3DS

How many pictures have you taken with your Nintendo 3DS? I haven't taken all that many, but I'll admit I'm curious about Nintendo's software update, available today, which finally adds 3D video recording to the 3DS' bag of tricks.

There is a catch: only 10 minutes of 3D video footage can be captured on the system at once. However, the 3DS can also record its video in stop-motion mode. Homemade 3D clay animation on your desk? Yes, except it's not clear if these video files can be exported or shared once recorded.

A few other minor system update tweaks include Nintendo eShop credit card payments for partial purchases (finally), and new updates for the Find Mii and Puzzle Swap games in the Mii Plaza. More importantly, where are the Game Boy Advance free game downloads for Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors? For that, I guess we'll have to wait.… Read more

The 3DS certainly seems to be on a bit of a hot streak lately with Super Mario 3D Land and now Mario Kart 7. While the franchise has been a Nintendo staple for almost two decades, we were curious to see if MK7 had enough fuel in the tank to impress us all over again.

We've taken our laps with the game and rounded up our final thoughts:

Jeff: Other than the brilliant use of 3D in Super Mario 3D Land, I'm not sure there's a better genre to show off the illusion than racing games. In Mario Kart 7 the effect is fantastic, but perhaps not as vital to the experience like it is in other games. Regardless, MK7 is the next game to buy behind 3D Land, successfully delivering the one-two combo punch the Nintendo 3DS has been so desperately seeking.… Read more

Everyone has a gamer on their list this holiday season, so make sure to give my gaming guide a close look when choosing the right gift.

While Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 remain as the two dominating consoles, there's still a few titles for Nintendo platforms I recommend, including games for the 3DS, which has finally gotten some quality software in recent weeks.

After you've checked out my picks for games on each console, be sure to visit my accessories guide as well for gift ideas for the gamer who already has all the top titles!

Finally, if you're starting from scratch, I've updated my console buying guide for anyone who's just first getting into gaming this season. … Read more

Would you buy an iPad 3D?

That's the question consumers might have been asking themselves next year, according to a report from Business Insider. But according to the blog's source, Apple decided to nix plans for an iPad 3 with 3D over concerns that the device could become "a gimmick."

Take that rumor, of course, with the usual grain of salt. Apple hasn't confirmed it'll be launching another iPad, nor has the company spoken of an iPad with 3D. And Business Insider's source is a degree or two removed, though the blog says … Read more

LOS ANGELES--This may be the strangest unveiling of the LA Auto Show's history...

In celebration of the first title in the Mario Kart franchise to feature 3D graphics, Nintendo commissioned West Coast Customs to truly bring the game into the third dimension by building working examples of two of the cars from Mario Kart 7.

Mario's personal race car and Luigi's Bumble V car were constructed and can be driven under their own power. However, the hang glider and underwater propeller on Mario and Luigi's rides, respectively, are not functional. Visitors will be able to view … Read more

It's no secret that the Nintendo 3DS has suffered from a dearth of compelling software to play on its unique 3D glasses-less screen. While we were shocked to see the system debut without the company's leading plumber, Nintendo calmed gamers' fears with the announcement of Super Mario 3D Land at this past summer's E3 2011 expo.

Just in time for the holiday season, Mario is back in his first-ever portable 3D adventure. He's got an enormous gaming void to fill, so how does the latest game stack up?… Read more

During the six-month period ended September 30, Nintendo saw its financial performance decline significantly, the company reported in a financial earnings release today.

Nintendo generated 215.7 billion yen ($2.84 billion) in revenue during the six-month period, representing a whopping 40.6 percent decline compared to the same period last year. Even more concerning, Nintendo's net loss hit $926 million, down significantly from the $26 million it lost in the six-month period ended September 30, 2010.

Judging by Nintendo's earnings report, the company was hit by two main issues: hardware and software sales were off, and it … Read more

Augmented reality in smartphones is just getting started.

If you have a smartphone or Nintendo 3DS, you've probably played with some form of augmented reality, which superimposes graphics, words and other useful information over real-life images.

Yelp, for instance, offers its Monocle feature, allowing you to see local listings superimposed over the image captured by the phone's camera. It uses the compass and gyroscope to locate the specific listings, which move in and out of view depending on where you hold the device. The augmented browser Layar came to prominence by accomplishing the same feat on Android smartphones. … Read more

Throw in the towel, Sony and Nintendo; it's game over. Portable console gaming no longer has a practical place in the current landscape of casual flick, drag, and swipe games. There is no room for the 3DSes and Vitas of the world when all-in-one functionality is now more important than high-tech, gaming-focused mobile systems.

Current consumers are more concerned with brief sessions of stimulation than they are with playing a complex 25-hour RPG. Take it from me, I've played those games on a Nintendo DS and Sony PSP before. I know how great they are.

But gaming is a serious business, and if consumers are content with an iPhone for music, video, and games, there is absolutely no practical need to carry around another bulky piece of hardware that is more than twice a smartphone's size and needs to be recharged after five hours of play time. The audience--or attention span--for hard-core mobile gaming may be shrinking. … Read more