Nintendo 3DS

Overview

A Nintendo 3DS.

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 will be backwards compatible with existing DS and DSi software. The system itself was revealed at Nintendo's E3 2010 press conference by Satoru Iwata.

The 3DS can output Wii-like graphics with modern shaders in stereo 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, and can connect with other 3DS devices automatically.

It also features two cameras, allowing the user to take 3D stereoscopic images, and can play back 3D movies, which Nintendo plans to create a movie service for the handheld as a media device.

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:

• Slide Pad (analog input), Control Pad, A/B/X/Y face buttons, L/R shoulder buttons, Start/Select buttons, Home button (system menu), touch screen (bottom), 3D Depth Slider, one inner camera, two outer cameras, motion sensor, gyro sensor, wireless switch, power button

Ports:

• 3DS game card slot (also fits 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.

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

A beta 3DS 2GB game card.

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:

• Activision
• Atlus
• AQ Interactive
• Bandai
• Namco
• Capcom
• Electronic Arts
• Harmonix
• Hudson Soft
• Konami
• Tecmo Koei
• Level 5
• Majesco
• Marvelous Entertainment
• Rocket
• Square Enix
• SEGA
• Takara
• Tomy
• Take-Two
• THQ
• Ubisoft
• Warner Bros.

Development

E3 attendees playing the 3DS.

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.

The 3D slider.

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:

1. Nintendogs + Cats
2. Winning Eleven 3D Soccer
3. Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D
4. Super Street Fighter IV 3D
5. Samurai Warriors Chronicle
6. Puzzle Bobble 3D
7. Ridge Racer 3D
8. Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle

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

1. Pilotwings Resort
2. Steel Diver
3. Nintendogs + Cats
4. Super Street Fighter IV 3D
5. The Sims 3
6. Madden NFL Football
7. Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D
8. LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
9. RIDGE RACER 3D
10. Super Monkey Ball 3D
11. BUST-A-MOVE UNIVERSE
12. SAMURAI WARRIORS: Chronicles
13. Asphalt 3D
14. Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D
15. Rayman 3D
16. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars

In Europe, the launch titles were:

1. Asphalt 3D
2. LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
3. Nintendogs + Cats
4. Pilotwings Resort
5. Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D
6. Rayman 3D
7. RIDGE RACER 3D
8. SAMURAI WARRIORS: Chronicles
9. The Sims 3
10. Super Monkey Ball 3D
11. Super Street Fighter IV 3D
12. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Shadow Wars
13. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell 3D

Colors

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

Special Editions

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.