Well folks, the Nintendo 3DS is days away, launching March 27 in stores for $249.99. I have been playing with one for the past two weeks and showed it on my GlobalTV Morning News Tech Untangled segment with co-host Mike Sobel.
http://www.globaltvedmonton.com/video/index.html?releasePID=ng_nUHpNw3k6hUH4HswWUqs3lXBwMCaW
I must tell you, it’s a winner for many reasons.
First, it doesn’t need special 3D glasses. You simply hold it straight on and you get a clear corner-to-corner 3D image on the larger top screen. You can’t see from any angle like the 3D glass TVs or movie theatres, but it’s easy to get used to. The adjustable 3D Depth Slider located right next to the larger and sharper screen (much better quality than the previous DSi) quickly adjusts from extreme 3D to 2D. The lower screen is finger or stylus touch sensitive.
The 3DS is slightly thicker than the DSi and comes in Cosmo Black or Aqua Blue and is solidly made. It accepts and plays previous DSi cards, thankfully, I still need my Brain Age titles to keep me sharp!
The biggest change in the buttons is a white 360 degree responsive circle pad for quick views around you when playing. The insides however are all new with stunning features and effects. Let’s check some out:
– A built-in motion sensor AND gyro sensor which reacts to motion and tilts.
Nintendo 3DS Steeldiver, nintendogs + cats, Pilotwings Resort for 3DS
– Two new ways to stay connected: Optionally activated, StreetPass can recognize other 3DS units passing nearby and quickly exchange Mii character data, maps for games, high game scores and more. The SpotPass feature can connect to public WiFi hotspots or at home, go online and even receive new content and update while in sleep mode.
– Each 3DS has two outward-facing 3D cameras for taking 3D pictures as well as a third camera facing you. Take a mug of yourself or others in the included AR (Augmented Reality) Face Raiders and try shooting your face with automatically generated funny expressions, magically floating in your live in-camera room view.
– The 3DS, when put into Sleep Mode, can act as a pedometer, for use in Play Coins credits for upcoming games, all accessed in the Activity Log. You can also use audio manipulation tools with Nintendo 3DS Sound while listening to your MP3 or AAC files.
– Mii Maker has new tools to create Mii characters even more easily. You can import Mii characters from other Wii systems using an SD memory card or start off with 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 or use on social-networking sites.
– The Nintendo eShop, through a system update, will offer access to downloadable games, including Nintendo DSiWare, but it will be its own unique 3DS site, not the older DSi. Like Wii, Virtual Console games on the 3DS can be pulled from classic Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. The Nintendo eShop will use a credit card cash-based system or purchased Nintendo 3DS Prepaid Card at retail stores.
– Make sure you don’t accidentally toss out the included six AR augmented-reality cards. When viewed by the 3DS camera they activate hidden arcade games, playable with your live onscreen room in the background. Imagine shooting it up with a dragon in your living room!
– The built-in parental controls with your secret PIN code, can limit Internet access, some of the wireless functions and can turn off the 3D mode.
– Online players’ friend codes are specific to each Nintendo 3DS system, not each game. 3DS users will be able to see which friends are online and what they are playing.
– The 3DS can also play Nintendo DS game cards with original 2D visuals and a 2GB SD card is included. Using a service that will be provided after the 3DS 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.
-Where’s the 3D? Unlike the sadly lacking 3D content for 3D TV, the 3DS will have more than 30 titles by early June. I tried Pilotwings Resort which includes a very cool jet-pack experience, a new realistic version of nintendogs + cats and Steel Diver, a side-scrolling submarine adventure with real depth. Soon there will be 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.
-But there’s more. Third party games will include: Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked from Atlus; Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition and Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D 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, Thor: God of Thunder and CRUSH 3D from SEGA; BUST-A-MOVE UNIVERSE from Square Enix, Inc.; Samurai Warriors Chronicles and Dead or Alive Dimensions from Tecmo Koei America Corp.; and Asphalt 3D, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Shadow Wars, Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell 3D, Rayman 3D and Rabbids Travel in Time from Ubisoft.
For more information go to: http://www.nintendo3ds.com
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