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[BDGAME]

The idea of this post is to gather all of the information we already have about the 3DS in a well-organized topic, laid out in FAQ format.

If you have another questions, just post them in this topic. Let me know if I forgot something or made a mistake in my explanations. If you want to repost this information in another forum, just let me know by email and give due credit. hehe hehe

Table of Contents:
01 – Is it just a new revision of the DS?
02 - Is the graphical power the same as the DS?
03 – Is 3DS the final name?
04 – Is that the final design?
05 - How big is it?
06 – Will it play DSI, DS and GBA games?
07 - Will it have a second cartridge slot? What type of media does it use?
08 - How big are the 3DS screens and what resolutions do they display?
09 - Is the top screen a touch screen?
10 - What gaming features does it have?
11 - Besides games, what other features does it have?
12 - What kind of online service does it have?
13 - When does it launch?
14 – Will Flash cards, like M3 or R4, work on it?
15 - What are the tech specs?
16 - When Nintendo will revel more informations?
17 - Will touchscreen will be multi-touch?
18 - Is it region free or not?
19 - How much 3DS Will Cost
20 - How much the games will Cost?
21 - How does the 3D screen work? Is it really 3d?
22 - Does 3d take twice the hardware power?
23 - What is Pica200?
24 - What are Shaders?
25 - How many polygons can it render?
26 - Which is more powerful: 3DS or PSP? 3DS or PS2 / NGC / XBOX?
27 - What effects / shaders can the 3DS / Pica200 do?
28 - Is the Metal Gear Solid 3 Demo going to be released on 3DS?
29 - Which games were playable at E3?
30 - How do game developers feel about the device?
31 - What games have been announced for 3DS?

01 – Is it just a new revision of the DS?
No!
It's a brand new console and hardware. If DS is like a Playstation, 3DS is like a PS2.

02 - Is the graphical power the same as the DS?
No!
It is much higher, at least a full generational leap like PS1->PS2.

03 – Is the name definitive?
We don't know for sure, but it most likely is. Iwata (president of Nintend) said he would announce the final name at E3 and it was announced there as "3DS". In September, Nintendo is having an event for the device which would be their last opportunity to change the name or branding.


04 – Is that the final design
Basically, yes. During E3, Nintendo had said that the design was subject to change, but in a recent interview, the project Designer Hideki Konno said that this is the final design.
Read here: http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2010/07/hideki-konno/

05 – How big is it?
Basically the same as for DS lite (when closed):
Width: 5.3 inches wide, or 13.5 centimeters
Height: 2.9 inches long, or 7.4 centimeters
Depth: 0.8 inches tall, or 2 centimeters

06 – Will it play DSi, DS and GBA games?
Yes, Yes and no, in order. It plays DSi games and DS games, but like the DSi, it does not run GBA games. Nintendo has not announced any details about DSiWare compatibility, or about any "Virtual Console" service for the 3DS.


07 - Will it have a second cartridge slot? What type of media does it use?
No. Cartridges.
The 3DS only will have one slot for cartridges. It will be use to play the DS, DSi games and the 3DS games as well. 3DS games currently have a small notch in the top of their game card that makes them a slightly different shape than regular DS games. Besides the game card slot, it has a SD card entrance, like the DSi. 3DS cartridges can reach up to 2 Gigabytes (16 Gigabits) at launch. This is four times the largest DS cartridge, which was 0.5 Gigabytes (4 Gigabits). Cartridges with bigger memory will be launched with time.

08 - How big are the 3DS screens and what resolutions do they display?
Size:
- Top Screen: 3.53-inch widescreen or 9 centimeters (same size as the iPhone)
- Bottom Screen: 3.02-inch LCD, or 7.7 centimeters (same size as the fat DS)

Resolution:
- Top Screen: 800x240 pixel (first iPhone was 320 x 480. The 4G is 960x640), with 3D on it drops to 400x240
- Bottom Screen: 320 x 240 pixels (compare to the DS's 256x192).

09 - Is the top screen a touch screen?
No.
According to Nintendo, putting a touch screen in the top screen would "break" the 3D effect, which is the main selling point for the 3DS.

10 - What gaming features does it have?
-A wide top screen with ability to view 3D images cinema style, without the need of glasses.
-3D Depth Slider to adjust level of 3D effect (can be scaled back or turned off completely)
-A bottom screen with touch functionality and higher resolution than the DS .
-An analog pad (called the "slider") which is said to be smoother than the PSP nub and is around the same size as the Wii's nunchuk analog stick.
-A d-pad, which is around the same size as the DS d-pad.
-Four face buttons and 2 side in the same style and position of the DS (A, B, X, Y, L and R)
-SELECT, START buttons and a Home button (for returning to the home firmware), located under the botton screen.
-Gyroscope and accelerometer to capture 3DS motion or tilting, like the Wii Remote or iPhone.
-An internal camera for functions such as filming the player during the game.
-2 external cameras, with resolution of 640 x 480 (0.3 Mega) each, to take pictures in 3D or be used in games with augmented reality, among other functions
-Audio; Stereo superior to DSi, able to simulate audio in 5.1.x with headphones.
-Wireless Communication (2.4 GHz band) for local LAN and Wireless Internet. Will support IEEE 802.11.
-When not in use, it can automatically exchange data with other Nintendo 3DS systems or receive data via the Internet while in sleep mode. This is called "tag mode" informally, the official service name has not yet been confirmed.
-Microphone
-AC adapter connector
-Parental controls similar to the Nintendo DSi system will be included.
-The amount of internal storage memory has not yet been confirmed.

11 - Besides games, what other features does it have?
Take 3D Pictures, watch movies, web browsing.
In this year's E3 Nintendo showed that the device can be used for taking pictures in 3D and watching movies in 3D. Three 3D movies were demoed: How to Train your Dragon, Legend of the Guardians, and Disney's Tangled. Nintendo has not announced a business model for selling movies (digital or retail), and they have also not confirmed any details about media playback software.


12 - What kind of online service does it have?
Supposedly Nintendo is making a real effort to improve these features compared to the Wii and DS and give them more attention. While exact features have not been confirmed, Nintendo has announced that the 3DS will support leaderboards and ghost data in many games. Other information is not revealed yet. An interview posted by Nintendo with an EA developer suggests an achievement system, but it is unclear if he was referring to the OS have an achievement system or his game having one.


13 - When does it launch?
All territories are supposed to launch before the end of March 2011, although no date has been given. In the USA, the President of Nintendo of America, Reggie Fils-Aime, said on an interview on the "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" show that the 3DS will launch in 2011. Nintendo could still launch in 2010 in Japan or Europe, though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-gHi1mpPRs&feature=player_embedded


14 – Will Flash cards, like M3 or R4, work on it?
No. Nintendo has emphasized strong new anti-piracy technologies and THQ representatives have been quoted as saying the hardware is "hacker-proof". The DSi still hasn't been fully hacked, so it is likely the 3DS will stay secure for a while.


15 - What are the tech specs?
-Weight: 230g (DS Lite weighs 218g and the original DS 274g)
-Dimensions: 130x74x20 mm (slightly smaller than the DS Lite which is 133 × 749 × 22 mm)
-Screen: top has an 3.53 inch screen and the bottom has a 3.02 inch screen (the DSi has 3.25 inch screen and Lite 2.9 inch screen)
-Battery: Nintendo is aiming for DSi level battery life, which lasts 9 to 14 hours. Is less than the Lite, which lasts 15 to 19 hours
-Brightness levels: details TBA . The DSi has 5 levels and Lite 4.
-Stylus: Telescoping stylus which is 100mm when fully extended. This is larger than the DSi's 92mm and a Lite's 87mm.
-Controls: a, b, x, y, R, L, d-pad, the-pad, touch screen, the accelerometer, gyro, start, select, home, power, camera, volume control and 3D level.
-Cartridges: up to 2 GigaBytes at the beginning.
-Storage: it is still the value of internal memory
-RAM: TBA. The DSi had 16 megs of RAM, the Lite had 4 megs.
-CPU: No one knows yet. The DSi uses a 133 MHz ARM9 and an ARM7 RISC at 33 MHz.
-GPU: DMP Pica200 IP core
-Camera: 1 internal with resolution of 640 x 480 (0.3 Mega) and 2 external with 640 x 480 (0.3 Mega) for taking 3D pictures.


16 - When Nintendo will revel more informations?
September 29.
Price, and date will be confirmed on 29th September, most people assume everything will be revealed, launch line up, interface, stylus, online system and etc. .
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/3ds-date-cost-unveiled-in-sept


17 - Will touchscreen will be multi-touch?
Not informed.
In this year E3, all playable games utilize only single touch.


18 - Is it region free or not?
TBA.
Only to compare, Dsi and DSi XL are NOT region free.


19 - How much 3DS Will Cost
TBA.
Many speculations can be found in Internet. The speculated price varying from U$ 190,00 to U$ 300,00. The price is expected to be announced in the next Nintendo Event in September 29.


20 - How much the games will Cost?
TBA.
But since it's a new hardware, the price may increase a little. In Amazon has Nintendogs + Cats are selling for $39.99
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002I08ZTI/?tag=neogaf0e-20

An official games price is expected to be announced in the next Nintendo Event in September 29.

 

[BDGAME]

21 - How does the 3D screen work? Is it really 3d
All 3d screens operate on the same principle: 2 images of the same scene at different angles are superimposed on top of one another, with half the images going to your left eye and half the images going to your right eye. By having a difference in the angle of the images, the brain is tricked into thinking that what it is seeing is 3D. See, in the picture below shows how it's done 3D:

Early 3d was called anaglyph 3d and used red and blue glasses, but the resulting images were tinted. Recent 3D movies (including Avatar) and 3DTVs from Sony use polarized 3D glasses.
The 3DS uses the barrier polarizing manner (parallax barrier) that does not need glasses. It works as follows:
1-The 3D generates two slightly different images, each 400x240.
2-The two images are interpolated into a single image of 800x240 resolution
3-The barrier in the screen receives the interpolated image and separates the images to travel to each eye.
Here this picture made by jarosh from NeoGaf explaining better:

A video demonstrating this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38ESItZPieE&feature=player_embedded

22 – Does 3d take twice the hardware power?
No.
In 3D, Both the DS and in any other hardware , there are things that are not processed twice and things that are. The machine doesn't need to render the geometry (templates) twice, or process the physics engine twice (gravity, collision), or run the movement image twice, or the particle engines. These things are only processed once. After the scene is ready, 2 pictures are taken and the processor takes the generated image and a 3d map, completes the picture. This could be compared to texture mapping, reflection mapping, bump mapping, light mapping, etc. In other words, additional hardware power is needed to render in 3D, but not twice the hardware power.

It's harder for the processor to make games with split-screen multiplayer than 3D.


23 - What is Pica200?
The GPU (graphics processing unit) for the 3DS. The power of GPU comes from resources it has (such as shaders), the speed in MHz to render these features and the memory of the hardware to save the processed information and send it to the screen. Without knowing how much MHz and RAM of the device has no way of knowing for sure what kind of performance it has.

24 - What are Shaders?
In the field of computer graphics, a shader is a set of software instructions, which is used primarily to calculate rendering effects on graphics hardware with a high degree of flexibility. Shaders are used to program the graphics processing unit (GPU) programmable rendering pipeline, which has mostly superseded the fixed-function pipeline that allowed only common geometry transformation and pixel shading functions; with shaders, customized effects can be used. (wikipedia)

Effects such as: light and shadow, smoke, textures, fur, bump mapping, normal mapping among other things are considered shaders.

25 - How many polygons can it render?
40 million, more or less, but the exact specifications are unclear. This is confusing; the GPU, Pica200 was created in 2006 and the specifications said it could do 15 million polygons. In 2008, an updated spec sheet for the GPU gad 40 million polygons listed. This number can be either the total number of pure polygons, with no shader, or the total already with shaders applied. Some people are saying the 3DS probably falls between the two spec numbers offered. Because we don't know the exact specs of the Pica200 used in the 3DS, we can't know for sure, but what we know right now is that the Pica200 can hit 40 million polygons.

26 - Which is more powerful: 3DS or PSP? 3DS or PS2 / NGC / XBOX?
The 3DS is more powerful than the PSP, but the other comparisons are unknown because we do not have the complete specifications for the 3DS. Moreover, it takes time to master the hardware and find the perfect balance between resources and the ability to run smoothly. But when it comes to raw numbers, we have the following:

Resolution:
-PSP 480 x 272 pixels
- 3DS 800x240 pixels (400x240 with 3D connected)
-PS2-640x480 interlaced for most games, progressive scan in a few. Some games (GoW2, GT4) have limited high resolution capabilities.
-NGC-640x480 interlaced for most games, progressive scan in some.
-XBOX-640x480 progressive scan for most games, some games render in HD.

Max Fillrate (Pixel per second-capacity hardware on show pixels on screen):
-PSP-660 million textured pixels/sec
-3DS-between 800 million and 1 billion
-Ps2- 1.2 billion textured pixels/sec
-NGC-648 million textured pixels/sec
-XBOX-932 million with multitexturing (2 layers)

Instructions per second (important for things like A.I., physical, shaders, etc):
-PSP-400 million
-3DS-TBA
-Ps2-360 million
-NGC-925 million
-XBOX-1.9 billion

CPU-central processor unit
-PSP-333 MHz-MIPS R4000
-3DS-TBA
-Ps2-294 MHz-Sony emotion Engine
-NGC-485 MHz-IBM "Gekko"
-XBOX-733 MHz-customized by Intel

GPU-graphics processing unit
-PSP-166 MHz-PSP owner
-3DS-200-400 MHz-Pica200 DPM
-Ps2-147 hmz Intel CPUs-Sony Graphics Synthetizer
-NGC-162 MHZ Flipper
-XBOX-233 HMZ INTEL CPUS-customized by Nvidia

Poligons:
-PSP-33 million pure-6 to 12 in game
-3DS-~40 million, but actual power unknown
-Ps2-70 million pure-12 to 20 in game
-NGC-60 million pure-12-30 at stake
-XBOX-125 million pure-15 to 40 in game

RAM
-PSP-32 megs for games
-3DS-unknown
-Ps2-32 megs
-NGC-40 megs (being 24 1T-SRAM, faster than the normal memory)
-XBOX-64 megs (free use)

Anti-aliasing and graphic filters:
-PSP-2 x AA + 1 layers of texture + textures + Hardware compression Clipping
-3DS-4 x AA +? layers of texture + textures + Hardware compression Clipping
-PS2-2 x AA + 4 texture layers
-NGC-2 x AA + ETA 1 layers of texture compression TEVs + textures + Hardware Clipping
-XBOX-2 x AA + 4 layers of texture high resolution texture Compression + + Hardware Clipping

Shaders:
-PSP- smoke, Morphing, light and shadow primitive, subdivision of polygons (never used in games).
-Ps2-all PSP + plenty more advanced light and does subdivision polygons
-NGC-all from PS2 + refraction + cel shaded native + programmable shaders Has that can be added or updated.
-XBOX-all NGC + bump mapping + normal mapping + light correction per frame-fixed, non-programmable shaders.
-3DS-all Xbox + 4 x AA + Self shadow + subdivision polygons + programmable shaders equal to NGC.

See more here:
PSP: http://www.bluefoxvideo.com/video-audio-articles/psp-video-spec.html
3DS:
Ps2: http://www.ps2fantasy.com/hardware/ps2/system.php
NGC: http://www.segatech.com/gamecube/overview/index.html
XBOX: http://www.xbreporter.com/xbox_system_specifications.php

Comparison photos:

Metal Gear: Ps2-PSP-3DS

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell - PSP-3DS-XBOX

KH2 vs KH3D

RE4 vs RE 3DS

Steet Figther IV - iphone-3DS-Ps360

Mario Kart Double Dash vs Wii vs 3DS (working in progress)

Star Fox - N64 vs Remake

Dead or Alive - DC-3DS-XBOX (DC and Xbox shots are not representative of actual in-game quality)

27 - What effects / shaders can the 3DS / Pica200 do?
The 3DS comes with a series of shaders ready in the box. DMP's MAESTRO technology is used for these; it is a customized version of OpenGL/ES1.1 with added features. In addition to the basic shaders, MAESTRO-2 g technology lets you see:

- Blending [a]

Allows for reflection, as mirrors, without having to bend processing (as was done in Ps2 and PSP). Same result, better performance.

- Cube environment map

A smart way to trace the light for different materials. The first picture is used the old method and the other the Cube environment map.

- Normal Map

More advanced that the Bump Mapping, creates a 3-d look in 2D textures.

- Procedural Texture

Allows use textures with good resolution (less blur) and saving space. Facilitates implementation of normal mapping and saves processing.

- tessellation

Subdivision of polygons antialiasing to image. Can split 1 polygon up to 16 times depending on the distance of the object. Helps save polygons and processing.

- Soft shadow

Allows the creation of real-time soft shadows on the environment and self-shadowing

- subsurface scattering

For showing light impact on different materials, including transparency and brightness

- Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution

Refraction of light that causes brightness on the edges of clothes and models.

- object rendering gas

Volumetric fog, perfect to do things like clouds.

See MINKAGE demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A-xxUyJvQQ&feature=player_embedded

See more information and photos here:
http://translate.google.com.br/tran...20100715_380961.html&sl=ja&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8
e
http://translate.google.com.br/tran...20100716_381357.html&sl=ja&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8

28 - Is the Metal Gear Solid 3 Demo going to be released on 3DS?
Yes and no. The game was announced for the 3DS as "Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D". The E3 demo was called "Naked Sample". The version of E3 is a representation of what the 3DS can do and also a preview of how it would work. The actual details of what the final game will include are unknown right now.

29 - Which games were playable at E3?
-Nintendogs + cats
-Animal crossing
-Steel diver
-3D Star Fox 64
-Pilotwings Resort
-3D-Samurai Warriors
-Ridge Racer
-Chocobo Racing 3D
-Battle of Giants: Dinosaur Strike
-3D-DJ Hero
-CrossPass - Shooting in Augmented reality (filming a mario “?” box on the table causes targets to spawn)

Hands on:

CrossPass -Target Shooting Hands-On
http://www.gamexplain.com/article-14...tendo-3ds.html

3D Paddle Ball Hands-On
http://www.gamexplain.com/article-18...tendo-3ds.html

30 - How do game developers feel about the device?

Atsushi Inaba (Bayonetta, MadWorld) “I’m being struck with the intense desire to make something on it. It’s the same sort of excitement I had when I first saw the Wii and DS in Nintendo’s office, but now it’s at a whole new level. This may the first time in the industry where the terms ‘next generation’ and ‘personal dream’ were so appropriate. I’d gladly throw away everything else for a shot at touching the 3DS.”
Keiji Inafune (Mega-Man, Dead Rising) “Video games need three things to be successful: a concept, a technology platform, and good marketing. The Nintendo 3DS is a perfect example of those three things bundled into one.”
Hideki Kamiya (Okami, Bayonetta) “3D on a large screen has an impact on you and gets you that much closer to the game or movie you’re watching, but 3D on the 3DS’s smaller screen is interesting in its own right. Instead of feeling like you’re ‘really there,’ you feel like it’s ‘really in the palm of your hand,’ so to speak. Having these dynamic home 3D titles is great and all, but personally, I want to take a different approach and make games that take advantage of what a 3D portable has to offer.”
Hiroyuki Kobayashi (Resident Evil 5, Devil May Cry) “Our own Resident Evil was shown on the show floor and was well received, but when I saw Metal Gear, I felt the new potential of the 3DS. I’d like to make something.”
Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear, Metal Gear Solid) “I wear glasses, so I’m happy that 3D glasses are not needed. I directed the E3 demo. It was based off Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater, but the backgrounds and character modelling were all redone in high polygon. It’s not finalised, but we’re thinking about CO-OPs and other things — elements fitting of a 3D and portable game machine.”
Toshihiro Nagoshi (Super Monkey Ball, Yakuza) “Nintendo has been re-examining the concept of game consoles as ‘toys’ ever since the Wii, and I think the 3DS is the final result of those efforts. If you believe that gamers will demand more social features and immersiveness in their portable single-player or multiplayer experiences, then Nintendo certainly has that covered with the 3DS’s Wi-Fi and 3D features. There’s a lot of ideas I’d like to work with.”
Yoshinori Ono (Street Fighter IV, Super Street Fighter IV) “We’d like to put in some ideas that make effective use of the portability.”
Goichi Suda (No More Heroes, Killer 7) “It really makes me feel the speed at which the history of video games is unfolding — like, ‘We’ve really made it this far, huh?’ You have a living, breathing world you can touch right in your hands. I think we’ve finally gone from an era of constructing virtual worlds from pixels to one where the world is truly, honestly there. If I had to sum up the sort of game I’d like to make, I would simply call it ‘the next game,’ because the 3DS marks the arrival of the ‘next platform.’”
Shu Takami (Phoenix Wright, Ghost Trick) “As a creator, I feel that a new challenge has started…I’d like to show a mystery in a 3D space.”


31 - What games have been announced for 3DS?

Nintendo
* Animal Crossing
* Kid Icarus: Uprising
* Mario Kart
* Nintendogs + Cats
* Paper Mario
* Pilotwings Resort
* Star Fox 64 3D
* Steel Diver

Activision
* DJ Hero 3D

AQ Interactive
* Cubic Ninja

Atlus
* Etrian Odyssey
* Shin Megami Tensei:
* Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor
* Shin Megami Tensei: Persona

Bplus
* Vektor Tank 3D

Capcom
* Resident Evil: Revelations
* Super Street Fighter IV 3D

EA
* FIFA Soccer
* Madden NFL
* The Sims 3

Firehazard Studio
* Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs - The Videogame

Gameloft
* Asphalt GT

Harmonix
* (Untitled Music Game)

Hudson
* Bomberman
* Deca Sports
* Kororinpa

Konami
* (Untitled Baseball Game)
* Contra
* Frogger
* Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D "The Naked Sample"
* Pro Evo

Level 5
* Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle

Majesco
* BloodRayne: the Shroud
* A Boy and His Blob
* Face Racers: Photo Finish
* Lion's Pride: Adventures on the Serengeti
* Martha Stewart
* WonderWorld Amusement Park

Marvelous
* BOKUJYOUMONOGATARI 3D

Namco Bandai
* Dragon Ball
* Gundam
* Pac-Man & Galaga
* Ridge Racer
* Super Robot Wars

Rocket
* Crash City GP
* Super Robo

SEGA
* Sonic the Hedgehog
* Super Monkey Ball

Square Enix
* Codename: Chocobo Rcing 3D
* Dragon Quest
* Final Fantasy
* Kingdom Hearts

Smackdown
* Kabuki Samurai Sensei (no publisher yet)

Take-Two
* Carnival Games

Tecmo Koei
* Dead or Alive Dimensions
* Dynasty Warriors
* Ninja Gaiden
* Samurai Warriors 3D

Tomy
* Lovely Lisa 3D
* Naruto Shippuden Action

THQ
* de Blob 2
* Kung Fu Panda: Kaboom of Doom
* Marvel Super Hero Squad Infinity Gauntlet
* The Penguins of Madagascar
* Puss N Boots
* Saints Row: Drive By

Ubisoft
* Assassin's Creed: Lost Legacy
* Battle of Giants: Dinosaur Strike
* Driver Renegade
* Hollywood 61
* Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon
* Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory
* Rayman Origins (not confirmed yet)

Warner Bros.
* Batman
* LEGO

Screens:

- Kid Icarus: Uprising

- Animal Crossing 3DS

Mario Kart 3DS

- Nintendogs + Cats

- Paper Mario

- The legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake

- Star Fox 64 Remake

- Steel Driver

- Kingdom Hearts

- Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D

- Resident Evil Revelations

- The Sims 3

- Street fighter IV

- Hollywood ’61

- DJ Hero

- Dead or Alive Dimensions

Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle

- Rayman Origins (not confirmed yet)

- Samurai Warriors 3D

- Ridge Raaaaaacer

- Chocobo Racing 3D

- Battle of Giants: Dinosaur Strike

Vektor Tank 3D

Kabuki Samurai Sensei (no publisher yet)

Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs (old cartoon screen, not represent the game)

http://e3.nintendo.com/3ds/
http://kotaku.com/5564483/nintendo-3ds-every-announced-game-right-here

 

[KAL2006]

Things OP should also mention (please add to the OP)

D-Pad Improvement
According to Ono (Street Fighter 4 producer), Nintendo will improve the D-Pad
We just interviewed Ono-san on the 3DS versions. He talked TONS of stuff, such a nice guy!

I'll have more details after reviewing the interview, but for now, he told us there will be a new, easier touch control mode aside from traditional controls, same 35 characters - version will be 'exactly the same' as in HD, and 3D effect is like if you put the characters in a box and you can feel the depth.

Moreover, he presented 'Street Fighter Fit' to Capcom. It was a Wii game, but then he was told about the 3DS. The 3DS D-Pad is not final, still changing and 'coming closer to what the SFIV team prefers'. Oh, SSFIV 3DS will have a 'surprise that can only be done on the 3DS'. He says we'll know more on a month an a half
http://www.revogamers.net/noticias/cgc10-super-street-fighter-iv-3ds-tendra-un-modo-control-tactil-y-una-sorpresa-5401.html


Possibility of Virtual Console with 3D (not confirmed)
asked Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime what to make of all these old-school remakes. Were they all going to be games on the 3DS? Yes, he said, but he cautioned me not to think of them as remakes
http://kotaku.com/5566935/mega-man-2-yoshis-island-among-teased-3ds-sorta+remakes
Video of classic games for 3DS


Trademark leaks
商願2010-021055 ＤＳ　Ｓｏｕｎｄ
商願2010-021086 ＤＳ　Ｎａｍｅ　Ｃａｒｄ
商願2010-021087 ＤＳＭａｇａｚｉｎｅ
商願2010-021088 ＤＳＭｏｖｉｅ
商願2010-021089 ＤＳＣａｍｅｒａ
商願2010-021090 ＤＳＣｉｎｅｍａ
商願2010-021091 ＤＳＭｅｓｓａｇｅ
商願2010-021092 ＤＳＭｕｓｉｃ
商願2010-021093 ＤＳＡｌｂｕｍ
商願2010-021709 ３ＤＳＰｌａｙ
商願2010-021710 Ｎｉｎｔｅｎｄｏ　３ＤＳ
商願2010-021711 ニンテンドー３ＤＳ (Nintendo 3DS)
商願2010-021712 ３ＤＳＷａｒｅ
商願2010-021713 Ｎｉｎｔｅｎｄｏ　３ＤＳＷａｒｅ
商願2010-023066 Ｎ３Ｄ


Full reveal of 3DS
price, and date will be confirmed on 29th September, most people assume everything will be revealed, launch line up, interface, stylus, online system and etc.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/3ds-date-cost-unveiled-in-sept

.

 

[DancingJesus]

Nice work with the opening post. A lot of time went into that.

 

[Shanadeus]

Great opening post, loads of information there that is useful.

 

[Woffls]

bloody hell that's gonna' take some reading. Thanks in advance

SO excited >_<

 

[Bit-Bit]

Lots of good info. This has got to be my most hyped console purchase ever!

 

[Eteric Rice]

Also more news will be coming at September 29. Most likely full details of software, online, interface, price, release date.

Another important fact:
We just interviewed Ono-san on the 3DS versions. He talked TONS of stuff, such a nice guy!

I'll have more details after reviewing the interview, but for now, he told us there will be a new, easier touch control mode aside from traditional controls, same 35 characters - version will be 'exactly the same' as in HD, and 3D effect is like if you put the characters in a box and you can feel the depth.

Moreover, he presented 'Street Fighter Fit' to Capcom. It was a Wii game, but then he was told about the 3DS. The 3DS D-Pad is not final, still changing and 'coming closer to what the SFIV team prefers'. Oh, SSFIV 3DS will have a 'surprise that can only be done on the 3DS'. He says we'll know more on a month an a half

So basically Nintendo will improve the D-Pad to work better with fighting games

They should use the original DS's D-Pad. It was the best imo.

 

[Boney]

Is it awesome?

 

[Grampa Simpson]

Thanks for doing this. It's good to have all this information in one place. I assume that you'll be updating as new information comes along?

 

[Taurus]

Awesome thread OP, must have taken a lot of time.

 

[Regulus Tera]

Is it awesome?

kidicaruskidicaruskidicaruskidicaruskidicaruskidicaruskidicarusOMG

 

[WillyFive]

A fantastic post.

 

[Forkball]

I had no idea there was a DoA game for the 3DS announced. Also, nice work. Although the 3D explanation images almost made my eyes implode.

 

[Eric C]

Great post.

I hope it's REGION FREE.

Not counting on it since the DSi isn't

 

[BDGAME]

Thanks everybody.

Thanks for doing this. It's good to have all this information in one place. I assume that you'll be updating as new information comes along?

I will try to maintain this topic updated.

 

[Majmun]

27 - Will Second buy a 3DS?

- Hell yeah.

 

[Pooya]

amazing post.

 

[Durante]

Anti-aliasing is not a filter
Transparency is not a shader
Some of your PS2 numbers are way too low (did you just completely ignore the VUs?)

The "what are shaders" answer from wikipedia isn't very helpful considering that it describes programmable unified shaders, which 3DS to the best of our knowledge doesn't have.

 

[AndyMoogle]

They should use the original DS's D-Pad. It was the best imo.

Yup, it was awesome. I'm just hoping that I'll never have to endure a shitty d-pad, like the one on DS Lite, ever again.

 

[farnham]

the most important thing is wether its region free or not

its a deal or no deal thing for me

 

[gdt]

Very helpful post, thanks!

 

[Complexgod]

How does Ridge Racer always come out for just about every system launch.

P.S Good job OP

 

[neo2046]

great thread, thanks !!

 

[BDGAME]

Anti-aliasing is not a filter
Transparency is not a shader
Some of your PS2 numbers are way too low (did you just completely ignore the VUs?)

Ah, ok, thanks. How to classify Anti-aliasing and Transparency effects?

Do you have a link with the right Ps2 numbers?

 

[Boney]

The "what are shaders" answer from wikipedia isn't very helpful considering that it describes programmable unified shaders, which 3DS to the best of our knowledge doesn't have.

I thought it did.. then again, I know nothing about technology jumbo mumbo.

 

[Dai101]

Nice post. Really informative and so much teasing there too. Hope to this new DS in action.

 

[Durante]

Ah, ok, thanks. How to classify Anti-aliasing and Transparency effects?

Anti-aliasing is anti-aliasing. However, particularly in the context of 3DS it probably makes sense to further distinguish between multisampling (MSAA) and supersampling (SSAA).
I wouldn't classify or list "Transparency effects" at all, since every 3D rendering chip in the last decade has been capable of that. Do you mean something more specific?

Do you have a link with the right Ps2 numbers?

No, sorry. But simplifying a whole platform down to a single number of operations/second is not really possible in the first place (in any kind of useful fashion), so I'd just remove that whole part. Particularly since we don't even know such a number for 3DS!

Edit:
Oh, one more thing, nice job on the explanation of different 3D modes, but 3D TVs generally don't use polarization, they use frame-sequential stereoscopic 3D with shutter glasses.

 

[Kuramu]

As if the wait weren't going to be painful enough... ;p

 

[WillyFive]

Anti-aliasing is anti-aliasing. However, particularly in the context of 3DS it probably makes sense to further distinguish between multisampling (MSAA) and supersampling (SSAA).
I wouldn't classify or list "Transparency effects" at all, since every 3D rendering chip in the last decade has been capable of that. Do you mean something more specific?

No, sorry. But simplifying a whole platform down to a single number of operations/second is not really possible in the first place (in any kind of useful fashion), so I'd just remove that whole part. Particularly since we don't even know such a number for 3DS!

Edit:
Oh, one more thing, nice job on the explanation of different 3D modes, but 3D TVs generally don't use polarization, they use frame-sequential stereoscopic 3D with shutter glasses.

Although it's not representative of the final graphics the devices can deliver, it is still worth noting because those are factors that play a part in the graphics.

For example, a face from a PS2 game would look less round and smooth, but it will have more realistic skin texture.

 

[jump_button]

3DS is going to be a monster when it come out Big N do own the handheld market

 

[Pureauthor]

Nice thread. Good work.

 

[Dacvak]

Awesome OP.

 

[Azure J]

Every time I read a 3DS thread on GAF, I'm momentarily transformed into that 11 - 12 year old kid who had a subscription to Nintendo Power and was hyped for "Project Dolphin" even though he understood fuck all about what any of the jargon being thrown around meant. :lol

Can't wait.

 

[ILikeFeet]

Sept 28th just can't come soon enough! arrgh the wait is excruciatingly painful

 

[Totalriot]

Thank you for this thread! Great work!

I have a question myself: Is it known yet whether the touchscreen will be multi-touch?

 

[Boney]

Thank you for this thread! Great work!

I have a question myself: Is it known yet whether the touchscreen will be multi-touch?

I'm pretty sure it isn't.

 

[Instro]

Really nice OP. My hype for this thing is huge.

 

[Struct09]

FYI, Mario Kart and Paper Mario were not playable at E3. They were non-interactive videos being rendered in real time. They both looked great though

 

[rpmurphy]

Excellent thread.

Accordig to the Japanese trademark thread, the tag mode feature may be called CrossPass. No official announcement of it yet though.

 

[brain_stew]

17 – Does 3d take twice the hardware power?
No.
In 3D, Both the DS and in any other hardware , there are things that are not processed twice and things that are. The machine doesn't need to render the geometry (templates) twice, or process the physics engine twice (gravity, collision), or run the movement image twice, or the particle engines. These things are only processed once. After the scene is ready, 2 pictures are taken and the processor takes the generated image and a 3d map, completes the picture. This could be compared to texture mapping, reflection mapping, bump mapping, light mapping, etc. In other words, additional hardware power is needed to render in 3D, but not twice the hardware power.

It's harder for the processor to make games with split-screen multiplayer than 3D.

Geometary definitely is processed twice.

Edit:

Tbh, all of the "technical" side of the op is pretty damn iffy if you ask me.

 

[tetrisgrammaton]

So, wait. How much more are these larger cartridges going to cost?

 

[donkey show]

Awesome OP! I've already made up my mind after playing with it at E3, but hype hype nonetheless. ^^

This stood out at me though...

Moreover, he presented 'Street Fighter Fit' to Capcom. It was a Wii game, but then he was told about the 3DS. The 3DS D-Pad is not final, still changing and 'coming closer to what the SFIV team prefers'. Oh, SSFIV 3DS will have a 'surprise that can only be done on the 3DS'. He says we'll know more on a month an a half

Chun Li/Cammy as my fitness trainer? Please still be in development. :lol

 

[Rich!]

So, wait. How much more are these larger cartridges going to cost?

For developers or for consumers?

The price of a 3DS game will be the same as the price for a current DS game. It's not confirmed, it's just obvious.

 

[jon bones]

i've never had a boner for a console before

except maybe when i first saw the dreamcast

i Believe

 

[Durante]

Geometary definitely is processed twice.

You really only need to do a part of the geometry processing twice. Some pretty heavy stuff (eg. skinning) could be completely reused.

 

[Xavien]

Best OP i've seen a long while.

Also the 3DS is one of my most hyped consoles since i started gaming. Can't wait.

Spoiler

No really i cant, i want to get cryogenically frozen till launch day

 

[tetrisgrammaton]

For developers or for consumers?

The price of a 3DS game will be the same as the price for a current DS game. It's not confirmed, it's just obvious.

I can't foresee a situation where developers stand to make even less per cart than DS.

 

[lowlylowlycook]

^F X-com

...

OP needs more work.

 

[Rich!]

I can't foresee a situation where developers stand to make even less per cart than DS.

Maybe, but flash storage costs are going down constantly. I'd wager the price of producing carts now is the same as how much the original launch DS cartridges cost. Either way, like I said in my previous post, the game retail price should not be any different to the DS prices for the consumer.