Nintendo 3DS

Nintendo 3DS
Manufacturer	Nintendo
Type	Handheld
Release Date	February 26, 2011 JP March 25, 2011 EU March 27, 2011 NA March 31, 2011 AU
Discontinued
Media	Game card, SD Card
Save Format	save to Game card/SD card
Input Options	Voice recognition, 3D, Speakers
Special Features	Wi-Fi connectivity.
Units Sold	Over 6000 million
Top Selling Game	Super Mario 3D Land
Variants	Nintendo 3DS XL
Competitor(s)	PlayStation Vita
Predecessor	Nintendo DS
Successor	Nintendo 3DS XL (redesign)

The Nintendo 3DS (often abbreviated to 3DS) is a Nintendo portable video game console and is the successor to the Nintendo DS and features 3D technology without 3D glasses. The 3DS features backwards compatibility with Nintendo DS software, from Nintendo DSi to Nintendo DS. The 3DS handheld was announced at E3 2010. It is a direct competitor to the PlayStation Vita handheld console.

Design of the 3DS

The 3DS retains some of its old components from the DS. It still has a directional pad and an A, B, X and Y button. Along with those, it has new features: a circle pad that acts the same way as a D-pad; a home button on the bottom of the lower screen; an expandable stylus; two outer cameras and one inner camera similar to the Nintendo DSi; an SD card slot and a 3D depth slider. However, it lacks the Game Boy Advance game slot the Nintendo DS had.

History

This isn't Nintendo's first attempt at a 3D console. The Virtual Boy was a failed attempt at creating 3D in 1995. The Virtual Boy, due to it being released earlier than intended and nauseating effects of the 3D, became a commercial failure for Nintendo. They thought that a 3D video game console was impossible, but despite this, Nintendo continued anyway. After experimenting with a 3D display on a Game Boy Advance SP, (which was only a test GBA SP and was never meant to be released and never did) they went on to create the 3DS.