Nintendo 3DS - a killer blow for the PSP? (From The Northern Echo)

Nintendo 3DS - a killer blow for the PSP?

3:19pm Wednesday 16th June 2010 in

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IS 3D technology really here to stay or just a passing fad? Nintendo certainly hopes it isn't a flash in the pan – in fact, it has just bet the company on 3D becoming commonplace.

After months of hype the company has taken the wraps off the world's first 3D hand-held games console.

Called the Nintendo 3DS the new machine will occupy a market slot above the current DS and promises to offer a unique gaming experience.

Although some companies have tried 3D games in the past the 3DS is unique in that the player doesn't need to wear special glasses in order to enjoy the three dimensional illusion.

To achieve the 3D effect it uses three cameras – one inner and two outer – which track the movement of the machine and the player then adjusts the image to create the 3D effect.

An obscure Japan-only DS game (called 3D Hidden Picture) proved the market was ready for 3D tech six months ago (see the video above). It used the camera to redraw the image depending on the angle of the console, but the 3DS is understood to use a different method to create stereosvopic vision.

According to the popularmechanics.com website, Nintendo has licensed Sharp’s parallax barrier screen technology. This filters the screen pixels through precisely oriented slits to ensure that the left and right eyes only see the pixels they are supposed to see. Essentially, it's a really clever way of replicating the red/green glasses you used to get when you sat down to watch Revenge of the Creature from the Black Lagoon at the local flea-pit (albeit without the need for colour filters).

Presumably the screen has a polarising filter to obviate the need for glasses.

In the demonstration at E3 the technology worked – and worked very well. But the viewing angle of the screen seemed very narrow.

More importantly can Nintendo can “do” 3D without pricing the 3DS out of the market?

Of course, the 3DS has to meet the challenge laid down by the iPhone as well as the moribund Sony PSP.

That's why, as well as 3D, the machine also includes a motion sensor, a gyro sensor and a slide pad that allows 360-degree analogue input. It will also be backwards compatible with games compiled for the DS and the Dsi.

Of course, technology doesn't sell consoles (just as Sony) – games do.

To that end Nintendo has assembled a formidable array of triple A software ahead of the launch. Some of the company's most precious intellectual properties have been disinterred and given a 3D make-over.

Games shown at the E3 expo in America this week included Mario Kart, Kid Icarus, Animal Crossing, and Nintendogs as well as Star Fox 64, Paper Mario and Pilot Wings Resort.

Third party apps expected soon include DJ Hero from Activision, Resident Evil Revelations from Capcom, Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater, Ridge Racer, Kingdom Hearts, Dead or Alive and Samurai Warriors. Electronic Arts is also preparing 3D versions of all its sports titles including FIFA and Madden NFL.

Even if some of these titles don't arrive from day one it's obvious that the 3DS will launch with one of the most impressive rosters of big name games in history.

The million dollar question is: how much will Nintendo have to charge for its new console?

Traditionally Nintendo doesn't do “expensive”. It launched the Wii with a low tech motion controller because it knew the price had to be kept below £200. Sony took the high tech high ground and the result was a resounding victory to Nintendo (although Sony insists the PS3 will win out in the end, but by then Nintendo will have Wii 2 on sale).

If it can launch the 3DS at a competitive price, Nintendo may just have won the next generation hand-helds battle without even firing a shot.