Nintendo to Launch 3D Portable Game Console

[lino]

Nintendo 3DS is the Nintendo DSi with a 3D display

It seems that the next generation of Nintendo handhelds are entering a whole new dimension and it could be much more innovative than that bigger-screened Nintendo DSi XL. That’s because the Nintendo 3DS will feature a 3D display and you won’t even need some goofy goggles to make use of it.

This not just a rumor. Nintendo Japan has officially announced the Nintendo 3DS. If you’re expecting Avatar-style 3D where the objects leap off the screen, you’re going to be sorely disappointed. That’s not the 3D you’ll be getting here, from what I can tell. Instead, from a best guess point of view, the Nintendo 3DS will an accelerometer. In doing so, it can alter the perspective of the game to give the appearance of depth depending on the tilted angle it is held at. It’s like you are looking deep into the screen for 3D rather than having things come out of the screen. There may be more to it, but that sounds like the main 3D tech being used.

The rumors surrounding other features are plentiful. It will be backwards compatible with DS and DSi games, but it’s unclear whether it’ll have vibration feedback, or a higher resolution (720p) screen. There might be a Tegra chip and there might be a 3G SIM slot for over-the-air downloads.

A more formal unveiling will likely take place at E3 Expo this June.

Source: http://www.mobilemag.com/2010/...play/

[MinisterofDOOM]

One thing to note is that that picture of the white DSi running the Japanese game "3D Hidden Picture" everyone on the web is throwing around is not a 3DS. It's a DSi. The game shown employs 3D-ish visuals without the need for glasses, though, and the hardware it uses to do so (cameras serving as motion sensors) will be a part of the 3DS.

A while back there were rumors about the Tegra powering the graphics for the "next DS" and it does make sense, especially from a backward-compatibility standpoint. Tegra is ARM-based, as is the DS. Which means the system would easily be able to retain hardware-based backward compatibility (not software emulated like the 360 and later PS3 models are for last-gen systems) without it being "extra" tech on the side of the new hardware.

Honestly, I don't give half a crap about 3D. But the DS's biggest weakness is the horrible screen resolution, and that's what I'm most excited to see change.I'm also hoping for dual analog sticks (PSP proved one is NOT enough) and perhaps two more shoulder buttons.

The Mobilemag article is mostly speculation, though...especially the part about how 3D will work. No one outside Nintendo knows anything about that yet.

Nintendo says they'll have a playable 3DS at E3 in June.

There's a 3DS thread going in the gaming forum. I'm going to lock this one and point everyone there to keep the discussion consolidated. zer...dheldThe other thread has a video of the game shown in the OP in action, showing off its pseudo 3D.