Nintendo 3DS could use fresher games

Whether you're watching a Hollywood action movie in an Imax theatre or college hoops on a 3D TV, there's no denying the wow factor of current 3D technology. And the trend isn't lost on videogame companies - particularly Sony, which has been trumpeting the 3D environments of recent PlayStation3 games like Killzone 3.

Still, big-screen 3D isn't for everybody: Those of us with poor vision will probably never adjust to wearing 3D glasses on top of our prescription specs.

That's why Nintendo's announcement last year that it had created eyeglasses-free 3D was greeted with such enthusiasm. And its 3DS portable game machine (US$250) lives up to the hype, creating a convincing illusion of a third dimension beyond its 3.5in screen.


The most dazzling demonstration, which comes installed on the device, is AR Games. ("AR" stands for "augmented reality.") Place a card on a table, point the 3DS cameras at it - and a dragon bursts out of the flat surface. To shoot targets on the dragon, you have to move yourself around the card to find different angles.

You can also take 3D photos and add a variety of effects. Or you can incorporate your friends' images into Face Raiders, which morphs them onto a fleet of floating, whirling attack helicopters. Like AR Games, it's simple, but offers a promising glimpse of what we might expect from future 3DS software.

Nintendo has assembled a solid but derivative lineup of 18 games (US$40 each) to accompany the launch of the hardware. Almost all of them are based on familiar franchises, including Nintendo's own Pilotwings Resort, a lighthearted flying game, and Nintendogs + Cats, a lovable pet simulator.

The 3D effect does enhance sports games like EA Sports' Madden NFL Football and Namco Bandai's Ridge Racer 3D. But it feels superfluous in Capcom's Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition because its 3D angles tend to block your view; it's a good game, but "SF" fans will probably stick to the 2D perspective.

LucasArts' Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars delivers flashier 3D effects: In combat, enemies burst into Lego bricks that look like they're going to burst through the screen. For the most part, though, the game plays just as well in two dimensions.

It's easy enough to switch that extra dimension on and off, and I suspect many players will make frequent use of the device's 2D/3D slider. If you look away from the 3D screen, it takes a few seconds to readjust your eyes back to it. More significantly, my eyes got tired after about 10 minutes of 3D action, so I spent more time with it turned off.

So, if the games are just as playable in two dimensions, what's the point? The 3DS launch lineup doesn't answer that question, but surely some developers are plotting software that makes 3D more integral to gameplay.

Still fighting

Beyond 3D, the 3DS does sport several new features that will delight longtime players of Nintendo handhelds. The most welcome change is a circular thumb pad - at last! - that complements the traditional plus-sign-shaped directional pad.

The 3DS adds a motion sensor so you can tilt the device to control the action in games like Super Monkey Ball 3D. And a retractable stylus can be adjusted to your comfort level.

The whole package is only slightly thicker and heavier than 2008's DSi. The biggest drawback is battery life: If you have the screen set at maximum brightness, a charge lasts just three hours.

Before release, I was unable to try out the 3DS' wireless features, which encourage you to leave the device turned on - in sleep mode - while you carry it around. SpotPass will detect wireless hotspots and automatically download information and free software, Nintendo says.

StreetPass will detect other 3DS players and automatically transfer data such as Mii avatars between devices. And the Nintendo eShop, like the earlier model's DSi Shop, will let you buy and download new games, starting in May.

Nintendo's longtime dominance of handheld gaming has been threatened by the expanding presence of smartphones, especially Apple's iPhone.

It will probably take more than 3D technology to slow down the competition, so the eShop and the 3DS' other wireless goodies will be key.

What the 3DS demonstrates is that Nintendo isn't going to give up the portable market without a fight.

Nintendo 3DS could use fresher games

Whether you're watching a Hollywood action movie in an Imax theatre or college hoops on a 3D TV, there's no denying the wow factor of current 3D technology. And the trend isn't lost on videogame companies - particularly Sony, which has been trumpeting the 3D environments of recent PlayStation3 games like Killzone 3.

Still, big-screen 3D isn't for everybody: Those of us with poor vision will probably never adjust to wearing 3D glasses on top of our prescription specs.

That's why Nintendo's announcement last year that it had created eyeglasses-free 3D was greeted with such enthusiasm. And its 3DS portable game machine (US$250) lives up to the hype, creating a convincing illusion of a third dimension beyond its 3.5in screen.


The most dazzling demonstration, which comes installed on the device, is AR Games. ("AR" stands for "augmented reality.") Place a card on a table, point the 3DS cameras at it - and a dragon bursts out of the flat surface. To shoot targets on the dragon, you have to move yourself around the card to find different angles.

You can also take 3D photos and add a variety of effects. Or you can incorporate your friends' images into Face Raiders, which morphs them onto a fleet of floating, whirling attack helicopters. Like AR Games, it's simple, but offers a promising glimpse of what we might expect from future 3DS software.

Nintendo has assembled a solid but derivative lineup of 18 games (US$40 each) to accompany the launch of the hardware. Almost all of them are based on familiar franchises, including Nintendo's own Pilotwings Resort, a lighthearted flying game, and Nintendogs + Cats, a lovable pet simulator.

The 3D effect does enhance sports games like EA Sports' Madden NFL Football and Namco Bandai's Ridge Racer 3D. But it feels superfluous in Capcom's Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition because its 3D angles tend to block your view; it's a good game, but "SF" fans will probably stick to the 2D perspective.

LucasArts' Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars delivers flashier 3D effects: In combat, enemies burst into Lego bricks that look like they're going to burst through the screen. For the most part, though, the game plays just as well in two dimensions.

It's easy enough to switch that extra dimension on and off, and I suspect many players will make frequent use of the device's 2D/3D slider. If you look away from the 3D screen, it takes a few seconds to readjust your eyes back to it. More significantly, my eyes got tired after about 10 minutes of 3D action, so I spent more time with it turned off.

So, if the games are just as playable in two dimensions, what's the point? The 3DS launch lineup doesn't answer that question, but surely some developers are plotting software that makes 3D more integral to gameplay.

Still fighting

Beyond 3D, the 3DS does sport several new features that will delight longtime players of Nintendo handhelds. The most welcome change is a circular thumb pad - at last! - that complements the traditional plus-sign-shaped directional pad.

The 3DS adds a motion sensor so you can tilt the device to control the action in games like Super Monkey Ball 3D. And a retractable stylus can be adjusted to your comfort level.

The whole package is only slightly thicker and heavier than 2008's DSi. The biggest drawback is battery life: If you have the screen set at maximum brightness, a charge lasts just three hours.

Before release, I was unable to try out the 3DS' wireless features, which encourage you to leave the device turned on - in sleep mode - while you carry it around. SpotPass will detect wireless hotspots and automatically download information and free software, Nintendo says.

StreetPass will detect other 3DS players and automatically transfer data such as Mii avatars between devices. And the Nintendo eShop, like the earlier model's DSi Shop, will let you buy and download new games, starting in May.

Nintendo's longtime dominance of handheld gaming has been threatened by the expanding presence of smartphones, especially Apple's iPhone.

It will probably take more than 3D technology to slow down the competition, so the eShop and the 3DS' other wireless goodies will be key.

What the 3DS demonstrates is that Nintendo isn't going to give up the portable market without a fight.

Nintendo 3DS could use fresher games

Whether you're watching a Hollywood action movie in an Imax theatre or college hoops on a 3D TV, there's no denying the wow factor of current 3D technology. And the trend isn't lost on videogame companies - particularly Sony, which has been trumpeting the 3D environments of recent PlayStation3 games like Killzone 3.

Still, big-screen 3D isn't for everybody: Those of us with poor vision will probably never adjust to wearing 3D glasses on top of our prescription specs.

That's why Nintendo's announcement last year that it had created eyeglasses-free 3D was greeted with such enthusiasm. And its 3DS portable game machine (US$250) lives up to the hype, creating a convincing illusion of a third dimension beyond its 3.5in screen.


The most dazzling demonstration, which comes installed on the device, is AR Games. ("AR" stands for "augmented reality.") Place a card on a table, point the 3DS cameras at it - and a dragon bursts out of the flat surface. To shoot targets on the dragon, you have to move yourself around the card to find different angles.

You can also take 3D photos and add a variety of effects. Or you can incorporate your friends' images into Face Raiders, which morphs them onto a fleet of floating, whirling attack helicopters. Like AR Games, it's simple, but offers a promising glimpse of what we might expect from future 3DS software.

Nintendo has assembled a solid but derivative lineup of 18 games (US$40 each) to accompany the launch of the hardware. Almost all of them are based on familiar franchises, including Nintendo's own Pilotwings Resort, a lighthearted flying game, and Nintendogs + Cats, a lovable pet simulator.

The 3D effect does enhance sports games like EA Sports' Madden NFL Football and Namco Bandai's Ridge Racer 3D. But it feels superfluous in Capcom's Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition because its 3D angles tend to block your view; it's a good game, but "SF" fans will probably stick to the 2D perspective.

LucasArts' Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars delivers flashier 3D effects: In combat, enemies burst into Lego bricks that look like they're going to burst through the screen. For the most part, though, the game plays just as well in two dimensions.

It's easy enough to switch that extra dimension on and off, and I suspect many players will make frequent use of the device's 2D/3D slider. If you look away from the 3D screen, it takes a few seconds to readjust your eyes back to it. More significantly, my eyes got tired after about 10 minutes of 3D action, so I spent more time with it turned off.

So, if the games are just as playable in two dimensions, what's the point? The 3DS launch lineup doesn't answer that question, but surely some developers are plotting software that makes 3D more integral to gameplay.

Still fighting

Beyond 3D, the 3DS does sport several new features that will delight longtime players of Nintendo handhelds. The most welcome change is a circular thumb pad - at last! - that complements the traditional plus-sign-shaped directional pad.

The 3DS adds a motion sensor so you can tilt the device to control the action in games like Super Monkey Ball 3D. And a retractable stylus can be adjusted to your comfort level.

The whole package is only slightly thicker and heavier than 2008's DSi. The biggest drawback is battery life: If you have the screen set at maximum brightness, a charge lasts just three hours.

Before release, I was unable to try out the 3DS' wireless features, which encourage you to leave the device turned on - in sleep mode - while you carry it around. SpotPass will detect wireless hotspots and automatically download information and free software, Nintendo says.

StreetPass will detect other 3DS players and automatically transfer data such as Mii avatars between devices. And the Nintendo eShop, like the earlier model's DSi Shop, will let you buy and download new games, starting in May.

Nintendo's longtime dominance of handheld gaming has been threatened by the expanding presence of smartphones, especially Apple's iPhone.

It will probably take more than 3D technology to slow down the competition, so the eShop and the 3DS' other wireless goodies will be key.

What the 3DS demonstrates is that Nintendo isn't going to give up the portable market without a fight.

Nintendo 3DS could help ID vision issues

NEW YORK: Eye specialists in the United States are welcoming the Nintendo 3DS game device, dismissing the manufacturer's warnings that its 3D screen shouldn't be used by children aged six or younger because it may harm their immature vision.

On the contrary, the optometrists say, it's a good idea to get your kids to try the 3D screen, especially if they're younger than six. It won't do any harm, they say, and it could help catch vision disorders that have to be caught early to be fixed.

"The 3DS could be a godsend for identifying kids under six who need vision therapy," said Dr Michael Duenas, associate director for health sciences and policy for the American Optometric Association.

The new handheld game device is already available in Japan and goes on sale in the United States on March 27 for US$250.

It has two screens like the DS machines it is designed to replace. The top screen can show 3D images, without the need for special glasses, though only new games will be in 3D. A pair of cameras on the 3DS can be used to take 3D pictures.

If your kid doesn't see the 3D effect on the 3DS, that's a sign that he or she may have a vision disorder such as amblyopia, or "lazy eye," or subtler problems that can cause problems with reading, Duenas said. Kids who experience dizziness or discomfort should also be checked, he said.

Today's 3D viewing systems send different images to the right and left eyes, a technique that creates an illusion of depth. But a lot of the cues we use to perceive depth in our environment are missing. That confuses the eyes and accounts for the eyestrain and headaches many people experience watching 3D movies.

Because of that, optometrists say, these systems can help isolate problems that have to do with the way the eyes move, problems that aren't caught by eye charts.

These problems are much easier to fix if caught before age six, when the visual system in our brains is more or less done developing. Only 15% of preschool children get a comprehensive eye exam that could catch these subtle problems, according to the American Optometric Association, the professional group for optometrists.

More than half of all juvenile delinquents have undiagnosed and untreated vision problems, according to studies.

Opportunity

Going to see a 3D movie or trying a 3D TV can also help screen for problems, but optometrists expect the 3DS to be in front of kids' eyes more.

"This has presented my profession, optometry, a wonderful opportunity," said Dr Joe Ellis, the president of the optometrists' association.

However, optometrists aren't quite seeing eye to eye on this issue with another group of eye specialists: The ophthalmologists, who are medical doctors. (Optometrists are doctors of optometry but not medical doctors.)

Dr David Hunter, a pediatric ophthalmologist affiliated with the Children's Hospital in Boston and the American Academy of Ophthalmology, said the idea that off-the-shelf 3D games or movies could help screen for vision problems such as amblyopia is "a little perplexing."

Kids with amblyopia don't have much depth perception in real life, he said, so if they don't see depth in a 3D screen, they might not say anything because that wouldn't be much different from what they see around them.

It's not impossible that it could help, but it's "all sort of exploration and speculation," said Hunter, who has started a company that's developing a device for childhood screening of vision disorders.

Nintendo's warning, issued in December, was vaguely worded. It said specialists believe "there is a possibility that 3D images which send different images to the left and right eye could affect the development of vision in small children."

The Japanese company didn't back the warning up with scientific evidence, so Duenas sees it as being motivated by liability concerns - much like coffee mugs carry warnings that beverages could be hot -rather than a true danger.

Reggie Fils-Aime, the president of Nintendo of America, says the company is "aware of all the work that has been done in the field" and issued the warning based on that work. The warning, he said, is based on research that up until age six, a child's eye - specifically the connection between the eye and the brain - is still developing.

Nintendo, he said, wants to be "conservative and consistent," erring on the side of safety.

Optometrists haven't seen any sign that 3D screens can cause lasting damage, but they also acknowledge that not much is known about how 3D viewing affects us. Hunter, the ophthalmologist, agrees.

The optometrists' association has announced that it has formed an alliance with the 3D@Home Consortium, a group of TV manufacturers and Hollywood studios promoting the technology.

The idea is that the two groups will share information about the effects of 3D. In the future, Duenas said, 3D movies might be preceded by public service announcements recommending vision examinations for those who have problems perceiving the 3D effect.

Dr Jim Sheedy, director of the Vision Performance Institute at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oreagon, said parents should limit kids' use of the 3DS just as they limit computer or game console use.

"Is there a limit on how much a child should be viewing 3D? Yeah. How much is it? I don't know. Let's use some sound judgment," he said.

He noted that the No 1 health issue associated with console and computer gaming is obesity, rather than eye problems. "Kids should be out running around," he said. - AP

Nintendo 3DS could help ID vision issues

NEW YORK: Eye specialists in the United States are welcoming the Nintendo 3DS game device, dismissing the manufacturer's warnings that its 3D screen shouldn't be used by children aged six or younger because it may harm their immature vision.

On the contrary, the optometrists say, it's a good idea to get your kids to try the 3D screen, especially if they're younger than six. It won't do any harm, they say, and it could help catch vision disorders that have to be caught early to be fixed.

"The 3DS could be a godsend for identifying kids under six who need vision therapy," said Dr Michael Duenas, associate director for health sciences and policy for the American Optometric Association.

The new handheld game device is already available in Japan and goes on sale in the United States on March 27 for US$250.

It has two screens like the DS machines it is designed to replace. The top screen can show 3D images, without the need for special glasses, though only new games will be in 3D. A pair of cameras on the 3DS can be used to take 3D pictures.

If your kid doesn't see the 3D effect on the 3DS, that's a sign that he or she may have a vision disorder such as amblyopia, or "lazy eye," or subtler problems that can cause problems with reading, Duenas said. Kids who experience dizziness or discomfort should also be checked, he said.

Today's 3D viewing systems send different images to the right and left eyes, a technique that creates an illusion of depth. But a lot of the cues we use to perceive depth in our environment are missing. That confuses the eyes and accounts for the eyestrain and headaches many people experience watching 3D movies.

Because of that, optometrists say, these systems can help isolate problems that have to do with the way the eyes move, problems that aren't caught by eye charts.

These problems are much easier to fix if caught before age six, when the visual system in our brains is more or less done developing. Only 15% of preschool children get a comprehensive eye exam that could catch these subtle problems, according to the American Optometric Association, the professional group for optometrists.

More than half of all juvenile delinquents have undiagnosed and untreated vision problems, according to studies.

Opportunity

Going to see a 3D movie or trying a 3D TV can also help screen for problems, but optometrists expect the 3DS to be in front of kids' eyes more.

"This has presented my profession, optometry, a wonderful opportunity," said Dr Joe Ellis, the president of the optometrists' association.

However, optometrists aren't quite seeing eye to eye on this issue with another group of eye specialists: The ophthalmologists, who are medical doctors. (Optometrists are doctors of optometry but not medical doctors.)

Dr David Hunter, a pediatric ophthalmologist affiliated with the Children's Hospital in Boston and the American Academy of Ophthalmology, said the idea that off-the-shelf 3D games or movies could help screen for vision problems such as amblyopia is "a little perplexing."

Kids with amblyopia don't have much depth perception in real life, he said, so if they don't see depth in a 3D screen, they might not say anything because that wouldn't be much different from what they see around them.

It's not impossible that it could help, but it's "all sort of exploration and speculation," said Hunter, who has started a company that's developing a device for childhood screening of vision disorders.

Nintendo's warning, issued in December, was vaguely worded. It said specialists believe "there is a possibility that 3D images which send different images to the left and right eye could affect the development of vision in small children."

The Japanese company didn't back the warning up with scientific evidence, so Duenas sees it as being motivated by liability concerns - much like coffee mugs carry warnings that beverages could be hot -rather than a true danger.

Reggie Fils-Aime, the president of Nintendo of America, says the company is "aware of all the work that has been done in the field" and issued the warning based on that work. The warning, he said, is based on research that up until age six, a child's eye - specifically the connection between the eye and the brain - is still developing.

Nintendo, he said, wants to be "conservative and consistent," erring on the side of safety.

Optometrists haven't seen any sign that 3D screens can cause lasting damage, but they also acknowledge that not much is known about how 3D viewing affects us. Hunter, the ophthalmologist, agrees.

The optometrists' association has announced that it has formed an alliance with the 3D@Home Consortium, a group of TV manufacturers and Hollywood studios promoting the technology.

The idea is that the two groups will share information about the effects of 3D. In the future, Duenas said, 3D movies might be preceded by public service announcements recommending vision examinations for those who have problems perceiving the 3D effect.

Dr Jim Sheedy, director of the Vision Performance Institute at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oreagon, said parents should limit kids' use of the 3DS just as they limit computer or game console use.

"Is there a limit on how much a child should be viewing 3D? Yeah. How much is it? I don't know. Let's use some sound judgment," he said.

He noted that the No 1 health issue associated with console and computer gaming is obesity, rather than eye problems. "Kids should be out running around," he said. - AP

Nintendo 3DS could help ID vision issues

NEW YORK: Eye specialists in the United States are welcoming the Nintendo 3DS game device, dismissing the manufacturer's warnings that its 3D screen shouldn't be used by children aged six or younger because it may harm their immature vision.

On the contrary, the optometrists say, it's a good idea to get your kids to try the 3D screen, especially if they're younger than six. It won't do any harm, they say, and it could help catch vision disorders that have to be caught early to be fixed.

"The 3DS could be a godsend for identifying kids under six who need vision therapy," said Dr Michael Duenas, associate director for health sciences and policy for the American Optometric Association.

The new handheld game device is already available in Japan and goes on sale in the United States on March 27 for US$250.

It has two screens like the DS machines it is designed to replace. The top screen can show 3D images, without the need for special glasses, though only new games will be in 3D. A pair of cameras on the 3DS can be used to take 3D pictures.

If your kid doesn't see the 3D effect on the 3DS, that's a sign that he or she may have a vision disorder such as amblyopia, or "lazy eye," or subtler problems that can cause problems with reading, Duenas said. Kids who experience dizziness or discomfort should also be checked, he said.

Today's 3D viewing systems send different images to the right and left eyes, a technique that creates an illusion of depth. But a lot of the cues we use to perceive depth in our environment are missing. That confuses the eyes and accounts for the eyestrain and headaches many people experience watching 3D movies.

Because of that, optometrists say, these systems can help isolate problems that have to do with the way the eyes move, problems that aren't caught by eye charts.

These problems are much easier to fix if caught before age six, when the visual system in our brains is more or less done developing. Only 15% of preschool children get a comprehensive eye exam that could catch these subtle problems, according to the American Optometric Association, the professional group for optometrists.

More than half of all juvenile delinquents have undiagnosed and untreated vision problems, according to studies.

Opportunity

Going to see a 3D movie or trying a 3D TV can also help screen for problems, but optometrists expect the 3DS to be in front of kids' eyes more.

"This has presented my profession, optometry, a wonderful opportunity," said Dr Joe Ellis, the president of the optometrists' association.

However, optometrists aren't quite seeing eye to eye on this issue with another group of eye specialists: The ophthalmologists, who are medical doctors. (Optometrists are doctors of optometry but not medical doctors.)

Dr David Hunter, a pediatric ophthalmologist affiliated with the Children's Hospital in Boston and the American Academy of Ophthalmology, said the idea that off-the-shelf 3D games or movies could help screen for vision problems such as amblyopia is "a little perplexing."

Kids with amblyopia don't have much depth perception in real life, he said, so if they don't see depth in a 3D screen, they might not say anything because that wouldn't be much different from what they see around them.

It's not impossible that it could help, but it's "all sort of exploration and speculation," said Hunter, who has started a company that's developing a device for childhood screening of vision disorders.

Nintendo's warning, issued in December, was vaguely worded. It said specialists believe "there is a possibility that 3D images which send different images to the left and right eye could affect the development of vision in small children."

The Japanese company didn't back the warning up with scientific evidence, so Duenas sees it as being motivated by liability concerns - much like coffee mugs carry warnings that beverages could be hot -rather than a true danger.

Reggie Fils-Aime, the president of Nintendo of America, says the company is "aware of all the work that has been done in the field" and issued the warning based on that work. The warning, he said, is based on research that up until age six, a child's eye - specifically the connection between the eye and the brain - is still developing.

Nintendo, he said, wants to be "conservative and consistent," erring on the side of safety.

Optometrists haven't seen any sign that 3D screens can cause lasting damage, but they also acknowledge that not much is known about how 3D viewing affects us. Hunter, the ophthalmologist, agrees.

The optometrists' association has announced that it has formed an alliance with the 3D@Home Consortium, a group of TV manufacturers and Hollywood studios promoting the technology.

The idea is that the two groups will share information about the effects of 3D. In the future, Duenas said, 3D movies might be preceded by public service announcements recommending vision examinations for those who have problems perceiving the 3D effect.

Dr Jim Sheedy, director of the Vision Performance Institute at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oreagon, said parents should limit kids' use of the 3DS just as they limit computer or game console use.

"Is there a limit on how much a child should be viewing 3D? Yeah. How much is it? I don't know. Let's use some sound judgment," he said.

He noted that the No 1 health issue associated with console and computer gaming is obesity, rather than eye problems. "Kids should be out running around," he said. - AP

Mobile games hurting console games?

SAN FRANCISCO: With retail videogame sales smacked down by the rough economy and ever-growing competition in the crowded social and mobile game marketplace, it seemed like attendees at the recent Game Developers Conference were more frustrated than birds catapulted at pigs.

Game designers, programmers and executives from around the world who converged at the Moscone Convention Centre had hoped to figure out how to become the next Angry Birds - the silly top-selling mobile game that pits birds against pigs.

Yet many attendees had dismissed the mobile platform as The Next Big Thing, noting that selling 99-cent games isn't a dependable way to generate revenue.

"Downloadable games are the future, which is what I keep telling my team when they ask why we don't make any money," joked Psychonauts and Brutal Legend developer Tim Schafer. "Just kidding. I blame marketing."

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said in the conference's keynote speech that "game development is drowning" because of the rise of cheaply made and priced mobile and social games.

He expressed concern that those platforms have "no motivation to maintain the value of gaming" and that they lower gamemakers' ability to make a living.

"We invest a tremendous amount in technology, engineering and in the staff that create these games to maintain that high level of value, so that consumers want this content," said Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime in an interview.

"It's not disposable, and it's something that consumers can enjoy over long periods of time."

Iwata and Fils-Aime also used the speech as a chance to reveal that the Nintendo 3DS, the glasses-free handheld 3D gaming device set for release in the United States on March 27, would be able to stream Netflix movies and freely connect to more than 10,000 AT&T WiFi hotspots.

He also teased that Nintendo is working on a new Super Mario title in 3D.

Coincidentally, Iwata made his declaration the same day that Apple head honcho Steve Jobs stepped onto a different stage within the massive Moscone Convention Centre for the unveiling of the iPad 2, the latest Apple doodad that can - among other things - be used to play games. However, Apple's iPad 2 announcement wasn't related to the conference.

Into the fray

The convergence of the gaming and mobile realms was also on display during the US debut of the Xperia Play, Sony Ericsson's gaming-centric smartphone, which features a 4in touchscreen and a slide-out controller reminiscent of Sony's PlayStation Portable controls.

Instead of dual analog joysticks, it features a pair of sleek round touch-pads.

The smartphone will be available later this month and have about 50 games at launch designed to use the unique controls from such publishers as Electronic Arts, Glu Mobile and Gameloft.

The titles include the fighter Bruce Lee Dragon Warrior and role-playing game Dungeon Defenders, as well as a few editions of original PlayStation games.

"It is a smartphone first," said Xperia Play product manager Aaron Duke. "But we wanted to make sure gamers could get the most out of the device.

"We wanted them to be able to beat it up and treat it like a true game controller. We really feel like we've built a platform where developers can bring real console-quality games to a mobile device."

There were regular ol' console titles on display at the conference, too. Electronic Arts previewed the multiplayer mode for military shooter Battlefield 3.

Sony showcased the superheroic inFamous 2 and the sci-fi blaster Resistance 3. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment unleashed the sprawling Dark Knight sequel Batman: Arkham City.

THQ hyped its shooter Homefront, which imagines a North Korean invasion of America, by handing out free food from a Korean-themed food truck and hosting a phony political rally, which featured the release of thousands of red balloons in the air.

Environmental groups complained about the stunt, but THQ said the balloons were biodegradable.

"Console games are not going anywhere," noted Game Developers Conference director Meggan Scavio.

"There will always be a place for hardcore gamers and blockbuster titles, just like movies.

This conference started as the Computer Game Developers Conference, and it has evolved over the years. We dropped the word computer because of the rise of consoles." - AP

Mobile games hurting console games?

SAN FRANCISCO: With retail videogame sales smacked down by the rough economy and ever-growing competition in the crowded social and mobile game marketplace, it seemed like attendees at the recent Game Developers Conference were more frustrated than birds catapulted at pigs.

Game designers, programmers and executives from around the world who converged at the Moscone Convention Centre had hoped to figure out how to become the next Angry Birds - the silly top-selling mobile game that pits birds against pigs.

Yet many attendees had dismissed the mobile platform as The Next Big Thing, noting that selling 99-cent games isn't a dependable way to generate revenue.

"Downloadable games are the future, which is what I keep telling my team when they ask why we don't make any money," joked Psychonauts and Brutal Legend developer Tim Schafer. "Just kidding. I blame marketing."

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said in the conference's keynote speech that "game development is drowning" because of the rise of cheaply made and priced mobile and social games.

He expressed concern that those platforms have "no motivation to maintain the value of gaming" and that they lower gamemakers' ability to make a living.

"We invest a tremendous amount in technology, engineering and in the staff that create these games to maintain that high level of value, so that consumers want this content," said Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime in an interview.

"It's not disposable, and it's something that consumers can enjoy over long periods of time."

Iwata and Fils-Aime also used the speech as a chance to reveal that the Nintendo 3DS, the glasses-free handheld 3D gaming device set for release in the United States on March 27, would be able to stream Netflix movies and freely connect to more than 10,000 AT&T WiFi hotspots.

He also teased that Nintendo is working on a new Super Mario title in 3D.

Coincidentally, Iwata made his declaration the same day that Apple head honcho Steve Jobs stepped onto a different stage within the massive Moscone Convention Centre for the unveiling of the iPad 2, the latest Apple doodad that can - among other things - be used to play games. However, Apple's iPad 2 announcement wasn't related to the conference.

Into the fray

The convergence of the gaming and mobile realms was also on display during the US debut of the Xperia Play, Sony Ericsson's gaming-centric smartphone, which features a 4in touchscreen and a slide-out controller reminiscent of Sony's PlayStation Portable controls.

Instead of dual analog joysticks, it features a pair of sleek round touch-pads.

The smartphone will be available later this month and have about 50 games at launch designed to use the unique controls from such publishers as Electronic Arts, Glu Mobile and Gameloft.

The titles include the fighter Bruce Lee Dragon Warrior and role-playing game Dungeon Defenders, as well as a few editions of original PlayStation games.

"It is a smartphone first," said Xperia Play product manager Aaron Duke. "But we wanted to make sure gamers could get the most out of the device.

"We wanted them to be able to beat it up and treat it like a true game controller. We really feel like we've built a platform where developers can bring real console-quality games to a mobile device."

There were regular ol' console titles on display at the conference, too. Electronic Arts previewed the multiplayer mode for military shooter Battlefield 3.

Sony showcased the superheroic inFamous 2 and the sci-fi blaster Resistance 3. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment unleashed the sprawling Dark Knight sequel Batman: Arkham City.

THQ hyped its shooter Homefront, which imagines a North Korean invasion of America, by handing out free food from a Korean-themed food truck and hosting a phony political rally, which featured the release of thousands of red balloons in the air.

Environmental groups complained about the stunt, but THQ said the balloons were biodegradable.

"Console games are not going anywhere," noted Game Developers Conference director Meggan Scavio.

"There will always be a place for hardcore gamers and blockbuster titles, just like movies.

This conference started as the Computer Game Developers Conference, and it has evolved over the years. We dropped the word computer because of the rise of consoles." - AP

Mobile games hurting console games?

SAN FRANCISCO: With retail videogame sales smacked down by the rough economy and ever-growing competition in the crowded social and mobile game marketplace, it seemed like attendees at the recent Game Developers Conference were more frustrated than birds catapulted at pigs.

Game designers, programmers and executives from around the world who converged at the Moscone Convention Centre had hoped to figure out how to become the next Angry Birds - the silly top-selling mobile game that pits birds against pigs.

Yet many attendees had dismissed the mobile platform as The Next Big Thing, noting that selling 99-cent games isn't a dependable way to generate revenue.

"Downloadable games are the future, which is what I keep telling my team when they ask why we don't make any money," joked Psychonauts and Brutal Legend developer Tim Schafer. "Just kidding. I blame marketing."

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said in the conference's keynote speech that "game development is drowning" because of the rise of cheaply made and priced mobile and social games.

He expressed concern that those platforms have "no motivation to maintain the value of gaming" and that they lower gamemakers' ability to make a living.

"We invest a tremendous amount in technology, engineering and in the staff that create these games to maintain that high level of value, so that consumers want this content," said Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime in an interview.

"It's not disposable, and it's something that consumers can enjoy over long periods of time."

Iwata and Fils-Aime also used the speech as a chance to reveal that the Nintendo 3DS, the glasses-free handheld 3D gaming device set for release in the United States on March 27, would be able to stream Netflix movies and freely connect to more than 10,000 AT&T WiFi hotspots.

He also teased that Nintendo is working on a new Super Mario title in 3D.

Coincidentally, Iwata made his declaration the same day that Apple head honcho Steve Jobs stepped onto a different stage within the massive Moscone Convention Centre for the unveiling of the iPad 2, the latest Apple doodad that can - among other things - be used to play games. However, Apple's iPad 2 announcement wasn't related to the conference.

Into the fray

The convergence of the gaming and mobile realms was also on display during the US debut of the Xperia Play, Sony Ericsson's gaming-centric smartphone, which features a 4in touchscreen and a slide-out controller reminiscent of Sony's PlayStation Portable controls.

Instead of dual analog joysticks, it features a pair of sleek round touch-pads.

The smartphone will be available later this month and have about 50 games at launch designed to use the unique controls from such publishers as Electronic Arts, Glu Mobile and Gameloft.

The titles include the fighter Bruce Lee Dragon Warrior and role-playing game Dungeon Defenders, as well as a few editions of original PlayStation games.

"It is a smartphone first," said Xperia Play product manager Aaron Duke. "But we wanted to make sure gamers could get the most out of the device.

"We wanted them to be able to beat it up and treat it like a true game controller. We really feel like we've built a platform where developers can bring real console-quality games to a mobile device."

There were regular ol' console titles on display at the conference, too. Electronic Arts previewed the multiplayer mode for military shooter Battlefield 3.

Sony showcased the superheroic inFamous 2 and the sci-fi blaster Resistance 3. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment unleashed the sprawling Dark Knight sequel Batman: Arkham City.

THQ hyped its shooter Homefront, which imagines a North Korean invasion of America, by handing out free food from a Korean-themed food truck and hosting a phony political rally, which featured the release of thousands of red balloons in the air.

Environmental groups complained about the stunt, but THQ said the balloons were biodegradable.

"Console games are not going anywhere," noted Game Developers Conference director Meggan Scavio.

"There will always be a place for hardcore gamers and blockbuster titles, just like movies.

This conference started as the Computer Game Developers Conference, and it has evolved over the years. We dropped the word computer because of the rise of consoles." - AP

Picture of Nintendo 3DS leaked on Internet

A picture that is claimed as a form of update to be released Nintendo 3DS February 2011 is posted over the Internet.

Photos taken from a forum game, show 3DS comes in black color display. Version as shown in the picture had actually been exhibited Nintendo years ago, when it first exhibited at the event 3DS E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) 2010.

At that time, Nintendo featuring shades of black bezel and blue bezel around bottom of the screen. However, as reported by Cnet, portable gaming devices that did not seem far differs from previous models ever shown to the media.


This image is claimed to come from one factory employee making the Nintendo gaming device. Video showing the device of this game was present at YouTube, but now it is no longer avalaibleon the video sharing site.

Nintendo has not confirmed that the device in the leaked picture really 3DS to be launched, the manufacturer of gaming devices from Japan was also not immediately available for comment.

Picture of Nintendo 3DS leaked on Internet

A picture that is claimed as a form of update to be released Nintendo 3DS February 2011 is posted over the Internet.

Photos taken from a forum game, show 3DS comes in black color display. Version as shown in the picture had actually been exhibited Nintendo years ago, when it first exhibited at the event 3DS E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) 2010.

At that time, Nintendo featuring shades of black bezel and blue bezel around bottom of the screen. However, as reported by Cnet, portable gaming devices that did not seem far differs from previous models ever shown to the media.


This image is claimed to come from one factory employee making the Nintendo gaming device. Video showing the device of this game was present at YouTube, but now it is no longer avalaibleon the video sharing site.

Nintendo has not confirmed that the device in the leaked picture really 3DS to be launched, the manufacturer of gaming devices from Japan was also not immediately available for comment.

Picture of Nintendo 3DS leaked on Internet

A picture that is claimed as a form of update to be released Nintendo 3DS February 2011 is posted over the Internet.

Photos taken from a forum game, show 3DS comes in black color display. Version as shown in the picture had actually been exhibited Nintendo years ago, when it first exhibited at the event 3DS E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) 2010.

At that time, Nintendo featuring shades of black bezel and blue bezel around bottom of the screen. However, as reported by Cnet, portable gaming devices that did not seem far differs from previous models ever shown to the media.


This image is claimed to come from one factory employee making the Nintendo gaming device. Video showing the device of this game was present at YouTube, but now it is no longer avalaibleon the video sharing site.

Nintendo has not confirmed that the device in the leaked picture really 3DS to be launched, the manufacturer of gaming devices from Japan was also not immediately available for comment.