Following on from my last post about 3D TVs, I thought I’d follow up with an overview of Nintendo’s new handheld console – the 3DS. Unlike TV, I think the handheld device could make a real difference to how we play games, mainly because you don’t need glasses to get the 3D effect. This is obviously even more important for a handheld console, because most people wouldn’t want to wear 3D glasses while on the train or bus.

Aside from the unimaginative name, the 3DS really does seem to be a unique piece of technology. To get the 3D effect you need to be looking directly at the screen, which is why this works so well for a handheld. The same technology probably couldn’t be used for a regular TV unless the viewer was willing to sit at a certain angle. On a side note, there is a slider to control the “amount” of 3D, so you can turn it off altogether if you don’t like it for certain games.

The only downside to the 3DS at the moment is the lack of games. We’re used to having at least one big name release when a new console launches, but a standout title seems to be missing from the launch line-up. There are games such as Pilotwings available which are good, but many reviews claim that these seem to have been rushed for release. We’ll only really know how successful the new console is once some of the big name games – such as Mario Kart and Zelda – start to be released.

So, will I be getting one? I definitely won’t be buying one straight away – I’m going to wait and see what happens regarding the next games to be released. Once the top games have started to come out then I’ll consider it more carefully. None of the launch games really appeal to me, although the augmented reality games that come with the console sound fun and interesting.

If anyone has bought the 3DS already I’d love to know about it – leave me a comment in the form below.

3D is supposedly the “next big thing” in films, gaming and TV, so it probably shouldn’t surprise anyone that it’s being pushed very strongly by the big broadcasting companies. You don’t seem to be able to watch a sporting event anymore without being told “now in amazing 3D!” The problem isn’t that 3D TVs are so expensive – although they are, and it isn’t even that the glasses can cost upwards of $100. The main issue with 3D TV is that a lot of people see it as just another way to make money out of the consumer with a pointless upgrade.

My only experience of 3D TV is in a local TV shop, and I wasn’t that impressed. The 3D seems to have the effect of making things appear very small, and I’m sure I’d get headaches after watching it for long periods of time. I know a lot of people suffer from motion sickness with any sort of 3D effect over a long period of time, and I think that may be a real problem with all sorts of 3D devices.

Another problem is that TV can often be a social experience. It ruins any social interaction having ridiculous looking glasses – and if you want a lot of people to watch the TV at once you’ll need glasses for everyone.

It will be interesting to see how 3D TV fairs over the next few years. Will it be something that lots of people adopt, or will it be another failed experiment that fades away? It seems like a lot of big companies have a lot of money invested in it, so it’ll be around for a while at least. I can’t see me or anyone in my family getting one in the near future though.