Nintendo 3DS: Difference between revisions

|release='''Nintendo 3DS:'''<br>{{release|Japan|February 26, 2011|Europe|March 25, 2011<ref name="Nintendo%20of%20Europe%20News">19 January 2011. [http://www.nintendo.co.uk/NOE/en_GB/news/2010/nintendo_3ds_brings_a_dimensional_shift_to_the_world_of_entertainment_on_march_25_31059.html Nintendo 3DS brings a dimensional shift to the world of entertainment on March 25]. ''Nintendo News''. Retrieved 4 November 2011.</ref>|USA|March 27, 2011|Canada|March 27, 2011<ref>https://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/gaming/controller-freak/nintendo-3ds-coming-to-canada-march-27th/article611006/</ref>|Australia|March 31, 2011<ref name="Nintendo%203DS%20Australian%20Release%20Date">Vuckovic, Daniel (February 7, 2011) [http://www.vooks.net/story-19908-Nintendo-3DS-Australian-Launch-Event-details-and-live-blog.html Nintendo 3DS Australian Launch Event details and live blog]. ''Vooks''. Retrieved 4 November 2011.</ref>|Brazil|July 9, 2011|South Korea|April 28, 2012|HK|September 28, 2012<ref>http://nintendo.com.hk/pressrelease_3ds.htm</ref>|ROC|September 28, 2012<ref>http://nintendo.tw/pressrelease_3ds.htm</ref>}} '''Nintendo 3DS XL:'''<br>{{release|Japan|July 28, 2012 (as Nintendo 3DS LL)|Europe|July 28, 2012|USA|August 19, 2012<ref name=ign3dxl></ref>|Australia|August 23, 2012|Brazil|September 3, 2012|South Korea|September 20, 2012|HK|September 28, 2012{{ref needed}}|ROC|September 28, 2012|China|December 7, 2012 (as iQue 3DS XL)}} '''Nintendo 2DS:'''<br>{{release|USA|October 12, 2013|Europe|October 12, 2013|Australia|October 12, 2013|South Korea|December 7, 2013|Japan|February 27, 2016<ref>http://www.polygon.com/2015/12/25/10665522/pokemon-red-blue-yellow-green-2ds-mew-code</ref>}} '''New Nintendo 3DS:'''<br>{{release|Japan|October 11, 2014|Australia|November 21, 2014<ref name="NintendoDirectAus">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uNYEo8YN3I</ref>|Europe|February 13, 2015|South Korea|September 10, 2015<ref>http://www.reinodocogumelo.com/2015/08/new-nintendo-3ds-sera-lancado-na-coreia.html</ref>|USA|September 25, 2015<ref>http://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/K2zf0kVCs-zIPGKnlu6sTRWrZvaE-EoV{{dead link}}</ref>}} '''New Nintendo 3DS XL:'''<br>{{release|Japan|October 11, 2014 (as New Nintendo 3DS LL)|Australia|November 21, 2014<ref name="NintendoDirectAus"></ref>|USA|February 13, 2015|Europe|February 13, 2015|South Korea|May 1, 2015}} '''New Nintendo 2DS XL:'''<br>{{release|Australia|June 15, 2017|Japan|July 13, 2017 (as New Nintendo 2DS LL)|South Korea|July 13, 2017|USA|July 28, 2017|Europe|July 28, 2017}}

The '''{{wp|Nintendo 3DS}}''' is a handheld game system produced by [[Nintendo]]. It is the successor to the [[Nintendo DS]]. One of the Nintendo 3DS's primary features is the 3D visual screen, which displays auto-stereoscopic images to create the illusion of depth without the need for 3D 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. The console was released in Japan on February 26, 2011; in Europe on March 25, 2011; in the United States and Canada on March 27, 2011; and in Australia on March 31, 2011. It costs US$169.99 in North America, €169,99 in Europe, and £169.99 in the United Kingdom<ref>.

[http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/article.php?id=22853 Nintendo 3DS price - £229.99 at GAME and HMV - Official Nintendo Magazine]</ref> as a result of an August 2011 price drop. It is the handheld counterpart of the [[Wii U]], with graphical capabilities likened to that of the [[Nintendo GameCube]], but not on par with the [[Wii]], and with better 3D modeling than the GameCube, but more pixelated due to the lack of texture filtering.

The Nintendo 3DS console has a similar appearance to that of the [[Nintendo DS]], but it 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 such as ''[[AR Games]]''. The console, much like its predecessors, features the four {{button|3ds|A}}, {{button|3ds|B}}, {{button|3ds|X}}, and {{button|3ds|Y}} buttons; the {{button|3ds|start}} and {{button|3ds|select}} buttons (which are embedded below the Touch Screen); and the {{button|3ds|L}} and {{button|3ds|R}} shoulder buttons. Two new additions to the console are a Circle Pad {{button|3ds|Stick}} located above the {{button|3ds|Pad}}, which has been shifted downward, and the {{button|3ds|home}} button, first used with the [[Wii]] console, used to access a HOME menu that is similar to that of the [[Nintendo DSi]] and [[Nintendo DSi#Nintendo DSi XL|Nintendo DSi XL]]. 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),<ref>[http://www.cubed3.com/news/14273 3DS To Feature Expanded Online; Achievements, Friend Lists]</ref> and firmware updates.

A Nintendo 3DS comes with a 2 GB {{wp|SD card}}, a Nintendo 3DS XL or Nintendo 2DS come with a 4 GB SDHC card,<ref>http://www.nintendo.com/2ds/features</ref> and a New Nintendo 3DS, New Nintendo 3DS XL, or New Nintendo 2DS XL come with a 4 GB Micro SDHC Card. However, any SD or SDHC card can be used and with appropriate adaptors, if necessary and compatible.

===Battery life===

The Nintendo 3DS includes a 1300mAh battery. 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 (260-433 mA) (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 (371 mA), so there is an energy saving mode that can be activated to slightly increase the battery life. Additionally, like the DS, it also has a feature known as sleep mode when closed that preserves battery and pauses gameplay. In this state, the user’s steps are counted and they can receive StreetPass and SpotPass notifications. When playing DS or DSi games, the battery lasts about 5-8 hours (163-260 mA) due to some hardware being disabled like the pedometer and HOME Menu.

 

===Multitasking===

The Nintendo 3DS features limited multitasking. Software in use can be suspended with the {{button|3ds|home}} 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, post to Miiverse, organize the HOME menu and check notifications from StreetPass and SpotPass.

StreetPass allows the console to send and receive title data with other consoles within a certain range when it is in sleep mode. Up to twelve titles can have StreetPass activated at once. A notification light on the 3DS turns green to indicate when StreetPass data has been exchanged. The StreetPass Relay update allows for StreetPass data to be exchanged near official Nintendo Zone hotspots. One 3DS can StreetPass the same spot or same other 3DS once every eight hours. SpotPass also allows data exchange, but differs from StreetPass in that it requires an Internet connection to be used. A notification light on the 3DS turns blue to indicate when such data has been downloaded.

[[File:3DS XL Logo.svg|left|class=invert]]The '''Nintendo 3DS XL''' ('''Nintendo 3DS LL''' in Japan and '''iQue 3DS XL''' in China) is the second version of the Nintendo 3DS handheld announced by [[Satoru Iwata]] in a ''Nintendo Direct'' video on June 22, 2012. Similarly to the DSi XL, the 3DS XL has larger screens: the upper measuring 124 mm (4.88 inches) and the lower measuring 106 mm (4.18 inches), both being 90% larger than the standard Nintendo 3DS screens, making it tied to the New Nintendo 3DS XL as the biggest screen on a Nintendo handheld so far. The resolution, however, is the same. The 3DS XL also has been given rounded corners and digital {{button|3ds|home}}, {{button|3ds|select}}, and {{button|3ds|start}} 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 six hours (283 to 485 mA) when playing 3DS games, compared to the three to five hours (260 to 433 mA) 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 Oceania (bundled with an AC adapter) on August 23, 2012.<ref>[http://www.aussie-nintendo.com/news/ac-adaptor-to-be-bundled-with-3ds-xl-in-aunz]</ref> In Japan and Europe, the handheld does not come with a battery charger, but can use the original Nintendo DSi/Nintendo 3DS charger. The handheld has its own charger in North America,<ref name=ign3dxl>[http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/06/22/nintendo-reveals-3ds-xl IGN - Nintendo reveals 3ds Xl].</ref> but it does not include the charging cradle packaged with the original 3DS.

 

The '''Nintendo 2DS''' is the third version of the Nintendo 3DS handheld and is part of the Nintendo 3DS family<ref>http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/08/28/nintendo-announces-2ds</ref>. Like the rest of the Nintendo 3DS models, it can play all Nintendo 3DS games and most Nintendo DS and DSi games; however, unlike the rest of the Nintendo 3DS models, it cannot display 3D images (hence the name), but is more sturdy, that make the system friendly for younger children, and both screens are touch-sensitive without a hinge separating them, with the top screen protected by a layer of plastic<ref>http://www.gonintendo.com/?mode=viewstory&id=210991</ref>, while it features a tablet design rather than a clamshell design, making it the first handheld system since the original Game Boy Advance system to have a tablet design. The system's box includes a Nintendo 2DS, a Nintendo 2DS stylus, an SDHC Card, a Nintendo 3DS AC Adapter, and the six AR cards. It was released in North America, Europe, and Oceania on October 12th, 2013 at a price of $129.99 in the United States, €129.99 in Europe, and £129.99 in the United Kingdom in order to increase sales of upcoming 3DS games. The 2DS was released in Japan on February 27, 2016, at a cost of approximately 9,980 yen. Reception of the Nintendo 2DS has been mixed.<ref>https://kotaku.com/introducing-the-nintendo-2ds-no-thats-not-a-typo-1214807721</ref>

The '''New Nintendo 3DS''' and '''New Nintendo 3DS XL'''<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1cwg6mUhAg</ref> ('''New Nintendo 3DS LL''' in Japan), announced on August 28, 2014, were the first hardware upgrades for the Nintendo 3DS line of systems, similar to the Nintendo DSi and DSi XL. They were released on October 11, 2014 in Japan,<ref>http://www.siliconera.com/2014/08/29/new-nintendo-3ds-new-nintendo-3ds-xl-announced-powerful/</ref> on November 21, 2014 in Oceania,<ref name="NintendoDirectAus"></ref> and on February 13, 2015 in North America and Europe.<ref>Sickr (August 29, 2014). [http://mynintendonews.com/2014/08/29/new-nintendo-3ds-console-coming-to-north-america-and-europe-in-2015/ New Nintendo 3DS Console Coming to North America and Europe in 2015]. My Nintendo News. Retrieved August 29, 2014.</ref> In North America, only the XL model was released at launch. The standard-sized model was released on September 25, 2015 in special bundles such as the ''[[nookipedia:Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer|Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer]]'' and Pokémon 20th Anniversary bundles. On January 6, 2015, selected European [[Club Nintendo (rewards program)|Club Nintendo]] owners were invited to buy New Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Edition, a special pre-release bundle of New Nintendo 3DS, for €199.99, with orders shipped as early as January 7, 2015.<ref>[http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/01/new_nintendo_3ds_ambassador_editions_already_in_the_hands_of_lucky_buyers New Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Editions Already In The Hands Of Lucky Buyers]. Nintendo Life. Retrieved January 7, 2015.</ref>

The Nintendo 3DS '''stylus''' differs significantly from the previous models. It is a single, metallic silver and black color, and extendable up to 100 mm (3.94 inches) for the user's comfort. The stylus is stored in a slot on the back of the 3DS.

 

For the Nintendo 3DS XL and Nintendo 2DS, the stylus more resembles the original Nintendo DS stylus, being a single, solid color and removing the extension feature on the normal model. The stylus for these versions is stored on the side of the handheld, similar to the Nintendo DS Lite/DSi.

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, as well as additional ZL and ZR shoulder buttons on the back. The whole combination is bundled onto a cradle that fits into the bottom of the 3DS, just as the charging cradle does. It is only available in Cosmos Black.

==Software==

The [[Wii#Mii Channel|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.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7QMPkWptmw</ref> 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 {{button|wii|A}}, {{button|wii|B}}, and {{button|wii|1}} buttons on the {{button|wii|Wiimote}} when on the Mii Channel. Holding down the {{button|wii|2}} 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 {{wp|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.

In Find Mii and Find Mii II, 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 Nintendo 3DS supports augmented reality games through the built-in application '''''AR Games'''''. The system is released with a total of six '''AR Cards''' that are used primarily in this feature, having a minor role in ''[[Mario Party: Island Tour]]'', among other games. In ''Nintendogs + Cats'', using the Mario AR Card enables the player's pets to wear ''Super Mario''-related hats. The [[? Block]] card can be used to play games, while the five Character Cards included can be used to take 2D or 3D photos.

[[File:Nintendo eShop newlogo.svg|260px|left|The Nintendo eShop logo.]]

The '''Nintendo eShop''' (initially called '''Nintendo 3DS Shop''') is a feature that allowed players to buy software titles, including [[Virtual Console]] and [[DSiWare]] for their Nintendo 3DS with Nintendo 3DS prepaid cards or credit cards. It also allowed Game Promotion. The eShop is similar to [[Wii#Wii Shop Channel|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, along 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. Other than purchasing content, users could 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 could also purchase and play a variety of "Quick Plays," including popular games such as ''{{wp|Bejeweled}}'' and'' {{wp|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 were able to purchase downloadable content (DLC) for their existing games. As of the December 9, 2013 update, a Nintendo Network ID is required to download free and demo software from the Nintendo 3DS eShop. In addition, the player can link their Wii U Nintendo Network ID to their 3DS and vice versa to combine eShop funds on both systems into one. With the discontinuation of digital purchases for Nintendo 3DS in March 2023, it is no longer possible to digitally buy software and DLC, though software and DLC can still be downloaded by those who purchased them when they were available.

 

 

The '''Activity Log''' allows users to view the amount of time they have spent playing certain game titles. It can also show the time spent playing each day, week, month, and year, as well as showing the number of steps the players have taken. It also has a catalog, called a Software Library, that shows what games have been played on the Nintendo 3DS.

The '''Internet Browser''' uses the {{wp|Yahoo!}} and {{wp|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. {{wp|Adobe Flash|Flash}}).

 

The New Nintendo 3DS models make some changes to the Internet Browser. Videos can now be played inside the application. A more controversial addition is the Internet filtering feature, enabled by default in Japan, which can only be removed with a credit card purchase of $0.30.{{ref needed}} An [[Easter egg]] can also be accessed when opening a new page: if the player taps to the rhythm of the first six notes of the ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' theme on the touch screen, "Most Visited Bookmarks" will change into "STAGE SELECT". If the player selects one of the bookmarks, they are then able to play a ''{{wp|Breakout (video game)|Breakout}}''-style minigame.

''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]'' was the only ''Mario''-related 3DS title that had full Miiverse integration, having the functionality of posting in-game photos.

==Games related to the ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]'' franchise==