3DS

3D is certainly the technology of the “now”. Ever since Avatar it seems everyone's been scrambling to implement 3D in some way or other. Generally this involves wearing either cheap plastic polarised glasses, or expensive plastic “shutter” glasses. While some TVs have come on the market which provide “glasses free” 3D, they're too expensive to reach a mass market. It is this technology, the principle of “autostereoscopy” that Nintendo is including in their 3DS. And by all accounts it works. Everyone who has so far played it seems to be astounded by the fact that the device is able to produce a decent 3D image, as well as graphical power certainly approaching that of the Gamecube or Wii. Its screens are slightly larger than that of the regular Nintendo DS, though not as large as the enhanced DSi XL. The console also offers the ability to take 3D photographs, utilising dual rear-facing cameras on the back of the lid, as well as a single front-facing one on the interior. These are utilised in some of the pre-packaged “alternate reality” games, wherein one points the 3DS at a card and something pops out, or the card turns into a whole. From watching videos, the effect is certainly realistic, especially coupled with the “depth” of 3D. Of course, if you don't like the 3D, there's a slider on the console to turn it down, or indeed off, a feature which conserves battery life.

Aside from the 3D “gimmick” (though we know from experience with the Wii that Nintendo does “gimmicks” well), the console offers many features which are to be expected of a modern games console, and which shouldn't come as a surprise to owners of the DSi. From launch, one will be able to download games from Nintendo's online shop, though whether this will include a “virtual console” feature as in the Wii it remains to be seen. A host of pre-loaded apps are available, such as an updated form the the DS' PictoChat, a messaging application with drawing support, which will now offer Wi-Fi support. In the future, Nintendo are expected to offer a web browser for download, though it is uncertain what form this will take and whether the company will stick with Opera, used for the DS and Wii browsers.

Of course, there are some...not so fun aspects of the console, most notably its price. Nintendo has neglected to set a UK RRP, leading to retailers setting some of the highest prices in the world for the console, ranging from £200 (ASDA, online) to around £230 (HMV, online), while the USA is paying $250 (approx. £150). There also doesn't seem much appealing about the launch line-up either, with Nintendo's flagship titles such as a remake of Ocarina of Time and Kid Icarus being delayed to sometime around May or June. Indeed, about the only thing that interests me personally in the opening lineup is Nintendogs + Cats. Because, yes, I'm a pretty casual gamer. These are expected to be priced at around £30-£40, in line with current DS game pricing. Another problem is that we may well see shortages of the kind encountered with the Wii in 2006/7; Europe as a whole is only initially getting a million units. If Nintendo's 3D gamble pays off, they should go pretty quickly. If not, the company will have some serious thinking to do.

The Nintendo 3DS goes on sale March 25th 2011, with prices ranging from £200 to £230.

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