You had the
hard news for breakfast, so how's about some less official, but still pretty robust, fodder for brunch?
Asahi in Japan offers the first word on how the 3DS achieves its 3D-ness by suggesting that the new portable game machine with feature a
parallax barrier LCD from Sharp. The tech has apparently already been deployed in a few cellphones over there and is described as "unsuitable" for large-screen TVs. This is corroborated by
Nikkei, which suggests that the screens on the new device will be smaller than 4 inches diagonally, placing it closer to the DSi than the 4.2-inch
DSi XL /
LL. Other news from the latter source include so-called 3D control stick(s), though it's not entirely clear whether this'll be anything massively new or just a pair of analog nubs for us to push around. Either way, Nintendo is said to have secured patents for the new control methodology in Japan late last year. The
Nikkei article also mentions improvements in WiFi transfers and battery life, as well as a new vibration function. Now that we've got all that out of the way, can someone please tell us if this thing has
Tegra inside or not?
posted March 23rd 2010 11:12AM
And Tegra 2, hopefully!
This is fantastic! There have been some pretty good iPhone games released in the past year (Street Fighter IV and Pac-Man Champ in particular), but nearly all of them were crippled by the system's lack of tactile input. If Apple won't give us a real joypad, Nintendo almost certainly will. Beef up the internal storage to 8GB or better and you'll almost certainly have an iPhone killer on your hands.
I traded my DSLite to a friend for a '91 Jeep Cherokee.
I wonder what I could get with a 3DS??
Here is my wish-list:
1. Internal storage to allow most games to be downloaded.
2. Removable joystick/gamepad so orientation can be switched from horizontal to vertical.
3. High-resolution camera with head-tracking 3D
4. Finger-touch input on both screens unless the game requires more precision.
5. Portability: at least as thin as the DS Lite
I guess the 3d stick is as opposed to the 2d stick that you get on a lot of iphone games
Please make it a capacitive screen. If there's one thing I hate about the DS, it's the need to pull out the stylus.
@TareG
Thats weird I play plenty of DS games with my finger. Of course games like Brain Training will not work the same handwriting is a pain with your finger capacitive or resistive.
3D control stick = Analog control stick
Remember the Z button on the N64 controller was referred to as the 3D button? Or was it the analog stick?
Either way, people, its Nintendo. Don't expect them to be as "Revolutionary" as they claim. (Or once were.)
I just wish they would stick to software like Sega and reduce the console war to a two front battle.
Imagine Nintendo first party games but with good graphics and online play. I mean real online play none of that friend code b.s.
@HektikLyfe Sounds like a terrible idea to me. Nintendo needs to keep making hardware as well as the great 1st party titles.
Sure their next console should get the online play right this time, but imagine if the Wii didn't come out. Everyone thought motion control was a gimmick. Now Sony and Microsoft are following suit. Nintendo is and always has been the big name in home gaming.
I think if Sega could have stayed in the hardware game, things would have been more interesting. Think of if Microsoft didn't get in the game and never made the 360. Online play, console fps, and home theater integration probably would not have been as big this generation. Playstation pushed home use of dvds with ps2, and hopes to do the same with bluray as well as setting the bar high for sheer graphical power.
Competition is good, each company has their own positives and innovations. Just because revolutionary control schemes aren't your cup of tea, it seems that it is for the majority of consumers, as evidenced by sales (and the fact that Sony and MS are banking on this as well).
@HektikLyfe
The GC was more powerful than the PS2
The N64 was more powerful than the PS1
The SNES was more powerful then the Genesis
The NES was less powerful than the Sega Master System.
Their portable systems always favored battery life over everything else which for a portable system is very important. Now with low power SoCs that will become less an issue.
If you ever got your two horse race in the console market the video game market would eventually stale as neither Sony or MS will stray to far from a safe formula in this market. Case in point the PS controller.
Would be ironic if the 3DS got dual-analog sticks before the PSP did.
I wonder if the buttons will double as a vitality sensor....
-cough- virtual boy -cough-
Sweet, you'll be able to see all those beautiful, 256 x 192 pixels flying at you.
The DS is a piece of crap now. And Nintendo is off their rocker. Nintendo's own CEO said the iPad is "Just a big iPod touch" right after they released the DSi XL.. which is literally "Just a big DS". >_>
@jellotime91 Right, and they marketed the XL as a big DS, hence the name XL. Apple marketed the iPad as a completely new product, theres obviously a difference.
@roltzje Another difference is the actual difference between the products... At least the iPad's larger screen is accomodated by a much larger resolution, unlike the DSi XL, which has the same horribly low res screen. Also unlike the DSi XL, the iPad actually has new functionality.
And, I'm not a fan of the iPad in any capacity.
What I'm saying is, he who lives in a glass house should not throw stones.
@jellotime91 When the iPhone/iPad have as many awesome RPGs as the DS, let me know.
@jellotime91 and he who lives in a grass house should not stow thrones.
The phrases 'Parallax Barrier' and 'Portable Gaming' seem contradictory to me.
@koehler83
The parallax barrier technology is actually more ideal for a portable device, since viewing angle isn't so much of an issue.
So, will I actually be able to see this? I have a lazy eye and can't see the 3D effects in a movie. But parallax only requires one eye.
How many images are produced? Do you still need two fully-functional eyes for this?
@mgrochowalski That's my question too - but I guess the real answer is, when it comes out, they will certainly have demo units in stores, so we'll have to go see.
In B4 Apple sues Nintendo for allegedly infringing on the 3GS trademark.
@JesusFreak Waaaaay before, since it's not going to happen. Unless Nintendo sticks a bitten apple on it for the logo. There's a reason they have to sue, and none of those reasons are present here.
@Martin C whoosh... It's a (lame) joke based on how apple sued htc a little while back for all kinds of infringements and everyone was making fun of them for it.
Im interested in this 3d controller.. an analog nub like the psp? If so.. im hoping that it can click in/out to extend or retract so that when its in play it can be a bit more useful.. thatd be nice.
I'm not gunna lie I was kinda hoping Sony would do this with their next psp!!but kudos if they rip this off...I know for some people 3d sux but it don't hurt my eyes so I'm straight!!!
I am buying this, definitely..but maybe not the launch version because the revised versions are always better!
"just a pair of analog nubs"
People have been wanting *just* a second analog nub on the PSP forever now. Let's not diminish how awesome having two would actually be.
I'm looking forward to seeing what they come out with, but honestly Nintendo lost me as a core customer a while ago.