As much as we like gaming in 3D, really, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, and we can see that there would be quite a few parents not keen on the whole idea. Fortunately Nintendo has been listening, and has found a way to take the 3D out of the 3DS.
Heading to stores shortly, Nintendo’s 2DS is what happens when a company realises that not everyone wants to play portable games and have the images popping out of the screen.
The new console also takes a different look at the Nintendo DS design, which previously relied on two screens that folded on each other with a hinge. Opened up, these screens included both a touchscreen and a not-so-touch-capable screen, making games slightly more interactive with two views on what was happening in game.
In the 3DS, one of these screens was given autostereoscopic technology, and meant that its gamers could see the visuals popping out of the screen, changing the level of depth with a slider on the console.
But this isn’t for everyone, and Nintendo’s 2DS aims to cater for this exact situation.
Still designed to be portable, the 2DS ditches the hinge and makes the entire console flat, like pulling out a small tablet, except one with physical controls and two screens, one of which – like a tablet – is enabled for touch and stylus control.
Much of the hardware used in the 3DS stays here – excluding that 3D screen, of course – which means all the games made for the current console will also work here, and wireless connectivity to Nintendo’s online eShop, as well as StreetPass and SpotPass work, too.
Nintendo’s 2DS will be hitting Australian shelves on October 12, and will sell for a recommended retail price of $149.95, down from the price of the 3DS XL which sells for $249.95 RRP.
