by Colin Anderson

Created on: February 23, 2011   Last Updated: February 24, 2011

Nintendo's latest game system, the “3DS”, is causing plenty of excitement amongst gamers. Pre-orders for the hand held system sold out in Japan in a single day, and in America, Walmart has also sold all of their pre-order allocation. The 3DS goes on sale on February 26th in Japan, March 25th in the EU, and March 27th in North America.[1]

Everyone remembers the impact the Nintendo “Wii” had on the video game industry when it was released in 2006. People who had never been interested in video games before were captivated by the system and the Wii became the “must have” technology toy for both children, adults, and even seniors![2] The Wii's unique motion sensing gaming technology revolutionised the video game industry to the extent that both Nintendo's rivals scrambled to copy the Wii and produce their own motion sensing products, Microsoft with “Kinect” and Sony with “Move”.

Will the 3DS have a similar impact on the world of video games to the Wii? Early indications are that it is possible. Like the Wii, the 3DS has a unique selling point, 3D, without glasses! Add in the fact that it is portable, allowing 3D on the go, and the price, and technology fans have a compelling reason to buy Nintendo's machine. A typical 3D television still costs over a thousand dollars, and requires special glasses (often costing close to a hundred dollars) to view. The 3DS, costing only two hundred and fifty dollars, offers an affordable way to experience 3D. With both the TV and film industry trying to push 3D technology, the 3DS looks like the right product, at the right time, to be a “game changer” for Nintendo.

Nintendo are in the process of setting up deals to put 3D movie and TV content on the 3DS. In Europe for example an agreement has been made with the Eurosport TV channel to provide 3D sports coverage on the system. The creators of the award winning “Wallace and Gromit” animations have also agreed to create an exclusive 3D cartoon series, “Shaun the Sheep” for the 3DS. Many more similar deals are in the pipeline.[3]

An often overlooked feature of the 3DS that could have a massive impact is the ability to take pictures in 3D. Being able to take 3D pictures and share them with family and friends, is surely a huge selling point of the system as it is something that until now has been beyond the price point required to be popular with the mass market.[4]

When you take the potential impact of the 3D in these non-gaming applications of the 3DS, and then add in the fact that the 3DS is the successor to the most popular hand held gaming system of all time, the “DS”, this really does look like a system that will change the industry. As Nintendo's competitors in the home console market rushed to adapt their products to compete with the Wii, will Nintendo's competitors in the portable market also follow Nintendo's lead? How long before Apple offer a 3D “iPod”? Will Sony release a future version of their “NGP” featuring a 3D screen?

The 3DS offers something unique, at an affordable price. Will it change the video game industry? Only time will tell, but the potential is there.

[1]http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-01-19-euro pean-3ds-release-date

[2]http://www.gamesradar.com/wii/wii-sports/news/wii -sports-world-record-holder-for-bowling-is-85-years- old/a-2011012418736793015/g-20060511114048917043

[3]http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/38016/nintendo-jo ins-forces-with-sky

[4]http://www.siliconera.com/2010/06/21/hands-on-wit h-the-nintendo-3ds-3d-camera/

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