Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Nintendo unveils 3DS with 3D camera at E3


If you had any doubts about the existence of Nintendo's glasses-free 3D-ready portable console, let the record show that it's very real. During its E3 press conference today, the company officially unwrapped its 3DS handheld, touting "a solution that lets you take 3D gaming along with you wherever you go." The device is known to come in two colors, red and blue, and features a 3.5-inch 3D display on top, which you can adjust (or disable) with a hardware slider.

The bottom half of the 3DS is populated with a touchscreen display (not 3D-capable), what appears to be an analog stick that Nintendo is calling a "Slide Pad," as well as a standard directional pad and action buttons. There's also a gyro, a motion sensor, two camera lenses for taking 3D pictures, and the new console compatible with DS games. Wi-Fi features were emphasized during the event, such as the ability to automatically seek out hotspots or other 3DS systems.

Software partners are aplenty, with Activision, Atlus, Capcom, EA, Harmonix, Konami, Sega, T2, and Ubisoft all supposedly working on projects. Games and franchises include Kingdom Hearts, Saints Row, Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D, Madden, FIFA Soccer, Ninja Gaiden, Resident Evil Revelations, The Sims 3, Batman, DJ Hero 3D, Assassin's Creed, Ridge Racer, Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracles, Samurai Warriors, Battle Giants: Dinosaur Strike, and Hollywood 61.