Nintendo President Shrugs Off iPad, 3D Gaming
Suggests people will look silly wearing 3D glasses.
So, you might have heard that Apple revealed its iPad tablet on Wednesday night. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, oddly enough, doesn't have many kind words for the device, showing his lack of enthusiasm during an interview with the Associated Press.
“It was a bigger iPod Touch,” said Iwata. “There were no surprises for me.” You couldn't really get more blunt than that, could you?
The Nintendo executive wasn't done slagging off future technology though, saying that he didn't believe 3D video gaming would catch on. “I have doubts whether people will be wearing glasses to play games at home. How is that going to look to other people?” Iwata also questioned the “possible health effects” of prolonged 3D gaming.
Finally, Iwata addressed speculation in the media about motion-sensing control in future DS hardware. Despite Nintendo engineers developing new machines right now, he threw water on the motion-sensing fire by saying “I question whether those features would be enough to get people to buy new machines.”
An outspoken president simply speaking his mind, or insecure pre-emptive strikes at Apple and Sony with their iPad and 3D technologies respectively? Post your thoughts in the comments box.
“It was a bigger iPod Touch,” said Iwata. “There were no surprises for me.” You couldn't really get more blunt than that, could you?
The Nintendo executive wasn't done slagging off future technology though, saying that he didn't believe 3D video gaming would catch on. “I have doubts whether people will be wearing glasses to play games at home. How is that going to look to other people?” Iwata also questioned the “possible health effects” of prolonged 3D gaming.
Finally, Iwata addressed speculation in the media about motion-sensing control in future DS hardware. Despite Nintendo engineers developing new machines right now, he threw water on the motion-sensing fire by saying “I question whether those features would be enough to get people to buy new machines.”
An outspoken president simply speaking his mind, or insecure pre-emptive strikes at Apple and Sony with their iPad and 3D technologies respectively? Post your thoughts in the comments box.
Read More Like This
Comments
axt113 29 Jan 2010 15:49
1/8
He's right on all counts, I was expecting something lame in the Ipad and I was right, nothing about it says to me that I have to have it, a wast of money.
3D TV is the dumbest Idea in years, why would people want to buy $200 glasses to watch TV?
3D TV is the dumbest Idea in years, why would people want to buy $200 glasses to watch TV?
deleted 29 Jan 2010 18:08
2/8
$200 glasses? maybe 6 years ago
more comments below our sponsor's message
Daz 29 Jan 2010 18:53
3/8
only 6?
I can't wait for 3D gaming and if Nintendo ain't gonna do it then screw their next console, at first the Wii not having HD didn't bother me as I only had an SDTV anyway but then that blew up so I got a HDTV, now it doesn't bother me as much as it might others but the games don't look as nice also I think my addiction to Trophies doesn't help matters
I can't wait for 3D gaming and if Nintendo ain't gonna do it then screw their next console, at first the Wii not having HD didn't bother me as I only had an SDTV anyway but then that blew up so I got a HDTV, now it doesn't bother me as much as it might others but the games don't look as nice also I think my addiction to Trophies doesn't help matters
Tombobbill 29 Jan 2010 20:23
4/8
3D gaming will undo all the good work Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft have done to place the games console into the lounge and part of home entertainment. Seriously kids sitting in front of the TV with stupid glasses on whilst everyone else is seeing painful red and blue double vision. I don't think so. Back to the basement boys!
Daz 30 Jan 2010 00:12
5/8
they could always just not watch or get some funky glasses of their own, or would that be too simple? I don't think it'll undo anything, if anything it'll enhance it, not to mention 3D will most likely be an option anyway so if you have one pair of glasses you can just turn it off if your playing with your mates
ifsey 30 Jan 2010 15:10
6/8
@Tombobbill
That isn't what 3D gaming is...
3D gaming uses tracking to locate the player and 'point' the game towards them, so it appears 3D. At least, that what I hope it is, since it's proven to be amazing, and even capable with a Wiimote - seen here: http://johnnylee.net/projects/wii/ and here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd3-eiid-Uw
That isn't what 3D gaming is...
3D gaming uses tracking to locate the player and 'point' the game towards them, so it appears 3D. At least, that what I hope it is, since it's proven to be amazing, and even capable with a Wiimote - seen here: http://johnnylee.net/projects/wii/ and here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd3-eiid-Uw
config 2 Feb 2010 09:37
7/8
@ifsey What @Tombobbill was saying is what 3D gaming is about, but so is what you're refering to - the use head tracking.
Head tracking will only look 3D if you move your head and the effect of parallax comes into place. Sit still and the 3D eff3ect is gone, because both eyes are receiving the same image. In those cases, which is arguably most common is traditional gaming, stereoscopic video using something like 3D glasses is needed to give objects depth - but the 3D space won't interact with your movement.
So, for a realistic 3D experience, we need both headtracking AND stereo video. This is exactly what virtual reality systems use. Though traditionally this was done through a fully headmounted display, there's no reason it couldn't be done today using active 3D glasses with built-in headtracking.
Of course, 3D through headtracking may be one ace up Natal's sleeve, as it could take care of it without the need for goofy headwear, though you'll still need nerdy glasses for the stereo video.
Anyone know or seen decent 3D TVs that don't needed glasses? I've seen a few manufacturers announcing units that use lenticular screens to split the image into two left/right projections (like those "3D" bubblegum cards from yesteryear), but I can't see how that would work unless you were at a fixed distance and perfectly still. Any change in distance or movement from left to right would surely disrupt the effect in pretty nauseating way. Apparently they've worked arounf that, but I've yet to be convinced.
IMO I think that gaming could be the saviour of all the investment TV manufacturers are putting into 3D. I find the impression of 3D you get at the cinema is lacking, very probably because the brain gets confused when your head moves slightly but there's no corresponding shift in parallax. Only interactive video could offer this, and having played both plain old stereoscopic games (anyone remember the fantastically typo'd 3D arcade racer "Continental Circus"?) and Virtuality's full VR headset stuff back in the early 90s I can say that both can bring something to gaming experience that 3D movies fail to do.
Head tracking will only look 3D if you move your head and the effect of parallax comes into place. Sit still and the 3D eff3ect is gone, because both eyes are receiving the same image. In those cases, which is arguably most common is traditional gaming, stereoscopic video using something like 3D glasses is needed to give objects depth - but the 3D space won't interact with your movement.
So, for a realistic 3D experience, we need both headtracking AND stereo video. This is exactly what virtual reality systems use. Though traditionally this was done through a fully headmounted display, there's no reason it couldn't be done today using active 3D glasses with built-in headtracking.
Of course, 3D through headtracking may be one ace up Natal's sleeve, as it could take care of it without the need for goofy headwear, though you'll still need nerdy glasses for the stereo video.
Anyone know or seen decent 3D TVs that don't needed glasses? I've seen a few manufacturers announcing units that use lenticular screens to split the image into two left/right projections (like those "3D" bubblegum cards from yesteryear), but I can't see how that would work unless you were at a fixed distance and perfectly still. Any change in distance or movement from left to right would surely disrupt the effect in pretty nauseating way. Apparently they've worked arounf that, but I've yet to be convinced.
IMO I think that gaming could be the saviour of all the investment TV manufacturers are putting into 3D. I find the impression of 3D you get at the cinema is lacking, very probably because the brain gets confused when your head moves slightly but there's no corresponding shift in parallax. Only interactive video could offer this, and having played both plain old stereoscopic games (anyone remember the fantastically typo'd 3D arcade racer "Continental Circus"?) and Virtuality's full VR headset stuff back in the early 90s I can say that both can bring something to gaming experience that 3D movies fail to do.
Ds 20 Apr 2010 15:04
8/8
DS, or Itouch, or bigger itouch?
Glasses for 3D, as long as they are not like my Virtual Boy glasses (oh no, shame, stop it, it's parts for hardware development, even if it plays games really nicely like my other one I had imported from the US, but bending my head over the table to use it is a little inconvenient). Interesting that Sharp, I believe a past supplier of LCD's in the game boy series, had 3D LCD many years ago that did not require glasses, and even made a phone with it that I think also played games, so no glasses have been needed for many years for colour 3D.
Glasses for 3D, as long as they are not like my Virtual Boy glasses (oh no, shame, stop it, it's parts for hardware development, even if it plays games really nicely like my other one I had imported from the US, but bending my head over the table to use it is a little inconvenient). Interesting that Sharp, I believe a past supplier of LCD's in the game boy series, had 3D LCD many years ago that did not require glasses, and even made a phone with it that I think also played games, so no glasses have been needed for many years for colour 3D.