http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/03/23/nint … tml?hpt=C2

this is the first I've heard of this. I'm not sure how Nintendo plans to make 3-D games without glasses, but perhaps they've learned a thing or two about holography? The only other thing that comes to mind is that the games won't be true 3-D and will be 3-D-like, in which case who cares? Anyway, I think 3-D Etrian Odyssey would be great! Throw-in a 3-D Zelda or Mario...
could be fun...

cheers,

-avatar!

ps Is anyone else thinking, in the back of their minds, Virtual Boy...?

I'm sure Nintendo's learned since then.

I think this might officially be the piece of hardware that converts me from an optimistic and hopeful enthusiast to a bitter, cynical curmudgeon.

was hoping the DS successor wouldn't come around until 2012....even a year before that is too soon.

I've only ever upgraded to the DS Lite from the original phat DS...  was originally going to upgrade to the DSi, but then news of the DSi XL came out.  Then I was thinking that I would finally upgrade to the DSi XL now that it's just around the corner.  Now there's this.  Thanks Nintendo for saving me money!  I have too many other games to play first so by the time I'm ready to upgrade finally to the 3DS, you'll probably come out with something else too... =p

And the DS revision train chugs ever on.

I haven't been following the hype about 3-D closely, but as I understand it, glasses-less 3-D would be difficult to implement in TVs because 3-D without special glasses would not be able to accommodate varying viewing distances and angles.  This wouldn't be as much of a problem on a handheld because the viewing distance and angle will be the same for most players, i.e., they mostly look at the DS head-on at between one-half and two-thirds arms length.

I'd like to know what's wrong with the current lineup of DS's. Even the old brickish model is competent.

Geez, I thought this was kind of neat, and then you guys go all wet-blanket on the idea.

Regarding the idea that it's too soon to upgrade, Nintendo has done a good job of continuing to support the previous revision of portable hardware for a few years into the life of its successor. Nothing's really forcing you to upgrade Week 1, and in the case of DSi, holding off turned out for the better.

As far as it being a needless revision goes, the business standpoint is to try to head off Apple at the pass. But the idea that new things shouldn't appear until the technical need arrives is silly. Not many could think of a viable use for two screens when the original DS was first announced, either. And if some wunderkind dev already has a notebook loaded with ideas for the new deck, why should he have to wait until we become bored with what we have?

On the other hand, I will say the way Nintendo has screwed over DSi adopters here is pretty raw. There's only been on DSi-exclusive card even announced so far, and too much of DSiWare to this point has been nothing but clocks, calendars, and chopped-up ports. If the 3DS gets solid support from Nintendo at the start, the DSi will officially have been Nintendo's most useless hardware ever. And how smart is it for Nintendo to announce this before even putting the DSi XL out in the West?

There's plenty that doesn't make sense about how they've handled the successors to the DS, and I'm admittedly usually pretty cynical about games myself, but I'm intrigued enough by the possibilities I can conjure up here (Ace Scientific Investigations in 3D! Virtual Boy games without the horrible pain!) to not just keep my optimism alive, but well-fed.

I don't know if we're all on the same level here, but I believe Nintendo has stated that this is actually a NEW console, not just an update of the current DS.

We normally see Wii as a different hardware than Game Cube, so I think it's possible to see 3DS in that way even when there is little change except for the display or a possible slight CPU clock up or memory addition. Let's see how it turns out.

I am not aware that enough information about the 3DS's features and specs has been released for us to be able to debate whether it qualifies as a new system or as a revision.  I would not consider Nintendo's designation of it as "new" to be conclusive.

Personally, I'm all for it. The DS is great but the resolution is pitifully low and, in terms of what it can do graphically, it's a bit of a dinosaur. Sure, that doesn't matter for many games. But it does for some and not just fancy 3D games - I almost went blind playing the Sonic collection over the last few days.

And 3D without glasses? I'm skeptical but intrigued. Hopefully they can make more use of it than the microphone on the current DS (why would I want to blow into it?). I expect the early games to be barely tech demos (Feel the 3D Magic) and the later games to be filled with licensed cack (Bratz Ponies 3D) but I reckon there will be a sweet spot in between with some real gems.

I'll happily get a new DS even if it just had a higher res and more power.
So the 3D thing would just be a nice bonus.

Sony too...

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10470363-17.html

"Sony director of hardware marketing John Koller said that he's not quite sold on the 3DS" heh...

I give Sony twelve months before they announce a 3D PSP.

I think, subconsciously, this's why I've been holding off on getting the DS or PSP, because they keep coming out with a newer version; it's overwhelming.

They lost me with Gameboy Color; none of the games they released for the thing were ever in that really good color, and nothing appealed to me after that.

Anyway, I'm leaning more towards the PSP, if only so I can play old PSX titles off of it...now, if only they could figure out how to let you put your Wii VC games onto your DS...now THAT would be prime!

THAT would also be prime! Imagine...ANY character just running and jumping about on a tablet you're holding in your hands...?

To ask a stupid question: why are we talking about the 3ds when no one's brought up the new, bigger screened DS? Are we just writting that off as a lame/tame upgrade? That brings the total versions of the DS up to 4? or it is 3?

Actually, that's what keeps me from buying the PSP - I've played half of the library on the PSX ten years ago. Granted some of those ports are good games but geez....

Essentially, yes. This new hardware is backward compatible with DS and DSi, so Nintendo effectively made their new revision obsolete before it even appeared in North America. In fact, since DSiWare adheres to the same one-purchase-tied-to-one-console law that Wii downloads do, you would have to re-buy anything you had purchased on DSi/XL if you wanted to play it on 3DS. So really the only things motivating purchase of a DSi/XL ahead of the 3DS' release are the larger screen and/or a severe need to play Foto Showdown in the interim.

OK, I was recently reading up on all things 3D (people are speculating that 3D TVs are going to be the next big thing)... anyway, the idea behind 3D with no glasses is called parallax. As in astronomical parallax apparently (stellar parallax is what I'm familiar with)! At any rate, it will be interesting to see what comes of this. Might be great, especially for a small hand-held system which does not need very high-resolution. In other words, they should be able to keep the cost down.

cheers,

-avatar!

I wanted to revive this thread because the one girl that works at the one game store I go to made a really good point. While she admitted she liked the XL's bigger screens, does anyone else find it, well, psychotic this thing is only $10~20 less than the freaking Wii, a console? Honestly, this didn't occur to me until she said it, and I know the Wii has a few years and was $250 to start, but it seems pretty wrong in the scheme of things.

Yeah, I know. But as long as people keep buying it at that price, that's the way things are. The DSi is a superb handheld console, and its price won't go down much unless it gets a competitor with comparable features. Looks like Nintendo is set to pre-empt that scenario with the 3DS.

Yeah, I have to admit the PSP is (edit: not) much of a threat to Nintendo's crown in the handheld arena despite just buying one. Pretty much every qualm I thought I'd have with the PSP has come true although I don't regret picking one up. Still, Star Ocean: Second Evolution is kind of making up for some of the misgivings of the other titles I've played.

Picking a DS up at some point seems likely as well, I just find the handhelds more appealing this generation than the consoles. As expected, software prices have a lot to do with that.

Curious that you would find handhelds more appealing but only be about to pick up a DS. I would consider this generation to be on its last stretch as well, with 3DS on the way and probably new home consoles a year or so after that.

with amazing new 3D graphics that look like they're reaching right out of the screen [and into your wallet again]

I'm looking forward to seeing this at E3. Last year's E3 was kinda tame, so I'm looking forward to attending this year to see if this really is a next gen leap for the DS.

I bet Nintendo is going to demo some kind of WarioWare game.

Well, things are a bit different when you're older. When it's your money (and not your parents) you think about things more. Additionally, I'm not the hardcore gamer I once was either. Probably sound like a broken record but I'm more of an old school gamer, old school meaning the stuff I grew up with when younger.

But really, you think new generation of consoles is that close? I haven't heard anything about any successors to the current consoles. Then again, I don't read any magazines but the life of newer consoles only seems to be getting longer. I mean look how long the PS1 and PS2 lived.

Nice! I have to give you props on that one.

You misunderstand me. Perhaps we are talking about different kind of appeal here. I would think that appreciation for the handheld consoles would require owning a DS, while you seem to mean it in a "worth buying" sense. Which is also valid, of course.

And yeah, I went through a "not playing much" phase some 5 years ago. These days, I'm playing more games again. It doesn't have to be a one-way thing.

Springboarding off this thread to continue here, Nintendo's Conference reveals the final details for the 3DS's retail release.

February 26, 2011 in Japan, March 2011 tentatively slated for North America and Europe.  Priced at ¥25,000, or $300 USD.  Two JP colors available at launch: Aqua Blue and Cosmos Black. 

The rest of the details, here.  A listing by name of upcoming 3DS titles, here.

And new trailers aplenty:

-3DS Features and Functionality Video
-3DS Software Lineup
-Metal Gear Solid 3D: Snake Eater - The Naked Sample
-Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition
-Dead or Alive Dimensions

---

I was expecting a $250 price point for the thing, but definitely wasn't prepared for it being over that.  I may wait until they officially announce that sexy red color model, too.

the whole idea of 3d is having a large screen make you feel like you're THERE in the action as it happens.
I dont see how that same feeling can be achieved with a handheld, regardless of the actual graphic achievement.
its like base-jumping off a speedbump...

I agree...The thing should definitely be closer to $250 than $300, unless they want to pack Kid Icarus in. Part of the reason may be because Nintendo cut their profit forecast for the year and the demand will strengthen their balance sheet because people will be willing to pay more (aka early adopters). However, since they don't really have investors in the US market, I predict we'll see a more competitive price in the US, especially if PSP2 starts making any noise. Whatever the case, I look for a $200 price point or so by next Christmas.

It might end up still being $250 in the U.S. - the Wii is still 20,000 yen in Japan (without any pack-in software), so it's not like they really seem to be doing much adjustment for dollar/yen fluctuation.

That, or they think the US dollar will strengthen later on (as opposed to the 83 yen or so to the dollar now...which is really kinda pathetic), which would improve sales almost by default. I had been under the impression earlier this year we would see the 3DS here this year.

I suspect it will be $250 once it comes to the US, and probably 250 Euros as well.
That said, it's still a bit more expensive than I had thought, but this is a definite day 1 purchase (provided I'll be able to get my hands on it).

I think I'll take the blue one!

Despite the price, the resolution or whatever, it's highly likely this is the platform that will dominate Japan's domestic market and will pull even more franchises that have been previously for the console.

By 2020, Microsoft and Apple will have occupied 90 percent of the console market worldwide, eventually.

I'm not sure I follow the logic here. The edge Microsoft had in the console wars evaporated quickly after the launch of the Wii and Apple doesn't have a gaming console and likely never will (just as well, because I despise Apple and its product line, stem to stern).

Any way, the most convincing argument I heard today for getting a 3DS had nothing to do with Nintendo's information at all. I hope they send Inafune a fruit basket.

This.

Apple would have to get into console manufacturing in the first place to be able to say anything about that, and even if they do, it'll probably be a machine that is very appealing to the eye, but lacks any kind of common sense in its operation.

2020, despite sounding frightfully futuristic, is "only" 10 years away, and what has happened in the last 10 years in the console market?
Well, Sega's gone, but they were doing very poorly anyway, and MS entered the fray and is doing very good (except for Japan), but all 3 companies at the moment seem to be doing pretty well, and I don't see any of that changing any time soon.

And I hope to God Apple isn't so stupid that they would enter the console market as a FOURTH candidate.

You know iPhone will be (or has already been becoming) another platform for gaming.