Nintendo sees future of gaming in three dimensions

Nintendo says its handheld consoles will be able to play 3D titles without the need for special glasses. Photo / AP

TOKYO - Nintendo, the world's biggest maker of video-game players, said it aims to start selling a version of its DS handheld video-game machine that allows the user to play 3D titles without special glasses.

Nintendo plans to give details of the model at the E3 show in Los Angeles in June, and the console will go on sale in the next fiscal year, it said yesterday.

Nintendo follows rival Sony in counting on 3D technology to help boost sales growth of game consoles. Sony, which has said it will enable PlayStation 3 (PS3) machines to run games in 3D, plans to start selling game titles as well as Bravia televisions enabled for the format in June.

"It's hard to foresee with the limited information disclosed today how Nintendo will appeal to customers by adding 3D images," said Satoru Kikuchi, an analyst at Deutsche Bank AG in Tokyo. "I'm expecting to see examples of 3D game titles and more functions, such as strengthened Wi-Fi connections, added to the new model." Kikuchi recommends investors "hold" the stock.

The gamemaker, which forecasts net income will fall 18 per cent to 230 billion ($3.6 billion) in the 12 months ending March 31, projects sales of the DS player will drop 3.8 per cent to 30 million in the fiscal year. DS sales fell 8.6 per cent to 23.4 million in the nine months to December 31 from a year earlier, the company said in January.

PS3 users will have to wear special glasses to play 3D game titles on a TV capable of showing the format, Satoshi Fukuoka, a spokesman for Sony's games unit, said. The company has no plan to sell 3D portable game players, he said.

- BLOOMBERG