Nintendo 3DS: First Look

As it’s been stated in countless sites across the internet, Nintendo has most certainly been pitching their loyal patrons some amazing things to look forward to this past E3!  Now to be fair Microsoft and Sony did their share of Jaw dropping hardware, as well as software. However, even you coldhearted, blood sucking, incubuses, who care nothing about the company, or their doings, have to admit Nintendo stole the spotlight at 2010′s E3 with their latest piece of hardware: the 3DS, no question! Now, I’m sure we’ve all been keeping up to date with our beloved industry, so allow me to run by this nice and smooth!

The Nintendo 3DS: Yes, that little rumor which has circled the web with promises of an obsolete portable system, which displays your onscreen character and its background/settings in 3D without the use of those godawful glasses has finally been unveiled at this year’s E3! Not only did Nintendo give its fans a fantastic new toy to look forward to, but the 3DS gives hopes for over seventy new titles! Some of which are scheduled for release next year, many of which seem to have potential blockbuster status!

The line-up includes games for the core: Kid Icarus, Ocarina of Time, Paper Mario, PilotWings Resort and Star Fox 64 3D. They’re all much-loved franchises from Nintendo’s past, and are obviously designed to get the core audience in the boat first. Sure, the wider audience will love them too, but Nintendo knows that it doesn’t make sense to go after the pony loving little girls and our grandparents  – of course that junk will come later, but only as part of the steady expansion out from the early adopters.

Paper Mario, 3D, quite an ideal choice if you ask me!

One of the key features about the 3DS’ latest design lies within its screens! The Nintendo 3DS is based on a custom Pica200 graphics processor from Japanese start-up Digital Media Professionals. The top screen is a 3.53-inch screen with a resolution of 800×240 pixels that is able to produce a stereoscopic three-dimensional effect without 3D glasses, while the bottom screen is only 3.02-inch a non 3D touch panel with a resolution of 320×240 pixels. Moving away from the system’s display we find the system features several additions to the design of the original DS, including a slider on the side of the device that adjusts the intensity of the 3D effect, a round nub analog input called the “Slide Pad”, an accelerometer, and a gyroscope. And not to mention it’s sleek new rounded body!

Deciding to take after iPhone 4 the 3DS now comes equipped with two cameras on the outside of the device, capable of taking 3D photos and capturing 3D video, as well as a camera positioned above the top screen that faces the player; both cameras have a resolution of 640×480 pixels (0.3 Megapixel). The system also has 3D movie playback; Nintendo has made deals with Warner Bros, Disney, and DreamWorks to deliver 3D movies.

And if this rundown hasn’t made you the least bit excited, psychiatric treatment would be a wise decision if your condition of pure boredom worsens!  As far as we’re concerned, the 3DS is the perfect extension of the DS series. It takes all the elements that made the DS systems unique and lays even more on top! I’m simply bursting with anticipation! Now quite frankly, a couple years ago I was excited when there was yet another addition to the DS system line: the Nintendo DSi. However, I’d already purchased a DS lite long before the DSi’s announcement, and I surprisingly didn’t feel obligated to upgrade!

Although others may disagree, the DSi was simply a gimmick and no one I knew who wasn’t already equipped with a DS lite had one! Sure it was innovative, but my overall impression was: simply unnecessary. So as you could imagine, I’m a pretty happy camper! Hopefully, The 3DS will be what we’re all anticipating, along with its line-up of games and turn Nintendo’s train wreck into a luxury cruise!