Nintendo 3DS in the flesh and hands-on! (updated with video!)
By Tim Stevens 
posted June 15th 2010 2:30PM
posted June 15th 2010 2:30PM
The new analog slider on the left feels a lot like the PSP's analog nub, but larger and without the texture. It's a bit easier on the fingers, and comfortable. Overall the device feels just like a current DS or DSi, though we couldn't get a good feel for the weight thanks to a bulky tether attached on one end to the device, and on the other end to the row of ladies who were surely told to not let the gadgets out of their hands or face certain doom. The only thing we could do here is rotate along a still frame -- Pikmin in a field, for example -- and play with the 3D slider. It is a pretty convincing effect, but it's hard to tell at this point if it's at all compelling -- it wasn't anything more than novelty in this demo, and we still don't know how it stands up to fast-moving footage. Actual games were promised to us for the show floor, so we'll hit that up later today. We snagged a few pics before getting elbowed out of the way, so check 'em out!
Looks a bit too glossy for my taste, should have went more matte.
@corylulu Analog stick yes, rest of the design could have been better.
@corylulu Do want. Give me a price, and get it to me for Christmas and I'll be chuffed.
@corylulu
But too much matte, and you get the DSi. Which scratched on even your fingernail. Although the scratches come out, it still looks bad..
@corylulu I wouldn't put too much judgement into a photo taken with flash in a big dark room with lots of other spotlights and such...
Glossy case aside, when will this thing be available?!
@xXIiShOcKiIXx
idk, I like the whole aluminum look that the second gen Zune had which i still have scratch free. That works as a matte solution.
Glossy just seems sooo 2000's, matte is the new glossy.
I am really waiting for someone to go with a gunmedal theme devise or laptop, Mac has the light aluminum, but someone should come out with a gun metal gray case.
@corylulu They should have the option of either glossy or matte. Awaiting pricing options =)
@corylulu so i have to become a robot and not move my head. thats the pre-requisite for this so called awesome experience.
@corylulu
Gotta keep the womens chained up!
@corylulu I want Donkey Kong Country on 3DS, too!!!! DK Barrels and bananas are hints of what′s the come, yes? Bring it on!!!!
@corylulu i really like Teflon as well, both my evo and my nexus one have this
@The Geek
Yeah, I like my N1's look a lot. If they could export that EXACT theme to a laptop, it would be amazing!
@corylulu turns out engadget is mr blurrycam! damn those hypocritical bast**ds!
@MySchizoBuddy Yeah, I'm also at least a bit disappointed. I think perhaps I got too excited about this bc 3D gaming is sick. I dunno, the screen tech probably wont change but given the right coding I'd hope it can be at least slightly better utilized. End of the day we need a more complete review, I guess I won't be getting one the day they start selling.
The bright spot seemed to be the game titles. Good partnerships out of the gate.
@MySchizoBuddy The confusing part to me is what happens with 3D games that try to use motion controls? Do you have to perform full upper body movements so that your head can stay in-line with the screen? or DIY head mounted 3DS?
@corylulu Nay, they should have gone plaid!
@corylulu Yeah, I'm hoping they do some work on the casing. A little thick if you ask me.
@werty1432k totally agree. I was so pumped for the unveiling, and I love all the specs, but the design looks kinda stale.
Wowee I so want. 3D pokemon? Oh yeah! And is that a space for backwards compatibility I see?!
The Batman likes
Now I can carry one around to match my uniform.
Who hired these guys that reviewed the video. The camera work was all over the place, it never showed the screen long enough for us to see the 3d. The guy holding it acted like he was stoned. Giving a kid a camera doesn't make him a camera man. Everyone wants to see the game and what the 3d looked like instead we get attention deficit disorder theater. Please hire professionals instead of surly kids.
@corylulu Seams so 2000's? Were in the 2000's bud.
@gregore34 They are not allowed to film the screen, turn up the volume the video is very informative.
@elckicker
its 2010 bub.
most people few phases in thier life as decades, not millennia, since we don't live for millennia's at a time.
@gregore34 Yeah but the woman kept telling him to keep away from the screen so the 3d effect would still be unseen until production.
Besides you wouldnt have seen the 3d anyway without the screen. No glasses means parallax barrier display. Unless you have a 3DS, you cant see the 3d effect.
@corylulu
I don't care about design. What it really needs is a second front-facing camera.
@corylulu Sheesh, leave it to Engadget posters to focus on something as largely inconsequential as whether the thing is glossy or matte. Priorities, people.
@Andy Anonymous
When this post was originally posted, it was only a preview picture. No review. They expanded it later.
@corylulu
Neon colors were '90s, Glossy was '00s, and now: Matte is '10s.
@xXIiShOcKiIXx The DSi is painted.
SWEEEET! Stoked.
@trevoreon
Me too.. ! Is it just me or are those chicks daisy-chained? :D
@AKJ
I don't know how they paid attention to the games.. With those mountains in front of them.
@SolidSnake
I dunno, I've never had a problem ignoring icy bitches.
Impressions? Don't hold out on us!
@plbelanger
The Chicks where Hot
@plbelanger
first impressions? giggity giggity goo, only reason i clicked.
Date. Price. Battery pack?
@HektikLyfe I was surprised there wasn't even a mention of date or price. disappointing presentation overall.
@mxpx5678 i agree 100% i keep on disappointing myself with the big N's e3 presentations, i always think its gonna be something super awesome, and on the off chance that it is its too good to be true. like the 3DS was made out to be super awesome but in this article right here it says that 'It's not great.' im sad now. good night
@HektikLyfe Type of charging connector???
@mxpx5678 are you kidding. They killed this year what more could you want, besides dates. I was verrry happy. Donkey kong, kirby, goldeneye, nintendo 3ds, zelda, metroid. They nailed it if you ask me.
@chuck101
Note: this is just my opinion.
"Donkey kong"
I haven't seen a good Donkey Kong game in years.
"Kirby"
I don't think I've seen a good Kirby game since the TV show came out.
"Goldeneye"
AWESOME game when it came out. Unless they are reworking it and adding more modern gameplay features, re-releasing it just seems like a name drop. "OOH we're re-releasing virtually the exact same game and charging you more for it!"
"Nintendo 3DS"
I'm reserving judgement. (Again IMO) It could (and should) be better.
Nintendo keeps ruining consoles because they want to use proprietary things. Just use micro-USB for a power connector. Give me a built in browser. Hopefully it will have a music player (since it has an SD card slot). Provide global "names" like PSN and XBL do.
"Zelda, Metroid"
These are the only two that I'll agree with. I throughly enjoyed both games. But two and a half hours isn't "kill[ing] this year".
Video. now?
I must have this.
so, is it 3d or "3d"?
@engaged i think its '3d' by the tone of this article...unfortunately
be honest, is it really all that? because that reel of developers sounded a little like they got their palms greased to blow smoke up nintendos you know what.
The surface looks oddly metallic.
That looks like it's made out of hard tar.
Why is it so shiny?