Nintendo 3DS

[sharkey360]

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TOKYO – Looking for its next big hit, Nintendo said Tuesday it would begin selling a 3-D version of its popular handheld console within a year.

The "Nintendo 3DS" will feature a 3-D display without the need for glasses. The new portable gaming device will be compatible with software made for earlier DS models, the company said.

Nintendo revealed little else in its brief statement, except to say that it would offer details in June at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles.

But the Kyoto-based company's announcement immediately lit up tech blogs and Twitter feeds as it offered a clue to mounting questions about its future. What will Nintendo do next? How will it stay ahead of rivals?

Like other consumer electronics makers, Nintendo is turning to 3-D as part of its answer. The company is also looking to expand on the DS's long-running success.

Although the Wii is losing market share, demand for the DS remains solid more than five years after it was launched. Sales for the handheld are gradually slowing, but the Nintendo DS topped U.S. game hardware sales in February with 613,200 units moved, beating Microsoft's Xbox 360, the Wii and Sony's PlayStation3, according to market researcher NPD Group.

The DS logged global sales of more than 125 million units since its late-2004 launch through December, Nintendo said.

Last week, a senior Nintendo video game designer told The Associated Press during a trip to London that his company plans to turn the DS into educational aids and teaching tools.

Shigeru Miyamoto, the man behind Super Mario Bros. and other popular video games, said Nintendo will being rolling out the DS system in Japanese junior high and elementary schools in April. He framed the project as part of his company's effort to broaden the audience for gaming consoles.

Tuesday's announcement comes just days before Nintendo releases the latest version of the device, the DSi XL, in North America.

Retailing for $190, the XL will have two screens like its predecessors. But as the name suggests, the device and screens will be much larger than the currently available versions. The XL is already available in Japan.

Source - Nintendo to launch 3-D version of handheld console - Yahoo! News

[sharkey360]

That didn't take long. Sony has already spoken with the press about Nintendo's surprise 3DS announcement from yesterday afternoon, where the company issued very few details about an upcoming, 3D-enhanced handheld. The catch? Nintendo's 3D handheld won't require 3D glasses.

"I think it remains to be seen where Nintendo goes with 3D on a portable," said Sony's director of hardware and marketing John Koller to IGN. "Having been in the portable space for quite awhile, I think it's an interesting move but one I'd like to see where they go from a demographic standpoint."

Koller said Sony's focus is bringing 3D to the console experience on PlayStation 3, not PSP, and questioned whether the younger set of consumers would be interested in the addition of 3D.

"8 and 9 year-olds playing 3D is a little bit of a stretch given where some of our research is right now," said Koller.

If Nintendo manages to make 3D look like magic, however, that doesn't seem a stretch at all.

Sony Calls Nintendo 3DS An "Interesting Move," Questions Kids Enjoying 3D - G4tv.com

[Blackbeard]

thanks a lot nintendo
bago pagani ko nipalit ug DS... sigh...

I'm interested in this tho... pero layoa pasad sa E3 oi...

[ritchepaul]

I just hope 3DS will not end up like the infamous "Virtual Boy" ....I had it back then ug isa ra pud akong game and the title is "Red Alarm"

If they can pull this one off, mabiyaan ang psp ani

[isha727]

saw this news yesterday morning sa BBC. was really surprised about nintendo's surprise announcement. really cant wait to see this. also, news regarding 4G phones was also announced yesterday.

[sharkey360]

The 3DS will be showcased at the E3.

[sharkey360]

Patent filing suggests vibrating 3DS screen, News from GamePro

[SmaRkieS]

NDSi can also view 3DS, the 3D works because of the camera.

YouTube - Nintendo 3DS Announced! & Video Preview

[sharkey360]

Launching this October!

UK trade sources told the site that the new handheld platform will be available in sixth months’ time, and that an official announcement is being readied for E3.

A senior publishing source said: "It's a surprise - we were expecting it much closer to Christmas. But I suppose it gives Nintendo the opportunity to get it front and centre in people's minds nice and early.

"In my experience, you don't launch a product that early to Christmas unless you're confident in it - and going to spend a lot of money on it. We're reassured that Nintendo is going to give it some decent backing in Q4."

Announced last month, 3DS will allow games to be "enjoyed with 3D effects without the need for any special glasses". It will also feature backwards compatibility with DS and DSi software.

Nintendo has suggested that its arrival will mark as significant a transition as the move from Game Boy to DS six years ago. The company said previously that the device will be available during the fiscal year ending March 2011.

3DS To Launch In October - Report | Edge Online

[sharkey360]

Nintendo 3DS is the real deal?

Editorial: The Nintendo 3DS screen, the next evolution - Australian Nintendo News Source - Vooks