Nintendo 3DS Revealed at E3: No Price or Release Date Yet [Ninteno]

Big N today took wraps off of their much-anticipated Nintendo 3DS handheld video game system at the E3 2010 show.

The new handheld looks sort of like a DSi, but features a widescreen 3.5″ 3D display at the top which requires no glasses to see the its 3D effect. In addition to the classic touchscreen interface, control is provided through an analog “slide” control, which is located above the D-Pad, and the 3DS also includes a motion sensor and gyroscopic controls. There’s also a special “3D depth” slider, which lets you adjust the 3D effect to your personal taste (and eyeballs).

The system will also be backwards-compatible with games from the DSi. They also revealed that the 3DS would feature a significantly improved graphics chipset, capable of cranking out graphics that look almost as good or better than a Wii from what we can tell. Check out the example screen from the launch title Kid Icarus Uprising for an example of what to expect:

Nintendo also surprised us today, showing off a dual-lens camera on the back of the 3DS, allowing you to shoot your own 3D images, although it’s not clear if it supports video, or just still images.

Nintendo also revealed the 3DS will support playback of Hollywood blockbusters in 3D on the handheld’s glasses-free display. In addition, the 3DS will be able to communicate wirelessly, even when asleep, allowing game downloads, and even persistent universes which continue to update when you’re not playing.

Word from launch developers is that the 3D effect on the 3DS is nothing short of spectacular, with objects literally flying off the screen without need for any glasses.

Nintendo’s initial first-party titles for the 3DS include Kid Icarus Uprising, Mario Kart, nintendogs + cats, PilotWings Resort, Animal Crossing, StarFox 64, Steel Diver and Paper Mario.

There’s no word yet on pricing or a release date for the 3DS, but as soon as we know, we’ll be sure to let you know.

[technabob, Photo Credit: Engadget]

Xbox 360 Project Natal is Named Kinect [Microsoft]

I’m betting Microsoft is a little disappointed with USA Today, who let slip today that the name for what was previously known as Project Natal, will be released under the name “Kinect.”

In their Game Hunters column, they also revealed some of the likely titles that we’ll see for the controller-free game control system. According to the article, the games in development include:

• Kinectimals lets you train and play with 20 different virtual cats, including a lion, cheetah and tiger.
• Joyride, a racing game, lets players use their hands to hold an imaginary steering wheel — pull your hands toward you and push back out for an acceleration boost — and their bodies to execute jumps and tricks.
• Kinect Sports has six activities including boxing, bowling, beach volleyball, track and field, soccer and table tennis. To serve a volleyball, you mimic the real motion; in soccer, you can kick the ball or do a header.
• Kinect Adventures includes a river-raft time trial and obstacle course, playable by up to four players. On the raft, playing as a duo, you and a partner must lean one way or another to steer. Jumping helps the raft reach special areas for extra points.
• Dance Central, in development by MTV Games, brings a So You Think You Can Dance experience home.
• Star Wars characters and iconic Disney favorites will be featured in separate new games being developed at Microsoft in conjunction with LucasArts and Disney.

There’s still no word on the pricing or release date for Kinect, but Microsoft plans on a big gala reveal during their Cirque Du Soleil spectacular, scheduled for Tuesday, 6/15 at 3:30pm ET on MTV.

[technabob via Joystiq]

This is either the Nintendo 3DS or an over-the-top mock-up [Nintendo]

We’re not sure what to make of this thing. On one hand the design is clearly out of the box in a way Nintendo tends to think, but the twisting and turning seems just a tad too far from the norm to be real. But the Japanese site says it’s the real deal so it must be real.



The handheld seems to have everything that we’re expecting with a touchscreen autostereoscopic screen with a 854×512 resolution that’s stylus-friendly along with a dual screen mode to replicate the functionality of current DS games. Then there’s the input controls that are clearly designed to work in a 3D space that are obviously included. But it’s the extras that make us question if this thing could really be real.



Apparently the device can generate 3D objects in a augmented reality mode using two rear-facing cameras and sensor. The same sensor can also double as a sort of object scanner to import real objects into the virtual space. The performance is also said to be in the same class as the PS2/GameCube and the unit will reportable be able to link up with the Wii for some sort of VC sharing. The article goes on to tell a tale of WiMAX, WiFi, and even an optional keyboard for some blogging – seriously. It might just be too good to be true.

The post states that the 3DS should hit stores (probably in Japan first) next March 31st and Nintendo will official unveil the unit at E3 in the coming weeks. Jump over to the site and peek the pics. What do you think? Real or fake?

[TechCrunch via Mogu Mogu via Kotaku]

PS3 Motion Controller Officially Lands Next Spring: Updates for Current Games Planned [PS3]

The Motion Controller's Spring debut has just been made official over at the Tokyo Games Show. A motion-enhanced Resident Evil 5: Director's Cut is planned, and the wand will work with a number of new and existing games, including LittleBigPlanet.
A bunch of games will get motion control via a network update, including EyePet, Flower, High Velocity Bowling, PAIN, and Hustle King. And I really hope that's the norm when we hear what other game developer's plans are. Not every game can pull off a Director's Cut re-release (with motion control bonus) the way Res 5 might.
On stage, Sony showed Resident Evil 5 being played with a dual shock controller in one hand, and the motion controller in the other. And for LittleBigPlanet, one player controlled Sackboy with the dual shock, while another used the wand to move special levers. The motion controller's glowing sphere changes color in context with the game.
Finally hearing how the controller might boost 'real' games has me kind of psyched. What about you? [Kotaku | Image credit]
Upcoming Motion Control Games From Sony:
Ape Escape (Working Title)
Echochrome 2 (Working Title)
Eccentric Slider (Working Title)
Sing and Draw (Working Title)
Champions of Time (Working Title)
Motion Party (Working Title)
The Shoot (Working Title)
Tower (Working Title)
[Gizmodo]

3D Gaming And Video Coming To A Dell and HP Laptop Near You? [Rumor]

I was just thinking that my laptop's screen was way too two-dimensional. Ok, no I wasn't but these rumored 3D laptops from Dell and HP could be pretty freaking cool for 3D games and movies.
The rumor is that Dell and HP have placed orders with Taiwanese manufacturer Wistron for 3D notebooks and they could arrive soon. Acer has been rumored to release a notebook with a 16-inch 3D display as soon as next month. I have to expect 3D technology would add quite a bit to these types of notebooks especially if they use Nvidia's GeForce 3D Vision.
Now I am convinced I would look like a tool wearing 3D glasses in front of my laptop, but I've always wanted to read my e-mail in 3D. [Digitimes]

ODROID in the Wild, Demo’s HDMI Output [VIDEO]

Remember that Android-based entertainment device from a couple of weeks ago called the ODROID? It’s back today in the form of a demo video. The clip below shows how Android looks running through an HDMI cable out to a television. We get to see a little gameplay, the Transformers 2 trailer, and typical Android navigation running at high definition.

We have to admit it – playing games might be pretty fun with something like the ODROID. Hopefully we see more devices like this come to fruition and spur development for Android games.