History Nintendo 3DS

1 history

1.1 background
1.2 development
1.3 announcement
1.4 pre-launch events
1.5 launch
1.6 larger model
1.7 continued support

history
background

nintendo began experimenting stereoscopic 3d video game technology in 1980s. famicom 3d system, accessory consisting of liquid crystal shutter glasses, nintendo s first product enabled stereoscopic 3d effects. although few titles released, nintendo helped design one—called famicom grand prix ii: 3d hot rally—which co-developed nintendo , hal laboratory , released in 1988. famicom 3d system failed garner market interest , never released outside japan.

despite limited success, nintendo press ahead 3d development 1990s. gunpei yokoi, creator of game boy handheld device , popular metroid video game, developed new 3d device nintendo called virtual boy. portable table-top system consisting of goggles , controller used spinning disc achieve full stereoscopic monochrome 3d. released in 1995, virtual boy sold fewer million units, spawning 22 compatible game titles, , considered commercial failure. shigeru miyamoto, known work on popular game franchises such mario , legend of zelda, commented in 2011 interview felt conflicted yokoi s decision use wire-frame models 3d , suggested product may not have been marketed correctly. failure of virtual boy left many @ nintendo doubting viability of 3d gaming. despite this, nintendo continued investigate incorporation of 3d technology other products.

the gamecube, released in 2001, 3d-capable system. lcd attachment, display true stereoscopic 3d, though launch title luigi s mansion ever designed utilize it. due expensive nature of requisite peripheral technology @ time, gamecube s 3d functionality never marketed public. nintendo later experimented 3d lcd during development of game boy advance sp, idea shelved after failed achieve satisfactory results. attempt made in preparation virtual navigation guide used on nintendo ds @ shigureden, interactive museum in japan. nintendo president hiroshi yamauchi encouraged additional 3d research in effort use technology in exhibition. although project fell short, nintendo able collect valuable research on liquid crystal later aid in development of nintendo 3ds.

development

speculation on development of successor nintendo ds began in late 2009. @ time, nintendo controlled as 68.3 percent of handheld gaming market. in october 2009, tech tabloid bright side of news reported nvidia, graphics processing unit (gpu) developer made headway tegra system-on-chip processors, had been selected nintendo develop hardware next generation portable game console. later month, speaking future nintendo s portable consoles, company president satoru iwata mentioned while mobile broadband connectivity via subscription doesn t fit nintendo customers , interested in exploring options amazon s whispernet found on amazon kindle provides free wireless connectivity customers sole purpose of browsing , purchasing content kindle store.

nintendo has expressed interest in motion-sensing capabilities since development of original nintendo ds, , alleged comment satoru iwata 2010 interview asahi shimbun implied successor nintendo ds incorporate motion sensor. claim led minor dispute between publication , nintendo on accuracy. in february 2010, video gaming website computer , video games reported select handful of japanese developers in possession of software development kits nintendo ds successor, pokémon company given special priority. according insider @ unspecified third-party development studio, hardware features tilt function similar of iphone, lot more .

announcement

the nintendo 3ds e3 2010 unveiling involved elaborate stage moving set pieces.

on march 23, 2010, nintendo officially announced nintendo 3ds handheld console, successor nintendo ds family. according industry analysts, timing of nintendo s original announcement, had drawn attention away launch of company s still-new nintendo dsi xl handheld, intended preempt impending news leaks product japanese press. in april 2010, picture of possible development build of internal components of 3ds released part of u.s. federal communications commission (fcc) filing mitsumi. analysis of image showed genuine featured components known used in nintendo ds line along features of 3ds had not been announced 5:3 top screen , control nub similar used in sony s playstation portable systems.

in june 2010, video gaming website ign reported according several developers have experienced 3ds in current form, system possesses processing power far exceed[s] nintendo wii , 3d shaders, make games close current generation visuals on xbox 360 , playstation 3 . ign cited several developer sources saying system not use nvidia tegra mobile chipset.

the system officially revealed @ nintendo s conference @ e3 2010 on june 15, 2010. first game revealed kid icarus: uprising, several other titles third parties announced, including square enix kingdom hearts , final fantasy, konami metal gear solid 3: snake eater 3d, warner bros. interactive batman title, ubisoft assassin s creed: lost legacy, capcom resident evil revelations , super street fighter iv: 3d edition, , activision dj hero. other nintendo titles later revealed after conference, such mario kart 7, animal crossing, , remakes of star fox 64 , legend of zelda: ocarina of time. nintendo demoed 3d trailers dreamworks how train dragon, warner bros legend of guardians: owls of ga hoole, , disney s film tangled on 3ds. 3ds design shown @ e3 final, subject minor changes.

on september 29, 2010, nintendo announced release date of nintendo 3ds in japan on february 26, 2011. furthermore, several additional features announced: inclusion of mii maker (similar mii channel on wii), virtual console (including game boy , game boy color), 3d classics, cradle recharging system s battery, multitasking, several included augmented reality games, included 2 gb sd card, , stored game data, final names 3ds tag modes, streetpass , spotpass collectively. colors available @ launch revealed aqua blue , cosmos black, , launch price in japan revealed ¥25,000. final physical design revealed @ event.

pre-launch events

on january 19, 2011, nintendo held 2 simultaneous press conferences in amsterdam , new york city, revealed of features of nintendo 3ds. in north america, release date confirmed march 27, 2011 retail price of $249.99. in europe, release date announced march 25, 2011, though nintendo said pricing retailers. retailers have priced handheld between £219.99 , £229.99, though retailers, such amazon, lowered price following sony s announcement of psp s successor on january 26, 2011, retailers pricing handheld @ around £200 in february.

in february 2011, nintendo held 4 hands-on events in uk named believe eyes . february 5 , 6 saw simultaneous events in london , manchester, while 12th , 13th saw events in glasgow , bristol. invitations events offered first club nintendo members, later members of public via online registration form. guests watched 2 brief performances , trailers, given time play selection of games on 3ds devices. attendees allowed second room, containing further games play (mainly augmented reality-based) , in-device videos. in march, nintendo held few events in australia @ selected westfield stores people try out console, number of demos available.

launch

the nintendo 3ds launched in japan on february 26, 2011, priced @ ¥25,000. on march 25, 2011, system launched in europe, pricing set individual retailers. on march 27, 2011 nintendo 3ds launched in north america, priced @ us$249.99. on march 31, 2011, system launched in australia , new zealand, priced @ a$349.95. system launched in regions in both aqua blue , cosmo black color variations.

on july 28, 2011, nintendo announced nintendo 3ds getting price cut of third of console s original price, $249.99 $169.99 in north america, 25,000¥ 15,000¥ in japan, , $349.95 $249.95 in australia. although in europe, pricing retailers, system received substantial price cut. in effort compensate had paid original price, company introduced nintendo 3ds ambassador program, through existing 3ds owners eligible (conditional must have accessed nintendo eshop @ least once prior august 21) download ten nintendo entertainment system games , ten game boy advance games @ no cost. nintendo further stated nes ambassador titles see future release general public on nintendo eshop, while there no plans make game boy advance ambassador titles available. ten nes games released in north america on august 31 , in europe on september 1, 2011. these include: balloon fight, donkey kong jr., ice climber, metroid, nes open tournament golf, super mario bros., legend of zelda, wrecking crew, yoshi (north america) / mario & yoshi (europe & australia) , zelda ii: adventure of link. ten game boy advance games released in north america on december 16, 2011. these include: f-zero: maximum velocity, fire emblem: sacred stones, kirby & amazing mirror, mario kart: super circuit, mario vs. donkey kong, metroid fusion, super mario advance 3: yoshi s island, legend of zelda: minish cap, wario land 4 , warioware, inc.: mega microgames!

on april 28, 2012, nintendo 3ds launched in south korea, in cosmos black, misty pink , cobalt blue color variations. on september 28, 2012, system launched in 2 other regions, hong kong , taiwan, in cerulean blue , shimmer pink.

larger model

a nintendo 3ds xl in open position

rumors of larger model of nintendo 3ds being in production appeared during june 2012, when japanese publication nikkei wrote article stating system scheduled unveiled @ e3 2012. however, nintendo responded these rumors false , article entire speculation , refrained further commenting on subject. finally, on june 21, 2012, system announced during nintendo direct presentation. featuring 90% larger screens original nintendo 3ds, system set launch on major regions during middle of year.

the nintendo 3ds xl (nintendo 3ds ll in japan) released on july 28, 2012 in japan, priced @ ¥18,900, , available in silver + black, red + black , white color variations. in europe, system launched on same day in silver + black, blue + black , red + black color variations. on august 19, nintendo 3ds xl launched in north america, priced @ us$199.99, , available in red + black , blue + black. on august 23, 2012, australia , new zealand saw launch of new handheld, priced @ au$249.95, , available in same color variations in europe, silver + black, blue + black , red + black. launch of nintendo 3ds xl coincided release of new super mario bros. 2, first nintendo 3ds game available in both retail , downloadable versions.

on september 20, 2012, nintendo 3ds xl launched in south korea, in silver + black, red + black , white color variations. on september 28, 2012 system launched in 2 other regions, hong kong , taiwan, in blue + black , white color variations. in december 2012, nintendo chinese distribution partner, ique, launched ique 3ds xl in 3 special editions, 1 featuring mario decal while other 2 feature both mario , luigi.

continued support

nintendo officially announced next home console, nintendo switch, in october 2016 , worldwide release in march 2017. switch marketed home video game console, features console unit can taken on-the-go , used similar mobile gaming device or handheld system. while switch has displaced wii u nintendo s primary home console in terms of production , distribution, nintendo executives have affirmed company continue support 3ds through more first-party , third-party titles in immediate future. fils-aimé assured 3ds has long life in front of , , , switch meant co-exist in nintendo s view, while kimishima considered 3ds entry-level product younger players. in june 2017, fils-aimé said supporting nintendo 3ds beyond 2018.