 percent plunge in profit from the previous year.