Nintendo already dropped a hint that Miis could be heading to the 3DS by including some Mii-like characters in the Pilotwings demo at E3 last month, and Shigeru Miyamoto himself has now offered some further confirmation that Nintendo is at least looking at the possibility. Speaking with IGN this week, he says that it is "something that we're definitely giving consideration to," and that Nintendo wants to "continue to try to allow people to use their Miis on different Nintendo systems going forward." While that's not quite a complete confirmation, it definitely sounds like your Mii could be with you for a long time to come.
The new analog slider on the left feels a lot like the PSP's analog nub, but larger and without the texture. It's a bit easier on the fingers, and comfortable. Overall the device feels just like a current DS or DSi, though we couldn't get a good feel for the weight thanks to a bulky tether attached on one end to the device, and on the other end to the row of ladies who were surely told to not let the gadgets out of their hands or face certain doom. The only thing we could do here is rotate along a still frame -- Pikmin in a field, for example -- and play with the 3D slider. It is a pretty convincing effect, but it's hard to tell at this point if it's at all compelling -- it wasn't anything more than novelty in this demo, and we still don't know how it stands up to fast-moving footage. Actual games were promised to us for the show floor, so we'll hit that up later today. We snagged a few pics before getting elbowed out of the way, so check 'em out!
That's what looks to be an analog stick on the side there, as well, that Nintendo is calling a "Slide Pad." There is a gyro, motion sensor, it's compatible with DSi games, and has two cameras enabling 3D photos. Nintendo is also talking up partnerships including Disney, games that are said to be playable today, at the show, with one of the highlights being a new Kid Icarus game which looks quite action-packed to say the least -- and has better graphics than most of the Wii titles Nintendo has shown thus far. Nintendo has mentioned the 3DS will have the "biggest launch support ever" from third party devs, and a 3DNintendogs should be a huge seller -- if only because it has cats too. Other games include Madden, Ninja Gaiden, Resident Evil, a Batman title, Splinter Cell, and, finally, a Metal Gear Solid entry.
Nintendo is also talking about how the system will seek out WiFi hotspots or other 3DS systems "without you knowing," which sounds a bit ominous, to be honest. Systems can communicate regardless of which games are being played. It can even pull in new DLC directly from other consoles, all without a monthly fee.
Still no release date or price, but Nintendo is showing off two colors, red and blue, and they're said to be playable on the show floor. You can be sure we'll be running there right now.
Update: Complete press release and full list of launch games after the break, including some biggies, like Metal Gear Solid "The Naked Sample," Madden, FIFA, and more!
Show full PR text
| Publisher | Game |
| Activision | DJ Hero |
| AQ Interactive | cubic ninja |
| Atlus | Etrian Odyssey |
| Shin Megami Tensei | |
| Shin Megami Tensei: Persona | |
| Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor | |
| Capcom | RESIDENT EVIL® REVELATIONS |
| SUPER STREET FIGHTER IV 3D Edition (name not final) | |
| Electronic Arts | FIFA Soccer |
| Madden NFL | |
| The SimsTM 3 | |
| Gameloft | Asphalt GT |
| Harmonix | Music game |
| HUDSON SOFT | Bomberman franchise |
| DECA SPORTS franchise | |
| KORORINPA franchise | |
| KONAMI | Baseball franchise |
| Contra franchise | |
| Frogger franchise | |
| HIDEO KOJIMA'S METAL GEAR SOLID SNAKE EATER 3D "The Naked Sample" | |
| PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER franchise / WINNING ELEVEN franchise | |
| LEVEL-5 | Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle (name not final) |
| Majesco Entertainment | 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 Entertainment | BOKUJYOUMONOGATARI 3D (name not final) |
| NAMCO BANDAI Games | Dragon Ball® franchise (name not final) |
| Gundam® franchise (name not final) | |
| PAC-MANTM & GALAGATM (name not final) | |
| RIDGE RACER® (name not final) | |
| Super Robot franchise (name not final) | |
| Nintendo | Animal Crossing |
| Kid IcarusTM: Uprising | |
| Mario Kart | |
| nintendogsTM + cats | |
| Paper Mario | |
| PilotWings Resort | |
| Star Fox 64TM 3D | |
| Steel DiverT | |
| ROCKET | Crash-City GP |
| VS-robo | |
| SEGA | Sonic (name not final) |
| Super Monkey Ball (name not final) | |
| SQUARE ENIX | CODENAME: Chocobo Racing® 3D |
| DRAGON QUEST® franchise | |
| FINAL FANTASY® franchise | |
| KINGDOM HEARTS franchise | |
| Take-Two Interactive | Carnival Games® franchise |
| TECMO KOEI GAMES | DEAD OR ALIVE® 3D (name not final) |
| DYNASTY WARRIORS® (name not final) | |
| NINJA GAIDEN® (name not final) | |
| SAMURAI WARRIORS® 3D (name not final) | |
| 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 CreedTM Lost Legacy |
| Battle of GiantsTM: Dinosaur Strike | |
| Driver® Renegade | |
| Hollywood 61 (name not final) | |
| Tom Clancy's Ghost ReconT | |
| Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos TheoryT | |
| Warner Bros | Batman franchise |
| LEGO franchise |