When PSP celebrates it’s 5th year in existence, Nintendo announce a new portable console named 3DS. Only a single official document floats around the internet at the moment. It is confirmed that 3DS will be capable of producing 3D graphics, without the need of 3D glasses. Although slated to release during fiscal year ending March 2011 (April 2010 – March 2011), other official details will only be released earliest during E3 trade show.

Technical Specifications:

- 3DS will be backwards compatible with the entire line of Nintendo DS products and games.

- 3DS will have 2 cameras, since there will be support for DSi support.

- 3DS may track user movement, and use the data collected to project 3D images. This method is not new however, as similar technology has already been in used. iPhone game Wordfu can simulate 3D blocks by detecting movement using the accelerometer build within the device. A new Japan-only DSiware Rittai Kakushi e Attakoreda (立体かくし絵 アッタコレダ) make use of DSi cameras to determine the tilt angle within the game’s 3D environment. Either of these methods may be found in the upcoming 3DS.

- 3DS may use Hitachi microlens 3D display, incorporated with the technology known as interactive autostereoscopic display. It uses microlens: array of tiny convex lenses lined up in columns above the display. Making use of the slight difference in angle of both eyes when viewing the display, slightly different images for left and right eye are projected. Parallax error occurs as a result, and a stereoscopic sense is created. To avoid a pixel disaster, very high resolution LCD panels are required. Hitachi is believed to have demos of 5″ WXGA 1280 x 768 panels. Hitachi has been supplying display panels for Nintendo since DSi enters production, and the latest DSi XL has two 4.2″ LCD panels on. It will not be a surprise if Nintendo decides to use Hitachi’s technology.

- There are also reports stating that 3DS comes with a new joystick and force feedback.

Design Concepts

As official images have yet to surface, lots of fan-made concepts hit the internet based on the information released and the improvement they hope to see. Some feature a larger screen capable of displaying realistic 3D images, others look forward to a possible analog stick control. You can browse through possible designs here.

General Feedbacks

As 3D appears to be the main focus of Nintendo next generation of portable console, most would be interested to see how 3D without glasses could be implemented. The majority of the public find it hard to visual how 3D games would look like, especially when the only occasion people get in touch with 3D visuals right now are in movie theaters. This product may also open up new frontiers and possibilities for 3D imaging. Sony, however, doesn’t look optimistic regarding the prospects of 3D on portable device. “I think it’s an interesting move but one I’d like to see where they go from a demographic standpoint. Eight and nine year-olds playing 3D is a little bit of a stretch given where some of our research is right now.” quoted John Koller, Sony Computer Entertainment of America Director of Hardware and Marketing.

No matter how things turns out, time will tell how well the public will receive the next generation Nintendo portable console. If you’re wondering, the picture right at the top is the actual cover for Super Mario Galaxy 2.

Source: Kotaku

I know this article is way overdue… My sincerest apologies to our guest game reviewer Poliact!

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Grand Theft Auto – Chinatown Wars Review

When you speak the name Rockstar, the first game that comes into most people’s mind is GTA.

Now, Rockstar does do many other videogames like Manhunt and Bully, but what makes it so famous is GTA.

GTA, also known as Grand Theft Auto, is one of the most famous and successful game period. It is notorious for its free roaming capability, so almost everything and anything is possible in the game. It boasts excellent graphics, good music, great controls, and a nice story. Now, on its latest return, GTA Chinatown marks its next installation in the series and its breakthrough into the NDS market of games.

Story

GTACW revolves around a man name Huang Lee. Huang, from Hong Kong has reached Liberty City (GTA3,4) upon his father’s death(Huangs father is a triad boss) . He is supposed to deliver a family sword to his uncle, but on the way he was ambushed and left to die by his father’s killers and the sword is taken away. Huang doesn’t die, and plans to avenge his father and retrieve the sword by working with his uncle.

Graphics

Honestly, when GTA Chinatown was announced, i was worried. For a game that is so huge, packing in a DS cartridge seemed to be impossible. However, this game is one game that has beaten those impossible odds. Now, if you are going to compare this with its ps3/360/ps2 counterparts, you should commit suicide. There is no way a DS game can look as good as a ps3/360/ps2 game, in graphical terms. Trying to even compare both is absurd. So, any comparism towards this game must be done based on game play. Graphics in GTACW is a blend on cartoony and 3d.So, what we get is a game that cleverly utilizes the NDS capabilities to the max by producing a cartoony 2d/3d blend of graphics. Many people questioned me, does this affect the game play a lot? Well, to be honest, it does. Since previous instalments of GTA have been fully 3d, going back to this graphics means following GTA2 or GBA GTA. However, lets us consider something before questioning. The size of a NDS game is relatively small, so doing something fully 3d takes up a lot space. Considering that, producers are pressurized to make a huge map for the game too. That being said, sticking to the semi 3d solves the problem of having a nice looking game and a huge game.

Game play

In GTACW, the player is viewed top down from a rough 70 degrees view. The top screen of the DS is the game screen, where all the action takes place. The bottom screen shows the map, ammunition, health and weapons. The entire game is in 3^rd person top down view, meaning the view is like that of helicopters. While this may look or sound awkward, the game has a few tricks to makes this smooth. To begin with, controls are good. They are simply, and precise. The d-pad moves your character, while the a,b,x,y buttons are the action buttons. The R shoulder button causes you to aim, while the L button readjusts the camera. New to this addition are the touch screen controls.You use the touch screen to throw certain weapons,or simply switching  out your weapons. Also,addition of the GPS feature enables you to pinpoint a location on your map, which it will then draw out the fastest way to the path. This way, accomplishing tasks and missions get easier, as Liberty city is huge. There are a fairly good amount of minigames in GTACW, which all of them utilizes the DS touch screen. Some of them are simple, like jacking cars by spinning wires and connecting them together, or filling bottles with petrol to make motocovs, while others are hard,like bomb defusing.The best part is,most of the minigames are optional,except in missions.So you hate the petrol bomb making minigame? Fear not, you can order them using your in game PDA. It feels ilke in GTACW,the producers have taken the best bits of the past games and put it together to create a masterpiece.

Sound

Now, sound in GTACW is not bad, but it is not quite good either. When you play missions or just wander freely on the streets of Liberty City, there is  no real soundtracks. What you hear instead is the voices of people around you shouting some random line, gunshots, cars and so on.Well that isn’t bad, but it will get recycled after hearing that same line throughout the exact game. In previous instalments there was a in game radio system which broadcast songs and funny messages which you could listen every time you enter a vehicle, or when u pause the screen. Well, in this game, you get to choose from a variety of radio stations playing polytonal songs, which could only be accessed through your PDA(pause screen).While the songs aren’t bad find this concept stupid.Who will pause their NDS to listen to polytonal songs? Well, maybe some will, but certainly not me. Another feature lost in transition is the ability to add your own mp3 tracks. Well, that certainly sucks, but we wil have to make a due.

Pros and cons

GTA CW is an excellent game by all means, but it does have its own flaws and problems. Firstly there is the character sprite. If you notice, characters in the game uses the exact same sprite. Huang, the main character, a by passer, an enemy, an ally all have the exact same sprite. Having the same sprite could lead to confusion in a fire fight, where characters may get to near to each other, causing an entangle between each other. Another problem is the GPS marker. While it should show the fastest road to your destination, standing at the opposite side of the road causes the line drawn to extend to a longer road. You see, the Gps marker obeys road laws, so it would take the fastest road to the destination…by using the right road. So if you are standing in front of your destination, but on the opposite side of the road, the line drawn will extend to the nearest turning to the right side of the road.  There is also an issue of many completely pointless minigames, such as turning screws or throwing garbage around.  Sure, they seem fun at first, but doing that millions of times makes me nuts. I guess this minigames are more to fill up the gap of touch screen in game usage, but why jack a car by executing a silly minigame rather than just taking a live one?  That being said, GTA does have its flaws, but what are important are its merits out shadows the flaws.

Overview

I won’t tell you that GTA CW is the best game for the NDS. But, if you are a fan, you should definitely not miss this instalment. Many critics said this game will be toned down like the GBA one, but guess what? They were wrong, and Rockstar has yet again produce a GTA worthy of its title. Overall GTA CW is one of the better games  for the NDS, and i do give credit for the producers for making this transition . Get this if you like lengthy games.

Pros

-GTA style is still here

-Long game, huge map

-colourful vibrant graphics

Cons

-some pointless minigames

-same sprites confuse people

-GPS marker sometimes are not accurate

-sounds……..is…mediocre .

Graphics- 4/5

Spund-3/5

Gamplay-5/5

Overall-4/5

-poliact-

Want to play Touhou anywhere? Do it on your Nintendo DS. Already more than two years into development, Touhou DS provides players with a number of characters and stages to play with. If the initial offering is not enough, players can input additional levels and even characters into the game to satisfy their needs. It is unfortunately a home-brew program, which means you either need a flash cart before you can start playing on the DS, or you play using an emulator on your PC.

To download and start trying out, check out weeaboo.nl. If you want to find out more about Touhou Project, check wikipedia.

In other news, Touhou Nendoriod for Hakurei Reimu is set to release during C76.