Why the Nintendo 3DS is the "Future of Gaming"

Let me preface this article with a sympathetic word to the non-gamers out there reading this. Please be advised that I do NOT intend for PopREX to become a video game blog. However, if you are unaware, we are currently smack in the middle of the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles (E3), the number one biggest video game event of the year. I would be doing you all (as well as the geeky gamer within me) a great disservice if I didn't at least do a little coverage thereof. But bare with me; non-gamer content is most assuredly on the way. ;)

Now, originally my plan was to do a full blow out of the Big Three's press conferences (that is Nintendo's, Microsoft's, and Sony's), breaking down each and every announcement the companies made and comparing them head-to-head to pick a winner. But in the interest of time and sanity, I have decided to forgo the preceding, and will instead focus on what many in the gaming world believe to be the most impressive piece of tech unveiled at E3 this year: the Nintendo 3DS. However, I will give you a brief (and I use that term lightly) outline of my take on how the Big Three performed this time around.

In my opinion, Nintendo absolutely blew away the competition this year. With a HUGE line up of jaw-dropping 1st party exclusives (new Zelda, new Donkey Kong Country, new Metroid, new Kirby, Mario Sports Mix, new GOLDENEYE!!) and the extremely exciting new 3DS handheld, Microsoft and Sony simply couldn't compete. As for second place, I have to give the edge to Sony over Microsoft, and that is only a slight edge. In reality, both companies had very similar showings. Both had very tasty exclusives: Sony had LittleBigPlanet 2, Killzone 3, Gran Turismo 5, Infamous 2, SOCOM 4, and the new Twisted Metal; Microsoft had Gears of War 3, Halo: Reach, Fable 3, and the new Forza Motorsport. Both displayed wow-filled demos of games coming to both systems, like Call of Duty: Black Ops, the new Medal of Honor, Portal 2, Metal Gear Solid: Rising, and Dead Space 2. However, what gave Sony the edge in my mind was not the software but the hardware. Anyone who follows the game industry knows that both Sony and Microsoft will soon enter the motion-controlled gaming market with their products the Move and Kinect, respectively.

Both of these new products were demoed, but I simply found Microsoft's Kinect (a controller-free camera device) to be very underwhelming. All of the games that were shown utilizing the Kinect were either minigame collections or fitness/dance titles. These just didn't prove that this device would revolutionize the industry in anyway, at least for real gamers. The Move, on the other hand, showed some real promise. While the tech maybe be less original (very much a Wii remote with a bulb on the end for enhanced motion tracking), Sony showed that it will truly enhance real hardcore gaming, with titles like Sorcery (where the device was used as a wand in a Harry Potter-esque adventure), SOCOM 4, and Heroes on the Move. Furthermore, Sony announced that the Move will be usable for many great titles already on store shelves, such as Resident Evil 5, Heavy Rain, and Tiger Woods 11. Simply put, Microsoft did not prove to me that their new motion hardware has any real hardcore gaming implications, something that Sony did in spades. As for the other announcements the two companies made, Sony pushed the PS3's new 3D capabilities, and Microsoft unveiled a new slim version of the Xbox 360. Neither of these in my mind are real game changers: the home theater 3D equipment that the PS3 requires is just too damn expensive, and the slim Xbox 360 does nothing new that the other systems haven't been doing for years (smaller size, quieter performance, built in WiFi, no red ring of death). So there you have it. In my honest opinion, Nintendo wins this E3, followed by a distant Sony, with Microsoft closely trailing in third place.

Phew, okay. Let me catch my breath here, because I don't want to lose focus on what has me really and truly excited: the Nintendo 3DS. As you know (or should know), Nintendo has consistently had a stranglehold on the handheld gaming market, from as early as the original GameBoy, and most recently with the dual-screened DS (which had sold over 125 million units as of the end of last year). And while each iteration has had its fair share of advancements, I don't think anything we've seen from the game industry has been this jaw-dropping since the N64 and PlayStation gave us our first taste of polygonal, fully rendered three-dimensional game worlds. Now, granted, I haven't actually seen the 3DS in action. But I've read about it. A LOT. And I am prepared to back this device wholeheartedly. And have I ever lead you astray in the past (let's not bring up MacGruber)?

So what is the 3DS? Well I'm glad that you asked. What a good looking question. The 3DS is Nintendo's new portable gaming system demoed at E3 this year. The system boasts some really impressive features. First, it supposedly has more graphic processing power than the Wii (we don't really have the full specs on the system's processing technology, but here is a video that should give you an idea of what this thing is capable of). Now granted, the Wii is not itself the most beautiful gaming platform out there. However, some Wii games are truly gorgeous (take Super Mario Galaxy for example), and to imagine such a game in the palm of your hand is alone astounding. It is the next piece of info that really has gamers excited for the 3DS. Not only will the system's graphics be better than the Wii's, but it will also feature FULL STEREOSCOPIC 3D without the need for 3D glasses! The 3DS uses a unique LCD system which outputs two different images to each of your eyes, removing the need for the cumbersome 3D glasses while still creating the jaw-dropping depth seen in films like Avatar and How to Train your Dragon. And early opinions from those lucky few who have tried it are extremely promising:

Craig Harris, IGN.com: "But it's the 3D display. Holy crap. Trust me, you really have to see this thing in person to understand why I'm incredibly impressed. [T]he effect adds . . .[a] lot of depth. [It] is immediately obvious, yet seems so natural. [...] The 3D effect works fantastically. [...] It's a stunning effect, absolutely."

Giancarlo Varanini, GameSpot.com: "[A]ll I can say is, "Wow." [The 3DS] didn't disappoint at all. In fact, I'm so shocked at how good the 3D effect is that I find myself wondering why it is that no other company has picked up on this technology already. But then again, this is Nintendo[.]"

Justin Calvert, GameSpot.com: "I was still skeptical until I held [the 3DS] in my hands and was able to see the 3D screen for myself. Not only does it work, but I think the effect of the 3D is just as good as that on the PlayStation 3, which requires an expensive TV and a pair of glasses."

Pants wet yet? Mine sure are. But what good is a system without fantastic games to play on it? No good, I say, no good at all. Luckily, however, Nintendo has announced a ridiculous number of mouth-watering titles to be released for the system, ranging from exciting remakes to originals from big name franchises. In the former category, Nintendo has announced it will be releasing 3D remakes of classic titles like Star Fox 64 and the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Third-party remakes are on the way too, including 3D versions of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and Super Street Fighter IV. It is exciting enough to imagine playing these already amazing titles in full 3D; it is even more exciting to know we can do so on trains, planes, automobiles, and everywhere in between. As for new titles, Nintendo isn't pulling any punches. New Mario Kart, PilotWings, Animal Crossing, and Paper Mario titles are all in the works for the 3D system, as are 3rd party titles like Resident Evil: Revelations, Assassin's Creed: Lost Legacy, a new Ghost Recon, and a new Ridge Racer, all in glorious 3D.

If that was all the system could do, it would be enough. But it doesn't stop there. Much like the original DS, the 3DS will feature a dual screen display. The top screen will be the 3D display, while the bottom will have touch-screen capabilities. The system also features an analog stick for increased control over the action, and can connect to WiFi for online pwnage. Another new feature is motion detection. The 3DS features built-in motion sensors and a gyroscope, allowing gamers to not only use button inputs and the touch screen to control games, but also tilts and twirls of the system itself. Furthermore, the system we be able to play full 3D movies, such as the aforementioned How to Train your Dragon, featuring the same 3D effects that would be seen in theaters or with a 3D TV and glasses. And the icing on the cake? The 3DS features TWO outward facing cameras which can be used to take FULL 3D PICTURES! OF REAL LIFE! IN 3D!! If that isn't awesome I don't know what is.

Now, no word has been released as to the 3DS's release date or price. But if I had to guess, I would say the system won't be out until 2011, and will be priced at around $200. While I am not sure I can wait that long to get my hands on this thing, I wold definitely be willing shell out that much coin if this thing is as good as it sounds. Either way, as JP from Grandma's Boy once said, this is truly "the future of gaming."