Early 3DS Iwata Asks explores scrapped 3D GameCube, GBA SP

Hints of Luigis Mansion and Pikmin for the 3DS also surface

According to the latest Iwata Asks, Nintendo persistently tried to deliver 3D technology to the world even after the commercial failure of the Virtual Boy. But the cost of implementing 3D, combined with the fact that 3D didnt look too crash hot on the early systems, held them back.

“Even though the company must have fully realised the difficulty involved in 3D products, Nintendo kept trying again and again. Even before the Nintendo 3DS system," says Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata.

The Game Boy Advance SP is an example of an unsuccessful project—Nintendo decided the low-res screen of the system wasnt sufficient to produce impressive 3D graphics. The only example of 3D technology making it into an end product, but never being utilised, was the GameCube. Nintendo even produced a functional 3D version of Luigis Mansion, a GameCube launch title, to go with it. However the LCD attachment required to view the 3D graphics cost much more than the GameCube itself, out of consumers price range.

It seems the companys long pursuit of 3D happiness arose from former Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchis fascination with the technology. According to Iwata and Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, Yamauchi would always ask things like "What about 3D?" and "Can you make it jump out?" whenever he had the chance.

The interview also features Mother creator Shigesato Itoi, who tries out the 3DS. A 3D video of Pikmin plays on the device and upon Itois delight at seeing the creatures, Iwata exclaims that Pikmin would be "perfect for 3D." Looks like the chances of a Pikmin 3D happening are good, people.

Finally, we hear a little about how the 3D Depth Slider functions. It works with games as images are rendered in real time with the system. However, with 3D movies, you can only toggle the 3D completely on or off, as the images are all recorded beforehand.