Nintendo 3DS (Platform)

The Nintendo 3DS wiki last edited by DeF on 05/15/13 04:35AM View full history

Overview

Nintendo announced the Nintendo 3DS on March 23, 2010 with no attached software announcement. The only details in the announcement were that the system will be available in Japan by the end of March 2011, it will offer 3D support without requiring special glasses, and it is backwards compatible with existing DS and DSi software. The system itself was revealed at Nintendo's E3 2010 media briefing by Satoru Iwata.

The 3DS can output graphics comparable to the Wii but with modern shaders and in stereoscopic 3D, adding depth and dimension to the game images. The 3D can be adjusted with a slider to fit each person's individual eye focus.

It also features two cameras, allowing the user to take 3D images. The 3DS can also play 3D movies and can connect wirelessly to the internet to access its various online features like a software download store and video streaming/download services.

Original 3DS

Specs & Features:

Size: 5.3" wide, 2.9" long, 0.8" tall
Weight: ~8 ounces
Top Screen: 3.5" parallax barrier LCD screen with 800x240 resolution. 3D capability.
Bottom Screen: 3" LCD screen with 320x240 resolution. Touch capability.
Cameras: One inner, two outer (0.3 megapixels)
Sound: Stereo speakers to the left and right of the top screen
Sensors: Motion and gyro
Improved graphics over the DS
Ability to take 3D photos
Ability to watch 3D movies
3DS Game Card Size: Up to 8GB
DMP (Digital Media Professionals) Pica 200 GPU

Controls & Input Methods:

The 3DS features a Circle Pad (analog input), +Control Pad, A/B/X/Y face buttons, L/R shoulder buttons, Start/Select buttons, a Home button (system menu), a touch screen (bottom), 3D Depth Slider, one inner camera, two outer cameras, a motion sensor, gyro sensor, wireless switch, power button as well as a retractable Stylus that slides in vertically next to the cartridge slot.

Circle Pad Pro

To support better camera control in polygonal 3D action games, an optional add-on for the original 3DS, called Circle Pad Pro, was released in Japan alongside Monster Hunter Tri G in December 2011 and alongside Resident Evil: Revelations in January/February 2012 in Europe and North America. It offers an additional Circle Pad on the right and extra ZL/ZR shoulder buttons and requires an AAA battery to function.

After the announcement of the 3DS XL, Nintendo confirmed that the jumbo sized system would be getting its own optional Circle Pad Pro attachment.

Ports:

3DS game card slot (also accepts DS games)
SD memory card slot
AC adapter port
Stereo headphone jack

Wireless:

Supports IEEE 802.11 networks with WPA/WPA2 security
Can communicate with other 3DS units automatically and can stay connected all the time.

3DS XL

On June 21/22 2012, Nintendo confirmed rumors that a 3DS redesign was indeed in the works. During a Nintendo Direct presentation, they announced the 3DS XL (3DS LL in Japan) which features 90% bigger screens and longer battery life while retaining all the old features. It will launch in North America on August 19, 2012 (for US$199,99) and July 28 in both Europe (€199,99/£179.99) and Japan (¥18,900) as well as Australia/New Zealand on August 23, 2012 (for AU$249,95).

46% size increase (134mm long, 74mm wide, 24mm tall when folded)
90% bigger screens (top screen: 4.88 inches, bottom screen: 4.18 inches)
Size of the D-pad, face and shoulder buttons has been slightly increased
battery life increased to between 3.5 to 6.5 hours (3DS software) and 5 to 8 hours (DS software)
bundled SD Card upgraded from 2GB to a 4GB Card
Includes an updated Stylus that is not retractable and rests at the side again, akin to DSlite/DSi
AC power adapter sold separately in Japan and Europe, bundled in North America
3DS XL-specific charging cradle now sold separately
All user data (including activity log, play coins, game downloads) can be transferred from the original 3DS to the 3DS XL
DS and Virtual Console games that are selected to run in 1:1 native resolution will look better than on the original 3DS due to the bigger screen size, fixing a major complaint about the 3DS
Support for its own version of an extra large Circle Pad Pro.
Weighs almost 50 percent more than the original model 3DS. (336 grams compared to the original 3DS's 230 grams)

Firmware Updates:

March 27th, 2011 (1.1.0-1)

3D music video (OK Go) auto installed
Improved network and system stability

June 6th, 2011 (2.0.0-2)

Removes 3D music video
Nintendo eShop app
3DS internet browser app
DSi transfer tool
SpotPass works in Sleep mode
Improved Nintendo Camera app
Navigation and system stability improvements

June 15th, 2011 (2.1.0-3)

System stability improvements
Automatic firmware updates via Wifi

June 25th, 2011 (2.1.0-4)

System stability improvements

November 13th, 2011 (2.2.0-X) - On game carts

Ability to join friend's online games via the Friend's list
System stability improvements

December 6th, 2011 (3.0.0-5)

Updates to Nintendo Camera allows 3D video and 3D stop motion
SpotPass function to StreetPass Mii Plaza
Accomplishments to StreetPass Mii Plaza
Find Mii II
Slideshow for completed Mii Plaza puzzles
New puzzle panels
Demos added to Nintendo eShop
DLC for games
Download software from eShop while in sleep mode
Option to save Credit Card info as well as only adding the amount of funds to pay for selected software
Nintendo 3DS transfer function
QR function in Nintendo Camera
Nintendo Zone app installed

December 21st, 2011 (3.0.0-6)

System stability and performance improvements
Minor StreetPass Mii Plaza performance improvements

April 24th, 2012 (4.0.0-7)

Developers are now able to patch retail games
Added support for folder creation. Folders can store up to 60 items and can be individually named
eShop presentation revamped, now featuring two horizontally scrolling sections. The upper section features current promotional selections and categories while the new area on the bottom half displays the main catagories (Nintendo 3DS Download Software, Demos, Virtual Console, DSiWare)
Added functionality to purchase eShop content by scanning QR codes
Blocks some flash carts
Enables support for direct image upload to facebook's mobile site

May 14, 2012 (4.1.0-8)

System Update without Parent Control Pin number
Blocks some flash carts

Publisher Support

The 3DS features the largest third party support for a new system in Nintendo history, according to Iwata The third party publishers planning to release games for the system include:

Development

Shigeru Miyamoto and Iwata's first project together was for a 3D game for the NES in 1986, called 3D Hot Rally. The concept of 3D intrigued them, and they continued experimenting ways to make it a serious way to play over the next 20 years. For every single new console they have made, they have tried to introduce some sort of 3D functionality. Most of these attempts weren't announced due to they not being up to their standards, especially after the commercial flop of the Virtual Boy in 1995.

It wasn't until it came time to create the successor to the Nintendo DS that they found a way to utilize it. The 3DS did not actually begin development as a 3D focused console, but instead it was just meant to be a successor to the DS with next-gen graphics, which Miyamoto called "the typical evolution of a game device." However, without a good 'hook' to justify the release of a new console when the DS and its revisions were becoming the most popular game systems ever made, the system was pushed back until they felt it was appropriate.

Miyamoto and Iwata wanted to include 3D in this new console, but they had to make sure it was there from the outset, and not released as an add-on peripheral to the device in order to increase the audience for it from the beginning. By the time the 3DS was being planned, LCD devices that could output autostereostopic images (where 3D images can be displayed without the need for 3D glasses) were already in development, and Nintendo decided to be one of the first to try the technology out.

The developers at Nintendo were astonished by the new technology, with Miyamoto calling it the same feeling when he saw Yoshi first appear on the 16-bit screen of the Game Boy Advance back during its development. Miyamoto also said it alleviates many of the harder parts of developing 3D games, especially Mario games, where a lot of effort has to be made to make the three-dimensional world that Mario traverses to be easily interpreted by the player.

According to him, they had to use many tricks to make it easy for the player to hit a floating '?' block in previous 3D Mario games, but when they experimented on the 3DS, it became very natural. He said it was the perfect time to bring back their previous franchises that started out in 3D to the 3DS, because it would allow him to create easier to play, yet more difficult sequels to the original games.

To Iwata, the 3DS is a means to bring 3D from being 'about impact', to being 'about depth', to be a serious part of the gameplay and the experience, instead of a simple gimmick. The 3D slider on the 3DS was created by request of Miyamoto and his engineers to have all kinds of people be able to enjoy the 3D graphics without experiencing double vision of blurry images due to their unique spacing between eyes, which has been in problem with many 3D movies, where the 3D is already set to a pre-set certain focus.

3D and Graphical Power

A NeoGAF graph showing how the 3D screen works.

Unlike other 3D equipment, the 3DS does not require the use of 3D glasses. This is due to its auto-stereostopic ( parallax barrier) screen, capable of showing two different viewpoints of the same image at the same time. The screen has twice the horizontal pixel density of any other screen, which allows one set of lines aimed at one eye, while the other set is aimed at the other. The 3DS renders a single frame twice, each a different viewpoint, interlaced between each other vertically. Because of this, each eye will see a different frame, and your brain puts both of the frames together as a 3D image.

This results in the game actually running at half the frame rate that it's running internally; to make a 60 fps game on the 3DS, the developer would need to be able to make it run at 120 fps in 2D. However, this does not take up half the power of the console, which is just an urban myth. However, this shows the advanced power of the hardware, which is capable of rendering high end shaders, lighting, shadows, textures, fur, bump mapping, normal mapping, and other effects in real time with ease.

Tech demo for the 3DS's GPU, showing some of its graphical effects.

In terms of raw power, the 3DS is competitive with various previously released consoles. The 3DS's processor is more powerful than that of the PS2 and PSP, and neck and neck with the GameCube's and original Xbox's processor, with at least 200 MHz of power. The 3DS can show more pixels on screen per second than the GameCube, PS2, and the PSP, at around 800 million, compared to about 600 million on the former consoles. The 3DS can also show more polygons than the PSP, but not as much as the home consoles, with estimates at around 40 million. Although it cannot render as much detail as the home consoles, journalists speculate the shaders and graphical tricks will help create graphics superior to those of the last generation of consoles.

Other Features

As detailed in a online Fact Sheet, the 3DS supports the transfer of downloaded software from one 3DS to another. In addition it will also support the transfer of DSi Ware from both the DSi & DSi XL. This feature was not available at launch and is scheduled to be added in a planned June 2011 System Update.

Also, it was announced that the 3DS will have a virtual console for Game Boy & Game Boy Color games. It has since been revealed that this feature, which was not available at lunch, will also be added to the console in the aforementioned planned update due in June of 2011.

The complete list of functionality planned for the system in the May System Update is:

Nintendo eShop - New Digital Distribution Service. Does not use Points as Wii Shopping Channel and DSi Shop did, instead using actual currency.
Virtual Console - Offering users access to Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Gear, TurboGrafx-16 and NES games on their 3DS
DSiWare Transfer Service - Allowing users to transfer DSiWare from their DSi Systems to their 3DS Systems
3DS Web Browser - A Web browser which can be used during Game Suspension

The 3DS supports Miis, including a Mii Maker feature that allows the 3DS to take a picture of the user or someone in the vicinity such as a friend or family member to use as a guide for Mii creation.

Other built in software includes:

Nintendo 3DS Camera - similar to DSi Camera, but with more features - including the ability to take pictures in 3D using the dual camera lenses on the system's top shell
Nintendo 3DS Sound - Audio Playback App similar to DSi Sound
StreetPass Mii Plaza - A version of the Mii Plaza which shows the Miis of other 3DS users encountered in StreetPass Mode (See below) and allows for their use in small games like Find Mii (A small RPG) and a Puzzle Game
Face Raiders - An Augmented Reality Game where photos of the user or friends are placed onto balloons which fly around the environment as the player attempts to shoot them
AR Games - An app which interacts with the bundled AR Games cards to provide access to various Augmented Reality functions such as placing 3D models of characters such as Mario in the environment or playing a number of advanced AR Games
Activity Log - Functions similarly to the feature seen on the Wii's Message Board, but is more advanced. In addition to game playing time, also tracks steps with the built-in pedometer (And therefore allows players to earn Coins, a system-level pervasive currency which can be used to unlock content in games) amongst other things
Game Notes - A pervasive, system-level app for making notes on the game in progress, accessible during Game Suspension (By pressing the Home Button)
Notifications - Notifies users of things like StreetPass Data having been shared or new SpotPass data being downloaded
Download Play - Allows players to partake in single-card Multiplayer Games from those games which support this feature (Such as Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition)
Pervasive Friends List

StreetPass

StreetPass is a functionality built in to the 3DS. If multiple 3DS systems which are powered on or in sleep mode were to come within a certain range of one another, they share data. This data includes the Mii data built-in to the system as part of the 'StreetPass Mii Plaza', allowing them to trade puzzle pieces or fight in the RPG mini-game 'Find Mii'. The feature is also supported by games. Users can choose to opt-in to StreetPass functionality for individual games. A bit of saved data then appears system-level to share it (so you don't need to be in sleep mode within the chosen software). The system supports up to 12 Apps/Games having StreetPass enabled at a time.

SpotPass

SpotPass is the ability for the 3DS to seek Wi-Fi signals and automatically download content while in sleep mode. This allows games and the system itself to download updates and share data such as leader-board scores in a whisper-net like manner, free from user input.

Launch Titles

The 3DS launched with the following eight titles in Japan:

Whilst in the U.S. there were twice as many launch titles, which were:

In Europe, the launch titles were:

3DS Colors

Model / Color	Japan	North America	Europe	Australia / New Zealand
Cosmo Black	February 26, 2011	March 27, 2011	March 25, 2011	March 31, 2011
Aqua Blue	February 26, 2011	March 27, 2011	March 25, 2011	March 31, 2011
Flare (JP)/Flame (US)/Metallic Red (EU)	July 14, 2011	September 9, 2011	September 30, 2011	September 22, 2011
Misty/Pearl/Coral/Lavender Pink	October 20, 2011	December 4, 2011	December 16, 2011	November 17, 2011
Ice White	November 3, 2011	-	November 17, 2011	-
Cobalt Blue	March 22, 2012	-	-	-
Midnight Purple	-	May 20, 2012	-	-
Light Blue	March 20, 2013	-	-	-
Gloss Pink	March 20, 2013	-	-	-
Metallic Red (JP)	June 13, 2013	-	-	-

On May 11th, 2012, Nintendo of Japan announced that Aqua Blue would be ending production in that territory.

3DS Special Editions

Model	Japan	North America	Europe	Australia / New Zealand
Monster Hunter Tri-G	December 10, 2011	-	-	-
Chotto Mario (Club Nintendo Contest Limited to 1,000 copies in each region)	Spring 2012	-	Spring 2012	-
Chotto/Princess Peach (Club Nintendo Contest Limited to 1,000 copies in each region)	Spring 2012	-	Spring 2012	-
Chotto Super Kinoko/Toad (Club Nintendo Contest Limited to 1,000 copies in each region)	Spring 2012	-	Spring 2012	-
The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary	December 5, 2011	November 24, 2011	November 25, 2011	December 1, 2011
Snake Camoflauge (Konami Style Limited Contest)	March 8, 2012	-	-	-
Kingdom Hearts 3D	March 29, 2012	-	-	-
Gundam SD	December 22, 2011	-	-	-
Dragon Quest Monsters	May 31, 2012	-	-	-
Fire Emblem: Awakening	April 19, 2012	February 4, 2013	-	-

3DS XL Colors

Model / Color	Japan	North America	Europe	Australia / New Zealand
White	July 28, 2012	-	November 16, 2012 (Var. Bundles) / February 8, 2013 (Standalone)	December 6, 2012 (Var. Bundles)
Red x Black	July 28, 2012	August 19, 2012	July 28, 2012	August 23, 2012
Silver x Black	July 28, 2012	-	July 28, 2012	August 23, 2012
Blue x Black	October 11, 2012	August 19, 2012	July 28, 2012	August 23, 2012
Pink x White	September 27, 2012	November 1, 2012 (Var. Bundles, Ltd Ed.) / December 9, 2012 (Standalone, Ltd. Ed.)	-	-
Black	November 1, 2012	-	March 28, 2013 (Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Bundle)	-
Mint x White	April 18, 2013	-	-	-
Pink	-	-	May 31, 2013	-

3DS LL/XL Special Editions

Model / Color	Japan	North America	Europe	Australia / New Zealand
Pikachu Yellow	September 15, 2012	March 24, 2013	December 7, 2012	-
Special Charizard Edition (Only available through lottery for a limited time)	December 15, 2012	-	-	-
Culdcept (All Japan Cepter's Cup 2012 Contest Prize)	2012	-	-	-
New Super Mario Bros. 2 Red x Black	November 15, 2012	-	-	-
Animal Crossing White	November 8, 2012	June 9, 2013	June 14, 2013	-
Super Robot Taisen UX	March 14, 2013	-	-	-
Fire Emblem: Awakening	-	-	April 2013	April 2013
Tomodachi Collection	April 18, 2013	-	-	-
Year of Luigi (Mario & Luigi RPG 4: Dream Adventure Bundle)	June 18, 2013
Eevee Edition (Only available through lottery for a limited time)	June 3, 2013	-	-	-

Other Uses

The Louvre Audio Tour

In April 2012, Nintendo gave 5,000 modified 3DS consoles to the Louvre in Paris. The 3DSs served as a replacement of the museum's previous audio guides that had become outdated. The 3DS serves both as a map and an audio tour. It contains over 35 hours of dialog in several different languages explaining the different works of art in the museum.

The Louvre’s managing director Hervé Barbaret had this to say about the use of the 3DS at the Louvre

Through this partnership, we wanted to bring together heritage and the innovative world of interactive entertainment through a system many people are already familiar with. We feel that the Nintendo 3DS is perfect to achieve this goal... we believe that the new audio guide is a valuable tool that will help visiting the Louvre a more dynamic and rewarding experience, particularly for those that are not so familiar with a museum environment.

Platform Name	Nintendo 3DS
Short Name	3DS
Release Date	February 26, 2011
Online Support	Yes
Install Base	31,000,000
Original Price	$250
Producing Company	Nintendo
Aliases	Nintendo 3DS XL Nintendo 3DS LL 3DS 3DS XL 3DS LL
Total Games	297 games

Nintendo 3DS

The Nintendo 3DS is a portable game console produced by Nintendo. The handheld features stereoscopic 3D technology that doesn't require glasses. It was released in Japan on February 26, 2011 and in North America on March 27, 2011.

Overview