In an interview from
this year's E3 that's only just been published,
Nintendo 3DS platform producer Hideo Konno says that the upcoming handheld is in its "final shape." Reggie Fils-Aime, the company's leading North American voice, has
more recently told us that,
au contraire, the
E3 consoles are not the final design, though parsing the two into one coherent message would suggest that Nintendo's just leaving itself room to make small changes if the need arises. Konno's chat with
Wired also touches on the 3DS' screen size, with him suggesting the glasses-free stereoscopic effect could be taken all the way to the size of a TV but requires the user to be in a very precise position, which is what makes it unfeasible. Teased about potentially making a 3DS
XL, the veteran game guru says Nintendo's sticking with the current form factor for portability's sake, but he clearly isn't closing the door on the idea if and when 3DS sales begin to wane. There's a lot more here, including discussion of the new handheld's analog nub and
MotionPlus-like gyro and accelerator combo, so why not show the source link some love?
posted July 13th 2010 2:45AM
Well by all means it's not bad now so I guess whatever.
@(Unverified)
They have been the best selling mobile console with this design for a long time, why change now?
@Unverified User There's nothing wrong with simple uncomplicated design IF it works perfectly...
@silencets
Until your grandparents slap you for telling them to "touch the nub gently" when attempting to actually use it.
@(Unverified)
Yeah I like it; it looks "nice and nerdy". It also looks sophisticated, which it is. But I could have preferred a more "futuristic" smooth design. I guess this is what the Sony will be aiming at with its PSP2 powerhouse.
So does it still come with the hot girl and chain? That was part of the design, right?
its a good design, they dont need to..
@MicrosoftOwns
Unless if a SECOND ANALOG nub is added for 3D FPS shooters. It would be somewhat of a waste not to have a second nub when there's a 3D screen which could be used for 3D shooters.
Nice design, but the colors?My god!
And don't put the audio out there, come on...
@ThaDSman
I agree! If I wanted a DS without matching colors, I would've gone to Colorware!!
If you hold it on both sides, will it still play games and go online?
@silencets
As long as Steve Jobs and Jon I've don't get near the design.
Funny that they talk of parallex barrier screens (the kind of glasses-free 3D where you have to stay in one spot) as if it's the only technology. There are lenticular-style screens out there that allow movement as well as lookaround (ability to see realistically around an object when your position changes), without glasses. Been around for a few years, actually. Yet no one seems to know about it.
@Jschevling
The problem with the testicular lens display is that the lens is fixed onto the display and the 3D effect can't be turned off as easily.
The parallax barrier is just a monochromatic LCD above the screen and becomes transparent without a charge. Which is the reason you can dial-in the 3D effect and completely turn it off if you want.
For lenticular displays, they are fixed, and can only display 2D by doubling up the images going to the left and right screen. It never looks quite right.
Being that the 3DS needs to do normal 2D well parallax barrier is technology Nintendo is using.
@Temple Wait, what kind of display?!
@Nopehaventgotaname
Testicular Lens Display or TLD ....what he didn't say is that it is also in 4D
@Jschevling
You realize they mention lenticular stickers and displays in the article, right?
@Temple
Actually, all the parallex barrier screens I've worked with in the past also used a fixed lens (we're talking like 5 or more years ago, though), so I wasn't aware they had done it this way. Nice. Makes sense.
I'm still laughing about the Testicular Lens, though. Ah, auto-correction.
@Chavez
To be honest, I skimmed the article and I had indeed missed that. Konno did mention that it's "not a lenticular screen." so obviously they have considered that approach. I guess the difference in how the image would need to be processed between creating output for a lenticular screen (which usually require a minimum of 8 views when I've worked with them in the past) and a pb screen (which requires two) would make it totally unfeasible. I'm wondering, now, if there's a way to develop a lenticular lens that could be turned on and off, given that parallex screens used to use a fixed lens as well.....
I think the folding designs sucks...The buttom looks like a DS..The top screen should of took the whole space....
Oh and another thing, screw cartridges......I ain't gonna carry more crap around.
@anotherworld
Yeah I hope that it comes with built-in flash and at least 8GB. So that we can increase it to 40GB max with a 32GB card if one would wish for that.
I would rather carry around a few cartridges (which are freaking tiny BTW) if it means I actually own my games.
Sorta want.
Too much empty spot and the button (beside analogy nub) still look uncomfortable as hell, but I guess I'll be using analogy nub and a pen most of the time. Please just don't make me blow into it and and moving my head back and forth to play a game and I'm sold.
I first purchased a DSi and two weeks later, the XL hit. Dammit. So the DSi goes to the girlfriend an i get the XL. What a change. It's absolutely head over heals better than the DS or i.
The 3ds has to at least have the same screen sizes as the XL or i won't bother or wait for an XL version.
That, or a new Lego game arrives and I'll have to get it :)
They need to move the headphone jack...
@SeanR
Actually I think the headphone jack is in the best possible place! On the DSLite I always catch my hand on the headphone cable, well annoying. Similar to the location of the headphone jack on the 360 controller, this makes sense.
@Hobsie
My thoughts exactly, but now I wonder how the fps games are gonna like on this 3DS.
I still remember the pain from playing metroid:prime on the DS. It was an awesome game, but after a while your hand just plainly hurts.
I just wished there where 2 analog sticks, but then we wouldn't be using the touchscreen.
I am disappointed that yet another handheld is being made with only one analog stick (or at at least the d-pad and analog stick to be on opposite sides). Now the 3DS is obviously not ideal for fps maybe, but many other games can use the control scheme. Especially those that are ports of N64 games.
I feel like the community was so outspoken about the PSP because of this lacking feature, that I was positive Nintendo would have made sure to include it. Oh well. It still looks like a great product. I want to play some 3D MGS now!!! :)
@Ithacus
They'll likely use the bottom touchscreen as the second analog, a bunch of DS game use this scheme for FPS, except you'll have an analog stick instead of a D-pad in the 3DS.
@Ithacus
Also, Nintendo's Konno talks about using the gyroscope function as a form of motion control in FPS games:
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/3ds-screen-could-be-bigger-says-konno
He also discussed the gyroscope featured in the handheld, suggesting it will work well in conjunction with the 3D screen. "During our experiments, we have found that in a first-person shooter, we can use the sensor to move the aiming and the pointer," Konno said.
"In that case, your line of sight is still quite rigid, your eyes are pointing at the screen, and so the 3-D effect won’t be diluted. So there is the possibility that both 3-D and motion control could be used in the same software."
@Temple
Yeah, I read about that. But how weird would it be to be waving your 3DS around in public places like the subway so you can play a game...
@Temple only problem is the fact that the analog nub is on the left. What about us left-handed people? Using th touch screen with a right hand is a nightmare
@Inkopa
It's not like your trying to write on the screen. In fact a virtual stick could almost certainly be implemented to use your thumb alone.
Move the audio out. Make to bottom screen widescreen. Job done
So, should we wait for the 3DS advance, 3DS lite, or the 3DSi? Or maybe the 3DSi XL?
@pika2000 or the 3DS Micro
3DS + hot blonde girl = ultimate gift.
It's red, it has a screen and some buttons what more do the presents want??
.. :)
The top screen should be edge to edge, put the speakers on the bottom part of the unit. Move the power button off the face of the unit, someone likely is going to hit it with their thumb. This isn't very well thought out as the placement of the thumbstick should be angled off not right above the d-pad. Take this bad boy back to the design stage.
@loadoftoad The speakers are on the screen so the sound can be projected right at you, you know, since the screen faces you directly.
What do I know? I'm just a gamer.
@pintonion
The speakers could be placed on the bottom of the unit, on the opposite sides of the headphone jack - separated out by 2-3 inches. Oh and the headphone jack should be moved as well.
I don't know I just play video games and make them for a living :)
I was actually hoping that this wasnt anywhere near the final product (Remember E3s Original Ds, then the actual DS they released?). Well,maybe I'll get used to it =/
That's ok, the 3DS Lite will be out next year.
As long as they don't go optical on the joystick, im fine.
Outside of the placement of the Power Button I'm OK with the design, although a second front-facing camera would be nice for that 3D chat that was being hinted at.
@Scr1be
yeah, I'd quite like to see the power button on the upper part of the inside of the lid (if that makes sense), about the only place you can guarantee u wont accidentally hit.
Maybe they'll add a third screen that works in 4D, that would be something to blog about!
Please tell me there's a second analog nub planned. 3D screen = Best for FPS games.
I like the design, but it's a little too easy to confuse it with the DSi right now. I think they should change the design a little more so it stands out as a new product instead of just another DS so consumers won't be confused.