How will DSiWare be handled on the new system? You find out.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/24677
Nintendo has posted a specifications sheet for the Nintendo 3DS on their Japanese website, and it has a few interesting tidbits of information.
You'll be able to get out to a Home menu, and even browse the Internet, without leaving a game.
Nintendo DSi software can be moved to the device, but there is apparently a limit to the number of moves that can be performed, and some software cannot be moved.
Each camera (two outside, one inside) has a resolution of 640x480 (0.3 megapixels)
It features wireless online game play using WPA and WPA2 encryption, and it is IEEE802.11b/g compatible.
Battery life is approximately three to five hours when playing 3DS software, and five to eight hours when playing DS software.
The system's battery takes approximately 3.5 hours to charge.
We're slowly getting a better idea of the horsepower behind Nintendo's newest handheld. Look for more information to keep trickling out of Nintendo World over the next few days.
I hope that's a low balling estimate.
Shame that there isn't WiFi n support; feels like a lack of foresight.Given the current battery numbers, it doesn't look like it would have been reasonable... I wouldn't be surprised if there's n support built into the chip though.
Either way it's not as bad as the iPod Touch (2 hours).2 Hours?! What the heck are you doing with it? I get more than 10 on one charge.
Oi, oi, oi... that battery life.
I just read on kotaku that the battery life of 3 to 5 hours is for the lowest brightness setting... not cool.
I wouldn't keep it on full brightness anyways. The 2nd lowest is usually plenty.
I kind of wonder if Nintendo is getting overzealous with the 3DS. A lot of people complained about the PSP battery life, and the system didn't sell very well originally because of its high price. Is Nintendo about to release their PSP?
Not really since the PSP2 is going to be even worse when it comes to battery and price, which will make the 3DS look like the better deal in the eyes of consumers. If Nintendo can only get 3-5 hours off battery life out of a $250-300 portable Gamecube, then there's no way Sony is going to be able to release whats suppose to be a portable PS3 at the same price unless it has less then an hour of life, or it's over $500 in order to get 3-5 hours.I won't speculate on the battery life and I don't expect PSP2 to be any better than 3DS in that regard anyway. However, Sony is willing to sell at a loss and Nintendo already admitted to marking up the price due to demand. Sony will probably sell PSP2 competitively though Nintendo has the option of dropping the price whenever they want, even at the expense of early adopters, considering the cost for components and manufacturing is no where near $300. It might even be as low as $150.
Either way Sony is screwed and Nintendo knows it which is why they're actually releasing an expensive portable with poor batterly life because they know no one can stop them.That's the kind of arrogant thinking that got Nintendo in trouble when they launched N64.
I'm not too worried about the battery life. Because I know a secret. :D
Either way it's not as bad as the iPod Touch (2 hours).2 Hours?! What the heck are you doing with it?
I'm not too worried about the battery life. Because I know a secret. :D
Lies! You tell us right now or nobody will believe you!
I'm not too worried about the battery life. Because I know a secret. :D
Lies! You tell us right now or nobody will believe you!
I must admit, my secret isn't all that exciting. It doesn't have anything to do with Nintendo specifically. But it's something I'm excited for. :D
Nintendo should just use standardized ports for charging like almost every cellphone out today uses mini-usb.
They couldn't possibly make that much money of proprietary power cables.
I'm hoping the charging cradle works exactly the same as my media center for my phone.
It's a stand for the phone and the power cord plugs into it. It's not internally attached so I can detach it and plug it directly into my phone.
I remember a time where we didn't really make excuses regarding the battery life of a Nintendo handheld. We didn't have to. Even the conservative number was pretty damn impressive. If we're now at a point where we're saying "well three hours is with full brightness and all that..." and that really isn't acceptable. So what is the real number then? 10 hours? Wasn't that the sort of "worst-case-scenario" battery life Nintendo said about the DS? So now the conservative estimate Nintendo gave us for the previous handheld is our best-case-scenario "hope and pray" number?
The price is going up and the battery life is going down. Nintendo has a reputation for being cocky bastards, even when they aren't doing so hot. I think they're gypping us because they think they're indestructible. And maybe they'll get away with it. But then with stuff like the iPod and smart phones now competing for the same dollar, they possibly won't.
The DS microphone useless??? We're obviously not playing the same games.
Why are you surprised that Nintendo wants to make money?
Battery life is really important for a handheld. And yet they are cranking up the price, based entirely on positive feedback, and the price raise is all profit. The product is compromised. The goal seems less to provide a good product and more to provide the cheapest product at the highest profit margin and that any corners that can be cut on the way should be cut.
I don't know where you get your facts from, but I would love to see the one about "Nintendo inflating the 3DS price due to positive feedback." That sounds like blatant paranoia.
In the same report, Iwata commented on opinions that the 3DS price was set too high at 25,000 yen ($300), saying that the system price was set by considering a number of factors, including the enthusiastic response at E3"
"And yet they are cranking up the price, based entirely on positive feedback, and the price raise is all profit."
(btw Engadget is reporting that the GBA SP was slated to have an autostereoscopic screen but they couldn't get LCD resolution high enough)http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/forums/index.php?topic=30917.msg648758#msg648758
Will the 3DS and its games be patchable?
Will the 3DS and its games be patchable?
Probably going to be completely up to Nintendo, no doubt the technology allows for it but knowing Nintendo, well, you just don't know!
Wasn't that the sort of "worst-case-scenario" battery life Nintendo said about the DS?
The fact remains that multitasking and gaming are heavy drains on a battery when using a modern device. This is not some Nintendo conspiracy to screw people over, but a fact of the way our technology has progressed, and batteries failing to keep up.
QuoteThe fact remains that multitasking and gaming are heavy drains on a battery when using a modern device. This is not some Nintendo conspiracy to screw people over, but a fact of the way our technology has progressed, and batteries failing to keep up.
Back in 1989 you could have said that a backlit colour screen is a heavy drain on a battery and that technology has progrossed while batteries have failed to keep up. But Sega's and Atari's excuses didn't hold up. Nintendo made battery life the number one priority.
Now that isn't Nintendo's priority and they're really overloading this sucker in a way that seems quite different than their previous approaches and I don't think it's a change for the better. A lot of the 3DS's extra features I consider to be the sizzle. They're good marketing bulletpoints that probably won't contribute much to games. Nintendo used to be really good about delivering the steak. Battery life is not an exciting bulletpoint but it is very important from a practical point of view. I think Nintendo has changed where they focus more on the sizzle than the steak. Their priority is having a marketing gimmick and practical and essential elements are a lesser priority.
If it comes down to 3D screen or battery life, battery life is more important for providing a good portable videogame system. But maybe they could have both if they were a little more flexible about their profit margin. But they assume this will sell like hotcakes anyway so they feel there is no need. That sort of attitude is not going to do us any favours. It isn't good for a company to feel like they can get away with anything and I fear Nintendo is at that point.
How much does a new DS battery cost, and can it be found in a retail store or does it have to be ordered from Nintendo.com?
I don't think even Nintendo is capable of as stupid a design flaw as a security hole allowing piracy that goes through the battery.
I don't think even Nintendo is capable of as stupid a design flaw as a security hole allowing piracy that goes through the battery.
They did that with the Iphone, right?
I don't think even Nintendo is capable of as stupid a design flaw as a security hole allowing piracy that goes through the battery.
They did that with the Iphone, right?
