If you're deciding to get a 3DS, or you just got one and have questions, we're here to help!
The title says it all, folks. If you're thinking about getting a 3DS or if you just picked one up, here's some handy-dandy answers to all of your questions. If you have a question that we haven't asked, be sure to hit us up in the Talkback thread and we'll get right to it!
Q: What's new about the 3DS?
A: Aside from the obvious spec boost, the Nintendo 3DS is probably most different from its predecessor due to its addition of, you guessed it, 3D. The 3DS uses what is called a parallax barrier, which is just a fancy way of saying a mechanism that is in front of the LCD that causes the eye to view different things. A series of slits cause each eye to see slightly different images, allowing the perception of depth in much the same way our eyes do in the real world.
The 3DS adds other features, such as StreetPass - in which passing other 3DS owners triggers an exchange of data - and SpotPass - a service allowing Nintendo to send content to the 3DS when the unit is near a WiFi hotspot.
It also comes equipped with a 3D camera and a multitude of built in applications.
Demonstration of the camera software
Q: I don't like 3D. I also may have an eye condition where it's hard for me to perceive. Am I out in the cold?
A: Not at all. Nintendo has equipped the 3DS with a slider, placed on the right side of the upper screen. Called the "3D Depth Slider," it will allow the user to reduce the 3D effect, and when the slider is all the way down, it turns off the 3D effect entirely. So if you're not into 3D, or if you have a pesky eye condition, the system can be viewed normally.
Q: What games are out right now?
A: Well, that depends on your region. Please note that release lists may not be up to date.
North America
Europe
Australia
Japan
Q: I've heard the battery is kind of bad. Is that true?
A: Nintendo estimates that the 3DS battery will last 3-5 hours during play time. This estimate is on full brightness and with the 3D effect on. With those features turned down, the battery life is closer to that of the DSi, about 5 to 8 hours.
Q: How long does the battery take to charge?
A: Nintendo states that it takes about 3.5 hours to charge the battery from completely dead to fully charged. The system includes a charging dock that allows you to simply drop the 3DS in, without having to plug any cables into the handheld. However, you can still plug the charging cable directly into the system, which may be preferable for travel.
Q: I still have all of these GBA and DS games I want to play. Am I out of luck?
A: While the 3DS does not have a GBA slot, it can play DS games that do not require an Option Pak (any DS peripheral that plugs into the GBA slot of a DS or DS Lite). The same slot that the 3DS carts slide into can also accept DS titles. The battery life estimates for DS games are around 5-8 hours.
Q: Man, I hate the way DS games look on the 3DS. It looks so blurry. Is there anything I can do about this?
A: The reason games look blurry is that the 3DS has a higher resolution on its two screens than its predecessor. When the 3DS stretches the image to fit those screens, it fills up extra pixels with interpolated colors, which can cause the display to appear blurry.
You can turn off the stretching and blurring of the image. While booting up your game, hold down the SELECT button. This will launch the DS game in 1:1 Mode. The pixels will appear much crisper, though they'll also be a lot more compact, thus making the viewing area much smaller. Note that the active touch input area is also reduced in this mode.
3DS running New Super Mario Bros. for Nintendo DS
Also, while the 3DS does use WPA (a type of Wi-Fi security) old DS games only support WEP. Playing them on the 3DS will not change that.
Q: What about my DSiWare games? Can I bring those over?
A: You absolutely can… soon. In May, Nintendo will be pushing a firmware update onto the 3DS that will include the ability to transfer over your DSiWare titles. However, there is a limit to the number of times these games can be transferred between devices.
Q: There's an online button on the Home Screen but I don't go anywhere when I push it. What's the deal?
A: In the same firmware update mentioned earlier, Nintendo will be launching their internet browser (a version of the NetFront browser) as well as the 3DS eShop, which will include access to 3DSWare titles as well as 3DS Virtual Console games.
Functionality currently disabled
Q: Virtual Console?! You mean I'll be able to play SNES games on my 3DS?
A: At this time, the only confirmed systems that will be featured are Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Gear and
TurboGrafx-16. Specific games are an unknown right now.
Nintendo will also be launching a line of games called "3D Classics," which are old games that have been converted to 3D. We first saw these games at E3 2010. Nintendo has stressed that these are a separate service from the Virtual Console.
Q: The top screen is a pretty nice size. Can I watch movies on it?
A: Currently,
the 3DS does not have video playback capabilities. Even though there's an SD
card slot, there simply isn't an application on the 3DS to play video files.
However, the system is fully capable of playing video. In America, Nintendo pushed a pre-release firmware update to the 3DS. Included was a 3D music video from the band OK Go.
OK Go in 3D (in 2D)
In Japan Nintendo already makes some 3D video content available, provided by Fuji TV and Nippon Television.
In Europe Nintendo has struck similar partnerships with content providers.
PAL Regions got a system update with a 3D video of nature, skydiving, and skateboarding
This summer the North American markets will also be getting the video treatment. Netflix will be releasing an app to stream content onto your handheld system; right now this content appears to be 2D only. However, Nintendo of America will be launching their own channel for short-form 3D videos and 3D movie trailers.
A future firmware update will also allow users to create their own 3D videos. What users will be able to do with them, besides simple viewing on the 3DS itself, is currently unclear.
Q: What about audio?
A: The 3DS can currently play .MP3 and .AAC audio files. Simply put them onto your SD card and you're good to go from the 3DS Sounds app.
The "Nintendo 3DS Sound" application
Q: Can I play custom soundtracks during games?
A: No. There's no way to play music or other audio files while playing a game.
Q: I have more questions! Can you help me?
A: Sure can! Just head over to the Talkback and ask away. It's located right under this question! Either the NWR Staff or our handy community can give you the 411 in no time!
Thanks to staff members Jared Rosenberg and Nicholas Bray for the 3DS videos.
