If you missed it this morning, Nintendo broke the news that they have decided on a true successor to the DS, with the DSi being the awkward puberty phase.

The new system is tentatively titled the 3DS primarily because it boasts the ability to display 3D graphics without the need for special glasses. Subject to change but as most of you might remember DS was supposed to be a tentative title too.

You can find the original PDF document explaining it more here.

It'll be released sometime before the end of the fiscal year next March so it could end up hitting this fall. With the DSi XL being $190 and the tech here being better then a DSi, you may well end up paying more than a Wii for it but we'll see.

It will be backwards compatible with all DS and DSi games. Now, that doesn't exactly confirm DSiWare but given the immensely low amount of DSi retail games it's probably a given. So then the question becomes whether or not current DSi users can transfer their games over to the 3DS. Still gotta get the first part confirmed though.

Nintendo has confirmed that they will reveal more details and have it playable at the show floor during E3 in June.

It's also possible that the 3DS will be the host of the recently announced 5th generation of Pokemon.

So how will the 3DS do it? 3D on the DS is already possible. DSiWare actually. I know I mass IMd almost everyone about this awhile back but as a refresher, Nintendo published a DSiWare game that takes advantage of the camera to give it a 3D effect.



It might not be how the 3DS will work but it's an idea anyway. Theres definitely gonna be cameras if its compatible with DSi games. Rumors are saying a little film strip will be placed over the screens to give it a 3D look.

Other rumors are saying that the 3DS will feature an accelerometer to sense tilting motions (something else DSiWare games take advantage of through camera), a control stick, built-in rumble, longer battery life (compared to DSi I think), and a better wireless connection.

It probably is bad that this was announced a week before the DSi XL hits America. I'm sure theres pre-orders being cancelled everywhere. But the good news is that you jerks who didn't upgrade to the DSi will probably skip over that and eventually jump on board this one. The bad news is that means I get to hassle you about buying DSiWare (allegedly).

It just might be possible that Nintendo could revive their entire Virtual Boy lineup and remake them for the new generation in living color. Could a launch title really be Mario Clash 3DS?

Try not to wrap your head around that the name could be stretched out to "3 Dual Screens".

Oh, I saw something like this on Youtube and thought it was just some weird thing. This might be pretty cool, but it needs to get passed rumors and into FACTS, man. It's kind of amazing how many handheld iterations are happening in such a short period of time. I'm assuming this'll be the GBA of the DS series. DSi being the GBC and DS being the GB >.> DS Lite being the GB Pocket and etc. Much shorter timeline, though. Pretty soon they'll have a 3DS Micro. Sorry, I'm not trying to make fun of it, I'm just drawing lines. A Virtual Boy revival would be neat.

Just thought I should say that labeling it as "HOT NEWS!" kind of makes it look like it was posted by a spam robot. No offense, but.

Anyway, I am happy to see this news. I've never been big on accelerometers, but the chance of a joystick brings joy. Rumors are rumors, but still. I'm also kinda glad this was announced before the DSi was out for long--DSiWare is tempting. (I still need to find the Dark Void Zero soundtrack somewhere... or I should just buy it, it's 2 bucks.) Having access to the DSi shop is probably the most exciting prospect so far, assuming it's not just a rumor.

HOT NEWS! 3 D(cup)S!

I like how when you go to Nintendo's investor information page, in the upper-right-hand corner is an 8-bit sprite of Mario in a business suit.

You gotta love a company that would do that. What if you walked into a McDonald's board meeting and sitting in a desk was a fat Ronald McDonald in a suit, hair plastered down, smoking a big, fat cigar. Aside from being totally awesome.

3D Cups! Full of JUSTICE!

Oh boy. Joystick. Camera functionality. Full 3-D. I wonder how it's power will stack up to other handhelds. Eat it, everybody else.