Nintendo 3DS Arrives Tomorrow!
Nintendo and George Lucas have two things in common. Both are innovative and both will market something to death as long as customers keep flocking to the product. There’s good news and bad news with mentioning them. The bad news is the rest of this article has nothing to do with George Lucas. The good news is tomorrow the newest edition of the Nintendo DS will be released in stores as the video game giant is the latest company to jump on the 3D bandwagon.
It was last year that I wrote an article of Nintendo’s president adamantly stating that Nintendo was not interested in pursuing 3D technology. The joke’s on us I guess. You know darn well this was undergoing testing and development when he said that if the product hits shelves tomorrow, March 27th. So, we were lied to. It’s not the first time a company big wig slid one by us consumers. Soap box complaining out of the way, let’s look at the 3DS itself.
For its initial release, the 3DS will be available in two colors; aqua and black. The unit will have slightly larger screens than your typical DS along with a telescopic stylus, both of which are needed, beneficial changes to the existing DS family. You will also find a 2GB SD memory card, gyroscopic playability, and of course, backwards compatibility with your non-3DS games. However, the meat of the gaming system is found in its use of 3D. First off, and the most important feature of the alleged tantalizing visuals, is the fact that you do not need special glasses. Before I go any further, I want to point out that A) I’m surprised this technology is already here…and B) I’m still skeptical until I see the goods for myself. Unfortunatey, a demo 3DS was not available to me at the time of writing this article.
The second feature on the system relating to the graphics is the 3D control option, which allows you to slide it up and down for a more (or less) pronounced 3D effect. A third feature allows you to take three-dimensional pictures with the 3DS, but only for display on the DS. Oh, and don’t bother looking for 3D footage online as all game videos are shown in 2D. The 3D effect of the games and picture stills you take can only be experienced on the actual system. Recording it loses the effect.
Speaking of games, there is already a solid foundation of titles on their way to grasp and run with the (supposedly) visually impressive technology. Kicking off the list is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D, Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars, Star Fox 64 3D, Madden NFL Football, Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition, a submarine game titled Steel Diver, an old NES title revived and re-envisioned called Kid Icarus: Uprising, and lastly The Sims 3…and that’s just a handful that Nintendo mentioned on their official countdown website.
So how much will all this eye candy cost you? The handheld gaming system will debut at a hefty $249.99 with games peaking at $39.99. As impressive as the graphics may be in 3D, I find both prices a little hard to swallow. For $250 or $40 titles, you can land a PS3 and some decent games. Yes portability is a convenience that costs more. Just look at a laptop versus a PC. Yeah, well tell that to my wallet. In the meantime, it’s back to Mario Kart on my good old DS for me.
For more information on the Nintendo 3DS, please visit the official website at: http://www.nintendo.com/3ds
I was all aboard, with a pre-order and everything, until Tuesday, when I bought an iPad 2 instead.
Need two things for this: A better battery life and Zelda, and one of those things doesn’t happen until June.
Aaron, I thought you were all anti-Apple? Wait, you own an iPhone, too.
Apple 2 Aaron 0.
They got yo number.
I’m anti-Mac. Nothing against Apple in general.
It’s ashame people that have iPhones don’t know how blissful it is to have a Mac to interact with it. Makes life so much easier. I had to edit video post for Gregg yesterday on a windows machine. I cursed the entire time. I can’t stand the windows os anymore. I’m a Mac snob now. 🙁
Aaron, how does that work? Those two devices you have run on a MAC OS? They’re miniature macs.
I’ve been reading some thoughts from editors over at Gamespot and the general consensus on the 3DS appears to be that the 3D looks cool, though is largely ineffective in enhancing the overall game experience.
This is just an attempt by Nintendo to perhaps gain back some marketshare in the handheld market. I think this will not do as well as they want. However, look for reports from E3 I hear Nintendo has some major announcements that might catapult them back into the thick of the console wars.
I’m all for the iPad 2 also. I can’t wait to get one!
Given that the regular DS is one of the biggest selling consoles/devices of all time by Video Game standards, I don’t think Nintendo really needs to gain anything back.