Nintendo practically won universal accolades for its strong E3 showing last month, which was when they debuted the successor to their bestselling DS line of handhelds, the Nintendo 3DS. As the moniker suggests, it’s a stereoscopic 3D enabled handheld, which works without the need for 3D glasses. It also includes a significantly overhauled processor, improved graphical capabilities, better online, new forms of input and control including a new analog slider, gyroscope, accelerometer, 3D cameras, and touch screen.
Naturally, such a promising system would be enough to get anybody excited, including, it seems, EA’s second in command John Schappert.
“The 3DS is just incredibly cool. The 3DS is magical. You put that in your hand, you look down, and all of a sudden it’s in 3D without glasses. That’s an amazing experience. I’m a huge fan,” he articulated, in an interview with IndustryGamers.
“I think that device is going to sell like hot cakes. I think it’s going to do incredibly well, and in typical Nintendo fashion they have re-energized the industry, yet again. I give them nothing but credit and we are excited to be supporting that platform with Madden, FIFA, and The Sims that we announced.”
For a system which EA says is as good as it claims, it certainly seems to be playing it safe with the kind of games they’re supporting it with. So far, the only EA published titles that have been announced for the handheld are entries in the FIFA, Madden and Sims series- no surprises there, as both are games which appear on platform in existence anyway.
EA, however, would have us believe otherwise. From their statements, it seems to be clear that they believe that the 3DS is where the future of handheld gaming is, and that the PSP is gradually losing relevance.
“I hope they’re able to breathe new life into the PSP because it’s been a very nice platform to date, but it has been soft of late… I’d like to see Sony do well… It feels like yesterday when the PSP was on allocation because of Monster Hunter, wasn’t it? So, you know, give them credit. The boys are smart… they’ll do ok,” says Schappert.
The Nintendo 3DS is due for release on or before 31st March 2011. No pricing or other launch details are known, although Nintendo let us in on the 3DS’s current projected launch lineup, which you can check out here.