New 3D Super Mario game officially announced at GDC

2^nd March - At the annual Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata held a keynote address titled “Video Games Turn 25: A Historical Perspective and Vision for the Future”, as well as unveiling a first glimpse at a brand new Super Mario title for the upcoming Nintendo 3DS portable system.

During his speech, Mr Iwata said Nintendo 3DS gives developers new tools to create games and experiences never before possible while enabling them to reach the public in new ways.

“There is great potential to increase the number of people who enjoy video games by opening up new gameplay opportunities that are only available through the use of 3D,” Iwata said. “Nintendo 3DS will be the most connected Nintendo device ever, with its ability to link people via local wireless connections, while at the same time connecting them to people and content worldwide via hotspot connectivity.”

Check out brand new screenshots for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D at the gamepage.

Nintendo 3DS, launching 25^th March in Europe, lets users view 3D content without the need for special glasses. The announced 3D Super Mario game will feature traditional Mario gameplay and will fulfil the dream of Nintendo video game designer (and Mario creator) Shigeru Miyamoto to bring true depth and distance into the game’s mechanics. The game is being developed by the same Nintendo team that created the Wii console hits Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2.

At the end of May, Nintendo will provide Nintendo 3DS owners with a wireless system update that will activate the Nintendo eShop and give users access to a number of features:

• A short-form video service will let people view trailers for Hollywood movies in 3D and access video game trailers, screenshots, background information and links to publishers’ websites. Content will include short video clips, such as comedy shorts or music videos, selected by Nintendo and delivered to Nintendo 3DS users who choose to receive them.
• Downloadable classic games via the portable Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console service will include Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, as well as those from the Game Gear and TurboGrafx-16 systems.
• “3D Classics” will introduce select classic video games remastered in 3D.
• Games currently offered as Nintendo DSiWare and an Internet browser will be available.

The system update will also provide a solution for Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DSi XL owners to transfer their Nintendo DSiWare games to their new Nintendo 3DS systems.

Find out where you can try Nintendo 3DS for yourself by visiting the official Nintendo 3DS website at nintendo3ds.co.uk.