Nintendo announces 3DS - DS successor that plays games in 3D without glasses!

[QUOTE="Kreatzion"]

I guess I'm lucky I didn't buy a DSi today, huh?

JustPlainLucas

I just hope it's a decent thumb stick. I hate that "nub" the PSP uses.

One thumbstick isn't enough. It needs two. That's a common complaint about the PSP and they're going to repeat it. WTF, Nintendo?StopThePresses

There is a potential danger of making the device seem overly cumbersome to many casual gamers. Besides, the touch screen can already act as an analog of sorts.

OK, so as far as what was rumored before the announcement, here's some stuff regarding the next DS that some devs supposedly mentioned back at GDC:
http://rpad.tv/2010/03/12/nintendo-ds2-information-unearthed-at-gdc-2010/

"...two screens, just like the DS, but they are bigger and higher resolution... gap between the two screens is negligible. Developers will be able to use them as one giant screen."
...has an accelerometer."
...dev kit is similar in power to the GameCube."
...developers I spoke with will be finished with their games before the end of the year."
-Raymond Padilla

Being able to use two screens as one would be useful for traditional stuff. Makes me wonder if the control layout will have a Wonderswan thing going on to accommodate two orientations. Hopefully the gap truly is negligible as it would be distracting to play with even a thin line running down the exact center of the screen. Ideally it would use a bending display [like this] but Nintendo apparently went for something cheaper and more reasonable like thinner bezels or something. It should be a major improvement from the DS in any case. Of course, this is all hearsay and rumor until someone confirms it.

There's also report by Nikkei about the announcement. [Nikkei is a very reputable Japanese news source - they probably wouldn't make anything up, though they might fall victim to mis-communication or something stupid.] Here's the article:

http://www.nikkei.com/news/headline/article/g=96958A9C93819696E0E1E2909E8DE0E1E2E1E0E2E3E2E2E2E2E2E2E2
Interpretation by andriasang
Basically:

-NOT just head tracking like that DSi Game. 3d is because of the screen itself [like this]
-Probably Sharp's 3d LCD tech
-Control stick
-Rumble
-Much better battery life
-Much faster wireless
-Nintendo is still looking into putting in an accelerometer
-Screen size is less than 4 inches [no big deal, 4 inch is DSi XL big]
-Release for 2nd Half 2010

Also, if anyone wants a general idea of what nVidia's Tegra 2 is capable of here's the game demo from CES. I'm not completely convinced the DS will use a Tegra chip. The 'Tegra IP' thing still might just be for the Wii 2, but it doesn't really matter either way - all signs seem to indicate the 3DS will be roughly GC level regardless of the chips behind it.

[QUOTE="JustPlainLucas"][QUOTE="Kreatzion"]

I guess I'm lucky I didn't buy a DSi today, huh?

ASK_Story

The thing is that I was planning on buying a DSi from Target because this week, they are selling them for $155. Then I heard this news on the same day right before I leave to go to Target and I find myself saving $155. My DS Lite will do just fine until the 3DS comes out.

I don't know if I like the idea of a company's handheld and console being as powerful as each other. I never liked that about the PS2 and the PSP. To me, it just defeats the purpose of the handheld. I guess in this case, the 3D images will differentiate itself from the the Wii but graphically, it'll all look the same or at the very least, comparatively similar.

I just hope developers don't stop making 2D games for this handheld. That's what I loved so much about the DS. At least with the power boost of the 3DS, we can finally get PSOne type 2D RPG's; similar looking to Star Ocean: The Second Story or Valkyrie Profile. I love the look and the feel of these games.

I don't know if I like the idea of a company's handheld and console being as powerful as each other. I never liked that about the PS2 and the PSP. To me, it just defeats the purpose of the handheld. I guess in this case, the 3D images will differentiate itself from the the Wii but graphically, it'll all look the same or at the very least, comparatively similar.

I just hope developers don't stop making 2D games for this handheld. That's what I loved so much about the DS. At least with the power boost of the 3DS, we can finally get PSOne type 2D RPG's; similar looking to Star Ocean: The Second Story or Valkyrie Profile. I love the look and the feel of these games.

Kreatzion

Megaton news, will now wait from buying any new DS until this thing comes out. Good job sabotaging DS XL launch. :Pdvader654

No kidding. I was seriously considering selling my DS Lite in favour of picking up the DS XL for the larger screen and DSiWare, but forget that now that I know that the 3DS won't be far behind, and will support DS and DSi games. The timing of this announcement strikes me as a really poor marketing decision; it reminds me of when Capcom announced the PS2 version of Resident Evil 4 just weeks before the Gamecube version launched. In any case, thanks to Nintendo for saving me some money! :lol:

It didn't make much sense to launch the original DS when the GBA was tearing up the charts in 2004, only the fourth Christmas on the market for that system.Oilers99

Well, it made sense because their primary competitor in the console gaming market was about to launch a portable of their own, and Nintendo successfully secured their hold on the market by releasing the GBA's successor before the PSP had a chance steal its marketshare. This time around, Apple appear to be the larger threat than Sony - I'm beginning to notice a lot more people on the bus and around town gaming on iPhones than DSs or PSPs, so it way well be a very good idea for Nintendo to roll out the 3DS sooner rather than later.

[QUOTE="dvader654"]Megaton news, will now wait from buying any new DS until this thing comes out. Good job sabotaging DS XL launch. :PNodsToNothing

No kidding. I was seriously considering selling my DS Lite in favour of picking up the DS XL for the larger screen and DSiWare, but forget that now that I know that the 3DS won't be far behind, and will support DS and DSi games. The timing of this announcement strikes me as a really poor marketing decision; it reminds me of when Capcom announced the PS2 version of Resident Evil 4 just weeks before the Gamecube version launched. In any case, thanks to Nintendo for saving me some money! :lol:

Which is why some believe they were somehow forced into making this announcement.

[QUOTE="ASK_Story"][QUOTE="JustPlainLucas"] You and me both. *high fives* But yeah, I'm really excited for this, and do you know why? Not because of the 3D, not because of the motion tracking, but because of the THUMBSTICK! Say it with me, everyone! Thummmmmb stiiiiiiiiiick! :DKreatzion

The thing is that I was planning on buying a DSi from Target because this week, they are selling them for $155. Then I heard this news on the same day right before I leave to go to Target and I find myself saving $155. My DS Lite will do just fine until the 3DS comes out.

1. - I think it's going to be too expensive.
2. - It's probably going to need 3D glasses. There's no way for Nintendo to get a hand on technology that no onehas heard a word about in any other media.
3. - I don't think I will buy this anyway. It doesn't matter if it does or doesn't have 3D glasses, it will cost more any handheld by a long shot. Also, I don't really care for 3D things (also doesn't work toogood)

Most likely/All-in-all- It's a 3D DS that you will need glasses to wear and will get mediocre sales.

1. - I think it's going to be too expensive.
2. - It's probably going to need 3D glasses. There's no way for Nintendo to get a hand on technology that no onehas heard a word about in any other media.
3. - I don't think I will buy this anyway. It doesn't matter if it does or doesn't have 3D glasses, it will cost more any handheld by a long shot. Also, I don't really care for 3D things (also doesn't work toogood)

Most likely/All-in-all- It's a 3D DS that you will need glasses to wear and will get mediocre sales.

Oozyrat

Cell phones and laptops with glassless 3D displays have been around in the Asian markets for several years now. The Parallax Barrier technology they use isn't terribly expense for smaller displays.

A DS with mediocre sales? Very unlikely.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_FVZMeei4kcheck SoldireKnowsBest video. this is how the 3DS will work

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_FVZMeei4kcheck SoldireKnowsBest video. this is how the 3DS will work

naomigate

No, headtracking is something that has been done on the DSi and is not even a remotely press release worthy 'addition' to mention regarding the successor of the DS. This is almost definitely something more like what I linked in my last post: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzRq7GhBLRQ

There are already cellphones that use this sort of tech in Japan and Yomiuri Shimbun is reporting that it's believed Nintendo will be using Sharp's 3D LCD technology. Check the links in my last post for the actual articles. According to the cnet article ThePlothole mentioned the total costs should only add up to about 10$ extra per screen if they go with 4" screens so there's little reason to believe anything else will be used.