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.