But you want to know about the display. I literally said "wow" when seeing it for the first time... and the 3D effect wasn't even turned on yet. The visual fidelity is on par with GameCube or Wii, with character models covered in shiny, bumpy textures just as in games like Super Smash Bros. Melee/Brawl. (In fact, this whole demo was just like the pause screen in Smash.) Combined with what we saw in the Kid Icarus Uprising trailer, it's clear that 3DS is a graphical powerhouse at least on par with PSP, if not better.
Then I cranked up the 3D slider. The characters immediately popped out of the screen, an effect that can be shocking at first sight. It looks exactly like the 3D effect you've seen on Avatar and other 3D films, only without the glasses. In fact, the effect might be even more convicing when you have direct control over the camera angle. Over and over, through two full cycles of the demo, I moved the slider up and down, comparing 2D to 3D and back again. The visual quality is exactly the same in both modes, and the display doesn't stutter or show any other reaction to the slider moving, except to increase or decrease the apparent depth. I did find that the 3D mode has a narrow viewing angle, and it looks extremely blurry if you tilt the screen away in any direction. Of course, going back to 2D removes the blur and allows you to view the screen at any angle.
I also took some time to examine the system's other details. There is a raised rim around the touch screen, and the area below the touch screen is extended to the bottom of the system, so that the Select, Home, and Start buttons all sit on a raised platform. The D-pad, face buttons, and shoulder buttons were shiny on this unit, but otherwise feel just like those on a DSi.
On the back of the system is a game card slot in the familiar location, but with some differences. The mouth of the slot is wider and deeper than before, implying a new physical medium to thwart piracy. However, a look into the slot reveals a shelf that narrows the slot to the size of the original DS game cards. It seems likely that your old games will slide into the same unified slot as new 3DS cards, just leaving some space near the top. New game cards will be larger at the top but should retain the original size down at the bottom, on the side with electrical connectors. Next to the game card slot is a stylus hole, but the demo units didn't have a stylus for us to try. Next to that is a small, black rectangle that appears to be an infrared sensor. This feature wasn't mentioned during the briefing, and so far we don't know what it might be used for. Along the side is an SD card slot, just like you'd see on the DSi.
One last observation: the bottom half of the 3DS has a beveled edge that makes it look like two layers glued together. When the system is closed, this bevel makes it look like there are three layers to the system, when of course there are only two. The system has an overall size and weight similar to the DSi, with the top (3D) screen being somewhat wider but certainly not huge or system-wide as suggested by rumors.
Were you able to get pictures (either taking them yourself or from Nintendo)? I keep hearing these impressions, but am not seeing any pictures or video.
After seeing the 3DS and its games, the PSP is officially dead and Sony must reveal the PSP 2 as soon as possible or they will lose their position in the market.
Were you able to get pictures (either taking them yourself or from Nintendo)? I keep hearing these impressions, but am not seeing any pictures or video.
Kotaku has some video.
Were you able to get pictures (either taking them yourself or from Nintendo)? I keep hearing these impressions, but am not seeing any pictures or video.
Kotaku has some video.
Where? I checked the site and they don't have video.
After seeing the 3DS and its games, the PSP is officially dead and Sony must reveal the PSP 2 as soon as possible or they will lose their position in the market.
What position? Sony has bee a distant second in the handheld market for over 5 years (the only time they were a threat was in the 8 months between the DS launch and the release of Nintendogs, which really pushed it ahead for good). I assume you meant in terms of graphics. I am not sure that the rumored PSP 2, which is still just speculation right now, would be able to top the 3DS. The screenshots of 3DS games look better than most GameCube games, even when looking at them just in 2D.
Thinking about this more, I guess the top screen can't be 15 years old, because it is actually doubled up resolution, which is awesome, But why only 240 horizontal lines? That's exactly the same as the DSi.
id never throw in a cd drive, carts are the future!
cats are the future too!
I am very pleased with it. As someone who dosen't see in 3D, I'm glad to hear that they are offering a way to disable 3D. Sometimes there is a new movie I want to see on opening day but is only availible in 3D for the opening week, (Alice, Toy Story 3) and I have to wait a couple weeks before the 2D version is out, and I am glad this will be accomidating for me :)
I am very pleased with it. As someone who dosen't see in 3D, I'm glad to hear that they are offering a way to disable 3D. Sometimes there is a new movie I want to see on opening day but is only availible in 3D for the opening week, (Alice, Toy Story 3) and I have to wait a couple weeks before the 2D version is out, and I am glad this will be accomidating for me :)
By don't see in 3D, you mean you only have one eye? because I know some people have problems with 3D movies, but many times is because of the glasses and other factors, if you have a pair of functional eyes you might be able to see the 3D in the 3DS even if movies don't work for you.
The resolution stuff confuses me too, I figured that a higher resolution than the PSP was a no brainer for a device coming out in 2010.
