What is the Nintendo 3DS

Nintendo has long been the unrivaled king of the handheld market. Starting with the original Gameboy in 1989, Nintendo has always had some iteration of a handheld ready for the portable market. In recent years, Nintendo's dual-screen DS has been the go-to for portable gaming; this year, Nintendo is unleashing the newest handheld in the DS family, called the Nintendo 3DS.

The Nintendo 3DS will feature processing power that far exceeds the original DS, which will allow for much more sophisticated graphics and gameplay. The Nintendo 3DS is backwards compatible with standard DS games.

The Nintendo 3DS features the same basic design as the DS, with a foldout display featuring a top and bottom screen. The bottom screen will be touch sensitive, like the previous DS models, which will allow for interactivity in games through the use of a stylus. The top screen will be a 5:3 widescreen (with a resolution of 800×240 pixels) that features a revolutionary 3D image. This image allows for 3D effects similar to those seen in 3D films and televisions without the need for special glasses.

This 3D effect is something never before seen in video gaming, and promises a new level of depth and interactivity. For those uncomfortable with the 3D effect, or for those that simply want it lessened, a sliding control on the side of the 3DS will allow users to adjust the strength of the 3D effect.

The 3DS features the same four face buttons, two shoulder buttons, and D-Pad that was found on previous DS models; however, it also includes a round analogue pad that allows for more in-depth control of certain games. The 3DS has two cameras that allow for fully 3D pictures to be taken.

The 3DS features a download service to download older games in the Nintendo library, similar to the Virtual Library found on the Nintendo Wii. The device has 256 MB of internal memory which can be expanded to 2GB. The 3DS also allows for users to create personalized "Miis" which is, again, borrowed from the Nintendo Wii.

Nintendo is currently making deals with movie studios to allow 3D films to be purchased for the 3DS; Nintendo currently has reached agreements with Warner Bros, Dreamworks, and Disney.

The 3DS allows for multiplayer games, either locally or over the internet through a Wi-Fi connection. The 3DS also allows for game and other content to be acquired from the internet whenever a Wi-Fi connection is available. What is collected can be changed according to a user's preferences.

Nintendo 3DS is due for release in the UK on March 25th. You can pre-order Nintendo 3DS consoles on HMV.com. Look out for online shopping deals to save money on your 3DS