Nintendo 3DS

Nintendo 3DS: Cosmos Black

I’m sick. I originally pre-ordered my Nintendo 3DS on the basis that a possible shortage would mean I would be able to sell it on for more than face value, similar to what I did over 5 years back with my Xbox 360 (and considering what happened in Japan, this could enhance the possibility of a shortage that I could capitalize on, right?) The technology might be developed in Japan, but the product is actually manufactured in China. But back on to the technology aspect, because that is what is really impressive and has to be seen to be believed. I am not overhyping anything when I say what Nintendo has created here is the future of not just video gaming, but visual entertainment as we know it.

3D Gaming: Without Glasses

By now I suspect most of us have been to a 3D movie, the most high profile of which probably being James Cameron’s Avatar. Whilst most 3D movies have used the technology to make us jump backwards in our seats as something flies out at us, Avatar was more subtle using 3D to immerse us in this new world. 3D gaming will do both of these things – and we won’t just be watching, we’ll be inside this new world. The only annoying thing about watching 3D movies, football games, etc. is the glasses. Sitting through a two hour movie with them can be somewhat irritating. Considering the big push for 3D TV’s and Sky 3D involves glasses, and the possibility that Sony and Microsoft may now involve 3D gaming in their home consoles already on the market involving glasses, the book has truly been rewritten by Nintendo with the 3DS.

Those into their gaming will know that their home consoles were struggling with the emergence of the PlayStation, and when the announcement of the PlayStation Portable (PSP) came, Nintendo knew they had to take a leap. What they did was created the original Nintendo DS… Dual Screen gaming, with one screen being a touchpad. It was new, it was interesting, and as such the Nintendo DS is the best selling portable console worldwide. So what do Nintendo do next to improve their footing in the home console market? They release the Wii, a brand they wanted to become as identifiable as Google. Again they brought to the living room a ‘revolution’ with motion sensing, which has since been copied (and perhaps improved) with PlayStation Move and Xbox Kinect. For Nintendo, who had originally refused CD disc gaming because they didn’t think the world was ready, they had now brought themselves back to the forefront of the industry.

Nintendo have always been behind when it comes to graphical capabilities of a console, and considering PlayStation have announced their successor to the PSP will have graphical capabilities similar to that of the PS3, how were they ever going to compete? Well this Japanese company have always insisted they are more about the gaming experience than how it looks, and haven’t been concerned about ‘adult gaming’ staying true to gaming experiences only available in the world of Mario and Zelda. That is why they took the brand they already had, and chucked a 3 in front of it. They turned our Dual Screen experience into a 3D experience.

Released: Friday 25th March 2011

Having already been released in Japan a month earlier, with a fast moving world us in Europe don’t tend to have to wait that long to get our hands on things now, with the American and Australian release actually follows ours. The console was released in the UK in two different colours – Cosmos Black and Aqua Blue (I’m not sure why Ciao have a picture showing a red 3DS). I opted for the black as I feel it had a slicker look to it. It’s one of those pieces of hardware where when you first get your hands on it, you’re worried about leaving any marks.

Just as with the DS, the console comes with a stylus pen to use the bottom touch screen. The top screen is slightly larger and displays the 3D images, you can adjust how 3D the picture is – even turning it off completely – by using the slider at the side of the screen. The 3DS comes with a minimum age limit of 7 due to the 3D visuals. Considering I know the previous DS’s have been popular with the younger market, I’m not sure how wise this is. What is hugely useful is that they have implemented an analogue stick-esque pad. Considering a port of Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is due to be released on the 3DS, this analogue pad will make the game easier to operate considering the original game benefited from the N64 controller.

3DS is backwards compatible with the DS, meaning your gaming collection if you had the previous console will not go wasted. Alas, if you never played some of the classic games on the DS you are now able to experience them. Although chances are if you buying this for the 3D aspect, you’re going to want to experience some 3D games! Unfortunately, on launch the 3DS games are lacking. Whilst there are lots of promising games to be released (Mario Kart, etc.), games such as Nintendogs + Cats aren’t going to keep avid gamers happy for long.

Does the 3D work?

What was great about the Wii was how it brought a family together; the 3DS is very much a personal gaming experience. Although games will allow multiplayer and playing online, you’re not going to all be handled around one console. One reason for this is if the people watching you play aren’t standing directly behind you, the 3D is all going to look like one fuzzy mess. It actually took my eyes a while to get used to the visuals, and I now don’t turn the 3D up to full blast as it’s too much. If you don’t hold the 3DS in the exact right position, I think it is going to be straining on your eyes. That isn’t to say I’m not impressed, because I really am. Similar to how when you were half way through Avatar you forgot what movies looked like when they’re not in 3D, you start wondering if the 3DS visuals aren’t how games always looked. When you slide the 3D off, the whole experience feels a lot more flat.

What am I getting?

Purchasing the console you are getting more than simply something you’re going to use for games. The most interesting aspect to more grown up players is the fact that it comes with a built in 3D camera. I suspect there must be 3D cameras already on the market, or about to be released, but getting one built in cannot be a bad thing – especially for under £200. If you take a photo in 3D, you can still turn the 3D off and view the photo flat. I am not convinced that the photo quality is as good as that of the game play, but if you take a photo of a glass on a table with a few things behind it, you can see it as if you are looking at it. This truly is ground breaking. The only problem is, as with new technology, until everyone gets it you’re not going to be able to share it through means like Facebook.

Nintendo have announced that this 3DS will be able to play 3D video, and deals have been made with major movie studios meaning you will soon be able to watch 3D films without glasses on your 3DS.

Just as with the Wii, you are able to create your own Mii on the 3DS. This is pushed further forward with the ability to take your photo on the 3DS and your Mii will then design itself around your photo. I am not convinced my Mii looked accurate, but it gave me and my dad the same nose so it must know something.

Built in games also come on the console in the shape of Augmented Reality, where if you point the consoles camera at some cards that come with the 3DS it creates a game in your surroundings. This is similar to the other built in game, Face Raiders, you take a photo of your face and then you see multiple versions of yourself floating around the room that you have to shoot down. As the game goes on the difficulty gets harder and you can also take photos of other people, and if you run out of friends and family you can take photos of faces in newspapers and magazines. I enjoyed shooting down Rio Ferdinand.

Following a system upgrade you will be able to use your 3DS to explore the internet. I look forward to tweeting on Twitter using my 3DS. The 3DS has built in Wi-Fi as you would suspect so you can use any wireless internet connection. Considering I remember just a few years back doing a project on how Wi-Fi is the future, it’s amazing to see how it’s everywhere now. Nintendo also sends notifications to your device to give you updates, there’s a 3DS messaging service and your standard settings options. You will also be able to use a Virtual Console option and Wii Ware to download old and new titles directly to your device without having to go to the shop to buy a new game, similar to what already operates on the Wii. This is all saved on a SD card that comes with the device. I should probably also say the sound quality is high class. As has happened with the Wii, I am sure more and more upgrades will come to the 3DS and I could see it becoming something as useful to carry about with you as your Blackberry or iPhone.

Conclusion

No doubt it’s going to take a while to get used to using but I think in the future you will really be able to use the 3DS’s capabilities to do whatever you need to do. Considering it’s a high quality games machine with all this built in already at launch, it’s impressive. What isn’t that impressive is if you’re a hardcore gamer and you’ve brought this at launch for a gaming experience. There isn’t a true gaming experience as yet. And as I originally bought this to use on a plane, games that use your surroundings aren’t going to be that practical. I also don’t think you’re going to want to take your holiday snaps on a 3DS just yet. 3D without glasses is what we’ve all been waiting for, and its arrived.