The 3DS may be the Next Big Thing in gaming but Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime says the new 3D technology shouldn't be used by very young children.
The Nintendo DS in all its various forms is very popular with younger gamers. My nephews have one they enjoy fighting over and a look at the catalog of DS games makes it clear that it's not a system aimed at the raging hardcore demographic. Nonetheless, Fils-Aime says that while the 3DS has "no health issues," it should be kept away from very small children because the new 3D display could be hard on their young eyes.
"We will recommend that very young children not look at 3D images," he said. "That's because, [in] young children, the muscles for the eyes are not fully formed... This is the same messaging that the industry is putting out with 3D movies, so it is a standard protocol. We have the same type of messaging for the Virtual Boy, as an example."
The cut-off age would be around seven years, he said, which does represent a fairly substantial bite out of the unit's potential audience; my oldest nephew was around four when he got his and even though he's not especially bright, he handled it like a champ. Fortunately, the 3DS has a slider that can be used to adjust the intensity of the 3D display or flatten it entirely, so children can play with it in 2D mode - parentally-supervised, of course - until they're man enough to handle the real deal.
Ravek: Nintendo is just making shit up. Is there any scientific research that indicates young children will suffer from watching 3D images?
Nah, they just want to make sure they're immune to lawsuits if there is.
OP: Well, I suppose it's not too much of an issue. Children at that age probably won't understand what they're missing playing it just in 2D. If children couldn't play it at all, we'd have a problem, but I don't think this'll make much of a dent in their sales.
Percutio: The 3D slider thing makes a lot more sense now.
Yeah, not for people who cant see it, but, for children.
I dont see why children cant play though with the 3D
3d is an eyestrain on anyone. Like the 3D tv's your supposed to limit yourself to only a couple hours of continuous viewing. There was a thread somewhere about that.
Percutio: The 3D slider thing makes a lot more sense now.
Yeah, not for people who cant see it, but, for children.
I dont see why children cant play though with the 3D
Did you not read the article at all
We will recommend that very young children not look at 3D images," he said. "That's because, [in] young children, the muscles for the eyes are not fully formed... This is the same messaging that the industry is putting out with 3D movies, so it is a standard protocol. We have the same type of messaging for the Virtual Boy, as an example."
actually it appears like half the people in the thread didnt even read through the entire thing.
Its far better to issue a warning then to do nothing and get sued out the ass if anything actually does happen. Its standard business protocal to try and cover your ass from any lawsuits. Its like of like when you get a coffee somewhere and it says caution contents may be hot.
This is the kind of thing the parents almost definitely will miss when they buy the console for their children, and thus their children will play it when they are 5yo and end up with messed up vision.
Still, at least they mention it. Then maybe one out of ten will be aware of it.
Ravek: Nintendo is just making shit up. Is there any scientific research that indicates young children will suffer from watching 3D images?
Because there isn't any scientific research that says it doesn't harm a child's eyes either. Better safe than sorry when you are a multimillion corporation.
I just hope they change the name when this thing is launched. I don't have a problem with it, but from a business perspective, they're going to get a lot of this from out-of-the-loop parents: "Mommy, I want a 3DS!" "But I already bought you a new DS!"
Makes sense to me. Today's 3D imaging isn't exactly perfect, so it puts some strain on the eyes. This glasses-free 3D potentially puts even more strain on the eyes, if the viewer isn't holding the device at the correct distance.
So consider if a child, whose eye muscles haven't fully developed, starts playing on the 3DS and keeps it at the wrong distance. Its eyes will try to compensate, and if this continues for an extended period of time it could very well affect the development of the child's eye muscles, and afflict it with some permanent eye defect.
SirBryghtside: and how are you supposed to get the proof
The same way they do scientific studies on the health effects of smoking, drinking carbonated beverages, daily exercise, whatever: They follow around people who do these things, and compare their health with people who do not do these things.
Specifically, they might even test the 'eye muscle' hypothesis by using animals with eye development similar to humans, e.g. primates.
WaderiAAA: This is the kind of thing the parents almost definitely will miss when they buy the console for their children, and thus their children will play it when they are 5yo and end up with messed up vision.
Still, at least they mention it. Then maybe one out of ten will be aware of it.
The DS is the first thing parents think of when they need to buy something for their kids because they've neglected them. The DS will keep the kids busy, so they can be neglected even more! Stoop'd parents.
Percutio: The 3D slider thing makes a lot more sense now.
Yeah, not for people who cant see it, but, for children.
I dont see why children cant play though with the 3D
3d is an eyestrain on anyone. Like the 3D tv's your supposed to limit yourself to only a couple hours of continuous viewing. There was a thread somewhere about that.
Which is why 3D SUCKS!
I hate watching movies in 3D because I always leave with my head and eyes aching.
Percutio: The 3D slider thing makes a lot more sense now.
Yeah, not for people who cant see it, but, for children.
I dont see why children cant play though with the 3D
3d is an eyestrain on anyone. Like the 3D tv's your supposed to limit yourself to only a couple hours of continuous viewing. There was a thread somewhere about that.
Which is why 3D SUCKS!
I hate watching movies in 3D because I always leave with my head and eyes aching.
I don't get that pain but I have friends who do. I usually skip out on 3D parts of movies..but..
Percutio: The 3D slider thing makes a lot more sense now.
Yeah, not for people who cant see it, but, for children.
I dont see why children cant play though with the 3D
3d is an eyestrain on anyone. Like the 3D tv's your supposed to limit yourself to only a couple hours of continuous viewing. There was a thread somewhere about that.
Which is why 3D SUCKS!
I hate watching movies in 3D because I always leave with my head and eyes aching.
You know you can turn the 3d effect off if it's all the problems you have against it. Glasses-free may not be all that bad, but then one can never underestimate the brain power of screwing itself over.
Percutio: The 3D slider thing makes a lot more sense now.
Yeah, not for people who cant see it, but, for children.
I dont see why children cant play though with the 3D
3d is an eyestrain on anyone. Like the 3D tv's your supposed to limit yourself to only a couple hours of continuous viewing. There was a thread somewhere about that.
Which is why 3D SUCKS!
I hate watching movies in 3D because I always leave with my head and eyes aching.
I really thought it was some fad that some of the tv companies wanted to explore but now Nintendo is going to mass produce a product with 3d. Its kind of mindblowing, I will however laugh my ass off if about a month after its released thousands/millions of units are returned... its virtua boy all over again.
Lvl 64 Klutz: I just hope they change the name when this thing is launched. I don't have a problem with it, but from a business perspective, they're going to get a lot of this from out-of-the-loop parents: "Mommy, I want a 3DS!" "But I already bought you a new DS!"
I'm torn. On the one hand it makes it sound like a new DS.
On the other hand, keeping the "DS" part preserves the powerful brand name that they've built up with the current platform. Much like "Game Boy Advance" kept the Game Boy name.
Its kind of mindblowing, I will however laugh my ass off if about a month after its released thousands/millions of units are returned... its virtua boy all over again.
Very unlikely. The 3DS doesn't seem to suffer from the problems Virtual Boy did. Namely... 1) Virtual Boy had a poor quality setup of games (Wario Land was really the only standout of the bunch), the 3DS looks like it has a pretty good beginning line-up. 2) The Virtual Boy was monochrone (and an ugly monochrome red at that), the 3DS is full color. 3) The Virtual Boy wasn't portable like it was advertised to be, the 3DS looks pretty darn portable to me. 4) The Virtual Boy was far more "intrusive". The 3DS you just look at like a normal DS, the Virtual Boy you had to get your head into a specific position. 5) The Virtual Boy was experimental, the 3DS is based on the already-existing DS setup, which has proven to be very successful. Furthermore, the Virtual Boy had no backwards compatibility. 6) You can easily reduce or turn off the 3D effect on the 3DS if you want, where as the Virtual Boy was full 3D all the time.
I really doubt the 3DS will be the next Virtual Boy. At worst it'll be the next Scribblenauts, something that got giant publicity but turned out to be a just a decent game rather than the wonder it was made out to be.
SomeBoredGuy: Wait, did Nintendo just mention the Virtual Boy? I thought they tried everything in their power to make the world forget about it!
OT: Why shouldn't children use it? SCIENCE!
Dr. Insano = win of the highest caliber.
Anyway... I think the age 7 demographic is a good place to start. I mean, you lose some (but by no means all) of the lucrative shovelware market, but I see it like LEGOs in that regard; great for older children but equally good for anyone older.
When I was a kid, we didn't have 3D video games, so there was no need for useless warnings and such...but oh well, times are changing...I just refuse to change with them.
And if 3D ruins their eyes, why in the hell are they making 3D kids movies??
3D television isn't recommended for the young, elderly, drunk, stoned, pregnant, or those who have heart conditions. Dead set. I can't even think about the restrictions with the 3DS.
OK. How many people actually read the article all the way through? They stated a clear reason as to why it might be harmful to children of a certain age.
Nintendo Says 3DS Not Recommended for Young Children
The 3DS may be the Next Big Thing in gaming but Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime says the new 3D technology shouldn't be used by very young children.
The Nintendo DS in all its various forms is very popular with younger gamers. My nephews have one they enjoy fighting over and a look at the catalog of DS games makes it clear that it's not a system aimed at the raging hardcore demographic. Nonetheless, Fils-Aime says that while the 3DS has "no health issues," it should be kept away from very small children because the new 3D display could be hard on their young eyes.
"We will recommend that very young children not look at 3D images," he said. "That's because, [in] young children, the muscles for the eyes are not fully formed... This is the same messaging that the industry is putting out with 3D movies, so it is a standard protocol. We have the same type of messaging for the Virtual Boy, as an example."
The cut-off age would be around seven years, he said, which does represent a fairly substantial bite out of the unit's potential audience; my oldest nephew was around four when he got his and even though he's not especially bright, he handled it like a champ. Fortunately, the 3DS has a slider that can be used to adjust the intensity of the 3D display or flatten it entirely, so children can play with it in 2D mode - parentally-supervised, of course - until they're man enough to handle the real deal.
Source: Kotaku
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