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Nintendo has lifted the lid on its 3DS handheld console.
It has two camera lenses so pictures can be taken in 3D, a slider to determine the level of 3D and two screens – a large 3D screen and a touch panel (which isn’t in 3D).
It also boasts improved graphics and several control mechanisms, including an analogue-stick style Slide pad, Motion Sensor, touch screen, D-pad and Gyro Sensor.
The device is backwards compatible with DSi.
"I can’t wait for you to try this,: said Nintendo president Satoru Iwata.
"As you can see, it has two screens and the upper screen has 3.5 inch widescreen display and shows full 3D without the need for special glasses.
"As you know Nintendo produced the first 3D video game 15 years ago and since then 3D has been a constant consideration in our plans. What we searched for was a way to make 3D games a reality in a mainstream product.
"Because 3DS is a successor to the DS, it naturally comes with a touch screen.
"It’s been six years since we launched Nintendo DS, so why have we now added 3D? Well, we also added to graphics capability to the DS. Something tells me this alone might cause some excitement amongst the development community."
A key selling point for the device is the lack of glasses, with Nintendo US president Reggie Fils-Aime highlighting glasses as something that has been holding 3D back.
"Man those glasses," said Fils-Aime during the Nintendo pre-E3 press conference.
"Don’t be surprise to pay a hefty amount of money for those glasses. Nobody said it was going to be easy – no one but Nintendo. We think there is a better way, with ample game content first day on the market with, best of all, no glasses."
