∞ Nintendo leaves gaming world scratching its head over 3D announcement

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Nintendo has quietly announced on its Japanese Web site plans to introduce a new portable game device capable of producing 3D graphics. Nintendo said it will reveal more news at E3, the annual gaming convention which returns to Los Angeles, Calif. in June, according to a report at The Wall Street Journal.

The device, which news reports have dubbed the “Nintendo 3DS,” will be compatible with existing games designed to work on Nintendo’s popular DS system. But beyond announcing the system and indicating that it would reveal more details, Nintendo is absolutely mum on any of the device’s technical specifications or capabilities.

3D is the new buzzword in entertainment devices. At this month’s Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, several vendors including Intel and graphics hardware maker Nvidia demonstrated technology that enables games to be played in 3D, though those products require users to wear special glasses and use special displays to complete the effect, similar to watching “Avatar” on the big screen in 3D – a huge capital outlay. Nintendo indicated that their new portable system works without requiring the user to wear special glasses.

Nintendo has dabbled in 3D portable gaming systems before, with its ill-fated Virtual Boy. The device was released in 1995 but was not very successful – Nintendo discontinued it the following year.

Nintendo suggested it would release the new product during its coming fiscal year, which will end March 31, 2011.


  • David Fanning

    It'll be a lenticular screen, no need for glasses. Same principal as the 3D Jesus postcards, but with moving images. The Fujifilm 3D camera uses a lenticular screen and it works really well. You can watch 2D on the screen too, without any loss of quality.

    • Rat Heksenberg

      See my later posting: It is most likely NOT a lenticular.

      Moreover, the Fujifilm 3D also does not have a lenticular, but "Light Direction Control"

      • ludwig

        Light direction control is just another way of saying lenticular. There is NO other 3D without glasses technology right now.

  • http://gameconsoles.net.au/ jolie styvers

    This is a great news to Nintendo fans like me. Sometimes I do envy playstation for having their PSP in 3D and I really felt that Nintendo are quite behind in terms of graphics and motions. I am really having great expectations on this one. I this would bring more satisfaction to Nintendo fans out there.

  • Rat Heksenberg

    This is indeed great news, though I worry what will happen with compatibility to old software…

    AND, …this will most likely NOT be a simple lenticular screen, because the DS can be operated in both landscape and portrait mode; A lenticular only provides 3D experience (L/R views) in only one of the directions.

  • http://gameconsoles.net.au/ Jess

    This is really great news for Nintendo! I am really sure that a lot of gaming console enthusiasts, like me, would definitely grab one for himself. With the technology today and the great hype of 3D, without a doubt, this would really be a successful project.