Welcome back to the ever changing and evolving world of videogames. For those of you who are new to this series of blogs I recommend you start with the first blog by selecting it from the right column or clicking here. Today’s blog will be about Nintendo’s latest handheld device: the 3DS. If you have young (or older) children that play games you most likely heard about its upcoming release followed by a puppy-eyed “Can I have one, pleeeeeeease.”
Update to the blog below: according to Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter although the "sell-out" some people had predicted at launch didn't happen (far from it) Nintendo still sold 500,000 3DS units in March, besting the Xbox 360 and Wii, with 480,000 and 410,000 unit sales, respectively. There since have been rumors of children getting sick while playing games in 3D mode and of record returns but these are just that, "rumors" even though Nintendo did add a disclaimer for very young children to restrict their onscreen time and take breaks. Encouring children to take breaks from their games is good advice 3D effect or not.
Read moreThe system will launch for $249.99 on March 27. Not cheap considering that it is a handheld device and about the same price as an 4G Xbox 360. So what is all the buzz about and why were Nintendo fans willing to stand in line for over an hour at E3 (the videogame’s industry’s main trade show) to see the first demo? The main feature players are excited about is the ability to view games and movies in 3D without glasses. Having seen the demos I must admit that the effect is surprisingly good, at least as good as the 3D movies I’ve seen with glasses. As with any 3D effect the angle at which you view the image will affect the quality of the experience but it’s definitively fun to watch.
If your kid already has a DS or DSi you will be familiar with some of the features like the dual screen (a display screen on top and a touch screen on the bottom) the mic, inner and outer camera and Wifi access but some of the existing features will be enhanced. The outer camera for example will consists of two cameras that can take 3D pictures and footage. As mentioned in addition to playing games the 3DS will also launch with series of 3D movies including titles from Disney, Dreamworks and Warner Bros that can be downloaded through Nintendo’s eShop.
Motion and Gyro sensor similar to the ones included in most smart phones will allow games that support the feature to react to the way the device is tilted and moved. A useful feature is the backward compatibility with most of the DS and DSi titles although these will of course only be displayed in 2D.
There will be two colors available at launch in North America (cosmo black and aqua blue) although I’m sure that more will follow as well as some special edition releases.
For more detailed information and demos of the features go to Nintendo’s site at http://www.nintendo.com/3ds/hardware.
The decision to buy or not to buy will of course depend on your budget and how loud and insistent your kid’s pleas are. Be ready to open your purse a little wider for all the upcoming accessories and the actual games and movies. Be aware though that some of the games that will be offered at launch or shortly afterwards are geared towards an older audience. It being Nintendo you will of course find a variety of kid-friendly titles and characters including Mario, Zelda, cute Dragons and Dogs and Cats but you’ll also find some more grizzly selections like Resident Evil or Dead or Alive Dimensions, the kind of horror survival game where zombies attack you with chainsaws and are blown to smithereens by your character unless they disembowel you first.
You’ll find a list of currently announced titles with some basic information about them as well as some footage on Nintendo’s site at http://www.nintendo.com/3ds/games/. So it’s worth doing your homework before you go to the store. The ESRB ratings are not included on Nintendo's site yet but for the more mature ones you’ll see the disclaimer stating that some of the content might not be appropriate for young children. Keep in mind that some titles will have downloadable demos you can review before you buy them.
I’d be interested to know if any of you owned a N64 and played some of the resurrected oldies but goodies like Zelda: Ocarina of time. Shoot me a line if you did and let me know if you are planning on playing the upcoming 3D version (although I belive that the release date for the Zelda game has not been announced yet)
Will the 3D effect get fans running to the stores at the end of march? All will depend on the quality of the games that will be available and how effectively they will utilize the 3D effect. If done well it can truly enhance the gameplay but if done badly it can hinder it. To address these concerns Nintendo is including a depth slider that will allow players to adjust the intensity of the 3D effect and even completely turn it off. Wise choice indeed.
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| The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D |
One feature I am exited about is the ability to play Augmented Reality Games (see glossary). Although the current lineup is small there is some great potential for future titles to let us experience our environment in a whole new way.
For my upcoming blogs I will be interviewing videogame producers, artists, writers and executives who are parents themselves and let them share their tips with you. As always feel free to contact me with your comments or questions in the meantime and let me know if the 3DS is on your shopping list.
For my upcoming blogs I will be interviewing videogame producers, artists, writers and executives who are parents themselves and let them share their tips with you. As always feel free to contact me with your comments or questions in the meantime and let me know if the 3DS is on your shopping list.
