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E3 2010: Nintendo unveils the 3DS for 3D gaming, movies, and photos

Gyroscope, motion-sensor, and touchscreen too ensure it's more than a match for iPhone 4

E3 2010: Nintendo unveils the 3DS for 3D gaming, movies, and photos
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3DS

Nintendo today finally introduced us to its much-hyped new 3D handheld console, the Nintendo 3DS, at its E3 press conference in Los Angeles's Nokia theatre.

Although the long panning shot into the small and remarkably familiar looking unit might have not been too impressive, the feature set and capabilites of the device certainly were.
In terms of appearances, the 3DS looks remarkably like the existing DSi, albeit with an illuminated exterior. The base of the unit boasts the same touchscreen and buttons, albeit with a new analog joypad nub on the left in place of the D-pad. The big changes all take place on the top of the system, with a new widescreen 3D display.

Naturally, it's difficult for us to give you an opinion on the exprience yet (look out for our hands on preview from the show shortly for that), but what was interesting is that the 3DS willl also be capable of playing 3D movies (with Tangled, How to Train your Dragon, and Legend of Dragon from Disney, Dreamworks, and Warner respectively) and also taking and displaying 3D photos with the built-in camera.

It's not all about the 3D screen, though. The presence of a motion sensor and gyroscope in the system (take that, Apple) provide for even more control methods along with the touchscreen, camera, microphone, and analog joypad, meaning the 3DS has ably matched and surpassed the gaming options offered by new challengers such as the iPhone 4.

Of course, it's the software that matters most and early support looks promising, with first-party game Kid Icarus: Uprising backed up by around 30 titles from third-party studios, including Namco's Ridge Racer, Capcom's Resident Evil and most intriguing of all Konami's Metal Gear Solid series.

Chris James
Chris James
A footy game fanatic and experienced editor of numerous computing and game titles, bossman Chris is up for anything – including running Steel Media (the madman).