Image by Havok at en.wikipedia
Several media outlets, including IGN and Kotaku, are reporting that Nintendo has announced a new handheld system that will be released in Japan by March 2011. The only details that Nintendo revealed are that the system will be in 3D but not require glasses and that the system will be compatible with DS and DSi software. Nintendo will reveal the system officially at E3 in June.
Personally, I cannot get that excited about this semi-announcement until Nintendo reveals more details. I was fairly satisfied with the DSi upgrade to the DS family of handhelds, primarily because of the online game download service it incorporated that has spawned some fun and inexpensive entertainment. It certainly wasn’t because of the cameras, which I’ve barely used and have been incorporated into very few games. The 3D technology Nintendo might use (that does not require any type of glasses) could just be some minor eye candy. If the new system does not result in new gameplay mechanics based on the 3D technology or if Nintendo does not pump up the graphics and processing power also, then the 3D becomes yet another gimmick to get us to buy the DS a fourth time. Let’s hope that’s not the case.