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| compatibility = [[Nintendo DS]], [[Nintendo DSi|DSi]]
| compatibility = [[Nintendo DS]], [[Nintendo DSi|DSi]]
| predecessor = [[Nintendo series)]
| predecessor = [[Nintendo DS|Nintendo DS series]] (DS, DS Lite, DSi and DSi XL)
|website = [http://e3.nintendo.com/3ds/ Official Website]
|website = [http://e3.nintendo.com/3ds/ Official Website]
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Revision as of 23:16, 29 August 2010

This article is about the Nintendo handheld game console. For other uses, see 3ds (disambiguation).
Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo 3DS
ManufacturerNintendo
Product familyNintendo 3DS
TypeHandheld game console
LifespanFiscal Year 2010 (Before April 2011)
MediaNintendo 3DS, and DS Game Cards
StorageCartridge save, SD card
GraphicsDigital Media Professionals (DMP) Pica200 GPU[1] 400 MHz [2]
Connectivity2.4 GHz Wi-Fi
Online servicesNintendo Wi-Fi Connection
Backward
compatibility		Nintendo DS, DSi
PredecessorNintendo DS series (DS, DS Lite, DSi and DSi XL)
WebsiteOfficial Website

The Nintendo 3DS (ニンテンドー3DS, Nintendō Surī Dī Esu, Template:Pron-en) is an upcoming portable game console by Nintendo, which can produce "3D effects without the need for any special glasses", a process called autostereoscopy.[3] Scheduled to launch in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011, the portable will succeed the Nintendo DS series of handhelds,[3] which primarily shares the handheld console market with Sony's PSP (PlayStation Portable).[4] The Nintendo 3DS will feature backward compatibility with Nintendo DS series software, including Nintendo DSi software.[3]

Announcing the device on March 23, 2010, Nintendo officially unveiled the device at the 2010 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3)[3] on June 15,[5] with the company inviting attendees to play with the console.[6] According to industry analysts, the timing of Nintendo's original announcement, which had drawn attention away from the launch of the company's still-new Nintendo DSi XL handheld, was likely intended to preempt impending news leaks about the product by the Japanese press.[7]

History

Although it had been discussed before then, speculation about a true successor to the Nintendo DS series began to ramp up in late 2009. In mid-October, tech tabloid Bright Side of News* reported that graphics processing unit (GPU) developer Nvidia had won the microprocessor contract for the device with its Nvidia Tegra system-on-a-chip series.[8] Later that month, speaking about the future for Nintendo's portable consoles, company president Satoru Iwata mentioned that while mobile connectivity via subscription mobile broadband "doesn't fit Nintendo customers," he was interested in exploring an option similar to the Whispernet service for the Amazon Kindle, in which users are not charged for the mobile connectivity, and the costs are cross-subsidized.[9]

Though Nintendo has expressed interest in including motion-sensing capabilities in its handhelds since before the release of the original Nintendo DS,[10] in January 2010 an alleged comment by Satoru Iwata from an interview with Asahi Shimbun led to a minor dispute between the publication and Nintendo over whether Iwata confirmed that the successor to the Nintendo DS would incorporate a motion sensor.[11] Later that month, analyst Jesse Divnich of Electronic Entertainment Design and Research (EEDAR) stated that the firm believes that Nintendo will launch a Nintendo DS successor "within the next 15 months."[12][4]

In mid-February, video gaming website Computer and Video Games (CVG) reported that a select "handful" of Japanese developers were in possession of software development kits (SDKs) for the Nintendo DS successor, with The Pokémon Company given special priority. According to CVG's insider at an unspecified third-party development studio, the hardware features a "tilt" function that is similar to that of the iPhone, "but does a lot more." The insider noted that the distributed hardware is not for the final product, but of trial hardware for developers to provide feedback on.[13]

In mid-March 2010, veteran video game journalist Raymond Padilla reported additional rumors about a Nintendo DS successor from the San Francisco Game Developers Conference. According to developers claiming to be working on the system, the handheld would feature two display screens like the Nintendo DS, but with bigger, higher-resolution display screens, and a smaller gap between them—negligible enough that they can be used together as a single large screen. An accelerometer would be incorporated into the device. The SDK is reportedly "similar in power to the GameCube," with an easy learning curve for developers familiar working with Nintendo's GameCube or Wii home consoles. The developers claimed that their games for the new handheld would be finished before the end of the year, which Padilla said indicates a likely announcement of the console at E3 2010 in June, and a launch in late 2010.[14] In the same month, several developers spoke publicly about features they wished to see in a Nintendo DS successor, including stronger online functionality,[15] dual multi-touch screens,[16] a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, and 3G mobile broadband connectivity.[17] On March 23, Nintendo officially announced the Nintendo 3DS.[18]

In late-April 2010, a picture of a possible development build of the internal components of the 3DS was released as part of a U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) filing by Mitsumi.[19] An analysis of the image showed that it was likely genuine as it featured components known to be used in the Nintendo DS line along with features of the 3DS that have not been announced like a 5:3 top screen, and a control nub similar to those used in Sony PSP systems.[20]

In early-June 2010, video gaming website IGN reported that according to "several developers who have experienced 3DS in its current form", the system possesses processing power that "far exceed[s] the Nintendo Wii". They also cited "several developer sources" as saying that the system does not use the Nvidia Tegra mobile chipset.[21]

The system was officially revealed at Nintendo's conference at E3 2010 on June 15, 2010. The first game revealed was Kid Icarus: Uprising, with several other titles from third parties also announced, including Square Enix with Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy, Konami with Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater 3D, Warner Bros. Interactive with a Batman title, Ubisoft with Assassin's Creed: Lost Legacy, Capcom with Resident Evil: Revelations and Super Street Fighter 4 3D Edition, and Activision with DJ Hero. Other Nintendo titles were later revealed after the conference, such as Mario Kart 3DS, a remake of Star Fox 64 [22], Animal Crossing and a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in 3D.[23] On July 29, 2010, it was officially announced that the 3DS release date & price will be announced on September 29th, 2010.[24] The 3DS design shown at E3 is almost final, and is subject to minor changes.[25]

Features

"Target Shooting" augmented reality tech demo at E3 2010

The Nintendo 3DS is based on a custom Pica200 graphics processor from a Japanese start-up Digital Media Professionals (DMP). [26] It has two screens; the top screen is a 3.53-inch 5:3 3D screen with a resolution of 800×240 pixels (400×240 pixels per eye, WQVGA) that is able to produce a stereoscopic three-dimensional effect without 3D glasses, while the bottom screen is a 3.02-inch 4:3 non-3D touch panel with a resolution of 320×240 pixels (QVGA). The 3DS weighs approximately 8 oz. (226 g) and, when closed, is 5.3  inches (135 mm) wide, 2.9 inches (74 mm) broad, and 0.8 inches (20 mm) tall.

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. In addition, there is an infra-red communicator port situated on the top of the unit.[27]

The 3DS has 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 on the inside of the device which faces the player, capable of taking 2D photos and capturing 2D video; all three cameras have a resolution of 640×480 pixels (0.3 megapixel). The system also has 3D movie playback capability; Nintendo has made deals with Warner Bros, Disney, and DreamWorks to deliver 3D movies.[28] Although no titles have been announced yet, the trailers for DreamWorks' How to Train Your Dragon, Warner Bros' upcoming film Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole, and Disney’s upcoming film Tangled were shown on the 3DS during the Expo.[29]

In addition to its own software, the Nintendo 3DS will be backward compatible with Nintendo DS software, including DSi software. Announced titles include Kid Icarus: Uprising[30] and Mario Kart 3DS.[31] Many companies have signed on to develop for the 3DS, and over 60 titles in all have been confirmed.[32] At launch, the Nintendo 3DS cards will hold up to 2GB of game data and look almost exactly the same as those of the current DS.[32] However, there is a small tab jutting out on the one side, most likely to prevent 3DS cards from being inserted in a Nintendo DS.[33]

The system supports multiplayer gameplay via a local wireless connection or over the Internet. Expanding upon the connectivity of the Nintendo DS, the Nintendo 3DS features an "always on" background connectivity system that current trademarks suggest the name being "CrossPass"[34], which can automatically seek and connect to wireless network nodes such as Wi-Fi hotspots, sending and downloading information in the background while in sleep mode or while playing a game. One application being considered for Crosspass is functionality to "automatically acquire magazine and newspaper articles", similar to networked e-book reader applications.[35] The background connectivity will be utilized in Crosspass, which allows users to exchange software content regardless of what software is currently in the console. For Crosspass, sharing content is stored in a "data slot" in the console. Using this data slot, Nintendo 3DS users can readily share and exchange content for multiple games at the same time, whenever they are connected, even when playing unrelated games.[36] Using the console's background connectivity, a Nintendo 3DS in Crosspass Mode can automatically discover other 3DS units within range, establish a connection, and exchange content for mutually-played games, all transparently and without requiring any user input, even when the console is dormant. Crosspass Mode can be customized to fit the user's preferences, including opting out of Crosspass Mode for selected software.[37]

According to game developer THQ, the Nintendo 3DS features sophisticated anti-piracy technology which Nintendo believes is able to significantly curb video game piracy, which had increasingly depressed the handheld market with the proliferation of cheap flash memory and the rise in illegal file sharing.[38]

The system has been shown in three color schemes: blue, red, and black.[32] Purple and bronze/orange versions were also seen at E3 2010.[39]

3DS vs DS Series

Note: All specifics for 3DS are based on preliminary information and prototypes, and specific metric measurements are required.

Comparison of 3DS, DSi, DS Lite, and Original DS
3DS DSi DS Lite Original DS
Weight 230 grams (8.1 oz) 214 grams (7.5 oz) 218 grams (7.7 oz) 300 grams (11 oz)
Dimensions Template:Convert/3 (192,400 mm3) Template:Convert/3 (193,938.57 mm3) Template:Convert/3 (214,953.67 mm3) Template:Convert/3 (363,992.32 mm3)
Screen Size1 90 mm (3.5 in) top and 77 mm (3.0 in) bottom 83 mm (3.3 in) both 79 mm (3.1 in) both 76 mm (3.0 in) both
Screen Resolution 800x240 top (effectively 400×240 per eye, WQVGA); 320×240 touch QVGA 256×192 both 256×192 both 256×192 both
Battery Life Targeted to match the DSi[40] 9 to 14 hours, depending on screen brightness (840 mAh)[41] 15 to 19 hours, depending on screen brightness (1000 mAh) 10 to 14 hours (850 mAh)
Screen Brightness TBA 5 levels 4 levels Backlight On/Off
Stylus extendable up to ~4 inches (100 mm)[42] 92×4.9 mm 87.5×4.9 mm 75.0 mm × 4.0 mm
Controls L, R, A, B, X, Y, D-pad, slide pad, touch screen, microphone, motion sensor, start, select, power, and home buttons, gyroscope, 3 cameras, volume slider, 3D slider, wireless communications switch L, R, A, B, X, Y, D-pad, touch screen, microphone, 2 cameras, start, select, power button, volume buttons L, R, A, B, X, Y, D-pad, touch screen, microphone, start, select, power slider, volume slider L, R, A, B, X, Y, D-pad, touch screen, microphone, start, select, power button, volume slider
Cartridge Slots 3DS/DS[42], SD DS, SD DS, Game Boy Advance DS, Game Boy Advance
Storage TBA 256 MB internal flash memory 256 kB of serial flash memory 256 kB of serial flash memory
RAM TBA 16 MB 4 MB of mobile RAM, expandable by the Game Boy Advance slot 4 MB of mobile RAM, expandable by the Game Boy Advance slot
CPU TBA 133 MHz ARM9 and 33 MHz ARM7 67 MHz ARM9[43] and 33MHz ARM7 Same as DS Lite
GPU DMP Pica200 IP core[26][44] Nintendo Proprietary Nintendo Proprietary Nintendo Proprietary
Camera One above the top screen facing toward the player for 2D photo and video capture, two on the outside for 3D photo and video capture. 640×480 (0.3 megapixel) resolution each One on the outside, one in the hinge near the microphone. 640×480 (0.3 megapixel) resolution each none none

Games

Main article: List of Nintendo 3DS games

See also

References

  1. ^ Yam, Marcus (2010-06-22). "DMP's Pica200 GPU is Behind Nintendo 3DS". Tom's Guide.
  2. ^ Ishaan (2010-06-21). "This Is What's Powering The 3DS' Graphics". Siliconera. Retrieved 2010-08-05. And so, we finally know who's providing the graphics chip for the Nintendo 3DS.
  3. ^ a b c d "Launch of New Portable Game Machine" (PDF) (Press release). Minami-ku, Kyoto: Nintendo. 23 March 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-23.
  4. ^ a b Alexander, Leigh (15 January 2010). "Analyst: DS Successor To Hit In Next 15 Months?". Gamasutra. Think Services. Retrieved 2010-04-04. In the year 2010, Nintendo's continuing face-off against the PSP seems less relevant than the overall sea change in the portable market brought about by the explosive iPhone.
  5. ^ Tabuchi, Hiroko (23 March 2010). "Nintendo to Make 3-D Version of Its DS Handheld Game". Retrieved 2010-04-24. It takes place June 15–17, 2010, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
  6. ^ Tabuchi, Hiroko (23 March 2010). "Nintendo to Make 3-D Version of Its DS Handheld Game". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2010-04-04. 'We wanted to give the gaming industry a head's up about what to expect from Nintendo at E3,' said Ken Toyoda, chief spokesman at Nintendo. 'We'll invite people to play with the new device then.'
  7. ^ "Did Nintendo Doom New Handheld Before Its Release?". CNBC.com. CNBC. 29 March 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-03. 'Apparently, the Japanese press was all over it and talked with suppliers there and Nintendo just wanted to get out ahead by breaking the news to prevent a leak,' says Billy Pigeon, senior analyst with M2 Research. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  8. ^ Valich, Theo (13 October 2009). "nVidia Tegra wins contract for next-gen Nintendo DS". Bright Side of News*. Bright Side Network. Retrieved 2010-04-04. Currently, we have no information what exact chip is being used [just that nVidia won the contract], but with the debut set for February 2010, the second generation of Tegra chips could make an excellent base [to be launched at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona].
  9. ^ Harding, Robin (30 October 2009). "Nintendo considers Kindle tactics for consoles". Financial Times. Tokyo, Japan. Retrieved 2010-04-04. In reality, if we did this it would increase the cost of the hardware, and customers would complain about Nintendo putting prices up, but it is one option for the future.
  10. ^ Totilo, Stephen (13 May 2004). "http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/13/technology/taking-the-game-war-to-a-second-front.html?pagewanted=all". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2010-04-04. To keep costs down, Mr. Miyamoto said, some features were left out of the DS. Maybe next time, he said, he will be able to include a tilt sensor for gyroscopic control. {{cite news}}: External link in |title= (help)
  11. ^ Ashcraft, Brian (2 February 2010). "Nintendo vs. Japanese Newspaper, It Continues!". Kotaku. Gawker Media. Retrieved 2010-04-04. The exec went on to address the issue with the Asahi Shimbun, asserting that the reporter stated, 'The graphics for the next DS will be highly detailed and it will contain a motion sensor, right?' Iwata claims he then replied, 'Those things are naturally being required. But do you think it would sell with just that?' Iwata emphasized that this last part was left completely out.
  12. ^ Ivan, Tom (15 January 2010). "DS2 To Release Within 15 Months – EEDAR". Edge. Future Publishing. Retrieved 2010-04-04. We believe that due to the aging technology, the possibility of new competitors in 2011, a decline in publisher support and piracy, Nintendo will launch a successor to the DS within the next 15 months, and likely announce such in the next eight months
  13. ^ Ingham, Tim (16 February 2010). "DS2 in the hands of Pokemon Company". Computer and Video Games. Future Publishing. Retrieved 2010-04-04. 'Any kind of March announcement wouldn't fit with the timeline I understand the second DS to be on,' he added.
  14. ^ Padilla, Raymond (12 March 2010). "Nintendo DS2 Information Unearthed at GDC 2010". RPad.tv. Retrieved 2010-04-04.
  15. ^ East, Thomas (9 March 2010). "Next DS needs 'stronger online functionality'". Official Nintendo Magazine. Future Publishing. Retrieved 2010-04-04. Monster Hunter Tri producer Ryozo Tsujimoto said 'I would like to see any future iteration of the DS provide stronger online functionality. Obviously Monster Hunter games rely very heavily on network gaming and if there is anything that could be improved I would have the online side high on my list.'
  16. ^ East, Thomas (9 March 2010). "Next DS needs 'multi-touch screens'". Official Nintendo Magazine. Future Publishing. Retrieved 2010-04-04. According to Nic Watt from Nnooo Games, the reason for this would be 'so you can have more than one person interacting with each screen at a time.'
  17. ^ East, Thomas (16 March 2010). "Next DS needs 'GPS and 3G tech'". Official Nintendo Magazine. Future Publishing. Retrieved 2010-04-04. 'We would also be able to add location-based features to games,' added the Nnooo Games Creative Director.
  18. ^ "Re: Launch of New Portable Game Machine" (PDF). 23 March 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  19. ^ "Nintendo DS testing platform revealed by FCC". Wireless Goodness. 30 April 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-18. An FCC filing today by Mitsumi exposed what appears to be a Nintendo DS testing platform. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  20. ^ Predy, Logan (17 May 2010). "3DS Dev-Build Hardware Analysis". Game Usagi. Retrieved 2010-05-18. For their '3D Control Stick' Nintendo has decided to go for something much more akin to the 'control nub' on the PSP systems.
  21. ^ Harris, Craig (4 June 2010). "E3 2010: Everything We Know About the 3DS". Retrieved 2010-06-06.
  22. ^ "Nintendo E3 Network | Nintendo 3DS". E3src.nintendo.com. Retrieved 2010-06-18.
  23. ^ var authorId = "47607874" (2010-03-29). "E3 2010: Ocarina of Time 3DS On the Way! - Nintendo 3DS News at IGN". Ds.ign.com. Retrieved 2010-06-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ Hinkle, David (2010-07-29). "Nintendo quarterly earnings down; 3DS launch date to be announced Sept. 29". Joystiq. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
  25. ^ Towell, Justin (2010-08-23). "Is the design of the 3DS final or not? Nintendo clears up the confusion". GamesRadar UK. Retrieved 2010-8-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  26. ^ a b DMP 3D Graphics IP core “PICA200” is adopted by Nintendo 3DS
  27. ^ var authorId="41402111" (2010-03-29). "E3 2010: Hideki Konno Wants You to Read the Morning Paper - Nintendo DS Feature at IGN". Uk.ds.ign.com. Retrieved 2010-06-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ "E3 2010 Nintendo 3DS Unveiled".
  29. ^ Nintendo Wii Fit Console (15 June 2010). "E3 2010: 3DS: Our First Hands-on". IGN. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  30. ^ E3 2010: Kid Icarus Uprising Annnounced
  31. ^ E3 2010: Mario Kart 3DS Announced
  32. ^ a b c "E3 Nintendo 3DS Main Page". Nintendo. Retrieved 2010-06-21.
  33. ^ Pereira, Chris (21 June 2010). "A Look at the New Nintendo 3DS Game Cards". 1UP.com. UGO Entertainment. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  34. ^ Spencer (2010-07-26). "Nintendo 3DS "Tag Mode" Called CrossPass Mode, 3D Paddleball In Development?". Siliconera. Retrieved 2010-07-27.
  35. ^ Gantayat, Anoop (18 June 2010). "Nintendo Planning Newspaper and Magazine Viewer for 3DS". andriasang.com. Retrieved 2010-07-16. In a Nikkei interview Thursday morning, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata […] mentioned one possible application for this feature. "We're thinking about functionality where it will automatically acquire newspaper and magazine articles," said Iwata.
  36. ^ Kohler, Chris (12 July 2010). "Nintendo 3DS Idea Man Pulls Back Curtain on Handheld's Capabilities". Wired. Retrieved 2010-07-16.

    Wired.com: In 2004, when the first DS was first shown at E3, we saw an exterior form factor that wasn't final. Will the look of the 3DS be changed before its release?
    Konno: You can take this as the final shape.
  37. ^ Harris, Craig (8 July 2010). "3DS: Tag Mode's Second Coming". IGN. IGN Entertainment. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  38. ^ Ingham, Tim (9 July 2010). "3DS fixes Nintendo's piracy problem - THQ". Computer and Video Games. Future Publishing. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 'I actually asked Nintendo to explain the technology and they said it's very difficult to do so because it's so sophisticated,' he [THQ's executive VP of global publishing Ian Curran] continued.
  39. ^ "The Nintendo 3DS In Four Shiny Colors". Siliconera.com. Retrieved 2010-06-21.
  40. ^ "E3 2010: Nintendo Developer Roundtable Live Blog". IGN.com. 2010-03-29. Retrieved 2010-06-18.
  41. ^ "Nintendo DS Lite vs Nintendo DSi". Retrieved 2010-06-23.
  42. ^ a b "Check Out The 3DS' Specs". Kotaku.com. Retrieved 2010-06-18.
  43. ^ "ARM946E-S".
  44. ^ Fletcher, JC (2010-06-21). "Nintendo 3DS uses DMP's PICA200 GPU". Joystiq.
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