Nintendo 3DS

The Nintendo 3DS is an upcoming handheld console that will be the successor to the Nintendo DS series and fifth device in its series. It will be released early 2011. The console will have a 3D display without the need for glasses (known as autostereoscopy), using Parallax Barrier technology. The Nintendo 3DS was shown for the public during the E3 2010 in Los Angeles, California, coming in metallic colors, and the upper screen slightly wider than the bottom touch screen. It will cost ¥25,000 ($249.99 or £229.99 ) upon its release. According to the September 2010 issue of Nintendo Power, the 3DS will have game cards, but with a little groove. Also, the game boxes will be similar in shape but not in size.

The prime feature of the handheld is the 3D display, which is shown in the upper screen of 3.5 inches. The Nintendo 3DS also includes a camera on its inner side located at the top of the upper screen and two outside over the lid, giving the capability to take 3D photos, merge pictures and also play 3D videos. The handheld has added a 3D depth slide, a motion sensor and a gyroscope; an analog circle pad on its inner side along with the direction pad. Some buttons were moved such as Select and Start, that are found currently below the bottom touch screen. The power button is now located below the A, B, X and Y buttons. The new button Home, which allows users to enter directly the system's menu, is found between the Start and Select buttons. The handheld also is able to find Wireless Connection spots and other Nintendo 3DS automatically for online play. Online expansion also includes achievements, friend lists, sharing game content with friends, and the ability to download new content for games and firmware update.

Unlike its predecessor, the Nintendo 3DS will have multitask, which can be used by pressing the Home button. Another feature is the "Tag Mode", in which the handheld will detect other nearby 3DS systems automatically.

The Nintendo 3DS also has a 2 GB SD card included which can be expanded to more capacity and a charging dock instead of a charging cable like the Nintendo DS series use. The battery duration will be about 3-5 hours for playing normal software. However, the higher the brightness setting, the more battery used. It depends on what software is running on the 3DS. To get full battery with the charger, it will take 3 hours and 30 minutes.

It is backwards compatible with 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. Nonetheless, the hardware will count with a Virtual Console like Wii's to download Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles. One Virtual Console title confirmed is Super Mario Land. Also, the Nintendo 3DS will have the ablility for users to look at some videos of games and play demos.

Some games have been announced for the 3DS, including: Paper Mario, Mario Kart, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Nintendogs + Cats, a new Animal Crossing game and .

It will be available in two colors, Aqua Blue and Cosmos Black (All 3DS systems have black inner upper halves). Other colors like red, gold and purple shown at E3 2010 were not confirmed.

The 3DS will be able to show videos in 3D. Satoru Iwata also has stated that there is a possibility that the 3DS will record videos.

Stylus
The 3DS stylus is quite different than the previous models. It is extendable up to 3.94 inches for the users comfort. There is no apparent color for the stylus. The stylus is located on the back of the 3DS, just like the original DS.

Mario Games in Development

 * Paper Mario
 * Mario Kart
 * A new Super Mario Bros. game is in development, but currently has not been given a title.

Trivia

 * The Nintendo 3DS is the first Nintendo system to be rated by PEGI.
 * The North American 3DS isn't rated by ESRB, but the box does mention the 3D should not be watched by younger children.
 * A rating from ESRB or PEGI can be seen on American or European Wii boxes as well. However, the rating isn't for the Wii system, but for Wii Sports, a game bundled with the system.