Iwata: Wii U Supports 3D TVs

by Tim Turi on July 06, 2011 at 06:06 PM

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When the Wii was first being developed, HDTVs didn’t have a market penetration rate high enough for Nintendo to justify supporting them. Now the company is saying something similar regarding 3D TVs, however, the Wii U will indeed play 3D games. But that doesn’t mean Nintendo will be the one focusing on making them.

"If you are going to connect Wii U with a home TV capable of displaying 3D images, technologically, yes, it is going to be possible, but that's not the area we are focusing on," Iwata tells Mercury News.

"When it comes to 3D, we already have the 3DS, and each owner of the Nintendo 3DS is capable of viewing 3D images,” he continues. “However, when it comes to the home console, it depends upon the availability of 3D TV sets at home, which, unfortunately, is not expanding enough. And rather than pouring a lot of energy into that kind of area, with the Wii U we'd like to focus more on each Wii U owner being able to have an equal opportunity to enjoy it."

Based off our time playing with the Wii U, it’s obvious that Nintendo has some risky ideas for the future of video games. However, supporting third-party developers, HD, and 3D TVs isn’t risky – it’s just smart.

[Via Joystick]

I have to agree with nintendon on this point, 3-D has been around for decades, and they are just now making it more widely available as a medium. Nintendo allowing the console to display 3-D, even though not making it a priority for in-house development, is right on par with what sony has been doing. Just because something CAN do something, doesn't mean it SHOULD. Waiting on the hdtv to saturate the market more, wasn't a very smart move in my opinion, given that they could have easily made it HD complient, and just didn't due to lack of "interest" at the time. Giving the ability to broadcast 3-D to the tv, and using it themselves shouldn't be seen as a non risky move, it should be aplauded that they are learning from past mistakes, without making new mistakes.

Comments

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by Galaxy09 Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at 06:12 PM

Off topic but, does anybody know when the cover story will be revealed?
by Chucktanium Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at 06:18 PM

Oh thank goodness, more useless technology that will never catch on!
by Ocorena Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at 06:19 PM

Well if 3d tvs explode like HD did then Nintendo won't be left in the dust like last time but I still don't play in HD really because I don't really have an HDtv and don't really need one to enjoy fun games.
by Steve Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at 06:42 PM

great...the .009% of gamers with 3D capability will be thrilled.
by kerrigan marois Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at 06:58 PM

An HDTV is an improvement that anyone can enjoy. But even that you don't get every channel in HD depending on your cable/dish provider. 3dtv is more like a novelty than an improvement everyone wants to enjoy.
by BruisedEmu7 Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at 07:10 PM

Glad the Wii U will have 3D games! It would be nice if Zelda and Mario could be played in 3D. But it doesnt look like Nintendo will do that unfortunately.
by buckis2002 Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at 07:39 PM

just as a question, does xbox have 3D tv support yet or is that something that won't come in a update thing
by Chetashiny Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at 07:40 PM

A lot of people are hating on the Wii U, but I know I'm going to purchase it. Why? For Super Smash Bros, even if it hasn't been developed yet.
by D. Robinson Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at 07:46 PM

I guess that's cool to have, supposing I ever get a 3D TV. It doesn't hurt to include support for the format, even if Nintendo themselves never make a game using it.
by kook Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at 07:46 PM

im gettin a 3d tv in september so i might have to rethink my stance on wii u oh wait my ps3 already does that
by jcrites Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at 07:48 PM

I can't say I'm upset about Nintendo's lack of interest in developing stereoscopic 3D console games. It's a pretty small market right now, and unless the price of 3D TV's plummet, and wearing huge goggles while sitting on your couch suddenly becomes cool, I don't see it catching on the way HD did.
by InfamousGamer Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at 08:07 PM

This just made this thing better :)
by Tanooki Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at 08:08 PM

It's smart for Nintendo to include the capability, but at the same time I'm thrilled to hear that they are not focusing on it when it comes to my console gaming. HD is really a necessity now, but 3D isn't.
by gamefan4564 Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at 08:24 PM

I hope nintendo can pull the wii u off
by kendalsmitty Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at 08:31 PM

Finally nintendo has said something really convenient!!! thank you!
by Jake Kemper Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at 08:32 PM

Well, that settles it. I'll get one.... : /
by mesheshai Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at 08:41 PM

translation: "we'll wait into Sony pushes 3dtv far enough for us to support them in our next console when 4dtv is just coming out and being pushed with the ps4..."

Although I still don't like 3d, maybe nintendo's being smart about it, we'll have to see in the future.
by Mark Zufelt Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at 08:42 PM

Well, at least 3rd party can put it in if they wish. Don't don't see the point till they're readily available, like LCD HD's are now.
by Lyle Johnson Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at 08:54 PM

I have to agree with nintendon on this point, 3-D has been around for decades, and they are just now making it more widely available as a medium. Nintendo allowing the console to display 3-D, even though not making it a priority for in-house development, is right on par with what sony has been doing. Just because something CAN do something, doesn't mean it SHOULD. Waiting on the hdtv to saturate the market more, wasn't a very smart move in my opinion, given that they could have easily made it HD complient, and just didn't due to lack of "interest" at the time. Giving the ability to broadcast 3-D to the tv, and using it themselves shouldn't be seen as a non risky move, it should be aplauded that they are learning from past mistakes, without making new mistakes.
by DoctorNight Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at 09:46 PM

Well at least it's not bad news, but 3d tv's are not the most popular, abundant, or cheap prouducts.

GameInformer

Iwata: Wii U Supports 3D TVs