Don’t play the 3DS for more than 30 minutes

This’ll get way overblown, but Nintendo has recommended that you don’t play the Nintendo 3DS for more than 30 minutes at a time, and while that’s not too interesting, it was a chance to share this comic (click the link) from pt-alecz, a user on our forums. I’m a sucker for well-executed memes.

Update: I’m assuming this is with 3D effects turned on and at the highest setting.

Nintendo 3DS Blog

Another unboxing of the Nintendo 3DS

GAME has already unboxed the Nintendo 3DS, but Play-Asia has done a much better job, showing off lots of clear photos of the unboxing process for both the Cosmo Black and Aqua Blue colours. Check after the break for all the goodness and do not feel the need to contain your excitement.

Nintendo 3DS Blog

Team Ninja is not sure how make Ninja Gaiden appropriate for a portable system

Ninja Gaiden was announced for the 3DS a while ago, but nothing ever came of it. Luckily, the project is not dead, although it hasn’t been chugging along. Yosuke Hayashi, the head of Team Ninja explains that “we are discussing daily about the way to make a 3D action game such as Ninja Gaiden into something that would be appropriate for a portable game system. When we get this answer just right, we will show it to all of you so stay tuned.” That’s a delay I can get behind. I love the Ninja Gaiden series and will happily wait for an experience that’s tailor-made for a handheld.

Nintendo 3DS Blog

No Pilotwings Resort or Steel Diver for 3DS launch in Australia

Nintendo has confirmed that Pilotwings Resort and Steel Diver will not be launch titles when the device arrives in Australia on March 31st. Nintendogs + Cats will be the only first party game available on day one. And this is why all Australians should import the 3DS from somewhere cheap like the United States. Not only do you avoid most game delays, but it’s both cheaper upfront and in the long run. Whereas a game may cost .95 in Australia (as is the case with all 3DS games down here), you can easily buy NTSC versions of games for nearly half that price, and even with the shipping cost you’re saving about 30% off the RRP.

Nintendo 3DS Blog

Nintendo 3DS Hands-On: Does It Live Up to the Hype?

We’ve covered Nintendo’s 3DS plenty these last few months, and with good reason. Nintendo’s DS platform currently qualifies as the second-bestselling game console in the world, just a few million units behind Sony’s PlayStation 2. That, and we’re as curious as you about the glasses-free 3D experience. Will it be enough to fend off Sony’s Next Generation Portable (NGP) and Apple’s rapidly …
3ds – Yahoo! News Search Results

Leaked: All of the augmented reality games that are built-in to the Nintendo 3DS

Wired has been contacted by an anonymous tipster and revealed all the details in regards to the augmented reality that are built-in to the Nintendo 3DS operating system. Disappointingly, none of the actual games feature classic Nintendo characters (unless you consider Star Pics a game, which I don’t), but in addition to Target Shooting, which we’ve long known is awesome, there are a couple of interesting ideas.

The game we were already half-aware of is AR Shot, which is “sort of combination of pool and miniature golf.” The goal is to sink a ball into a hole, just like in golf, but you must use cue stick to do so. What makes this exciting though is that the terrain is “warped” and obstacles are placed in your way. You’re then able to move around your environment to properly line up shots.

And there’s also a fishing game which is appropriately named Fishing. “Your table becomes a fishing pond, and you lower and raise your rod into the water to pull out bigger and bigger fish.” The game’s controls and visual effects are described as impressive, although I suspect there’ll be a bit more challenge that the description we’ve received makes it sound.

The artists of the world can use Graffiti, a “3D drawing application in which you can use several different paintbrushes and other visual effects, including fire.” Once again, the sort of thing you need to see in action I think, which is probably why this one has been kept under wraps.

Lastly there’s Mii Pics and Star Pics which are two different augmented reality games that are very similar in functionality. The former allows you to snap 3D photos of your Miis as if they’re standing in the real world, while the latter allows you to do the same thing, but with Nintendo characters instead of Miis.

Nintendo 3DS Blog

The first review scores for Nintendo 3DS launch titles, Nintendo still comes out on top

Famitsu magazine over here in Japan has reviewed the Nintendo 3DS launch titles and the scores have made their way online. What I find amusing is that, even though Nintendo has specifically placed a focus on 3rd party launch titles during the launch of the 3DS, their own title, Nintendogs + Cats still comes out on top.

• nintendogs + cats – 10/9/9/10
• Samurai Warriors: Chronicles – 9/9/8/8
• Super Street Fighter IV 3D – 9/8/8/9
• PES 2011 3D – 8/8/8/8
• Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle – 8/8/8/8
• Ridge Racer 3D – 8/8/7/9
• Super Monkey Ball 3D – 9/8/8/7
• Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D – 6/6/6/6
• Puzzle Bobble 3D – 6/6/6/6

These scores aren’t too surprising, but I’m glad Samurai Warriors Chronicles has been well received. I enjoyed playing it, and it definitely seems like an experience I’ll be willing to pay for.

Nintendo 3DS Blog

Nintendo 3DS Launching with 18 Games

Nintendo on Tuesday revealed that its Nintendo 3DS gaming system will support 18 games when it launches March 27.
3ds – Yahoo! News Search Results

Analysis: The Closing U.S. Gap Between Xbox 360 And Wii

[As part of our monthly U.S. NPD retail video game sales analysis, Gamasutra analyst Matt Matthews examines how the gap has been closing between Xbox 360 and Wii at U.S. retail, predicting the "Xbox 360 will best the Wii in both units and revenue in 2011."] For Sony and Microsoft, there are at least some obvious paths to take in the course of 2011 in order to maintain solid hardware sales. For …
wii – Yahoo! News Search Results

Nintendo announces $40 3DS launch games, new 2011 Mario Kart

The Nintendo 3DS is coming to the United States on March 27 for 0. We’ve known that for a while, but today Nintendo has released the official list of launch titles, which will be sold for each. Too much? The list is made up of familiar names and faces, along with ports of older games. While it likely won’t make a difference in sales, Nintendo’s strategy of using the past to sell the …
3ds – Yahoo! News Search Results