According to Hideki Konno, group manager of the 3DS hardware project, early 3DS prototypes didn't feature the glasses-free 3D screen that has become the system's main selling point, and the feature wasn't even considered until early 2009, when Nintendo demoed the "really impressive" technology.
"I became involved with development starting in 2008, but at that time, it didn't have 3D visuals," said Konno in a recent Famitsu interview, according to 1up. "The technology we got to demo was really impressive, and starting in early 2009, we began to think that it was time to bring it to games."
According to Konno, the system also lacked motion and gyroscopic sensors until just before last year's E3, when Miyamoto reportedly said, "This isn't enough; we can really change things if there's a gyro sensor in there." The team's response, says Konno, was, "Well, if we can do things this fun with it, I guess we've got no choice."
On his involvement in the 3DS project, which is the first hardware project the Nintendogs and Mario Kart Wii producer has helmed, Konno said, "This is a larger theme, something that's not limited to the 3DS, but we are constantly thinking about ways to surprise our customers as much as possible."
"That theme is always there even as our hardware and software changes. With the 3DS, the 3D visuals are hard to picture unless you actually take the device in hand and try it out. The surprise factor here is difficult to relate in words, and that's why I really want people to try it out for themselves. There's a lot of other functionality inside as well, from the motion and gyro sensors to the 3DS camera, and I think game makers and gamers will come up with some pretty interesting ideas for it."
[Source: 1up]
Feb 23, 2011
