A lot of us are drooling over it (well me and billy are at least) and a lot of us were wow’ed by it (while the other half were busy gunning it down) now Nintendo has finally released the all the details on their latest handheld, the 3DS. While the rest of the world are getting their hands on the actual commercial model, we here are still far off from even seeing one. Still to satiate the cravings of those who are like me craving for details on the unit itself, I compiled the details posted over at Siliconera and GamesRadar on the lowdown on the 3DS.
So let’s start of with the GamesRadar Post:
The 3DS itself
- There will be but a single, solitary, universal Friend Code for all games. Praise the mighty lord Zeus!
- It appears to have an iPhone-style Home button to allow multi-tasking while you take a break from a game.
- It has a built-in gyroscope for motion control. Justin is currently having a whale of a time using it to aim his slingshot in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and it’s also been confirmed for use as a periscope control in submarine shooter Steel Diver.
- It comes with a 2Gbรย SD memory card for removable storage. (32gb is the max)
- The new Nintendo e-store will sell Game Boy and Game Boy Color games for download.
- The 3DS is backward compatible with “most ” DS games.
- The built in cameras (one for standard photos, one set of two for 3D pics) will allow you to automatically build a base Mii from a mugshot. Though it didn’t seem to work very well even in the trailer.
- It uses a built-in pedometer to record your activity, Wii Fit-style.
- It has built-in augmented reality games, which look to put monsters in environments as you observe them through the camera. It uses AR cards, like in PS3 game Eye of Judgement.
- It has a built-in shooter called Face Raiders, which lets you put your face (and presumably those of your friends) in the game as targets.
- It will come in blue and black. No sign of that nice red one we’ve seen at previous events.
- It will be released in Europe on March the 25th and in the US two days later on March the 27th. The US RRP is $249.99. There is no European RRP. Nintendo is allowing retail to decide, but the current average as of the time of writing is รยฃ229.99. Game prices in the UK are currently quoted at รยฃ32.99 (GamesStation) and รยฃ39.99 (GAME). Seriously, GAME.
The games
- As well as allowing you to have passive, automaticรย battles with passers-by using the 3DS’ background connectivity featuresรย in order toรย win unlockable figurine trophies, Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition will have an online spectator mode similar to that seen in the home console versions.
- Ubisoft has a side-scrolling Rabbids platformer, Splinter Cell, Combat of Giants (a dinosaur fighting game, which probably has Meiks trembling with excitement), Asphalt 3D, Ghost Recon, James Noir’s Hollywood Crimes (no, us neither) and Driver: Renegade on the way.
- Team Ninja’s Dead or Alive Dimensions has been made of a ‘best of’ edition of the whole series. Optional touch screen controls make specials and combo strings easier, but you don’t need to use them. Justin reports aรย “nasty” frame-rate drop when you play in 3D. He states around 20 – 30 FPS, guaged with his world-renowned robo-eyes.
- Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 uses a new roving over-the-shoulder camera to put you right behind each player you control. Could be amazing, could be confusing. Justin says it’s “gorgeous”.
- Pilotwings Resort has you flying over the same Island seen in Wii Sports Resort. SNES staple line-up of hang-glider, rocket-belt and plane confirmed.
- Nintendogs + Cats features more variation within a species than in the previous game, meaning that not everyone’s raging pitbull will look, bite and slobber the same. And the animals will react to your proximity (presumably using the 3D cameras). If they like you, they’ll lick the screen. If you’re a stranger they might go for your nose. Which will be exciting in 3D.
- The following were shown in brief trailers: Super Monkey Ball 3D, Resident Evil: Revelations, Samurai Warriors, Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars, Paper Mario, Starfox 64 3D, Resident Evilรย Mercenaries, The Sims 3, Ridge Racer 3D, Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater, Animal Crossing and Mario Kart.
- First up is MP3 support. The DSi couldnรขโฌ™t play MP3 files, but the 3DS can. It can also play AAC files. Since the 3DS comes with a 2GB SD card (and supports up to a 32GB card), itรขโฌ™s nice to have MP3 support present and accounted for. Like theรย Nintendo DSi, the 3DS will include a 3DS Sound application, which lets you listen to your music and manipulate sounds.
- Next up is the online, which is receiving a major overhaul. The Nintendo 3DS will have access to an eShop that will be home to trailers and downloadable game demos. Youรขโฌ™ll be able to rate and see how other consumers rated games based on these demos. The eShop will also be where youรขโฌ™ll be able to find Gameboy and Gameboy Color games via the 3DSรย Virtual Console.
- The online store will be completely cash-based, not based on any kind of รขโฌลpointsรขโฌย system. Youรขโฌ™ll be able to use your credit card to make purchases directly off the eStore, or buy a Nintendo 3DS Prepaid card at retail stores. At some point after launch, youรขโฌ™ll also be able to grab an Internet browser off the eStore.
- A previously reported parental lock feature will allow you to restrict content on the 3DS via a PIN. Youรขโฌ™ll have the ability to restrict access to games based on their age-rating by the appropriate countryรขโฌ™s ratings board, as well as disable the systemรขโฌ™s stereoscopic 3D output.
- And finally, Play Coins. The Nintendo 3DS can count the number of steps you take while carrying it around. By walking, you earn Play Coins. These coins can be used to unlock content in compatible 3DS games and applications.
- Oh, and just in case you missed it, the 3DS also comes with an adjustable stylus:
Personal notes
(please forgive me for just copy pasting this it’s already 3:20 AM in the morning and this news is pretty much too hot not to post immediately)
As far as I’m concerned I’m liking what I’m seeing. The unit is priced reasonably enough that it could make me buy the unit at day one. However the prudent side of me is being well a prude and most probably if ever I’m getting one is when they release the 2nd or 3rd gen of the 3DS.
It seems that Nintendo has finally learned their lesson in terms of the multiplayer capabilities of their handheld. I liked that the 3DS can now also play mp3s aside from AACs which gives it more “multimedia” capabilities. However there has no info regarding it’s movie playing capabilities. Still, I like the idea you can just slot in a 32gb SD card plus play your own music on it.
As far all this info is concerned, the one that struck me was the play coins. While a lot of people gripe about it (since they don’t ever want to walk, quoting “Roxie Richter: YOU LAZY ASS!”) for someone like me who travels (ergo who walks) everyday this is a welcome concept PLUS the idea that if you keep walking you will be rewarded with items is a nice touch, plus it gives me reason to walk more each day!
So, with that said and done, WHAT SAY YOU SONY!? WHAT SAY YOU!?
Sources (just in case some people couldn’t take a LINK (lol)):
[Siliconera: The Little Nintendo 3DS Features You Should Know About] [GamesRadar: Nintendo 3DS conference: Every new game, date, price, feature and fact in one place]