Iwata on 3DS: formal name, audience, hardware & costs, E3

Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata commented on the companys plans for the 3DS and issues relating to the system

As we all know, the name “3DS” is not final, and considering that the system will be released within ten months, Iwata assures us that “the announcement of the formal name will not be too far off.” Perhaps we will know at E3 in just five weeks time.

Speaking of the much-anticipated E3 reveal, Nintendo really wants to show off third-party titles alongside the system. However, due to the major changes in hardware compared to previous DS iterations, they need to divulge key knowledge about the system to people outside the company. With the risk of information being leaked, Nintendo has accepted the consequences and let out the info. It’s that important to them.

On the subject of hardware, we recently let you know that the 3DS can switch between 3D and 2D – Iwata believes it’s a social responsibility. “By making it so that the player can at all times play with [the 3D feature] off, we believe we can comply with those who have difficulty with the 3D view or those who are worried about their childs’ eyes.”

All this talk about hardware sounds expensive, especially when there isn’t really any foundation on which to build 3D games. Iwata says that while current 3D games (i.e. with polygons) would be easier to convert to 3D vision than 2D games, “it is trial and error alone that could see an increase in development cost. However, the trial and error is there for any development where you try to make new entertainment experiences, and not just 3D." He adds that the costs for this trial and error phase can be maintained by good management.

When suggested that the 3DS’s target audience is core gamers (which contradicts Nintendo’s aim to serve all types of people), Iwata says he hopes that we make that decision only once we’ve seen how the future software can make the most out of the 3D gaming experience.

Finally, Iwata isn’t really concerned about sales of the DS as a result of the 3DS announcement, as he feels that “the people who are now buying the DS are people who would more leisurely go about buying new products rather than the kind of people who will rush out and buy the 3DS at launch.”

Source: Andriasang