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HEALTH concerns have been raised over the next 'must have' handheld gaming device, which is set to be one of the biggest-selling toys this festive season.
Nintendo's latest gadget, offering glasses-free 3D images, went on sale in Japan last weekend ahead of a global rollout, and analysts say it promises to be the world's first 3D mass-market product.
"I'm so excited," said nine-year-old Natsumi Miyasaka, clutching her brand new blue 3DS portable that her father bought for her.
Lines formed outside Tokyo electronics stores as the makers offered to take reservations in advance. The Nintendo 3DS, which costs around BD112 in Japan, goes on sale in the Middle East, Europe and the US later this month.
However, there are growing fears about the health effects on children from too much 3D. Some people claim to have gotten sick by watching 3D movies or playing 3D games to excess.
Nintendo has issued a warning that the 3DS could harm the eyesight of children six-years-old or younger, recommending they play in 2D. It also says users should stop playing if they become tired or start to feel ill.
The symptoms of 3D sickness affect people in the same way as sea sickness or car sickness.
However, the company is banking on the 3D technology as sales momentum gradually fades for earlier hits such as the Wii home console and its predecessor, the DS. Nintendo expects to sell four million of the 3DS machines through the end of March and retail experts suggest it will have no problems meeting that target.
"It is the most comprehensive handheld gaming device from Nintendo to date, with high-quality graphics and online features," said Hiroshi Kamide, an analyst with J.P. Morgan.
While 3D technology for TVs has created a buzz, and 3D camcorders are also gaining some attention, such products have not sold in big numbers so far, making for a tiny fraction of overall TV and camcorder sales - so selling four million 3DS machines in a month would be significant for a 3D product.
The 3DS resembles the earlier DS gaming machines and has two panels. The top panel shows 3D imagery, giving players an illusion of virtual reality. The bottom screen is a touch panel which comes with three cameras, allowing the user to take 3D photos. It also doesn't require the special glasses needed for 3D movies or game consoles like rival Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 3.
Sony is promising a new handheld code-named NGP later this year, but has yet to give pricing and the machine does not offer 3-D gaming.
"The 3DS is moving in on the territory typically held by Apple products," said Richardo Torres, editor-in-chief of GameSpot, an online gaming review site. "I expect Nintendo to sell 3DS as fast as they can get them into stores."
