The Handheld Console to Inspire Gamers: Nintendo 3DS and 3DS XL
The Nintendo 3DS has not emerged from a vacuum or a tear in the fabric of space and time. It took 100 years of experience, expansion and technological advancements for the Japanese multinational company to expand from playing cards and cultivate the Nintendo Gameboy. It¿s hard to imagine that this gaming staple has been around for over a quarter of a century. With its truly inspired enhancements the Nintendo Gameboy has come very far since its inception in the 1989.
The C-Stick
The controls on the new Nintendo 3DS and 3DS XL are most definitely an improvement. The C-stick, a second analogue controller, similar to IBM¿s ThinkPad pointing stick, is placed above the A, B, X and Y button and registers directional input. It gives you additional control in supported Nintendo 3DS games..
The Speed
Another improvement is the additional processing power. Unfortunately, Nintendo does not release exact figures and specs when it comes to their hardware, but in user testing the differences are marked. Faster loading, reboot and download times are key features in the new Nintendo 3DS and 3DS XL.
Enhanced 3D
As for the 3D viewing, it has also seen big improvements. The glasses-free stereoscopic 3D effect has been enhanced by the addition of a front facing camera which tracks your head movement and position, adjusting the image accordingly. The result is a marked decrease in blurred and broken imagery when enabling the 3D mode in Nintendo 3DS games, as well as a significantly wider field of view.
Compatibility
The new Nintendo 3DS and 3DS XL are backwards compatible with previous software and games. As for the new Nintendo 3DS games, this consol is also ambiio ready. Using near field communication, ambiio provides an entire new avenue to explore. This system is future-ready!
The Platform
What you may not have known about the Nintendo platform is that they have their own browser, Nintendo eShop and applications, complete with a filter blocking adult content. Nintendo have stuck to their inclusive approach to family, but also give you the opportunity to remove this block by paying a small fee.
Among the apps are Inchworm Animation, Rhythm Core Alpha and Colours! 3D. Nintendo have not skipped a beat when it comes to exploiting this platform to reveal its full capability. Interactive learning is one of these impeccably placed features.
| ¿ Inchworm Animation is a complete animation suite geared for the creation of stop motion animation, video recording and time-lapse photography. ¿ Rhythm Core Alpha is a sophisticated music creation system which allows you to loop, perform and create music¿ in real time¿ in front of an audience! ¿ Colours! 3D is a painting application designed specifically for touchscreen platforms, to sketch, draw and paint using a myriad of modern techniques. |
If you aren¿t entirely convinced that the new Nintendo 3DS and DS XL are worth the extra Randellas, you may never find your one true love. If it¿s not the new Nintendo 3DS or DS XL, then what on earth could possibly satisfy your handheld gaming needs!