E3 '10 Video: Iwata Asks About The 3DS Evolution
We've seen them in the past, and they're still around: the Iwata Asks interviews feature Nintendo's own President sitting down for a polite chat with top engineers, designers, and musicians at Nintendo. Sometimes the topic is the invention of the jump button, and sometimes it's their latest innovations. These two videos fit in the latter category, as the "E3 Special Edition" of Iwata Asks has him chatting with designer Shigeru Miyamoto and entertainment developer Hideki Konno about the Nintendo 3DS. (In the interest of space, Miyamoto's interview is above and Konno's interview is embedded beneath the jump.)
Talking to Miyamoto, Iwata reminisces that the first project they worked on together was also 3D: Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally for the Famicom Disk System in 1988. It used a shutter-goggles technology, which isn't too far removed from some 3D TVs these days. In his interview, Konno explains that they also experimented with 3D on the Gamecube with a stereoscopic LCD system hooked to a Gamecube for Luigi's Mansion. At that point, there were plenty of great ideas floating around using depth in games, but the engineers opted to scrap them because the console and screen would have to be purchased separately.
Miyamoto laments this as well: "With our long history of experimenting with 3D, we've always proceed with doubts: Will people buy it? Can it only be seen on certain TVs? Should we make a new accessory? But if you don't include the accessory from the outset, only a small number of consumers will buy it. We've always had these doubts." Obviously, the solution was the 3DS, which integrates the screen from the start.
According to Miyamoto, however, the search for the DS' successor didn't start with a love of the movie Avatar. They were originally just looking to beef up the hardware, with which they've met great success if these screenshots are to be believed. Of course, there are even more new features besides the top screen: the most exciting for both Miyamoto and Konno is the enhanced 'tag' mode. If you've played games like Zelda: Spirit Tracks, Nintendogs, and The World Ends With You, you've definitely seen the option to leave your DS in sleep mode with its wi-fi enabled, ostensibly to search for other copies of the game in that same mode and 'tag' them to exchange gifts and get bonuses. Games that support the enhanced 'tag' mode will be able to store these gifts and data for multiple games at once, and even search for other 3DS systems if you're playing an entirely different game.
Konno also had some ideas about the system's gyroscope and motion control, noting with his gestures that the system could be moved around intuitively to aim in first-person shooters, tilted like a wheel for racing game, or moved around as binoculars in spy games. (And given Hideo Kojima's love for fourth-wall tricks, we're almost guaranteed to be required to spin our bodies completely around during at least one section of Metal Gear Solid 3DS.)
The last interesting point to touch on in these interviews was that when Miyamoto was working with the engineers on the system, it was his "strong request" that they include a way to adjust the 3D effect, and that it must be an easily accessible analog slider--no working through a menu to tweak it. "Thinking about it," he says, "everyone sees 3D images differently." Iwata agreed, "Even when we're seeing the same thing, some people may like it, while others may say it causes a strain."
So one of the Nintendo 3DS' most welcome hardware features was mostly Shigeru Miyamoto's idea. This does beg a certain question, however: since the 3D effect can be switched off, will game designers truly be able to make it a key part of their games? So far the reports from the show floor say the effect is amazing and games using it are moving in the right direction, but at this point it's more of an enhancement than a requirement.
And finally: how tragic is it that one of the most high-fidelity games on the system, a 3D remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, features a beloved protagonist who can't see in 3D because he's missing an eye?
faePuck
Posted to E3, Videos on 16 June 2010
· Comments (7)
Other stuff like this: 3ds, e3, hardware, hideki konno, iwata asks, metal gear solid 3ds, satoru iwata, shigeru miyamoto
Great video and great article!! Really good comment about the eye patch I didn't think about it until now! Poor Naked Snake!
I'm just glad the 3D can be switched off and I can enjoy the games without annoying gimmicks mucking up the graphics. I'm really looking forward to MGS3 and Starfox, though. I'll be buying the system, I just won't be using the 3D.
@Shin Gallon: How would 3D "muck up" the graphics? No really, how? You're not the first person to bring this up and I'm just weirdly confused by the statement. 3D suddenly doesn't "destroy" the visuals. It can't by definition. It's not a change in style. It doesn't change colors, or aspects, or design. It could possible affect the presentation if done sloppily and without thought , but if that happens how would the rest of the game fair with a sloppy and thoughtless developer? I can understand not being able to see the 3D effect for medical reasons (See Jermy Parish at 1up.com), but muck-up ?
I agree with Mattmyx I think in some cases the 3D could be helpful. Sometimes in Mario Galaxy for example, I died because I thought I was closer, for judging distance/height the 3D could be helpful.
I haven't seen the 3DS in action myself, but I know for a fact that movies in 3D (in addition to causing me to have blinding headaches after about 30 minutes) are much darker and the image is blurry compared to watching the same movie without the 3D.
In other words, the 3D mucks up the visuals.
The reason 3D movies are murkier is because they use those dark polarization filters.
The 3DS works without that. It just directs different images to each eye directly. There should be no darkness..
Ahh. OK. While I personally have not had either problem when watching a 3D movie in the theaters, I have a friend who has complained of that, so I understand that sentiment.
As Burr has said though, the 3DS doesn't use glasses and even seems to work on those who eyes have issues with stereoscopic vision. I suggest looking up Jeremy Parish's write up at 1up.com . He has issues with the glass technique and talks about the 3DS in relation to that. It would give you a reference point to compare the effects then.