Hasta La Gadget!

It looks like Nintendo may have managed to run an early prototype of its upcoming 3D handheld, the 3DS, through the FCC without anyone noticing — well, for a few weeks, anyway. The filing was made available on April 30 and Wireless Goodness spotted it, posting the image above showing what looks more like an ATX motherboard than a handheld gaming platform. But, what wasn’t noticed at the time was the aspect ratio of the top screen (in the middle of the circuitry): it’s 16:9, while most every other Nintendo handheld to date has of course been 4:3. That aspect ratio matches the 3.4-inch parallax barrier display from Sharp, the one that just about everyone is expecting will be featured in the device. Connecting the dots, this could be a prototype 3DS in the flesh, dubbed the “CTR.” Given that Nintendo called the DSi the “TWL” the XL the “UTL,” even the naming scheme fits in. Sadly the FCC images have since been pulled, but we look forward to seeing a rather more petite version of the thing at E3 next month.

Is this a prototype of the Nintendo 3DS? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 May 2010 08:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Kotaku  |  FCC  | Email this | Comments

How the mighty have fallen. Where just last year companies like Apple and Nintendo were renowned for their ability to keep completely silent about impending hardware, these days the thrill of exposure and some media pressure go a long, long way. Now, if Computer and Video Games‘ sources are to be believed, Nintendo’s had another leak: an October release date for its autostereoscopic 3DS handheld in the UK. That’s well within the original “before March 2011” timeframe, and apparently a surprise for game publishers currently planning software for Holiday 2010. Besides, since Europe typically gets Nintendo systems after the US and Japan, some lucky dogs might get the system even earlier — we’ll let you know when we see it ourselves at E3 this June.

Nintendo 3DS may launch in October, say ‘UK industry sources’ originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  CVG  | Email this | Comments

There aren’t many mass production options on the market when it comes to glasses-less 3D displays for Nintendo’s forthcoming 3DS handheld gaming console. And according to early leaks from Japan, the special Nintendo 3DS display is supposedly built by Hitachi and Sharp using a parallax barrier system. So guess where this new 3.4-inch, 480 x 854 pixel display is likely headed? While Sharp doesn’t say for sure, it’s a good bet that this parallax barrier 3D LCD will be fronting the user interface on the 3DS. Unlike the 3D displays you’ll find in modern 3D HDTVs requiring the viewer to wear active or passive glasses, Sharp’s display uses a parallax barrier system to create a sense of depth by using a series of vertical slits in an ordinary LCD to direct light to the right and left eyes. The panel offers a 500nit brightness, 1,000:1 contrast, and is available with or without a touchscreen. A non-touchscreen version of the display goes into mass production before June but there’s no specific mention of the touchscreen timeline (but we imagine it won’t be far behind). In other words, we could have a Nintendo 3DS on the market before the holidays. Just saying. Guess we’ll find out for sure at E3 in June.

Update: Akihabara News went eyes-on with the display and came away impressed with the colors and brightness. Better yet, it says, “Sharp succeed to do what Sony and Panasonic does with 3D Glasses!” Well, that sounds hopeful.

Nintendo 3DS to feature 3.4-inch Sharp parallax barrier display? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 01:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Engadget Japanese  |  Sharp  | Email this | Comments

Sony has never been one to mince words when it comes to Nintendo, and it looks like the company’s newly announced Nintendo 3DS is no exception. Speaking with IGN, SCEA Director of Hardware and Marketing John Koller confirmed that Sony’s “focus on 3D right now is on the console,” and added that “the amount of interest in 3D from the retail side and game publishers is off the charts.” No surprise there, but things get a bit more interesting when Koller is asked about the 3DS, with him saying that while he thinks “it’s an interesting move”, he’d “like to see where they go from a demographic standpoint,” adding that “8 and 9 year-olds playing 3D is a little bit of a stretch given where some of our research is right now.” Of course, Nintendo usually gives as good as it gets, and it should have plenty to say when the 3DS makes it debut at E3 later this year.

Sony’s Koller says Nintendo 3DS is a ‘bit of a stretch,’ no plans for 3D PSP originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Joystiq  |  IGN  | Email this | Comments

Whoa, now this is a whopper coming (almost) out of nowhere. Nintendo has just slipped out a press release in Japan informing the world that all-new 3D-capable portable hardware is coming, with a full unveiling set for E3 2010 this June. Tentatively titled the 3DS, this glasses-free 3D wonder is pitched as the successor to both the DS and DSi, and will use a “compatible cart” that should ensure backwards compatibility with your vast library of favorites from the older consoles. Nintendo expects to launch the 3DS into retail “during the fiscal year ending March 2011.”

Update: Unofficial reports from Japan suggest the 3DS will have a parallax barrier 3D LCD from Sharp, a vibration function, and a “3D control stick.” Read about it all here.

Nintendo announces 3DS — the glasses-free 3D successor to the DS originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 03:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Twitter  |  Nintendo  | Email this | Comments