Nintendo Is Open To Ideas For Movies, TV On The 3DS

If you’ve been telling yourself that the Nintendo 3DS isn’t for you, that it’s too expensive, or not enough of a change in gaming to be worth owning, then you’ll want to pay attention. We already know the top-quality titles that are going to be brought to the system, and with the trend set, it’s safe to say we are still in for more. But games aren’t all the 3DS will be able to offer, and the hardware itself seems built to break down barriers.

We’ve reported that the 3DS will be able to support streaming 3D video through wi-fi, at least in Japan. And if that alone doesn’t convince you that this little device has the potential to become absolutely huge in North America, then here’s something else you might want to think about. In a recent investor call, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata was asked about the deals they had struck with Japanese television stations. But he didn’t stop there:

“As for movies, some of the Hollywood movie production companies showcased their movie trailers at E3 this year when we made the relevant announcements. Because movie producers appear to be interested in Nintendo 3DS, we may be able to construct some relationship between 3D movies and Nintendo 3DS but, again, I cannot make any announcements today.”

“When we launch Nintendo 3DS, it will probably be the first 3D device to be sold in a significant volume in the mass market. An increasing number of people will see business opportunities by looking at Nintendo 3DS from that perspective. Nintendo does not have any intention to exclude such possibilities if they come to us with their proposals.”

Now there is some food for thought. It would seem that in all of the clamor for news on the latest games that will be offered to gamers, we have overlooked one thing: the Nintendo 3DS looks to be the first glasses-free 3D device sold to a large number of consumers worldwide. Movie studios are always looking to make their content available for purchase on the newest mobile devices, and there’s no reason to think that the 3DS will be any different.

As Iwata said, nothing is set in stone right now, and any deals will most likely depend on how successful the unit is in North America and Europe. But if the system is purchased in large numbers, as has been the case with most Nintendo hardware, then the door is wide open. If there is money to be made, then we may see 3D movies made available for download and on-the-go viewing. This is a massive aspect of the 3DS’s ability to be a game-changer, and a real selling point for me in particular. I’ve never had the same level of addiction to the DS as other platforms, but having glasses-free 3D movies in a mobile device is something I’ve never even considered.

Do you share my excitement, or think that Iwata is being a little too optimistic? Does this idea change the way you view the system, or the odds of you picking one up? Sound off in the comments.

We’ll find out just how much of a chance there is to see Avatar on the bus when the Nintendo 3DS is released in Japan on February 26th, and in North America and Europe in March.

Source: Nintendo