Nintendo aims to counter Apple with new portable 3D gaming system
Nintendo surprised the gaming world this week by preannouncing a glasses-free 3D successor to the Nintendo DS, a new portable platform that the industry leader hopes will fend off surging competition from Apple's iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.
Nintendo released few details on the new platform, temporarily dubbed the Nintendo 3DS, in a press release issued on the company's Web site. More details will be delivered in June at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, the annual gaming industry convention in Los Angeles.
The Nintendo 3DS is scheduled to launch during the company's coming fiscal year, which ends March 31, 2011. The system will also reportedly be backward-compatible with existing Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi games.
The Nintendo DS is the best-selling portable videogame system of all time. It has shipped more than 125 million units since it debuted in 2004. But minor hardware revisions from Nintendo have not been enough to prevent the growth of the iPhone and iPod touch in the mobile gaming realm.
This week, it was revealed that Apple's mobile devices had taken a 19 percent share of the mobile gaming market. Apple is now estimated to control 5 percent of the revenue in a $10 billion industry, thanks to the popularity of the App Store.
Apple could be poised for even more growth in the future, with its forthcoming iPad multimedia device also allowing access to the App Store. And because the mobile marketplace is dominated by games, Apple has been testing titles on the iPad leading up to its April 3 launch.
Nintendo has not revealed how the 3D visuals will be achieved without special glasses, though head-tracking through an integrated camera is likely the simplest option. The method allows a system to track the position of a user's head with a camera and adjust the image on the screen accordingly.
For its part, Apple has submitted patent applications pertaining to 3D head-tracking technology. An implementation in Mac OS X described by the Cupertino, Calif., company could allow greater interactivity with a computer.
In addition, in 2008, Apple applied for a patent on new display hardware that would employ autostereoscopy to produce 3D, viewable without head gear or glasses. Apple also, in 2008, revealed details on a possible 3D user interface for Mac OS X. And the company has also shown interest in a 3D gaming controller for the Apple TV.
A different kind of virtual reality, known as augmented reality, has proven popular in various applications for the iPhone. Made possible with the release of iPhone OS 3.1, the display of markers and content over live pictures from the iPhone camera is made possible through the use of the autofocusing camera of the iPhone 3GS and its built-in compass. With them, the phone is capable of recognizing the direction the phone is facing and getting a detailed look at a subject to tag it with information.
Last November, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said his company faces a "dark" future if it cant differentiate its platforms from competing mobile devices like the iPhone. After the iPad was unveiled in January, Iwata was said to be "totally unimpressed" by the new platform.
In 2009, some of the biggest names in game publishing brought well-known franchises to the iPhone and iPod touch App Store. Franchises like The Sims, Metal Gear Solid and Grand Theft Auto have all found success on Apple's mobile platform.
Nintendo released few details on the new platform, temporarily dubbed the Nintendo 3DS, in a press release issued on the company's Web site. More details will be delivered in June at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, the annual gaming industry convention in Los Angeles.
The Nintendo 3DS is scheduled to launch during the company's coming fiscal year, which ends March 31, 2011. The system will also reportedly be backward-compatible with existing Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi games.
The Nintendo DS is the best-selling portable videogame system of all time. It has shipped more than 125 million units since it debuted in 2004. But minor hardware revisions from Nintendo have not been enough to prevent the growth of the iPhone and iPod touch in the mobile gaming realm.
This week, it was revealed that Apple's mobile devices had taken a 19 percent share of the mobile gaming market. Apple is now estimated to control 5 percent of the revenue in a $10 billion industry, thanks to the popularity of the App Store.
Apple could be poised for even more growth in the future, with its forthcoming iPad multimedia device also allowing access to the App Store. And because the mobile marketplace is dominated by games, Apple has been testing titles on the iPad leading up to its April 3 launch.
Nintendo has not revealed how the 3D visuals will be achieved without special glasses, though head-tracking through an integrated camera is likely the simplest option. The method allows a system to track the position of a user's head with a camera and adjust the image on the screen accordingly.
For its part, Apple has submitted patent applications pertaining to 3D head-tracking technology. An implementation in Mac OS X described by the Cupertino, Calif., company could allow greater interactivity with a computer.
In addition, in 2008, Apple applied for a patent on new display hardware that would employ autostereoscopy to produce 3D, viewable without head gear or glasses. Apple also, in 2008, revealed details on a possible 3D user interface for Mac OS X. And the company has also shown interest in a 3D gaming controller for the Apple TV.
A different kind of virtual reality, known as augmented reality, has proven popular in various applications for the iPhone. Made possible with the release of iPhone OS 3.1, the display of markers and content over live pictures from the iPhone camera is made possible through the use of the autofocusing camera of the iPhone 3GS and its built-in compass. With them, the phone is capable of recognizing the direction the phone is facing and getting a detailed look at a subject to tag it with information.
Last November, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said his company faces a "dark" future if it cant differentiate its platforms from competing mobile devices like the iPhone. After the iPad was unveiled in January, Iwata was said to be "totally unimpressed" by the new platform.
In 2009, some of the biggest names in game publishing brought well-known franchises to the iPhone and iPod touch App Store. Franchises like The Sims, Metal Gear Solid and Grand Theft Auto have all found success on Apple's mobile platform.
Comments
Apple released few details on the new platform, temporarily dubbed the Nintendo 3DS, in a press release issued on the company's Web site. More details will be delivered in June at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, the annual gaming industry convention in Los Angeles.
Apple didn't release the details, Nintendo did.
Apple released few details on the new platform
I think you need to proof read your article, bud.
Secondly, sometimes I find people (especially in these parts) are a little blinded by Apple.
For example, Nintendo has sold more then 125 million units, 2004-2010
To put this into perspective, the iPod, one of the greatest consumer success stories of all time and cultural icon of the 00's has sold 250 million units, 2001-2010.
To put it bluntly, the DS is an absolute phenomenon, something which is rarely talked about and recognised in the media and generally on sites like this.
Saying that Nintendo are combating Apple's creep into the gaming market is pure sensationalist bs. Sure Nintendo are watching their competition, obviously, but these guys are damn juggernauts, and it will take A LOT more for them to even break a sweat.
eg "After the iPad hits the streets, I feel bad for Nintendo, the aftershocks will be painful for them." Utter nonsense.
After the iPad hits the streets, I feel bad for Nintendo, the aftershocks will be painful for them.
That all depends on if the gaming industry actually taking more interest in creating higher level games for the iPad. Currently iPhone/Touch games are not even close to the same level as games from Nintendo or Sony.
"The Nintendo DS is the best-selling portable videogame system of all time"
Nintendo has a huge following and will not be in trouble as long as they do more then just small moderations to the DS.
Sony on the other hand could very well fall to Apple in gaming. The PS3 was a mess when it was released not only with a bad library of games but several hardware issues. Even to date the PS3 and PSP have really taken a hit.
These articles always go after Nintendo which is still rather strong with 70% of the handheld market. Its Sony that better watch out.
Seriously, if your going to spend upwards of $500 on a iPad just to play games, a $300 PS3 will give a hell of a lot better experience and play DVD's, CD's, BlueRay's and surf the internet in a pinch.
Nice huge matte screen LCD HDTV, as big as you can afford too. Go to have one anyway to watch TV.
Of course it's not portable like a iPad is. (pssst the screen is going to become horribly scratched)
The DS is a product aimed at kids and teens, 6-16 year olds, just like the Gameboy was before it. Cheap game system with cheap games that keeps kids out of parents' hair for an hour or two each day, and all the time in the car, on the train, in the airplane, etc.
The iPad, iPhone and iPod are not competitors. There aren't very many parents out there thinking about a video game system to keep their kids busy in the back seat of the car who are going to pick them up an iPhone or iPad. That's just stupid.
And all the doctored up BS about iPods taking away market share from Nintendo and Playstation is a load of crap. That's like saying that there are 200 millions cars in the USA with stereos, which means Toyota, Honda and Chrysler have a 60% market share of mobile music players, therefore beating the iPod.
The article (unrelated garbage removed):
Nintendo surprised the gaming world this week by preannouncing a glasses-free 3D successor to the Nintendo DS, a new portable platform that the industry leader hopes will fend off surging competition from Apple's iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.
Nintendo released few details on the new platform, temporarily dubbed the Nintendo 3DS, in a press release issued on the company's Web site. More details will be delivered in June at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, the annual gaming industry convention in Los Angeles.
The Nintendo 3DS is scheduled to launch during the company's coming fiscal year, which ends March 31, 2011. The system will also reportedly be backward-compatible with existing Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi games.
Nintendo has not revealed how the 3D visuals will be achieved without special glasses, though head-tracking through an integrated camera is likely the simplest option. The method allows a system to track the position of a user's head with a camera and adjust the image on the screen accordingly.
Last November, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said his company faces a "dark" future if it can't differentiate its platforms from competing mobile devices like the iPhone. After the iPad was unveiled in January, Iwata was said to be "totally unimpressed" by the new platform.
Just hold it sideways and go cross-eyed. Done.
I'm surprised that someone hasn't already done this with DS homebrew.
All of these Apple vs. Nintendo articles are just plain retarded.
The DS is a product aimed at kids and teens, 6-16 year olds, just like the Gameboy was before it. Cheap game system with cheap games that keeps kids out of parents' hair for an hour or two each day, and all the time in the car, on the train, in the airplane, etc.
The iPad, iPhone and iPod are not competitors. There aren't very many parents out there thinking about a video game system to keep their kids busy in the back seat of the car who are going to pick them up an iPhone or iPad. That's just stupid.
And all the doctored up BS about iPods taking away market share from Nintendo and Playstation is a load of crap. That's like saying that there are 200 millions cars in the USA with stereos, which means Toyota, Honda and Chrysler have a 60% market share of mobile music players, therefore beating the iPod.
Nintendo has publicly stated that they consider the iPod touch a threat to their portable gaming console.
Nintendo surprised the gaming world this week by preannouncing a glasses-free 3D successor to the Nintendo DS, a new portable platform that the industry leader hopes will fend off surging competition from Apple's iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. ...
Nintendo has some good research and ideas but they never implement them well.
Apple should just buy them and put them out of their misery. Rape the patent library and send everyone home.
Of course it's not portable like a iPad is. (pssst the screen is going to become horribly scratched)
Scratched from what?
Nintendo has some good research and ideas but they never implement them well.
Apple should just buy them and put them out of their misery. Rape the patent library and send everyone home.
That is one of the dumbest things I have read on these forums in a long, long time.
Well done!
That all depends on if the gaming industry actually taking more interest in creating higher level games for the iPad. Currently iPhone/Touch games are not even close to the same level as games from Nintendo or Sony.
"The Nintendo DS is the best-selling portable videogame system of all time"
Nintendo has a huge following and will not be in trouble as long as they do more then just small moderations to the DS.
Sony on the other hand could very well fall to Apple in gaming. The PS3 was a mess when it was released not only with a bad library of games but several hardware issues. Even to date the PS3 and PSP have really taken a hit.
These articles always go after Nintendo which is still rather strong with 70% of the handheld market. Its Sony that better watch out.
All of these Apple vs. Nintendo articles are just plain retarded.
The DS is a product aimed at kids and teens, 6-16 year olds, just like the Gameboy was before it. Cheap game system with cheap games that keeps kids out of parents' hair for an hour or two each day, and all the time in the car, on the train, in the airplane, etc.
The iPad, iPhone and iPod are not competitors. There aren't very many parents out there thinking about a video game system to keep their kids busy in the back seat of the car who are going to pick them up an iPhone or iPad. That's just stupid.
And all the doctored up BS about iPods taking away market share from Nintendo and Playstation is a load of crap. That's like saying that there are 200 millions cars in the USA with stereos, which means Toyota, Honda and Chrysler have a 60% market share of mobile music players, therefore beating the iPod.
Well stated.
The DS already supports 3D images, through stereoscopy. It has two identically sized screens, with identical resolutions doesn't it? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereoscopy)
Just hold it sideways and go cross-eyed. Done.
I'm surprised that someone hasn't already done this with DS homebrew.
They always choose to waste tons of money, you know. The brightness of each pixel side, which can be seen by only one eye, is manipulated independent.
*yawn* Somewhat like old lenticularly printed Franc-to-Euro converters, you know.