Nintendo 3DS
Release Date: Early 2011
All the 3D, none of the glasses! Or cost, really. While Sony showed off visually stunning but financially troubling games requiring 3D televisions and special specs, Nintendo blew everyone away with a flick of a switch. We tinkered with a few games and films during our brief hands on time with the prototype unit at E3, and suffice to say, the 3D effect works like a charm.
The system is more than just 3D, however. It's got all the features of the DSi -- Wifi, touch screen, clamshell design -- but throws in a few nice new ones, including an analog stick, a wider top screen running at 800 x 240 resolution, a front facing camera and cool dual outside cameras to allow for 3D picture taking.
Cons:
How many DS machines is too many DS machines? While the 3DS is designed from the ground up to play new 3D titles, it also plays the entire DS library. Of course, you might have just bought a DSi XL. Or a standard DSi. Or a DS Lite. Demand for new handhelds isn’t as great as demand for a new, HD-enabled Wii, yet this is where Nintendo has chosen to focus its attention.
We're also curious as to how, exactly, Nintendo plans on distributing 3D movies. Sony had loads of problems convincing consumers to buy UMD-based flicks for the PSP, and we'd expect the same pushback from 3DS owners if they're asked to purchase movies on cartridge. Presumably they'll just add movies to the DSiWare digital store, but until we learn more about the 3DS' storage capabilities, consider us skeptical.
All the 3D, none of the glasses! Or cost, really. While Sony showed off visually stunning but financially troubling games requiring 3D televisions and special specs, Nintendo blew everyone away with a flick of a switch. We tinkered with a few games and films during our brief hands on time with the prototype unit at E3, and suffice to say, the 3D effect works like a charm.
The system is more than just 3D, however. It's got all the features of the DSi -- Wifi, touch screen, clamshell design -- but throws in a few nice new ones, including an analog stick, a wider top screen running at 800 x 240 resolution, a front facing camera and cool dual outside cameras to allow for 3D picture taking.
Cons:
How many DS machines is too many DS machines? While the 3DS is designed from the ground up to play new 3D titles, it also plays the entire DS library. Of course, you might have just bought a DSi XL. Or a standard DSi. Or a DS Lite. Demand for new handhelds isn’t as great as demand for a new, HD-enabled Wii, yet this is where Nintendo has chosen to focus its attention.
We're also curious as to how, exactly, Nintendo plans on distributing 3D movies. Sony had loads of problems convincing consumers to buy UMD-based flicks for the PSP, and we'd expect the same pushback from 3DS owners if they're asked to purchase movies on cartridge. Presumably they'll just add movies to the DSiWare digital store, but until we learn more about the 3DS' storage capabilities, consider us skeptical.
For the record I did not write that up there or any other news on this page unless I say so.
