Nintendo’s 3D handheld console is the undoubted star of the E3 video game show here in Los Angeles this week, judging by the long lines of gamers at the Nintendo booth waiting to try one out.
While Apple has emerged as a new challenger, with the iPhone and iPod touch, to handheld consoles, the unique features of the 3DS look like giving Nintendo a significant and long-lasting advantage in mobile gaming.
Microsoft’s Kinect and Sony’s Move have been vying with the 3DS for attention at E3, but we already knew about the capabilities of the motion controllers coming from Microsoft and Sony. Details of the 3DS had been confined to a brief regulatory filing by the Japanese company in Tokyo that such a console would be released before the end of March next year.
The first thing that hits you is the screen. 3.5 inches wide, it fills you vision in a magnificent way. Make no mistake: Any bigger would be a distraction. We've just seen a special Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater demo, and we're blown away.
A slider on the right-hand side of the machine allows you to adjust the depth of perspective that you require. We begun in Metal Gear in a jungle area - and it took some customising to correct our field of vision. But once we did, the super-sharp splendour that fell out in front of us really was something to behold.
Robust, spiky foliage poked out of the ground and seemed to tickle the back of the DS screen. Meanwhile, arrows flung in our direction soared through the air towards us - from what seemed like 50 metres away.
Nintendo 3DS Release Date
Expected release date is Q1 2011
Nintendo 3DS Price
Price is expected between $150 – $200
