Nintendo 3DS may be hampered by 3-5 hour battery life
updated 11:00 am EST, Sat January 8, 2011
Nintendo 3DS capped at 5 hour battery
Nintendo's 3DS may be hampered by demanding battery life when running its own native games, the official spec sheet has uncovered. Gamers should expect just three to five hours when running the native, 3D-capable games of the platform. Battery life only extends to a peak five to eight hours for legacy DS games.
The shortened play time could be a wound to the 3DS' early success as it may disappoint those used to longer use not just on older Nintendo systems but also competing platforms such as the iPod touch. Demanding games such as Infinity Blade or Rage HD can significantly shorten the battery life of Apple's devices, but these in newer generations can typically last for as long or longer when running most games.
Much of the 3DS' success is expected to ride on how its features stack up against iOS devices as well as the price. Nintendo saw its first significant declines in DS handheld sales last year in what has widely been credited to a partial switch away to the iPhone and iPod touch for mobile gaming, especially among adults. Apple has pushed iOS gaming hard, and unlike Nintendo has upgraded its devices every year rather than wait five or six years for significant upgrades.
The 3DS will cost the equivalent of $299 after taxes in Japan and could cost as much as $249 when it ships to the US in March, putting it in the same class as an 8GB iPod touch. [via Joystiq]
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2010
Poor battery life
As poor as that of the "competing" iPod. Let's see how much it doesn't affect it...