Nintendo announces new, 3D DS
Nintendo's new DS handheld will offer goggle-less 3D and full backwards compatibility for old DS games.
Nintendo has kept close-lipped on many of the details for now, promising to unveil more specifics at E3 2010, but we do know that the 3DS will not require 3D glasses and that the system will be completely compatible with older DS games.
The 3DS is also currently set for a 2011 launch, so those of you who just rushed out to buy a DSiXL, the latest model in the DS line, will be happy that it wasn't totally wasted money.
Nintendo's DS line has so far sold more than 125 million units across the four current models - the DS, DS Lite, DSi and DSiXL.
We'll admit, though rumours that Nintendo has had a new DS in the works have been circulating for a while, we did check the date when we first saw the announcement - had April 1st crept up on us? But no, the 3DS is a genuine announcement and, providing Nintendo can fully deliver on the promise of goggle-less 3D gaming and backwards compatibility, it's a potentially tempting one too.
The timing of the 3DS couldn't be better either, with major handheld publishers like Ubisoft recently announcing that they will scale back support for the platform as sales continue to fall - a new SKU based around 3D could be just the rejuvenation Nintendo is looking for.
Let us know your thoughts in the forums.
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Discuss in the forums ReplyYou would be quite correct in thinking that.
THERE IS NOTHING TO SEE HERE
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Got to hand it to Nintendo as they've kept this format going for decades and doing it so bloody well.
Basically, a camera using head-tracking technology changes the in-game perspective according to the angle you're viewing from. It's a pretty smart implementation as it requires no glasses, shouldn't cause eye-strain and is cheap.
I can't wait for the device as the DS has slowly turned into my most played game console but could do with serious usability improvements (and for god-sake make one with man-sized controls).
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Edit: Wrong video.
I hate to say it, but I'm sceptical. Face-tracking tech isn't 100%, and I can see there being some pretty odd perspective changes here and there and the camera thinks you're somewhere completely different to where you really are. I have had too many bad experiences with full range motion thing you get with Wii Sports Resort (is it just me or does that thing spaz out pretty much constantly?) to be totally convinced by the idea. Still, if it works it'll be awesome :).
I'm sure it will be armoured and fully operational by the time the Emporer arrives! (You just get the chance to recycle Starwars lines anymore do you?)
Now THAT sounds like a good idea :).
The tech is real: I read an article in Mobile Magazine a few months ago about a new mobile handset demonstration that used the technology. Here's an article on the same thing: here
Alternatively, there's the 3D method the iPhone has been demonstrated to use. The Accelerometer is used to calculate what angle that device has been moved to, and the image onscreen is moved accordingly. Example Youtube here