It’s no secret Nintendo is a dominant force in the video game industry.
In this generation alone it seems Nintendo has a Wii in every living room and has sold more DS units then Rebecca Black’s “Friday” has page views — and that’s a lot.
This Sunday, Nintendo plans on continuing its domination by truly revolutionizing the handheld gaming market with the release of its new console: the Nintendo 3DS.
Unlike what Apple claims is “magical” and “revolutionary” with whatever iThing it iReleases, the 3DS will do what no other handheld gaming system has done so far.
The 3DS will display full stereoscopic 3-D without the need of special glasses.
Yep, that’s right. No more looking like a giant doofus while enjoying your 3-D experience.
The 3DS looks and feels similar to its predecessor.
It has a clamshell design with two screens: a touchscreen on the bottom for in-game interaction, and now a larger widescreen on top boasting 3-D gameplay.
The device also has three cameras. One camera faces the player, and the two on the top of the device are capable of taking 3-D photos.
However, the 3DS is more than just a DS with 3-D capabilities.
The 3DS also has a full Internet browser and can even support Netflix with an update later this year.
Hardware aside, what people really care about are the games — and Nintendo does not disappoint.
With graphical capabilities surpassing the Wii, the 3DS has some exciting games lined up this year.
In its first year, Nintendo will be releasing titles such as “Pilotwings Resort,” the so-far simply named “Super Mario” and what has me and other nostalgic nerds foaming at the mouth — a remake of “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.”
The advantage the 3DS has over the DS launch is great third-party support. Games such as “Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition” and “Resident Evil: Revelations” both look fantastic.
However, the 3DS comes with some unfortunate drawbacks.
I don’t know if my eyes are just broken or if my astigmatism messes with me more than I think, but I sometimes have trouble seeing some of the 3-D effects — even in recent 3-D movies.
I know I’m not alone with this problem, and if there are a lot of others out there who can’t use the main feature of the new device, it may be a problem for Nintendo.
Also, there have been contradictory medical reports on the effects 3-D images can have on both adults and children.
Luckily, a slider on the side of the device lets the user control the amount of 3-D displayed while playing.
The other drawback for the 3DS is the price — $250.
That’s a lot of money to ask for a portable device, even for one with new technology. Also, Nintendo’s primary demographic is children, which is a hefty asking price for parents to drop on little Johnny.
Those few negatives aside, Nintendo will continue dominating the handheld market with the 3DS.
The Nintendo DS has sold almost 150 million units worldwide, easily dominating the Sony PSP.
However, Nintendo has some competition on its heels with Apple and its “magical” iDevices.
People lately seem to have a craze for the cheap, bite-sized games offered on Apple devices.
While I’ve bashed 3-D technology many a time in old columns, calling it a gimmick and a fad, I am thoroughly excited about the 3DS.
The device is packed with features, has fantastic third-party support and will even play old DS games.
With Netflix and the Nintendo Store launching this summer, I’ll soon be able to watch movies and download nostalgic games to my heart’s content.
The Nintendo 3DS will be the truly revolutionary product of 2011.
March 27 is almost here, people. Get excited.
Adam Arinder is a 21-year-old communication studies senior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_aarinder.
 
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Contact Adam Arinder at [email protected]