Image Source: BBC News
3D…3D…3D, the world has gone 3D mad; every other electronics company is trying to come up with some 3D gadget. We’ve seen 3DTVs, 3D games and even 3D printers, I wonder if we’ll have a 3D pen some day that could draw in 3D. Most of the work is going on in the entertainment industry, but not so much in gaming, as 3DTVs lack backing of the 3D content. 3D video games seem to be the answer to this problem. Sony recently launched 3D games for its flagship gaming console Playstation3 to back its 3DTV, but you still have to wear glasses to experience the three-dimensional marvels.
Why So Much Hype?
In early April, we told you about Nintendo 3DS and wondered if it could lead the 3D revolution. There has been plenty of hype and excitement about it since Nintendo announced that it’s working on the 3D version of its handheld gaming console, Nintendo DS. The biggest reason for the excitement and high expectations was that Nintendo planned to use glasses-free technology and a lot of people including me find it tedious and uncomfortable to wear them. Well, the wait is over and it’s finally here!
It’s Real!
Image Source: BBC News
Nintendo has taken the wraps off the 3DS at a briefing in Los Angeles at the E3 games show. The Nintendo 3DS looks similar to the previous DS models and features dual screens, the top one is the 3.5-inch 3D with a resolution of 800 x 240, according to Nintendo 400 pixels are allocated for each eye to enable 3D viewing, whilst the bottom screen is a 3-inch touch screen display with a resolution of 320 x 240. There are also three cameras in the 3DS; one inner camera and two outer cameras, so you can take 3D photos. There is a 3D depth slider to choose a degree of 3D, to maximize or even turn it off entirely. There is a gyro, motion sensor similar to the one found in Apple’s iPhone 4, it’s compatible with DSi games. The 3DS can also play back 3D Hollywood movies.
There is also integrated 802.11 Wi-Fi, and for gaming controls there is the touch screen, a control pad, a slide pad and standard A/B/X/Y buttons. It measures 130mm x 74mm x 20mm and weighs in at 230g. Engadget has the full details on specs and PR, and the gaming titles you can expect to be coming at the time of its launch.
What Experts are Saying?
From the first looks, experts are quite excited about it. “The 3DS delivers on a simple concept that has eluded purveyors of mainstream entertainment for decades: real 3-D visuals that don’t require special glasses. Promises are one thing, but the 3DS actually works. Holding the portable unit in your hands, you can perceive depth and rotate a virtual camera around objects in way that feels almost surreal. At the Electronic Entertainment Expo, Nintendo provided brief demonstrations of games including a version of Metal Gear Solid from Konami, as well as 3-D images on-screen of classic Nintendo characters including Mario and Donkey Kong. The system is also able to take 3-D pictures using two cameras on its face,” notes Seth Schiesel from The New York Times.
Paul Miller of Engadget had a first look at the 3DS after the keynote briefing and these were his views: “We’ve just had an opportunity to play some titles and really get a feel for the thing… and we’re pretty impressed.” You can check out the full preview here. You can check out the video from Engadget below to see the ‘real’ 3DS.
With positive feedback from experts, and Nintendo’s record with Wii, we’re expecting a lot from this handheld 3D gaming console that allows you to take 3D in your pockets. But the question remains, can it lead the 3D revolution?
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