Nintendo 3DS

The Nintendo 3DS is the latest installment in the Nintendo DS series of handheld consoles produced by Nintendo. One of the console's primary features is the 3D visual screen, which displays auto-stereoscopic images to create the illusion of depth without the need for glasses. The depth can be adjusted with a slider found to the right of the screen, or turned off completely to play games in 2D. It was released in Japan on February 26th, 2011, Europe on March 25th, 2011, the United States on March 27th, 2011, and Australia on March 31st, 2011. It costs $169.99 in North America, €169,99 in Europe and £169.99 in the United Kingdom as a result of an August 2011 price drop.

The system is currently available in seven colors: Aqua Blue, Cosmos Black, Flame Red, Ice White, Pearl (Misty) Pink, Midnight Purple and Cobalt Blue. Other colors like gold and green shown at E3 2010 have been confirmed, but have not yet been released to the public. A Misty Pink version was released in Japan on October 20, 2011, and an Ice White 3DS (bundled with Super Mario 3D Land) was released in Japan on November 3rd. Club Nintendo Japan and European members have available three exclusive models which are inspired by Mario, Princess Peach and a Super Mushroom. On May 11, 2012, Nintendo of Japan announced that production of the Aqua Blue color of the 3DS will end soon. These models continue to be sold in America. A Luigi Themed 3DS XL will be released in Japan as part of The Year of Luigi.

Features
The 3DS console has a similar appearance to that of the Nintendo DS, but builds upon its features. It includes three cameras, one being inward and the other two being outward, that are used to shoot 3D pictures, merge them, record 3D videos and play camera based games (see Augmented Reality Games). The console, much like its predecessors, features the four, , and  buttons, the  and  buttons (which are embedded below the touch screen) and the  and  shoulder buttons. Two new additions to the console are a Circle Pad located above the, which has been shifted downward, and the  button, first used with the Wii console, used to access a HOME menu that is similar to that of the Nintendo DSi. The console also has wireless connectivity, which is used to connect with other consoles via local play or StreetPass, or to the Internet to download expansions for the console or play with people from around the world, for example. Online expansions include friend lists, sharing game content with friends, paid downloadable content for games (an example is New Super Mario Bros. 2 having additional Coin Rush packs) and firmware updates.

The Nintendo 3DS features limited multitasking. Software in use can be suspended with the button any time the software is open (except occasionally during online play) in order to change the screen brightness, switch to another software, check the Friend List if friends are online, browse the Internet, organize the HOME menu and check notifications from StreetPass and SpotPass. StreetPass allows the console to send and receive data with other consoles within a certain range when it is in sleep mode. SpotPass also allows data exchange but differs from StreetPass in that it requires an Internet connection to be used.

The Nintendo 3DS comes with a 2 GB SD card, though any SD card can be used. The package includes a charging cradle along with the standard charging cable (which is the same as that of the DSi, and consequently is compatible with the DSi as well). The battery lasts three to five hours (calculated with minimum settings) while playing standard 3DS games; battery life is affected by brightness, 3D level, and wireless connectivity. To fully charge the battery, it takes approximately three and a half hours, so there is an energy saving mode that can be activated to slightly increase the battery life. When playing DS games, the battery lasts about 5-8 hours due to some hardware being disabled like the pedometer.

The system is backwards compatible with both DS and DSi games, although, as with the DSi, Nintendo DS games cannot make use of extensions that used the original DS's Game Boy Advance slot, which the 3DS lacks. However, select Game Boy Advance games have been released on the console's Virtual Console service as part of the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Program, which allowed people who purchased a Nintendo 3DS before the aforementioned price drop to download ten free games, five of which were from the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).

The 3DS also features enhanced language accessibility. The system is the first Nintendo console to have Portuguese and Russian system language settings. It's also the first Nintendo handheld console to feature a Dutch setting. All these languages are included on the European and Australian version of the 3DS, and the Portuguese language is also included on the American version. Mario games also began including Dutch, Portuguese and Russian settings. However, these languages are only available in European and Australian versions of the games. The 3DS is the first Nintendo system to be rated by PEGI and the ESRB (receiving a 7+ and E rating, respectively) due to the built-in games, including Face Raiders, AR Games, and StreetPass Mii Plaza containing 3D images which could cause damage to eyesight for anyone below the specified age groups.

Nintendo 3DS XL
The Nintendo 3DS XL (Nintendo 3DS LL in Japan) is another version of the Nintendo 3DS handheld announced by Satoru Iwata in a Nintendo Direct video on June 22, 2012. Similarly to the Nintendo DSi XL, the 3DS XL has larger screens: The upper measuring 4.88 inches (making it the biggest screen on a Nintendo handheld so far) and the lower measuring 4.18 inches, both being 90% larger than the standard Nintendo 3DS screens. The resolution, however, is the same. The 3DS XL also has been given rounded corners and digital, , and buttons instead of the embedded ones found on the Nintendo 3DS. The handheld also sports a single color job instead of the dual color job of its predecessor (black in the interior of the lid and a second main color overall), although it may also come with dual colors. Additionally, it is packaged with a 4 GB SD card, and the battery has been optimized to last longer. It lasts about 3.5 to 6 hours when playing 3DS games, compared to the 3 to 5 hours of play on the original version. The handheld was released in Japan and Europe on July 28, 2012, in North America on August 19, 2012, and in Australia (bundled with an AC adapter) on August 23, 2012. In Japan and Europe, the handheld does not come with a battery charger, but can use the original Nintendo 3DS's charger. The handheld has its own charger in North America. It also does not include the charging cradle packaged with the original 3DS.

Stylus
The 3DS stylus differs significantly from the previous models. It is a single, silver and black color, and (not on the XL version) extendable up to 3.94 inches for the user's comfort. The stylus is stored in a slot on the back of the 3DS, or on the right of the 3DS XL.

Circle Pad Pro
The Circle Pad Pro is an extra accessory marketed as enhancing 3DS gameplay controls. As the name implies, it has an extra Circle Pad positioned on the right-hand side coupled with the and  shoulder buttons on the back. The whole combination is bundled onto a cradle which fits into the bottom of the 3DS, just as the charging cradle does. Currently, it is only available in Cosmos Black.

Mario Kart 7 Wheel
The Mario Kart 7 wheel is a specially made wheel developed by peripheral manufacturer Hori. The product is marked with the Official Nintendo Seal and fits snugly onto the back of the console. Its function is identical to that of the Wii Wheel. It is currently available in Japan and the UK. Like the Circle Pad Pro, the Mario Kart 7 wheel is only available in Cosmos Black.

3DS Stand
The 3DS stand is a Nintendo-made peripheral which holds the 3DS for players while playing any game. It comes bundled with Kid Icarus: Uprising and thus was released on March 22, 2012 in Japan and March 23 in North America and Europe. It is also available for purchase separately in Japan. The stand allows the user to have more comfort when playing the game, particularly during sections in which the touch screen is in heavy use. The stand can also be folded down, making it compact and easy to transport. Masahiro Sakurai, the director of Kid Icarus: Uprising, stated that the Nintendo 3DS Stand is useful for games that use both the Circle Pad and the touch screen at the same time.

Nintendo 3DS Camera
The Nintendo 3DS Camera is an application that allows users to take photographs and videos in glasses-free 3D. Some photos can have a decorated effect with the in-game tools like Dream. The videos can last up to 10 minutes.

Nintendo 3DS Sound
Nintendo 3DS Sound works similarly to the function previously seen on the Nintendo DSi. Players can record sounds with a duration of 10 seconds and store them in the console or on an SD card. Player can also add music into the SD card and, unlike in Nintendo DSi Sound, the music can be in either MP3 or AAC format. A limit of one hundred music files can be stored in the default folder as well as in any additional folders, though there is no limit to the number of folders that can be created so long as there is enough memory on the SD card. In addition, any recorded sound less than five seconds in length can be attached to a Swapnote.

Mii Maker
The Mii Channel on the Wii makes a return with minimal changes as Mii Maker. However, there is a new feature in which the 3DS camera takes a photo of the player and converts it to make the photo look like a Mii. This feature is not automatic. Players must select the Mii's gender, hair color, and eye color before being prompted to take a picture of either themselves or another person. Players are then able to leave the Mii as it is or to make any modifications they may deem necessary with new customization options (hairstyles, eye shapes, etc.). Players can also connect to their Mii Channel and import any Miis found there to the 3DS. To connect the Mii Maker to the Wii, the player must press the, , and buttons on the  when on the Mii Channel. Holding down the button for a period of time afterward makes a "Connect to DS" icon appear (if it is not present already).

The player is also able to save their Mii as a QR Code, and save the image to the system's SD card. Players who then scan these codes with the Nintendo 3DS Camera will then receive the corresponding Miis.

StreetPass Mii Plaza


One of the most notable features of the 3DS, it allows players to create a profile represented by a Mii. When the player closes his or her 3DS system at any time, even when the StreetPass Mii Plaza is not open, walking past someone else who also has his or her 3DS closed (and StreetPass activated) enables each of the profile Miis to appear in both of their Mii Plazas. A notification light on the 3DS turns green to indicate when another 3DS has been detected.

Six games can be played in the Plaza: Puzzle Swap, Find Mii (called StreetPass Quest outside of North America), StreetPass Mansion, StreetPass Battle, StreetPass Squad, and StreetPass Garden. In Find Mii, Miis are utilized to fight their way through several enemy-filled rooms. Mario-themed accessories such as character caps can be obtained and later be used to dress up the Miis. When another 3DS is detected, its profile Mii will join in on the game. In Puzzle Swap, players exchange pieces of various different Nintendo-themed puzzles in order to complete them and unlock three-dimensional images. The four other games cost 4.99 euros apiece, but the 4 can be bought for 14.99 euros. Another update featuring WiFi hotspots is soon to come, to give a boost to European countries that do not meet that many Miis.

Augmented Reality Games
The system is released with a total of six AR Cards that are used primarily in this feature, having a minor role in Nintendogs + Cats, among other games. In Nintendogs + Cats, using the Mario AR Card enables the player's pets to wear Mario-related hats. The Question Block Card can be used to play games, while the five Character Cards included can be used to take 2D or 3D photos.

The 3DS camera is required to play the games, as it must be aimed at the AR Card at all times to read it. Upon reading the Question Block Card, a menu of games appears, including Archery (Shooting in Europe), which uses the aiming reticule that is used to open the AR Games, AR Shot, in which the player uses a snooker stick to hit a ball onto a teleporter, Mii Pics, in which the player can take a picture of his or her Mii, Star Pics, which is the same as Mii Pics, but the player uses one or more of the Character Cards, Graffiti, a drawing apparatus, and Fishing, in which the player uses a fishing line to catch fish.

There is also a shop which is unlocked after playing any three of the games, in which the player can buy new features and games using Play Coins.

Face Raiders
Face Raiders is a built-in game for the 3DS that utilizes the 3DS cameras, which is required to make enemies in this game. At the first playthrough, only the inner camera can be used to take pictures of the players' faces. After their first playthrough, players may utilize the outer cameras to take pictures of other people's faces, or they can take another one of their own face by swapping the inner and the outer cameras. If desired, a player can even use a face from a photograph, even if it is online.

The objective of this game is to shoot down floating heads of whatever face picture is taken. The game uses the gyroscope and the outer cameras to play, which makes players shoot down faces while rotating their bodies. It also appears as if they are shooting faces in their current location. New levels can be opened after players complete a level; three levels are unlocked by this method. Each level has its own set of enemies with different attack patterns. Butterflies and bombs appear; butterflies restore HP while bombs give users a chance to blow up all enemies on the screen.

At the end of a level, a boss fight ensues. Players must exploit the weak point of a boss to defeat it. All bosses have different weak points and different methods of attacking. After the boss is defeated, the player completes the game.

Nintendo eShop
The Nintendo eShop (initially called Nintendo 3DS Shop) is a feature that allows players to buy Virtual Console and DSiWare titles for their Nintendo 3DS with Nintendo 3DS prepaid cards or credit cards. It also allows Game Promotion. The eShop is similar to Wii Shop Channel and was released with a firmware update on the evening of June 6th, 2011 in North America and on June 7th in other regions such as Japan, Europe, and Australia together with the Internet Browser. At GDC 2011, it was also announced that "3D Classics" would be made available for download in addition to the regular titles (Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and NES titles). These games, while 3D-compatible, retain their original graphical styles, however. Other than purchasing Virtual Console and DSiWare content, users can view information on current and upcoming 3DS titles (most notably through monthly episodes of Nintendo Show 3D, which provides footage of and commentary on popular or notable releases) as well as the Staff Pick of the Week (a Virtual Console or DSiWare title). If desired, users can also purchase and play a variety of "Quick Plays," including popular games such as Bejeweled and Solitaire. Continuing a practice established on the Nintendo DSi, content purchased from the eShop is transported to the 3DS Menu in the form of a gift that must be unwrapped before use. In addition, users are able to purchase downloadable content for their existing games.

Nintendo Zone
Nintendo Zone is a feature that enables users to, once in participating public locations, view screenshots, watch 3D videos, download and play game demos, access the eShop, play compatible games online, browse the Internet, and receive SpotPass content. In the August 2013 Nintendo Direct, StreetPass Relay Points were introduced. When players visit a Nintendo Zone location, their StreetPass data for certain games is temporarily stored at that location and can be received by another player who visits that location and has the same games.

Game Notes
The Game Notes tool allows players to use up to 16 panels to make annotations or make simple drawings while other applications are suspended. Only a pencil option and an eraser option are available, though users can switch the pencil color between black, blue, and red. Any annotation can be saved and stored in the Nintendo 3DS Camera. A view of the suspended application is available if the player wishes to take notes on a game.

Friend List
From the Friend List, players can see their own friend codes and manage the register of other Nintendo 3DS owners they have added as friends. If their friends have the wireless feature of their consoles turned on, users can see the last game they were playing or the last application they were using. If friends play a game that has online capability, such as Mario Kart 7, and users own the same game, then users can join that game and play alongside their friends.

Notifications
Notifications provide users with various alerts that can be received while the console is in sleep mode. When an alert is received, the notification light, located on the front of the console near the button when closed and between the two screens when open, glows a certain color depending on the alert. If the alert is SpotPass-related (e.g. news or a software/application update), the light glows blue, and a blue circle appears on the software/application/feature that sent the alert. If the alert is StreetPass-related, it glows green, and a green circle appears on the software/application/feature. If one of a user's friends registered in the Friend List is online, the light will glow orange (it will flash orange if one of them is playing a game the user can join), and an orange circle appears on the Friend List icon. Finally, if the console's battery is close to being depleted, the light will glow red and flash.

Internet Browser
The Internet Browser uses the Yahoo! and Google search engines; users can choose which of the two to use at any time. The browser used is Netfront Browser NX. Users can type queries into a search bar or click the URL option to type in a web address. The Touch Screen is used to scroll through pages, which are divided between the top and bottom screens. While it does support a variety of web standards (HTML 4.01, XHTML 1.1, CSS 1, CSS 2.1, CSS 3 (some), DOM Levels 1-3, ECMAScript, XMLHttpRequest, and Canvas element (some)) and image formats (MPO, GIF, JPEG, PNG, BMP, and ICO (some may not be displayed)), the browser does not support any type of plug-in (e.g. Flash).

Step Counter
The Step Counter works by using the 3DS's motion sensor to count the player's steps when the 3DS is closed. Every 100 steps gives the player one Play Coin, which can be used in the AR Games, StreetPass Mii Plaza, and compatible games (e.g. Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition). Players can receive a maximum of ten Play Coins per day and can hold a maximum of 300 on the 3DS system. Additionally, every step is logged in the Activity Log.

Nintendo Video
Nintendo Video is a free downloadable application that enables the 3DS to display videos in 3D. Using the SpotPass feature, players can receive and view movie trailers, comedy clips, and music videos, all specially selected for their 3D functionality. It is currently available in Japan, Europe, and North America. Like the eShop, the service updates regularly. Users can have a maximum of four videos at a time, one of which is deleted with every update. However, starting October 20th, 2011, Nintendo released previously deleted videos on the eShop in North America, where they can be purchased as permanent additions to the 3DS menu.

Swapnote
Swapnote (called Nintendo Letter Box outside of North America) is a free, downloadable messaging service that allows users to write notes (up to four pages) via the stylus and send them by either SpotPass or StreetPass to people registered in their Friend Lists (in the case of StreetPass, notes can be given to people who may not be on said list). Users can reply to each note once, and replies are restricted to one page. As users send notes to their friends, they gain access to a variety of features, including the ability to attach photos stored in an SD card, to create messages and art displayed in full 3D, to change the stationery on which notes are written, to view notes in a slide show format, and (using 15 Play Coins) to attach sound recordings from the Nintendo 3DS Sound application. The software can store a combined maximum of 3,000 notes and replies, and each note can have a maximum of 100 replies attached to it, with new notes/replies replacing old ones once this limit is reached (notes given "Favorite" status are not deleted, though replies are). The software is available in Japan, Europe, Australia and North America. An update for this software was released on July 5, 2012 in Japan, Europe and Australia which adds the feature to change the ink's colors by pressing either to the right or left, with North America receiving the feature shortly afterward. An April 2013 update allows users to use different colors of ink on each page in one note and added some more features to the software, such as the ability to delete multiple notes at once.

Mario-themed stationery
Occasionally, in the wake of an important event, such as a Nintendo Direct broadcast or a game release, special notes are sent via SpotPass by Nintendo employees. Here are some of the currently available Mario-themed stationeries:

Photo Together with Super Mario


The system's first entirely Mario-centered application, Photo Together with Super Mario (known as いっしょにフォト スーパーマリオ in Japanese) is a photography application compatible with special Mario-themed AR cards, developed by the same teams behind Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario 3D Land. The application and cards were released in Japan on April 23, 2013.

Released Games

 * Super Mario 3D Land
 * Mario Kart 7
 * Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games
 * Mario Tennis Open
 * New Super Mario Bros. 2
 * Paper Mario: Sticker Star
 * Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
 * Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move (Nintendo eShop exclusive)
 * Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D
 * Mario & Luigi: Dream Team

Upcoming Mario Games

 * Mario Party (tentative title)
 * Mario Golf: World Tour
 * Yoshi's New Island
 * Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

Health Warnings
The stereoscopic 3D effect provided by the 3DS has been subject to concern among consumers, forcing Nintendo to place a 7+ label on the system and its game boxes, the first in Nintendo system history. The stereoscopic 3D effect may contribute to visual stress to children's developing eyes and may cause a variety of symptoms including fatigue, nausea, headaches, dizziness and eyestrain. Warnings are frequently scattered throughout the games themselves; for example, Super Mario 3D Land frequently advises the player "Don't forget to take a break when you feel tired". To reduce disorientation from the 3D, the effect can be adjusted with the slider or even turned off altogether. Parents can disable 3D, preventing children from using it unless a password is provided. At a Nintendo World Toy Store event near launch of the 3DS, Nintendo provided a warning saying that the 3DS's 3D mode should not be used by children six years and under. As a result, the employees at the event forced young children to play demos exclusively in 2D and even enforced this rule by having parents stick a special sticker featuring Toad on their children before allowing them to play.

Despite this, the American Optometric Association has maintained that there is no evidence that viewing 3D images have a negative effect on children, as long as it is in moderation. The viewing of 3D effect can also help identify eye problems such as lazy eye.

Later on, this act was justified as a means of providing information and protecting the system against lawsuits.

Game gallery
 

Trivia

 * A Cosmo Black 3DS appeared in one of the sketches in the opening of the London 2012 Olympic Games, used as a fun factor (showing the addiction of games).
 * On the Home Screen, blowing into the microphone causes the icons to spin around and/or shake.
 * This is the first console that has RPG games from both the Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi series, as Paper Mario was a home console-exclusive series until the release of Paper Mario: Sticker Star, and Mario & Luigi being handheld console-exclusive. The 3DS is also the second system to have more than one Mario RPG game, the first being the DS.
 * This is the first handheld for which an original 3D Mario game was developed.
 * StreetPass mode was present to a limited degree on the Nintendo DS. It was implemented on a game-by-game basis, and it was simply called Tag Mode. No Mario games used this feature, but one notable game that used it was The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks.
 * This is the first Nintendo handheld console (not counting the Nintendo DSi) since the Game Boy Color to not feature a Mario game on its launch date.
 * This is the first handheld Nintendo console to feature an E+10 (+7 in some territories) Mario game.