News
Nintendo 3DS Brings a Dimensional Shift to the World of Entertainment on March 27
NEW YORK-- The company that changed the world of video
games with touch-screen gaming in 2004 and motion-controlled
gaming in 2006 now pioneers the next dimensional shift. On March
27, Nintendo introduces portable entertainment in 3D – without
the need for special glasses. The Nintendo 3DS™ system will be
available in either Cosmo Black or Aqua Blue, and will have a
suggested retail price of $249.99. Pricing outside the United
States will be established by the local markets, but offer
similar consumer value.
“Nintendo 3DS is a category of one – the experience simply
doesn’t exist anywhere else,” said Nintendo of America President
Reggie Fils-Aime. “You have to see Nintendo 3DS to believe it.
And it’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before.”
Nintendo 3DS includes two screens. The bottom touch screen makes
use of a telescoping stylus that is stored in the unit itself.
The top screen displays 3D visuals to the naked eye. Looking at
the screen is like peering through a window into a world where
characters and objects have true depth. The system also has a 3D
Depth Slider that lets players select the level of 3D they enjoy
the most. The 3D effect can be ratcheted up to the highest
level, scaled back to a more moderate setting or even turned off
completely, depending on the preference of the user.
In addition to the familiar + Control Pad and button controls
found on previous Nintendo hand-helds, Nintendo 3DS now also
includes a Circle Pad, which provides a full 360 degrees of
direction, giving it the freedom and precision needed to play
games in 3D worlds. It brings the same degree of responsiveness
that gamers enjoyed when Nintendo introduced an analog control
stick to navigate Mario™ through Super Mario 64™ on the Nintendo
64™ system.
A built-in motion sensor and gyro sensor can react to the motion
and tilt of the system, so whether players are twisting their
systems side to side or moving them up and down, their
motion-compatible Nintendo 3DS games respond instantly. No other
system includes so many tools for game developers to create new
and fun experiences for players.
Two features will allow owners to stay connected in new ways.
Both deliver bonus content to owners as they move around during
their daily lives, so users might open up their systems at any
moment to find new surprises. For owners who choose to activate
it, the StreetPass™ feature is capable of exchanging game
information with other Nintendo 3DS systems as owners pass one
another. Small packets of information can be exchanged using
this data-transfer method, such as Mii™ character data, maps for
games or high scores and custom character data for different
games. The SpotPass™ feature can connect to compatible public
hotspots and through a wireless broadband Internet connection at
home, even if the system is in Sleep Mode. Once connected, the
Nintendo 3DS system will receive new content and updates on a
regular basis.
Each Nintendo 3DS system comes pre-loaded with a variety of fun
games, applications and features, such as Nintendo 3DS Camera.
Nintendo 3DS has three cameras. One camera points at the user,
while two additional cameras point outward. These two outer
cameras take photos in 3D. The fun, built-in game Face Raiders™
asks users to shoot at funny depictions of their own faces.
Nintendo 3DS, when put into Sleep Mode, can act as a pedometer,
while letting users earn Play Coins for the steps they take that
can then be traded in for additional content in compatible games
and applications. By accessing the Activity Log, users can check
their steps as well as their play time. With Nintendo 3DS Sound,
users can enjoy sound-manipulation tools or rock out while
listening to their MP3 or AAC music files. An upgraded Internet
browser will also be available via a system update.
The Mii Maker™ application gives users new tools to create Mii™
characters even more easily: Users can either import Mii
characters from their Wii systems using an SD memory card or use
the camera to take a picture of a person and have an automatic
Mii character created. Users can even save their Mii characters
to an SD card as pictures, which enables them to be used any way
a digital photo would for personal use, such as a profile
picture on social-networking sites.
The Nintendo eShop, through a system update, will offer access
to downloadable games, including Nintendo DSiWare™ and ones
specifically made for Nintendo 3DS. Also, just as the Virtual
Console service on Wii makes retro games available for download,
the Virtual Console games on Nintendo 3DS will be pulled from
classic Game Boy™ and Game Boy Color games. Players will be able
to view game videos, download demos for select games and see how
other consumers rated the games. The Nintendo eShop will use a
cash-based system. Users can either input credit card
information in the shop or purchase a Nintendo 3DS Prepaid Card
at retail locations.
Nintendo 3DS comes with six augmented-reality cards, called AR
cards. When the two outer cameras are pointed at the cards, they
read the cards and superimpose images and animations onto the
scene. So users shouldn’t be surprised if they see a dragon
popping out of their kitchen tables. Developers can also use
this technology to add creative new experiences to their games.
Built-in parental controls can be used to limit Internet access
or some of the wireless functions. By using a PIN code, parents
also can turn off the 3D function altogether, or limit the
ratings of the games that their kids can play.
Fans of online play will be happy to learn that the friend codes
for Nintendo 3DS are specific to each Nintendo 3DS system, not
each game. Once friends trade hardware codes, at any time they
can check their friends list to see which of their friends are
online and what they are playing.
Nintendo 3DS can also play Nintendo DS game cards with their
original 2D visuals. The system also includes a slot for an SD
memory card. To help users get started, every system comes with
a 2GB SD memory card (though owners can provide whatever size
they like). Using a service that will be provided after the
hardware’s launch, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™ owners
will be able to transfer games downloaded from the Nintendo DSi
Shop onto their new Nintendo 3DS systems.
During the launch window (between the March 27 launch date and
the E3 Expo in early June) more than 30 games will be available
to Nintendo 3DS owners. These include Nintendo-created games
like Pilotwings Resort™, which has players soaring acrobatically
over iconic Wuhu Island; nintendogs™ + cats, a new version of
the Nintendo DS classic with a feline enhancement; and Steel
Diver™, a side-scrolling submarine adventure that gives the
illusion that the player is peering into an aquarium. Other
Nintendo 3DS games in the works include The Legend of Zelda™:
Ocarina of Time™ 3D, Star Fox 64™ 3D, Kid Icarus™: Uprising and
new installments in the Mario Kart™, Animal Crossing™ and Paper
Mario™ series.
Nintendo 3DS also enjoys some of the strongest third-party
support of any system launch. A partial list of titles coming
soon to Nintendo 3DS includes Super Street Fighter® IV 3D
Edition from Capcom; Madden NFL Football from EA SPORTS; The
Sims™ 3 from Electronic Arts; Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D from
Konami; LEGO® Star Wars® III: The Clone Wars™ from LucasArts™;
Ridge Racer® 3D and Dual Pen Sports™ from Namco Bandai Games
America Inc.; Super Monkey Ball™ 3D from SEGA; BUST-A-MOVE™
UNIVERSE from Square Enix, Inc.; and Asphalt™ 3D, Combat of
Giants™: Dinosaurs 3D, Rayman® 3D and Rabbids® Travel in Time
from Ubisoft.
For more information about Nintendo 3DS, visit
http://www.nintendo3ds.com.